Housing Contract

Mount Holyoke College
Office of Residential Life

I. PARTIES
This is a contract between Mount Holyoke College (“the College”) and the undersigned student who is assigned to live in college housing during the 2007-2008 academic year.  It sets forth the responsibilities and privileges of both parties with respect to on-campus housing.  In order to assume occupancy, a student must submit this signed contract when she receives the key(s) to her assigned space.

II. TERMS OF OCCUPANCY
A. Occupancy License.  The student will occupy her assigned space only during those times that the College is officially open.

B. Occupancy Schedule.  The residence halls will remain open during the following breaks:  October, November, spring and January Term.  Any student who chooses to remain in her/any residence hall for any portion of January Term or spring break must complete a “Break Notification Form” prior to the break.

C. All residence halls will be closed during December Break, with the exception of Pearsons Annex and Wilder Hall.  Pearsons Annex will remain open to the FP students who reside there.  Wilder will remain open for international students and domestic students whose families live abroad.  Dickinson House will be used if overflow housing is needed during December Break.  The College reserves the right to permit others to occupy any space in Wilder during December Break.  The College intends to give as much notice as possible to all students whose rooms will be occupied.  Any student who wishes to reside in Wilder and Pearsons Annex during December Break must complete a “December Break Registration Form” and return it to the Office of Residential Life.

Mount Holyoke College Residence Halls close on May 14, 2008 for all students, except for graduating seniors.  All students must vacate their rooms by noon unless approved through the Office of Residential Life to remain beyond this deadline, including students taking 5-College exams.  It is the student’s responsibility to make necessary arrangements to vacate the building and adhere to this policy.

In the event of a fuel shortage or some other emergency not within the control of the College, the College reserves the right to close temporarily its residence halls and/or dining facilities without making any adjustments in the charge.  If such an emergency should arise, the College will honor its residential commitment for the duration of the academic year.

III. CONDITIONS OF OCCUPANCY
A. Liability.  The student is responsible for the loss or theft of or damage to both College and personal property caused by the student or the student’s guest.  The College assumes no responsibility for loss of or damage to the student’s personal property, including belongings stored in residence hall trunk rooms.  Each student is encouraged to take appropriate steps to safeguard and insure her property.  The College is responsible only for damages caused through the direct negligence of its agents or employees.

B. Policies and Procedures.  The student agrees to abide by all policies and procedures of the College pertaining to residence in college housing.  These include, but are not limited to, those policies and procedures in the Student Handbook, Live and Learn, and the agreed upon community standards of the floor.  Please note that candles, incense, and halogen lamps are not allowed in residence halls.    Pets are also forbidden in college housing with the exception of aquatic animals that can be safely and humanely contained in a tank/bowl of five gallons or less.  All Mount Holyoke College residence halls are 100% smoke-free.  Smoking is not allowed on residence hall porches or balconies or within 20 feet of the residence hall.

The College reserves the right to adjust policies and procedures at any time.  All students should read the on line Student Handbook and the Policies and Procedures section on the Residential Life webpage.

If a student does not abide by the College’s policies and procedures, she will be held accountable by disciplinary action through the Office of Residential Life, the Council on Student Affairs, or the Office of the Associate Dean of the College/Dean of Students.  Disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to, social probation, community service hours, loss of participation in the housing lottery, or loss of housing privileges.

C. Trespassing on College Campus.  The College, as the lawful owner of the buildings and premises of the Mount Holyoke College campus (“the Campus”), has the right and obligation to control or limit access to the Campus by any individual.  If an individual has been excluded from any College building or facility or from the College premises by the College Administration or Department of Public Safety, whether or not a formal trespass notice is served on an individual, no student may authorize or permit such an individual to enter upon or remain on College premises contrary to such instructions.  A trespass notice or other order excluding an individual from a part or all of the Campus may be withdrawn or modified only by the authorized College Administration office from which it was issued.

D. Right of Entry.  College staff (including but not limited to: Public Safety, the Dean on-call, Residential Life, Facilities Management, and LITS personnel) may enter a student room to perform services and maintenance or respond to an emergency.  Please refer to the Student Handbook
for the complete Entry Policy.

E. Adjustments to Room Assignments.  The College reserves the right to relocate housing assignments as deemed necessary. This includes relocating a student to another room/hall or assigning a new roommate to any open space.  All room changes must be cleared through the
Office of Residential Life. 

F. Going on Leave/Withdrawing Mid-Semester.  If a student goes on leave/withdraws at any point during the semester, she must vacate her housing assignment within 3 days and is responsible for removing all of her possessions from college housing.  The student must also return her keys before going on leave.  The college reserves the right to reassign this space on the student’s registration and or housing status has changed.  Fees will be assessed for failure to turn in keys or damage and custodial services need to attend to rooms left in a substandard
condition.

G. Property of Keys and One Cards.  Keys and One Cards are the property of Mount Holyoke College and are on loan to the student.  Keys and One Cards are not to be duplicated, loaned, or transferred.  Should keys be lost or stolen, contact the Office of Residential Life or Public Safety immediately.  If a students One Card is lost or stolen, she should contact Auxiliary Services or Public Safety immediately.  A student’s failure to return the keys at the end of your semester/year in residence at Mount Holyoke College or in the event she changes rooms will result in a charge.

IV. PERSONAL SAFETY/SAFETY OF OTHERS
Students are expected to assist in keeping outer doors locked and to admit only those who have proper form of identification or their own personal guests.  The outer doors of all residence halls will be locked at all times.  Students are also expected to keep their room doors locked at all times.

Students are responsible for their personal safety.  Failure to follow reasonable safety precautions may lead to an increased risk of assault, robbery, rape, kidnapping, or criminal act.  Be aware that most sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance of the victim, and it is possible that fellow students could commit crimes against you or others.  Read Safe & Sound, a College publication designed to assist you with reasonable safety precautions.

V. RENEWAL
In order to participate in the spring lottery process a student must be financially cleared and have no other holds from other administrative offices (Health Services, Registrar, Residential Life etc.).

VI. TERMINATION OF LICENSE
The student’s right to reside in college housing shall be forfeited upon failure to return at the beginning of any academic term or upon ceasing to be a registered student at the College.  If the College is notified that illness or other extenuating circumstances will delay the student’s return, exceptions may be made by the College

The College reserves the right to terminate this Contract for breach by the student or for violation of the College’s policies and procedures, including but not limited to those in the on line Student Handbook and Policies and Procedures section on the Residential Life webpage.   If the contract is terminated, there will be no refund of room charges.

______________________________________________     __________ /  ______
                     Student’s Signature                                                 Class Year      Date

__________/__________     ______________________     _________ /_______
Room key #/Student Initials      Closet key #/Student Initials     Staff Initial     Date