Housing and Residential Life Policies
Where applicable, policies are in effect for all students, those who live in campus housing, as well as those who live off campus. Alleged violations of the residence hall policies will be adjudicated as outlined in the conduct procedures of the Standards of Student Conduct.
Super suites and penthouse suites are subjected to the Residence Hall policies in cases where there is a difference in policies for residence halls and university opperated apartments.
University-Operated Housing Policies
Where applicable, policies are in effect for all students who live in university operated housing. Alleged violations of the university operated housing policies will be adjudicated as outlined in the conduct procedures of the Standards of Student Conduct.
HP 1: Active Sports
Participating in active sports in areas not designated for that purpose is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to playing with sports balls, Frisbees, nerf guns, and other thrown or projected objects indoors.
HP 2: Alcohol
Possession of alcohol in any residence hall regardless of age is not allowed. Alcohol is only permitted in university operated apartments whose assigned resident(s) are at least 21 years of age.
Students under the age of 21 may not be in the presence of alcohol, in a residence hall or university operated apartment, regardless of whether they are consuming alcohol or not.
Bulk quantities (i.e. quantities that cannot reasonably be consumed by one individual), games or devices used for the rapid consumption of alcohol, and common containers (e.g. kegs, punch bowls) are prohibited.
*Residents who are 21 years or old may possess and/or consume alcohol in the university operated apartments in their assigned bedroom. Alcohol may be consumed or stored in common areas of university operated apartments provided all residents are 21 years or older.
HP 3: Appliances
Residence Halls (including super suites and penthouse suites):
All student owned appliances must be in good working order, used responsibly and always attended while in use. Prohibited appliances include, but are not limited to: toasters, toaster ovens, slow cookers, hot air popcorn poppers, hot plates, waffle irons, rice cookers, Foreman grills, air fryers, broilers, and any device with exposed coils/heating elements.
Microwaves and Refrigerators
- Refrigerators, and other electrical devices, that draw more than two amps are prohibited.
- Microwaves in Muse hall are prohibited unless they are attached to a microfridge unit.
- Microwaves that are rated as more than 700 watts are prohibited.
Halogen Lamps are prohibited in all residence halls.
Portable heaters and portable air conditioners are prohibited in all university operated housing.
No major appliances such as refrigerator (drawing over two amps), cooking range, washing machine, clothes dryer, dishwasher, air conditioning equipment, deep freeze units or other appliances, regardless of size, may be installed or brought into any residence hall without prior written consent from OHRL.
University appliances, water heater/plumbing, range, air vents, or any other existing fixtures must be utilized only for their intended purpose and must not be removed or modified in any way.
Apartments:
No major appliances such as refrigerator, range, washing machine, clothes dryer, dishwasher, air conditioning equipment, deep freeze units or other appliances, regardless of size, may be installed or brought into any apartment without prior written consent from OHRL. Small kitchen appliances (such as toasters, slow cookers, and rice cookers) are permitted in the kitchen if used following manufacturer’s directions and attended while in use.
University appliances, water heater/plumbing, range, air vents, or any other existing fixtures must be utilized only for their intended purpose and must not be removed or modified in any way.
Portable heaters and portable air conditioners are prohibited in all university operated housing.
HP 4: Bicycles and Skates
Bicycles may only be parked in designated bicycle parking areas or stored in designated bicycle storage rooms in the residence halls.
Skateboards, inline skates, roller skates, scooters, and other items with wheels are permitted only on sidewalks and parking lots unless otherwise noted. These items may not be worn or used inside university operated housing. Hoverboards are prohibited from the grounds and facilities of Radford University.
HP 5: Building Access, Room Access, ID Cards, Keys
Building access is limited to building residents and their escorted guests.
Entering or exiting buildings in any way other than through an authorized doorway is prohibited.
Propping or attempting to force open an exterior building door, or tampering with door locking mechanisms so as to allow access to a building is prohibited.
Loaning or giving a key or student ID card to another person or using a key or student ID to admit an unescorted or unregistered non-resident is prohibited. Keys are tracked and lock changes can only be completed by the University. Duplicating keys is prohibited.
Entering another student’s room without the invitation of the room resident at the time of entry is prohibited.
HP 6: Cleanliness and room condition
Residents must keep rooms, bathrooms, and other common areas clean and acceptable condition, including when preparing for university breaks. Residents must regularly dispose of trash and recyclables into designated locations.
Residents must keep their room or apartment in a condition that is ready to accept a roommate when a vacancy exists within that room or apartment. This includes keeping a bed, closet, drawer space, and desk clear from belongings.
Odors originating from inside a student room must not be detectable outside the room.
HP 7: Display of Alcohol or Other Drug Memorabilia
Possession of alcohol containers in university operated housing is prohibited. Plastic, glass, or metal vessels which contained alcohol at time of purchase that are decorated or on display in a student residence are not permitted.
HP 8: Fire Safety
Electrical Safety
Students may not possess multiple-outlet connections unless they are a “temporary” power strip with a built-in circuit breaker that is clearly marked, carry an Underwriter's Laboratory (U.L.) approval, have a maximum load of 15 amps, and are plugged directly into a wall electrical outlet. Possessing an extension cord or configuring cords to function as extension cords is prohibited. Electrical cords cannot be placed under items other than a rubberized cord protector. All electrical items must be directly plugged into a wall outlet or “temporary” power strip (with built-in circuit breaker) marked with UL approval and carry no more than 15 amps. Power strips cannot be plugged into each other. Multi-plug adapters are not permitted.
Lightbulbs for any lamps should not exceed the recommended wattage printed on the lamp.
Students may not tamper with breaker boxes, electrical outlets, wireless access points, or network ports.
Safety Equipment
Where required, all residents must check and/or verify that smoke detectors are fully functioning and record the checks, in accordance with state regulations and university policies.
Room Decorations
Wall Coverings, such as, but not limited to: paper, posters, pictures, tapestries, peel-and-stick wallpaper, wreaths, etc., cannot cover more than 25% of walls within student rooms. All wall decorations must be hung at least 12” lower than the ceiling. Items which are capable of burning may not be placed on student room doors or other areas restricted by state fire code. One dry-erase board, not more than 12 inches x 16 inches in size, is permitted on each student door that leads to the main hallway.
Curtains or items functioning as curtains must have a manufacturer’s label stating that it is flame-retardant. Valances, or items functioning as a valance, must not be longer than eight inches.
Attaching items to the ceiling of the room or hanging items in such a way as to cover the ceiling is prohibited.
Candles, Incense
Possession and/or use of candles, incense, oil lamps, or any items that produce an open flame are prohibited in all university housing.
Paths of Egress/Entrance
Access to windows, doors, and corridors must be kept clear for emergency egress. Floor mats are not permitted outside of room doors in hallways.
HP 9: Furniture
Students may not remove university property from its designated location. This includes furniture provided in student rooms as well as common area furniture, apartment furniture, and furniture in lounges and study spaces. Residents may have non-University issued furniture in their rooms provided it does not create a fire hazard, safety hazard, or obstruct paths of egress. Residents may not make repairs, modifications, or alterations, to any University property or furniture. Residents must follow all guidelines for lofting beds as established by the Office of Housing and Residential Life.
Students are not permitted to have waterbeds or beds larger than twin-size in the residence halls. Bringing full sized beds (or any beds larger than twin size) is prohibited.
HP 10: Guests/Host Responsibilities
A guest is any person who visits a room, suite, apartment, or any residence hall/university operated apartment facility where they do not live or have an assigned space. A host is a resident of a room, suite, apartment, or building who has invited guests. Hosts are responsible for the actions of their guests and are expected to remain with their guests at all times. Guests may not be in a building or room unaccompanied. Hosts must have permission of all room occupants to have a guest over. If a guest is asked to leave by an occupant who is not the host, the guest must comply.
- Hosts may not have overnight guests for more than two consecutive nights and may not have more than three guests at one time.
- Residents may not host guests who have been restricted from any residence hall/university operated apartment.
- Registered guests who violate university policy or state/federal/local laws may be removed from university property.
- Under no circumstance will guests be issued keys, access cards, or mattresses.
All guests who will be in university operated housing between midnight and 8:00 am must be registered as an overnight guest with an RA by midnight. All registered guests will be issued a registration confirmation. Guests must always keep this registration confirmation with them and it must be shown upon request to any University personnel.
- Guests and short-term visitors are not permitted to bring pets or animals into University Operated Housing unless the animal is designated as a service animal.
- Pets cannot be registered as guests.
HP 11: Residential Boarding Policy
All first time, first semester students under the age of 21 are required to live on campus at Radford University for at least four consecutive full fall and spring semesters.
Exemptions to this policy may be granted if the student:
- Lives with legal guardian or immediate family member (to include parent, grandparent, or sibling over the age of 21) and who are permanent residents (full time students do not qualify as permanent residents) within the commuting distance of the university (1 hour drive time or 60 miles).
- Is married or has dependents.
- Has served at least one-year active duty in the United States Armed Forces.
- Has received permission from the Director of Housing & Residential Life or appropriate designee.
HP 12: Noise
As university operated housing is part of an academic environment, residents and guests must be considerate of noise 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
- Noise, including but not limited to voices, amplified music, televisions, musical instruments, computers, alarm clocks, and radios, must be maintained at a level that does not disturb other residents.
- Residents may not amplify sound from windows to the outside.
- Residents are expected to comply with staff to lower noise levels.
During Quiet Hours, noise that can be heard outside of a room or building is prohibited.
Normal designated Quiet Hours are as follows:
- Sunday-Thursday: 8:00 pm – 9:00 am
- Friday – Saturday: 12:00 am – 9:00 am
All other times are considered Courtesy Hours meaning that residents and guests must be considerate of noise levels and mindful of the community.
Quiet Hours at other times, such as finals week, may be designated and posted by the Office of Housing and Residential Life.
HP 13: Roofs, Balconies, Ledges and Restricted Areas
Students are not permitted on any roof, balcony, ledge, or other restricted area. Students may not climb on, or over balconies, to enter or exit a room, apartment, or building. Students may not throw, drop, or otherwise dispose of or hang items from elevated locations.
HP 14: Room Assignment
Students may not live in or occupy any residence hall room or university-operated apartment space other than the one assigned.
- Students are assigned to one residence hall bed or apartment bedroom.
- Residents may only occupy one bed/bedroom and may not live in or occupy any other bed/bedroom than the one to which they are assigned.
- All room assignment changes must have prior approval by Housing & Residential Life staff.
- Exchanging or transferring apartment or room assignments without prior approval of Housing & Residential Life staff is prohibited.
HP 15: Room Responsibility
Students are responsible for behaviors which are in violation of the Standards of Student Conduct that occur in a student room, apartment, or common area.
HP 16: Room/Suite/Apartment Capacities
Students may not have more than 6 people present per residence hall room and/or 12 people present per residence hall suite. The maximum capacity for a university- operated apartment is 12 individuals. This capacity limitation includes any assigned occupants who may be present.
HP 17: Screens, Windows
Screens may not be removed from windows in any residence hall or apartment space. Students may not enter or exit rooms, suites, or apartments through windows. Students may not hang items out windows. Students may not hang/post anything on windows. Students may not throw, drop, or otherwise dispose of anything out a window.
HP 18: Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in University buildings, designated non-smoking areas on campus, at entrances, or within 25 feet from the perimeter of any residential building. Smoking is to include any type of lighted or heated tobacco product as well as smoking substances that are not tobacco. This includes hookahs, vaporizers, and electronic smoking devices or instruments.
HP 19: Posting
Any advertisements or posters hung in University Operated Housing areas must first be approved by Housing & Residential Life staff.
In order for a flyer to be approved for distribution, it must include the following information: name of event, date/time/location of event, contact name with Radford University email address and phone number, name of sponsoring Radford University club/organization/department, the name of the charitable organization funds raised from the events will benefit.
Posters and advertisements must be hung by Housing & Residential Life staff only in approved locations. No advertisements or posters may be hung on stairwell doors or within stairwells.
Flyers advertising the following are not permitted: gambling, raffles, lotteries, tipping, for-profit sales, alcohol or events where alcohol is sold/consumed, non-Radford University employment opportunities, direct donations to support a club or organization, solicitation for businesses and services.
HP 20: Facilities
Residential students have a responsibility to report maintenance concerns in a timely manner through Housing & Residential Life staff or the Office of Facilities Management. Residential students may be required to pay for repairs needed due to a student’s improper use of university property or failure to report maintenance concerns.
- Flushable wipes, paper towels, menstrual hygiene products, makeup wipes, and other items damage the plumbing system and are not to be flushed. Nothing besides human waste and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet.
- Students cannot make alterations to the existing plumbing of a room or apartment.
- All plumbing concerns, including clogs and floods, must be reported to addressed through Facilities Maintenance and Operations at Radford University.
- Chemical drain cleaners, such as Drano, can damage university plumbing. Do not use chemical drain cleaners or knowingly dispose of hazardous chemicals in university operated housing toilets, bathtubs, shower stalls, or sinks.
- No alterations or modifications are to be made to any university operated housing.