Residential Facilities, Living Guidelines and Procedures

I. Facilities

A. Furnishings:

University owned furnishings are to remain in the room/suite/townhouse at all times and cannot be placed or used outside.
Students are not allowed to bring personal furniture to campus unless it is clearly manufactured and labeled as being flame retardant.
Furniture cannot be removed from any of the University’s residence halls.
Students who use University furniture or fixtures placed in their rooms for other than the intended use assume responsibility should an accident or injury occur.
For safety reasons, students may not bring their own loft kits.
Students are unable to use a personal (non-University issued) mattress unless approved by the Health Services office for documented medical needs.
Students who bring personal outdoor furniture (lawn chairs, etc.) cannot leave these items unattended. Unattended furniture will be removed and discarded by University staff.
For Townhouse residents, outdoor furniture can be left on the townhouse stoop provided it does not block entry/exits.
Please reference the section on Residence Hall/Townhouse Safety and Security for additional information on acceptable and prohibited furnishings relating to safety issues.)

B. Facility Concerns/Repairs

All requests for standard repairs to residence hall rooms/townhouses or routine work orders must be made by emailing facilities management at fwr@siena.edu. For urgent items, the Service Desk can be reached by phone at 518-783-2371 during normal hours of operation 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
For emergency situations or urgent items outside of normal hours of operation, please contact Public Safety at 518-783-2376.
Once a work request is placed, an email confirmation will be sent. Students should review this information for accuracy. When the work request is complete, the individual who submitted the request will receive a confirmation of its closure and what services were rendered.
There are no associated costs for normal maintenance and repair.
If there are to be charges associated with the repair, the work request will be labeled “chargeable” or “vandalism.” In this case, the appropriate parties will be charged through the Office of Community Living.
Please note that all furniture repairs and key requests must always go through the Residence Director.
In order to facilitate a timely repair, a student understands that when placing a work order or requesting a work order be placed for their room, the facilities staff has permission to enter the room, suite, or townhouse to complete the work order without a resident present. It is assumed that when a student submits a work order or requests a work order be submitted that they are speaking as a representative for all the residents with that particular space. Generally, repairs will begin after 9:00 am unless an emergency dictates otherwise.

C. Individual Room/Suite/Townhouse Upkeep:

Students are responsible for cleaning their rooms and townhouses and for keeping them in good order. All students are expected to check out properly and thoroughly clean their rooms/townhouses prior to departure, including bathrooms and the kitchen (which includes appliances).
Students may not paint or perform damage repairs in their room/suite/townhouse.
Charges will be assessed by professional staff members for cleaning, painting, and any other additional work needed to restore the room to its original condition. Examples of common chargeable damages include but are not limited to tack and nail holes, paint chips from command hooks or similar adhesives, unremoved adhesives, rips in upholstery and chairs, and damaged screens and blinds. These charges are at the discretion of Community Living & Facilities Management professional staff members.
Students will have the opportunity to review an individual room condition report/individual townhouse report upon move-in to document the condition of the room/furnishings upon move-in. It is the resident’s responsibility to review this document in their online housing portal within the first two weeks of the semester.
Students who fail to complete their individual room condition report will be held accountable for all damages found upon move-out inspection by Community Living and facilities staff and are not able to appeal damages.

D. Residence Hall Damage Billing Assessment:

As members of the residential community, all students take responsibility for their living environment, both their immediate room/suite/townhouse, as well as the entire building/area.
Student accounts will be billed directly for individual and community damage (this includes areas outside specific residential facilities and identified clusters of townhouses). Students will receive an itemized list of individual damage charges via email to their Siena email account. Students may appeal individual damages, as directed on instructions included with their damage bill.
Damage assessments will be considered in the review of housing assignments for the subsequent term and may result in a cancellation of the housing license for either the responsible party and/or entire floors/wings of where the damage occurred.
The University reserves the right to relocate or assign students to housing of the University’s choice and/or place students on conditional/probationary housing status for a defined period of time.
Students with billable damage (individual and/or communal) in excess of $100 may be reassigned to other housing or have their license canceled immediately (i.e.: subject to more frequent Health/Safety inspections).

E. Communal-Area Damage:

Students are responsible for preserving the condition of their wing, floor and building or townhouse, as well as the surrounding area.
Students with information about who is responsible for acts of vandalism/damage are expected to report these actions to Community Living, Public Safety and/or the Dean of Students. Students may report information anonymously through Public Safety’s Anonymous Tip/Complaint Form.
When the University is unable to determine who is responsible for communal-area-damage, the costs will be equally distributed among all residents living on the wing/floor/building/area. These charges may not be appealed.

F. Snow Removal:

Shovels are available in all residence hall offices and in Public Safety for student’s personal use. Townhouse residents are responsible for snow removal from the entranceway, steps (where applicable), and the pathway leading to a primary pathway. All residents of the MacClosky Square and Cushing Village Townhouses are provided with a shovel that is to be used for clearing stoops and entrances.

G. Recycling:

Siena University is committed to preserving its environment through recycling. Students are expected to support recycling initiatives in their residence hall or townhouse by utilizing the recycling bin/single-stream recycling located in each hall. Please make sure all glass, tin, and aluminum items are empty and rinsed clean.

H. Technology:
All student housing includes computer networking and Internet connections, which are provided by the University’s Information Technology office. Basic cable television service is available to students residing in townhouses and the residence halls from a contracted vendor. Students should contact the vendor directly for inquiries related to purchasing additional packages and/or connectivity issues by calling their customer service center and identifying yourself as a student at Siena University.

I. Mail/Post Office Box Information:
Resident students are assigned a Student Post Office Box (SPOB). Students may be required to share their mailbox with another student. Mailboxes, except for the residents of Snyder Hall, are located in the Sarazen Student Union. Residents living in Snyder Hall will be assigned a Post Office Box located in Snyder Hall. A $20.00 replacement fee will be charged to any student who loses or does not return their SPOB key upon graduation or leaving the University (withdrawal, transfer, etc.).

II. Housing Policies and Procedures

Students or groups of students who fail to adhere to residence hall and townhouse safety policies and procedures may be held accountable through fines, damage billing and/or disciplinary referrals.

A. Housing License Agreement:

All full-time undergraduate students, with the exception of commuters (as defined at the time of admission) are required to live in University residence facilities, to the extent that space is available, and purchase a food-service plan. The University has a four year residency requirement for all residential students.
Student participation in the housing selection process or signing of the housing license at any time acknowledges student understanding of the University’s residency requirement as outlined in Siena Life. Continuing students who fail to reserve space for the next academic year during housing selection will be assigned to any available space (after new and transfer students are housed) and will be billed for room and food service.

B. Closing Periods:

Designated closing periods, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Winter break, Spring break, Easter, Senior Week, and summer are not included in the Housing License Agreement. Students may leave personal belongings in assigned accommodations during periods of break, except during summer break, at their own risk. Information on break closings and openings will be posted on the website and sent via email reminders during the academic year.
Students must submit a vacation housing request form online, provide written verification when requested, and be approved for occupancy during times when the campus and residence halls are closed. During these break periods, there will be no student staff members on duty.
Support services customarily provided by these staff members will not be available to students. Food service may have limited hours/availability depending on the vacation period.
Students who are currently on residence hall or disciplinary probation are not eligible for housing during breaks. Early arrivals for the fall and spring semesters are not permitted except for extraordinary circumstances and upon advanced approval from the Office of Community Living.
Students authorized to reside in campus housing during non-license periods (e.g. prior to and following the license period or during breaks) may be charged an additional fee and are not permitted to host guests. Anyone who arrives prior to the posted opening times in the housing agreement will not be admitted to the residence facility and/or will be charged a $60 per-night unauthorized occupancy charge and/or face disciplinary action.
If damage occurs in a residential area during the break period, the students staying in that area may be held responsible.
Emergency Closing Periods may emerge based on a number of factors (pandemic situation, long-term emergency, etc.) In events such as this, students may be required to vacate campus quickly. If a return to campus date is not known, the Office of Community Living reserves the right to enter student spaces to remove and discard food related items left in rooms and/or in refrigerators/freezers to prevent spoiling and health/safety concerns. In addition, the University reserves the right to adjust normal operations or procedures to maintain public order and/or the health, safety and welfare of the University community (see Public Order/Health, Safety, and Welfare of the Community)

C. Winter Recess:

Residential facilities will be completely closed during a portion of the winter break. Students authorized to return early during the winter break must be approved through the Office of Community Living.

D. Summer Housing:
Students are not required to live on campus during the summer. Summer housing is only available for a specific, defined period. Information regarding summer housing availability changes from year to year. For the most up to date information, please visit the Community Living website or email housing@siena.edu

E. Housing Assignments:

The Office of Community Living coordinates the housing assignments for all new and returning students. All housing assignments are based on single-sex housing per residence hall room, suite, and townhouse.
Transgender Student Housing Policy
New Residential Students
- a. New resident students will complete their housing application, which includes the Housing License Agreement, meal plan selection, and lifestyle and roommate preferences before arriving on campus.
- b. Specific deadlines and processes are communicated to the student’s Siena email account.
Returning Residential Students
- a. Returning resident students may select from available housing for the upcoming academic year through the selection process held in the spring semester. Specific information regarding the lottery process will be available online in the spring semester prior to room selection.
- b. Students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits in order to maintain a housing assignment unless approved by the Director of Community Living
- c. Any student not at the minimum credit level by July and January may jeopardize their housing space for the upcoming semester.
- d. The order for determining priority is via random assignment based on the student's housing cohort status.
Open Spaces
- a. The University reserves the right to assign, relocate, and/or consolidate students into open/vacant spaces as needed.
Study Abroad Students
Student residents who are studying abroad or enrolled in off campus, short term study programs during the housing selection process will receive a housing selection time based on criteria noted above and may designate a proxy for the selection if the student is concerned about internet connectivity while abroad.
Living with Others
- a. For some, living with one or more roommates is a new experience. Sharing a room/suite/townhouse with another person or persons requires communication, cooperation, and compromise.
- b. Students should discuss these expectations to form a starting point for communicating concerns and general agreements.
- c. To a large extent, the relationship between roommates is dependent upon mutual consideration of the feelings and needs of the other person. This mutual consideration
  affords all roommates the expectation:
  - i. to be able to live, study and sleep free from undue interference in a room
  - ii. that roommates will respect each other’s personal belongings
  - iii. to be able to live in a clean environment
  - iv. to have free access to one’s room and facilities without pressure from a roommate
  - v. of being respectful of another person's privacy
  - vi. to be able to host guests in compliance with University policies at agreed-upon times, and with the expectation that guests are to respect the rights of the host’s roommate(s) and other resident students
  - vii. of being free from fear or intimidation, physical and/or emotional harm of being able to refuse requests without having to feel guilty or selfish
  - viii. that any and all disagreements will be discussed with openness and mutual respect, and that it is acceptable to involve a Community Living staff member when necessary
Students are encouraged to see their Community Assistant or Residence Director if they feel their roommate is infringing upon their rights and attempts to resolve the situation are not working.
Room Change
Students may request a room change from their Residence Director or Area Coordinator. Room changes will be considered provided space is available. Any room changes occurring without the prior approval of the Community Living Professional Staff may result in the room change being canceled and the student relocated back to their original assignment.

III. Residence Hall and Townhouse Safety

A. Student ID/Saint Card:

Students are expected to carry their Saint Card ID at all times for access and identification.
For security and safety reasons, ID cards must not be lent or given to other parties.

B. Access System:

Each residence hall is equipped with an access control system, which utilizes the Siena University Saint Card to gain access.
The outside doors to each residence hall are locked 24 hours a day.
Residents have access via their Saint Card to the main entrance and other designated doors of their residence hall 24 hours a day during the periods that the housing license is in effect.
The Saint Card enables students (commuters and residents) to visit friends in residence halls 9 a.m. – 1 a.m., Sunday – Thursday, 9a.m. – 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Residents have 24-hour access to their own residence hall.
Unauthorized entry to or use of residence facilities is not permitted.
Propping open and/or opening any residence hall exterior door without proper use of an ID card compromises the safety of the residential community and may result in disciplinary action.
Non-matriculated students do not have access to residence facilities and must be registered as a “guest.”

C. Keys:

Each student is issued a room/townhouse key exclusively for their personal use. Students must immediately report any damaged or non-working locks to their Residence Director or to Public Safety.
Lost, stolen, or missing keys require a core change, and the student will be responsible for the costs.
For reasons of safety and security, keys may not be duplicated or shared.
All students must return their room keys to their hall/area office before they withdraw, change rooms, study abroad, or leave for summer vacation.

D. Emergency Exits:
Doors labeled Emergency Exit Only are not to be used except in the event of an emergency (fire alarm, etc.).
E. Windows/Screens:

Screens and glass window panes may not be removed from the windows.
Broken or damaged windows and/or screens should be reported to the Residence Director or Facilities immediately.
Using windows to exit or enter a building (other than in emergency situations) or passing items through windows is prohibited.
Screens should remain securely in windows at all times and should not be removed or allowed to hang by the security wire.
No objects may be placed on window ledges. Placing stereo speakers in student room/townhouse windows is prohibited.
Individuals may not sit or walk on window ledges.
Nothing may be thrown from windows or from the ground up to a window because these objects may cause injury and are a health/safety risk. Students are subject to University disciplinary action, including a cancellation of the housing license or removal from housing, for throwing items to or from windows.
Townhouse residents are responsible for the cleaning and/or cost of cleaning townhouse windows. All students are responsible for broken windows in their residences unless the responsible party can be identified and charged accordingly.

F. Lost/Damaged/Stolen Property:
The University is not liable for lost, damaged, or stolen personal property. Students are responsible for keeping their rooms/townhouses (including windows) locked at all times. The University urges all students to invest in adequate personal property insurance. Losses should be reported immediately to the Residence Director and to the Department of Public Safety.

G. Acceptable Furnishings:
When used properly, the following appliances (U.L. approved only) can be used in the residence halls and townhouses:

U.L. approved power strips
Portable hair dryers/curlers with automatic shutoff
Lamps (except halogen)
Electric kettles, water heaters, and hot pots with automatic shutoff
Coffee/tea makers with automatic shutoff
Irons with automatic shutoff
Refrigerators (maximum size of 4 cu. ft.) or Microfridge — as approved by the University vendor
Microwave ovens (limit of one per room with maximum wattage of 900 watts)
Fish (in five-gallon aquariums or smaller)
Interior battery-operated string lights (plug-in string lights are prohibited)
Battery operated LED string lights can be used for decorative purposes
LED plug-in neon sign (cannot be larger than 20% of the given wall where it is hanging
Small, well-maintained living houseplants
Plug-in air fresheners and diffusers

H. Prohibited Items: Décor, Furnishings and Appliances:

Personal Furniture - No personal furniture (couches, futons, chairs, etc.) is allowed in University housing unless manufactured and clearly labeled by the manufacturer as being flame retardant
Hot plates, slow cookers, air fryers, rice cookers, heating coils, personal sandwich makers, grills (George Foreman, etc.), waffle makers and any other cooking/heating device with exposed heating element/surface (except in the townhouses)
Toasters and toaster ovens (except in Townhouses)
Space heaters
Plug-in decorative string lights are prohibited
LED strip/string lights with adhesive backing
Appliances with exposed heating elements
Deep fryers (grease)
Commercial-type popcorn makers
Air conditioners (unless authorized by Health Services for a medical condition and installed by Facilities)
Irons without automatic shutoff
Curling irons without automatic shutoff
Smoke/fog machines
Multi plug adaptors, non-U.L. approved power strips, extension cords or any type and/or power strips plugged into another power strip
Motorized exercise equipment, such as treadmills
Curtains/window treatments cannot be used in any way in the residence halls, covering windows, closets, as dividers, etc. (the University has installed blinds in all residential spaces to ensure privacy)
Personal bed lofts, (only University installed lofts are permitted)
Waterbeds or other liquid-filled furniture
Personal (non-University issued) mattresses
Halogen lamps (floor or desk)
Candles (with or without wicks) and incense (used and unused). If discovered, candles are confiscated by University officials and disposed of immediately.
Bed or furnishings placed in such a way as to require residents to stand on the furnishings to open or close the window or impede emergency access/egress
Any live greens (decorations, Christmas trees, cut greens, wreaths, potted trees, etc.) other than small well-maintained, live houseplants
Large or bulky paper or fabric decorations (wallpaper, tapestries, large flags, sheets, etc.) hanging from ceiling, walls or windows are not permitted nor are items, other than those originally provided by the University, that divide a room or take up a significant amount of space (such as room dividers, bars, etc.)
Animals (other than fish in five-gallon aquariums or smaller)
Items placed on or over smoke/heat detectors, sprinkler piping or heads. No item may
obstruct airflow or water disbursement for fire safety equipment.
Items too close to sprinkler heads (18” minimum clearance required) no item may
obstruct airflow or water disbursement for fire safety equipment
Multiple electrical connectors (other than breaker-equipped outlet strips)
Splicing electrical extension cords into lighting or other fixtures
Hookahs
Fireworks
Flammable liquids (gasoline, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, etc.) and machines that use them
Propane and gas grills
Butane and butane torches
Inflatable or plastic pools or any other object used to hold large quantities of sand or liquids
Toy guns including, but not limited to, Nerf guns, gel blasters, Orbeez guns, or similar toys

When used properly, the following additional items may be used in the townhouses only:

Toaster ovens
Personal sandwich makers and grills (e.g., George Foreman grills)
Charcoal grills, provided they are operated at least 10 feet from combustible construction and balconies and only charcoal is burned (no open fires).

This list of prohibited items is not all-inclusive. Should items be found that are unsafe in the judgment of University officials, Siena reserves the right to confiscate them or require them to be removed.
*A list of prohibited items at College Suites will be provided to all students by College Suites Management staff

I. Residential Fire Safety Precautions:

Fire safety inspections will be conducted periodically. Residence Directors and/or the University safety officer, will inspect student rooms and townhouses at least once each semester. The inspection will look for fire, health, life safety hazards, proper waste disposal, and prohibited items. In the townhouses, more frequent inspections occur and the University-supplied fire extinguishers and emergency lighting will also be inspected. In the interest of safety and protection of property, Siena students are urged to exercise caution in the use of all electrical appliances and, in the townhouses, the heating system. Residents may not tamper with the heat meters and/or thermostats. Each residence hall room and townhouse is equipped with a smoke detector and sprinkler system. These early-warning devices are not to be covered and/or tampered with under any circumstances. Each townhouse is provided a fire extinguisher, and students should become familiar with its proper use. Townhouse residents must immediately report discharged fire extinguishers to Public Safety. During regularly scheduled safety inspections, fire extinguishers in each townhouse will be checked to make sure they are in operating order. All fires must be reported to Public Safety.
Access to the room must be kept unobstructed for emergency first responders. No furniture may block hallways, corridors, walkways, fire lanes and/or stoops. In addition, no furnishings will be allowed to reduce the normal height and width of the door opening. This includes, but is not limited to the following: doormats, decorations, shoes/cleats, athletic equipment, etc. The University may require students to remove any item blocking any area or any items considered safety hazards that may impede access by emergency services personnel. This includes residence hall and townhouse areas, interior and exterior.
Procedures for Responding to a Fire Alarm:
The building must be evacuated immediately any time a fire alarm is sounded. This is defined as exiting the building completely and remaining at least 50 feet from the perimeter of the building until an announcement is made that it is safe to re- enter. Familiarize yourself with the University’s Emergency Response Guide, and the evacuation map for your building.
Open Flames & Fire Pits:
Students are not allowed to have or use fire pits of any kind or produce any open flame outdoors

IV. Residence Hall Policies

A. Responsibility:
Students are responsible for what occurs in their room/suite/townhouse, whether or not they are present, if the responsible parties cannot be identified.
B. Solicitation in the Residential Facilities:
Soliciting or canvassing, political or otherwise, by outside agencies other than those approved by the Director of Community Living and / or the Director of Student Activities and Leadership Development or designee is prohibited. (See Solicitation Policy for further information).
C. Student Fundraisers/Drives:
Students or student groups wishing to conduct a fundraiser/drive in the residential areas must get advance permission from the Director of Community Living. To respect the privacy of resident students, students/groups may not go door to door in residence areas and must operate out of the lobby/lounge area. Furthermore, students/groups must follow all University/Community Living guidelines while fundraising.
D. Bicycles:
Bicycles must be kept in student rooms, outside in bicycle racks, or in designated bicycle storage rooms Fire and safety regulations prohibit bicycles in stairwells, corridors, entrances and exits. Bicycles stored in unauthorized locations will be removed by the Public Safety Department.
E. Roofs/Attics:
Students, visitors, and guests are not permitted on any roof or attic of any university building.
F. Hall Sports:
No sports may be played in residence hall hallways because of potential injury or damage to fire safety systems, lights, etc., and the noise associated with such activities.
G. Littering and Trash:
1. Students are responsible for taking their trash to the appropriate trash room/bin for their residential building/area.
2. Trash bins located in public bathrooms are not the appropriate disposal area for room
  trash.
3. Removal of garbage found on stoops and in hallways will be billed to the residents of that particular area.
4. Broken glass around residential areas poses a significant safety risk. The cleanup cost for glass removal will be billed to residents of that area.

H. Sprinkler System/Fire Safety Equipment:
Hanging from or leaning on the sprinkler system piping and/or tampering with any fire safety equipment (e.g. pull boxes, Stopper II covers, smoke or heat detectors, fire-alarm speakers in suites, fire extinguishers, exit signs, etc.) is strictly prohibited.