Residence
Hall Room Entry
It is the policy of the University to ensure that students’ privacy
in their residence hall rooms is consistent with the basic
responsibilities of the
institution to fulfill its educational function and to conduct day-to-day operations.
The responsibilities of the University require the reservation
of a reasonable right of entry into student rooms to assure proper
upkeep, to paint, to repair, and to provide for the health and
safety of all residents in a residence hall, and/or to investigate
when reasonable cause exists to believe that a violation of residence
hall or other university regulations is occurring within student
rooms. Maintenance concerns may also necessitate entry.
As an occupant of a room, a student is responsible for its upkeep
and is liable for damage to or loss from the room. (See Penalties.)
Health and Safety
Inspections
The University reserves the right to inspect residence hall
rooms, apartments and suites and to regulate the use of the
premises
in accordance with the University and residence hall rules and
regulations.
Each apartment or room will be inspected by Residence
Life staff once during both the fall and spring semesters. These
inspections
require a 24-hour advance notice that will be posted in each
section or apartment building. If the student is not present,
the room
will be inspected in the resident's absence.
All inspections will
be of items in plain view. However, suspicion of a lease or
legal violation could result in a more thorough
search. Furthermore, Property Management personnel may enter
a room at
any time to inspect University property.
Property
Management will conduct inspections of all rooms, apartments
and suites when these spaces are vacated
during
the fall and spring semesters and again at the end of the
spring semester. Any damage or loss of furnishings will be subject
to
charges to the resident(s) of the space. (See Penalties.)
Room Inspections by Residence Life Staff
It is the policy of the University that residence hall staff
will enter student rooms for room inspections. These are
routinely scheduled
and included in the in the room and board license agreement
for all residents.
Notification of general dates will be
posted at
least one week in advance on residence hall bulletin
boards and in residence hall First Class folders. These inspections
are
intended to identify damage or conditions potentially
harmful
to the safety
of the residence hall and/or the health of its residents.
Inspections
of this nature are scheduled at least once per semester. Residents
will be notified immediately of any violations and
asked to correct the violation immediately.
Inspections are also
done
at the close
of the residence hall prior to every institutional
break.
These inspections are done to be certain that there
are no violations that will result in damage to a hall during
the
closing (Example:
windows left open that could cause pipes to freeze
in cold weather).
Entry into a student room may occur when there
is a clear or apparent emergency, such as fire, serious illness
or injury, or where danger
threatens persons or property.
Staff may also enter
a student room when they residents have extended an invitation
for
them
to do
so.
Entry into Student Rooms by Guests
Any person not registered to live in the residence hall
is considered to be a guest. As such, entrance to any room
is
permitted only
at the invitation of the residents of that room. Any guest
(including family members) need to be provided access
by the occupying resident.
Complex Marshalls
There are currently five Complex Marshalls
who each are assigned 3 or 4 residence halls on campus
and regularly tour them to check
for safety violations. They also conduct fire safety awareness
programs and respond to fire alarms. The current Complex Marshalls
and the halls they are responsible for are:
Christopher Gravelle (24D Baumann) - Knox, Oxford, Somerset, DTAV/Patch
Ryan Urquhart(134 Androscoggin) - Androscoggin, Cumberland, Gannett
Aaron Perreault (345 Hancock) - Hancock, Hart, Oak
Danni Perratto (128 Penobscot) - Penobscot, Stodder, Balentine, Colvin
Marie Frizzell (328 Kennebec) - York, Kennebec, Aroostook, Estabrooke
Condition of Rooms
The following is a list of some (but not all) examples
of things staff will be looking for when
conducting health and safety inspections. Staff will also note
the lack of sanitary living conditions that could lead to infestation
(See Integrated Pest Management for more information.)
• Evacuation
plans should be posted in each student room. If
they are missing, please contact Property Management at 581-4444
to have one made and re-hung.
• Ceilings in all residence facilities, including rooms, suites,
lounges, hallways and lobbies must be free of combustible materials.
• Cloth wall hangings (tapestries) create fire code concerns,
and are limited to one item on one wall, each not to exceed four
feet by six feet.
• Decorations or furnishings
MUST NOT hinder means of exit. A
minimum unobstructed pathway of 28 inches is required for adequate
emergency exiting. This specifically includes windows
and window areas that cannot be obstructed with chairs, electronic
devices, signs and other objects that impede quick exiting
of
the room/building.
• Decorations and other
articles shall not be hung from or placed in position so as
to block sprinkler heads, fire alarm systems
or smoke detectors. The hanging of articles from sprinkler
pipes is prohibited under state fire codes. A minimum
clearance of 18 inches is required around each sprinkler head.
• Only 1 sq. foot of paper on room doors is allowed.
• Antennae, aerials and other wiring are not allowed on the
outside of any residence facility.
• Bicycles are not allowed to be stored in residence hall rooms.
For additional information about policies, rules and regulations
pertaining to Residence Life and the student Code of Conduct,
please visit the Res. Life Web site at: http://www.umaine.edu/rlp/
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