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There are many ways to personalize a room. Basically, as long as you don’t harm the room and use only approved appliances, you are limited only by your imagination. Decorations and other "personal touches” can add immensely to making your room more homelike and comfortable. This added comfort can easily be destroyed by failing to recognize and take the necessary precautions to prevent potential safety hazards. Remember, safe actions may well protect the lives of not only your roommates, but of other building residents as well. While there is opportunity for students to express individuality in decorating their rooms, the following guidelines are to be followed both in the interest of maximizing comfort and safety and preserving our facilities. Failure to follow policies pertaining to your room may result in disciplinary action.
Bunk Beds
The University provides bunkable beds in some student rooms. Students who need assistance bunking (or unbunking) their beds or who require a bedrail for the top bunk should call the Housing Facilities Office at x77502. The University is not responsible for injuries resulting from
falling out of bunked beds or lofts.
Candles, Incense, and Oil Burning Lamps
The use of candles, oil lamps, or any device producing an open flame is extremely hazardous and is prohibited. Storage or use of a prohibited device may result in a charge of $25 per person per
day.
Balconies/Landings (Internal)
In order to maintain a safe environment, jumping from or throwing items off internal balconies/landings is prohibited.
Balconies and Porches (External)
Areas containing balconies and porches are for your use and enjoyment. In order to keep this a safe and attractive campus, the following policies are to be observed:
• Storage of trash or recycling on balconies and porches is prohibited. The charge for removal of trash is $25 per bag.
• The storage of University-provided furniture on balconies is prohibited.
• Throwing items from balconies and porches is prohibited (see the Window Policy).
• The hanging or drying of clothes on balconies is prohibited.
• Except for the timeframe allotted in the Holiday Decorations policy, the use of decorative lights on porches is prohibited.
Electrical Outlets and Extension Cords
Multi-plug wall outlets and multi-plug extension cords are dangerous and therefore prohibited. If you need more outlets, use a power strip with a fuse/surge protector.
Grills
Grilling is permitted only at the grills provided in designated grilling areas and is not permitted on patios/balconies or in the apartment areas. Possession of a grill is a violation which may result in a charge of 25 per person per day.
Halogen Lamps/Bulbs
Halogen lamps and bulbs generate tremendously high temperatures and are therefore prohibited. Storage or use of a prohibited device may result in a charge of $25 per person per day.
Appliances
In order to minimize safety risks, the following standards have been set for the residential
facilities on campus. Storage or use of a prohibited device may result in a charge of $25 per person per day.
Approved Appliances
Electric can opener
Hair dryer (up to 1750 watts)
Coffee maker/coffee pot
Electric shaver
Small microwave oven
Enclosed or low heat hot pot
Toaster oven
Slow cooker/crock pot
CD player/stereo/radio
TV and VCR/DVD player
Refrigerator (220 watts; 4.2 cubic feet)
Personal computer and printer
Game Consoles (X-Box, Nintendo, etc.)
Approved Appliances in Apartment
Kitchens
Deep fat fryer
Hot oil popcorn popper
Electric wok or griddle
Regular toaster
Indoor grills (George Foreman-type)
Any high heat appliance or other appliance
capable of heating grease to a burning point
Prohibited Appliances
Open coil devices such as hot plates and broilers
Space heaters (electric or kerosene)
Outdoor “open flame” grills
Halogen Lamps/bulbs
Fog Machines
Climate Control
Highrise Buildings
Heating and air-conditioning systems for the highrises operate with continuous airflow. Each wing of rooms is controlled by one central thermostat. This thermostat calls for heating/cooling according to the average temperature of the air flowing through the entire wing. If students in one room block their vents, the adjacent rooms receive increased airflow. Under this circumstance, if students in the adjacent rooms open their windows for comfort, the average temperature in the wing is reduced or increased and the thermostat responds with more heat or air conditioning to be supplied to the entire wing. Hence, blocking your vents or opening your windows can only serve to disrupt the normal functioning of the system for everyone on the wing. Because of this, there is a charge if your blocked vent causes such a problem.
If you find that the temperature is not right in your room, check with your neighbors. If everyone’s vents are adjusted properly and windows are closed, call the Housing Facilities Office at x77502.
Apartments and Suites
Each suite and apartment has individual thermostats. If you have questions about how to operate your thermostat, please contact your RA/RM. If you have concerns that it might not be operating properly, call the Housing Facilities Office at x77502 or submit an on-line work order at
www.housing.uncc.edu.
When using your air conditioning, setting the temperature of your thermostat below 68 degrees may cause the air conditioning unit to freeze and quit working. Please help us avoid problems by keeping the thermostat set above 68 degrees!
During the break periods, cold weather can affect water pipes in apartments and suites. Turning the thermostat too low during cold weather might cause freezing or bursting of pipes and flooding of an apartment or suite. If you live in an area where you can control the temperature, please leave the heat on with a setting of 55-60 degrees. We also suggest that you do not shut off your hot water heater. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in your being held financially responsible for damages caused by cold/freezing weather.
Decorations
The use of room decorations is encouraged, but some safety and damage guidelines apply.
• Any electrical device used in the decorating of your room must be UL approved.
• The use of devices such as strip lights can only be used inside your unit. They cannot be installed on balconies, exterior doors and windows, or in hallways.
• Any decoration used cannot block the use of windows, doors, or cause tripping hazards on the floors.
• All devices are to be unplugged or turned off before leaving your unit.
• All decorative materials must be intrinsically flameproof or fire retardant or so rendered by treatment with solutions.
• Use of nails, screws, and/or self adhesive hooks on varnished or painted surfaces can cause damage for which you will be billed.
• It is strongly recommended that you do not use double sided sticky tape or glue when hanging decorations where sheetrock walls are located. Removal of the tape often causes “paint tears” on the sheetrock. Use regular tape, white poster putty, or tacks to hang these decorations and prevent future charges for room damage.
• The use of highly flammable materials, such as hay, straw, Spanish moss, cloth ceiling coverings, etc. is prohibited.
Emergency Repairs
For emergency repair needs during regular office hours (most weekdays from 8 AM until 5 PM), please call x77502. If an emergency problem should arise after office hours (such as a water leak), contact an RA or RM (by calling the front desk phone) or University Police immediately. University officials and/or contractors will enter your unit to respond to emergency situations.
Facilities Management Repair Referrals
The University Facilities Management handles all electrical issues in the residence halls. Because Facilities Management handles maintenance for the entire university, the response time may take longer than 24 hours to respond to the repair referral. All service calls should go through the Housing Facilities Office at x77502. Facilities staff lock all doors when leaving after a repair is completed. Be sure to carry your keys/cards to avoid being locked out.
Fireworks and Other Combustible Materials
Ammunition, fireworks, gasoline, lighter fluid, motorcycles, mopeds and any other combustible, explosive, and/or flammable materials are prohibited in the residential areas. Possession of a these items is a violation which may result in disciplinary action, a charge of $25 per person per day, and/or confiscation of the prohibited item.
Furniture
All rooms, suites, and apartments are furnished with desks, chairs, single beds, closets or wardrobes, dressers, wastebasket, recycling bin, and window blinds. Please do not remove room furniture from rooms, suites, and apartments.
Room furniture should never be left in study rooms, hallways, lounges, porches, or balconies. A charge of $25 per person per day as well as labor charges will result when Housing Facilities staff must remove individual room furniture from public areas. Further, if the furniture issued when you accepted occupancy is not in the room, suite, or apartment when you check out, you will be held responsible for full replacement costs.
Holiday Decorations
The use of holiday decorations as part of individual and community celebrations is permitted as long as the following policies are observed:
• For fire safety purposes, only artificial trees are permitted. Artificial trees must be brought into the residence halls via the stairwells or elevator only (i.e. not through a window or balcony). Lighting
wires must not make contact with any metallic part of the tree.
• There must be a safe distance between displays; a continuous stream of decorative material from room to room or hallway to hallway is not permitted.
• All decorative materials must be intrinsically flameproof or fire retardant or so rendered by treatment with solutions. It is impractical to flameproof paper on-site; flame proofed decorating
paper is available commercially and must be used in all cases. Materials unlikely to be rendered flameproof by ordinary treatment include natural leaves, tree branches, cornstalks, hay, cotton batting, and similar materials.
• Electrical devices, lights, cords, etc., must be UL approved. All electrical cords should be checked for frayed parts, loose connectors, etc.
• Candles, gas, or oil-fired lanterns, or any device producing an open flame are not allowed.
• Residents must turn off decorative lights when they leave for the evening and when they are sleeping.
• Public area (including balcony and porch) decorations must be removed before the end of the semester in which they are used. Floors and/or individual residents will be billed for any necessary removal of abandoned decorations.
Lofts
In order to provide a safe alternative to the typical furniture layout, the following guidelines have been developed for student construction of loft systems in Sanford, Moore, Scott, and Holshouser Halls only. Lofts are not permitted in other residence halls.
• Must be free standing (not fastened to walls or ceilings) where the weight rests on floor.
• Must be structurally able to safely support a student’s or students’ weight.
• Must be designed/built in such a manner that the removal of built-in, bolted-in, and/or permanent furniture will not be required.
• Because storage space is not available, University bed frames and mattresses must be incorporated into the loft. Alterations are limited to the removal of nuts and bolts only. Do not remove
rivets!
• Must not block doorway(s). Door(s) must be able to swing open fully and without restriction.
• Must be located in such a manner as to allow repairs of heating/cooling units, windows, etc.
• Must be at least 3 feet from main construction frame to the ceiling (which is 8 feet high). The reasons for this restriction are to prevent head injury and serious threat to life from rising smoke and toxic fumes in the event of a fire.
• Lumber must be smooth and fire retardant. To meet this code, "non-com" stamped lumber may be used or two coats of fire-retardant varnish may be applied (Save label for proof of application.) Most hardware stores have an additive to make the varnish fire retardant.
• All lofts are to be inspected and approved by the Housing Facilities Office. Any deviations from the above guidelines must meet the approval of the Housing Facilities Office. Failure to seek approval and/or inspection could result in disciplinary action, a charge of $25, and/or removal/confiscation of the loft.
• All furniture is to be replaced in its original location and condition when the residents move out. All loft materials must be removed from the room.
• Damages to the room or its furnishings, and/or the cost of replacement of missing furniture, will be billed to the residents of the room.
The Department of Housing and Residence Life does not recommend or suggest that residents build lofts in their rooms, and is in no way responsible for such lofts or any damages or injuries caused by their use.
Pest Control
The residential areas are sprayed on a regular basis to control pests. Residents can assist in this effort by keeping their rooms clean and putting food away in sealed containers promptly. If you find that you have a problem with pests, please contact the Housing Facilities Office at x77502 to determine when the next service call is scheduled. Service calls are scheduled on a weekly basis.
Pets
The only pets allowed on campus are fish in properly maintained and cleaned aquariums (maximum aquarium size is 10 gallons). Please see the section “University Policies” under Pet Policy for more information. Having illegal pets may result in a charge of $25 per person per day.
Preventative Maintenance
In order to provide a pleasant and safe residential experience, the Housing Facilities staff has implemented a preventative maintenance program. During the academic year, Housing Facilities staff will be entering all residential areas to make sure that everything is functioning properly (bathroom fixtures, drawers, cabinets, fans, etc.). 48 hours notice will be provided before entering your unit. This inspection usually takes about two hours to complete. Recognizing the academic nature of college life, staff will only enter rooms from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
for non-emergency repairs.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators must be limited to 220 watts and must not exceed 4.2 cubic feet in size. As long as the supply lasts, students may rent a Microfridges (combination refrigerator/ freezer and microwave oven) or a small refrigerator for their room through the Housing Facilities Office at x77502. These
refrigerators are specifically designed for residence halls and are in compliance with size regulations.
Residential Options
Housing offers a variety of “lifestyle” options to meet the varying needs and interests of our students. These structured living and learning programs allow you to concentrate on special interests and explore ways of life that may be different from your own. To give you an idea of the available living options, floor plans of all residences and descriptions of the special lifestyle options can be found on our website (www.housing.uncc.edu).
Room Selection for Next Year
The room selection process for housing for the following Fall semester occurs during the preceding Spring semester of each academic year. Current UNC Charlotte on-campus residents have first priority for selecting student rooms, suites and apartments. Some current residents will not be allowed to return to their current room; these residents are considered “displaced” and will be able to request other rooms. General information about the Room Selection process is available during the Spring semester. Please visit our website or contact the Housing Assignments Office for more information.
Recycling
The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling hopes that you make recycling and conservation part of your educational experience at UNC Charlotte. Newspapers, magazines, aluminum cans, and glass and plastic bottles can be recycled in the residence halls. Each room, suite, or apartment has a recycling bin. When your bin is full, please carry it out to your residence hall’s recycling station and empty it into the appropriate sections. Contact the Recycling Office at x72137 or online at http://facilities.uncc.edu/recycling if you have questions.
Indoor Locations
• On the highrise lobbies (even floors)
• In the lobbies and lounges of Cedar, Sycamore, and Hickory
• In the trash rooms of Hawthorn, Oak Witherspoon, C.F. Lynch, and Laurel
Outdoor Locations
• C.F. Lynch: in the main parking lot on the front entrance side
• Moore: near the dumpster behind the
building
• Sanford: near the dumpster behind the building
• Greek Village: near the dumpster area
• Holshouser, Scott, and Hunt Village: behind Holshouser
• Martin Village: in the parking lot, near the J building
• Hawthorn: near the dumpster
• Phase III and Phase IVA: near the dumpster of Phase III
• Phase V: parking lot near the dumpster at Elm
• Witherspoon & Laurel: Between Witherspoon and Laurel (cardboard recycling is available)
Routine Repair Requests
Any facility-related problems in the room, hallway, suite, or bathroom should be reported immediately to the Housing Facilities Office via the web at www.housing.uncc.edu. Requesting service authorizes university officials and/or contractors to enter your unit. Refusing them admittance will result in loss of your priority in the repair schedule and may cause delay in your repair. Housing Facilities staff lock all doors when leaving after a repair is completed. Be sure to carry your keys/cards to avoid being locked out.
Room Painting
Students living in the highrises are permitted to paint their rooms with the approval of the Associate Director for Operations. Apartment and suite rooms may not be painted because the presence of carpet necessitates professional skills and precautions. The following guidelines must be followed:
• The University provides the appropriate
paint and equipment with which you may paint your room. Only University selected paint may be used.
• No area will be painted by the students or the University more frequently than once every three years, unless recommended by the RC and approved by the Associate Director for Operations.
• Mural painting is not allowed in student rooms.
• If any painting job is found unacceptable upon inspection, the student(s) responsible for painting the room will be charged the full cost of correcting the painting errors.
• Contact the Housing Facilities Office at x77502 to determine the status of your room.
• Room painting is not permitted during the last two weeks of each semester due to constraints on student and staff time.
Storage
Housing and Residence Life does not have storage space for either University supplied furniture that a resident chooses not to use or for unused personal belongings. In the apartment and suite areas, for safety purposes, no items should be stored under porches or in stairwell areas.
Vacant Rooms
Use of vacant bedrooms inside your suite or apartment is prohibited and will result in a charge of $25 per day per person. The storing of belongings or allowing guests to temporarily use this space is not allowed because this space may be assigned to a new resident at any time. Forced entry into these spaces will be charged as damage to all the residents unless a specific individual is identified to accept responsibility for the charges. Similarly, storing of belongings or allowing guests to temporarily use the unassigned space within a highrise double is prohibited and may result in a charge of $25 per day.
Waterbeds
Standard waterbeds are permitted in the bedrooms of ground floor living units only. Persons utilizing waterbeds must inform the RC so that an inspection can be completed to verify that the waterbed is installed and set up properly. The Department of Housing and Residence Life recommends that anyone using a waterbed carry the appropriate casualty and/or liability insurance.
Window Decorations
If residents decorate their room windows, they should give consideration to the uniqueness of the University and the diverse population it serves. The Housing and Residence Life staff will contact residents if inappropriate or potentially offensive objects and/or decorations in the windows are observed. Anything posted on the windows must be removed upon checkout. Additionally, nothing may be outside the windows on any residential buildings (per the window policy).
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