Housing Forms and Policies

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University Policies

Wright State University–Lake Campus, through the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct, has instituted policies in order to promote a safe community conducive to academic success. All students at Wright State University must abide by the Code of Student Conduct; in addition, there are policies in the code that are specific to university housing. Housing policies are specific only to residential students.

Please take the time to review these policies so that you will know the behavior that is expected from students living in campus housing at Wright State University–Lake Campus.

Housing Policies

The Office of Student Services reserves the right to add, delete, or amend the terms and conditions contained herein as necessary.

Apartment Unit Standards

  • What are unit standards?

    Unit Standards are negotiated in an apartment unit between roommates. Unit Standards are the agreements made by the residents within their assigned apartment unit and define how they will relate to each other and treat each other. Unit Standards are a process that forms a healthy community through dialogue, compromise, and commitment. Unit Standards evolve; therefore, the process is never finished. Unit Standards is an on-going process that defines mutual expectations for how the roommates in a unit will function on an interpersonal level. Unit Standards further provide a mechanism for the roommates of a unit to respond to behaviors that violate the agreements of the unit.

    An important aspect of the Unit Standards process is discussing and deciding how residents will hold each other and themselves accountable for agreements and expectations. Discussing the issues of responsibility and accountability can be difficult, because often a resident may believe that “someone else” (i.e., a resident assistant, University Police, Community Coordinator) is responsible for their needs. Equally difficult can be the thought of holding a roommate, who is a peer, to a standard.

  • Why have unit standards?

    At the Lake Campus and Wright State University, we believe that college students are maturing adults, responsible for making choices and learning from the outcomes of these choices. The young adult years are perceived as years of freedom, experimentation, limit finding, and limit testing. An important area of decision-making for college students concerns lifestyle and personal conduct.

    Traditional college-age people may typically reject "rules" imposed from the "outside". They may reject authorities who appear to be trying to deny them their "freedom" or “independence". At the very same time they may become angry with authorities who don't meet their needs at a time when they expect their needs to be met. Unit Standards provides a means by which a student’s expectations of the authority to meet their needs shifts to a recognition that the student and the community must work together to create an environment that best meets every ones' needs. The authority (CC) becomes a person who helps in this process, instead of someone who fixes things or always punishes behavior that is not in line with expectations.

    If every student lived in perfect isolation, he or she could conduct him or herself in any way. However, in residential communities, we are not in isolation but part of a society. Our behavior impacts other people, and in the same way, the behavior of other people impacts us. We may or may not realize that our behavior affects others or we may believe that everyone has the same expectations that we have. This last concept can extend to a point where we believe that everyone has the same expectations at the same time, i.e., “if I want to listen to music now, everyone wants to listen to music now,” or, “if I don't mind dirty dishes in the sink for a night or two then that will be fine with everyone in the unit.”

    If we are to live together in reasonable harmony, we must have the opportunity to express our expectations of how we want to be affected by others. By establishing an awareness of expectations, roommates can discuss any differences, and come to agreement on ways to live with these differences or compromise to accommodate the differences. This process may not be easy, since it requires people to achieve new understandings and new behaviors quickly. 

    The context of learning that is created by the Unit Standards discussion can be a powerful tool to encourage student development and a healthy community. We have already identified how the process can cause an awareness of others. It can also encourage students to build self-esteem through declaring oneself, through assertive interactions, and through the empowerment that comes from group agreement. By establishing Unit Standards and shared responsibility, roommates are empowered to deal with problems before they occur.

  • What about housing and university policies and procedures?

    The University has policies and procedures by which all residents must abide. These policies, which establish minimum behavioral expectations and are in agreement with local, state, and federal laws, represent basic safety and self-management standards necessary to assure reasonable quality-of-life for all residents. Unit Standards do not replace these policies, nor may they be a contradiction or violation of established rules. For example, a unit may not form a standard that their quiet hours will begin at 2:00 a.m., as Lake Campus has an established policy about quiet hours. However, these policies and procedures are of such basic nature that they should not impede a unit's ability to create the standards they desire. See “Community Policies and Information" for a full list of policies.

  • How are unit standards developed?

    Unit Standards are developed through group discussion and consensus. Through this format, each resident is afforded the opportunity to assert his/her point of view. An underlying tenet of this system is the belief that in order to have one's needs met, one must accept responsibility for participation in the system designed to negotiate one's needs. Through implementing the Unit Standards model, the university is providing the opportunity for residents to learn to take responsibility for their experiences, and that residents are not simply passive recipients of their experiences. Recognition of this concept can lead to personal empowerment.

    The staff in your community know a great deal about Unit Standards. Please feel free to ask questions and to get involved.

Weapons Policy

Wright State University–Lake Campus is committed to preserving the safety, security, and well-being of all residential students and their guests. Students, parents, siblings, and guests who may assist a student in packing and moving to campus must be aware of some important policies. 

The use, possession, or carrying of weapons, including, but not limited to, pistols, rifles, shotguns, airsoft guns, paintball guns, all pellet/BB guns, dangerous knives, ammunition, or any stun device, or other dangerous weapons is prohibited while on university-owned or controlled property, or at university-sponsored or supervised activities, except by university police officers and other persons specifically authorized by the university. For fire and general safety reasons the possession of firearms, ammunition, firecrackers, explosive or combustible materials, and/or injury threatening weapons are strictly prohibited.

Individuals found to be in possession of a firearm may be subject to the immediate cancellation of their campus housing agreements and will face further university disciplinary and/or criminal action. The above-mentioned policy also applies to guests of residents when they are visiting residents on campus.

A resident who hosts a guest is responsible for the guest's conduct at all times, as well as any damages incurred by that guest. Guests must comply with all university and community policies. Guests who violate the policy may be asked to leave the community and/or university property and may be subject to further university action.

Please be aware of these policies when considering which items to bring to campus. Every student is responsible for knowing the rules and regulations of the university, so it is important for you to read the Wright State University:

Visitation and Overnight Guest Policy

Visitation

This visitation policy is designed with the safety and consideration of our community members and property in mind. For the convenience of our community members, visitation hours in campus housing units are not limited. Residents are permitted to host guests at any time, so long as the rights and privacy of the other persons living in that environment are taken into consideration. The definition of a guest is any person who does not hold a residence contract or lease for the particular unit. Due to safety concerns, at no time should there be more than 12 persons in a campus apartment. All roommates must be in mutual agreement about a guest before a guest may be hosted in the unit. At the beginning of the academic year (and when a new student moves into the unit), all students will be required to participate in the unit standards process wherein typical roommate issues, including the hosting of guests, will be discussed and written in contract form. In cases where roommates cannot agree, the right of a person to occupy her or his room/apartment without the presence of an overnight guest must take precedence over the right of a roommate to host guests. 

A resident who hosts a guest is responsible for the guest's conduct at all times and any damages incurred by that guest. All guests must comply with all university and community policies. The host must be with the guest at all times. Guests are not permitted to be unescorted, and may not be left unattended in the host's living unit. If a guest violates policy and is asked to leave the community by a staff member, the guest must comply. Failure to do so will result in a request for police assistance. Violation of this policy may include, but is not limited to, relocation of the violating resident or cancellation of the violating resident's housing contract.

Overnight Guest Policy 

Unless otherwise noted, all general visitation expectations apply. An overnight guest is defined as any person who does not hold a residence contract or lease for the particular room/apartment and intends to occupy the room/apartment overnight. The university recognizes that residents may wish to occasionally host overnight guests; however, the presence of overnight guests requires consideration of the rights of all roommates. Residents must adhere to the following:

  • The residents’ unit standards agreement must reflect an acceptance and willingness to occasionally host overnight guests. The right of a resident to occupy her or his room/apartment without the presence of an overnight guest takes precedence over the privilege of a resident to host overnight guests. 
  • The privilege of hosting an overnight guest is intended for infrequent, special occasions only. Under no circumstances are residents permitted to host overnight guests on consecutive weekdays or weekends as this is an imposition on the rights of the roommate(s) whether the roommate(s) is present or not. 
  • Prior to hosting an overnight guest, the host resident must obtain the consent of the roommate(s). Residents must obtain prior approval by Residence Life and Housing if they wish to have guests under the age of 18 in a residential area or unit past posted quiet hours or overnight. The minor must have a parent or legal guardian fill out the minor guest registration form.
  • Failure to register overnight guests who are minors will result in but is not limited to, loss of overnight guest visitation privileges, relocation of the violating host(s), or cancellation of the housing agreement of the violating host(s).

Silent Witness

To ensure the safety of the Wright State University community, the Wright State University Police Department has established a mission to:

  • provide the highest level of law enforcement service through the enforcement of laws and the protection of life, property and the constitutional rights of all. The department exists to ensure a safe and secure educational environment that promotes diversity, tolerance, academic freedom, and respect for the individual.

For more information about the Wright State University Police Department and the officer assigned to Lake Campus, please visit the police department website or contact them directly via Student Services at 419-586-0300.

What is the Silent Witness?

To help facilitate the WSUPD mission, they have developed the Silent Witness form. This is an online form where the university community can anonymously report criminal activity on campus. To report a crime on campus, you can either call the Wright State University Police Department directly at 937-775-2111 or fill out the Silent Witness Online form.

Cancellation

We do understand that circumstances may arise to change your housing plans and cancellation may become necessary. Full details regarding cancellation policies are included in the terms and conditions document.