Within the Room

Painting of residence hall rooms is not permitted, including murals. It is not permitted to paint in a room to fix or improve. This kind of activity needs to be completed by Facilities Management & Safety.

A Housing and Residence Life staff inspect all rooms before residents arrive. After move in, you will need to complete a Room Condition Report at ERezLife. Make sure all furniture items are present and that any room damages or concerns are noted. Any damage that may occur between move-in and move-out will be your responsibility and the shared responsibility of your roommates. If you wish to take responsibility for damages, please contact your GRD/RD/ARD to complete a Damage Responsibility Form.

You are encouraged to personalize your room to make it feel like home, but adhere to these safety concerns:

• You may decorate your room with posters, but only 25% of the wall space can be covered with posters or tapestries due to fire safety concerns. Tapestries or other items may not be suspended from the ceiling and removable wallpaper cannot be used on any portion of the wall, fixtures, or furniture.
• Only 3M Command Products are recommended for use, however, these can still cause damage to some walls. Follow product directions to avoid damage. Damage may result in a monetary fee/fine assessed to the student.
  • 3M Command products are prohibited in Carr, Luchs, Sowle, and Tanaka Halls. Finish nails are recommended to install decorations.
• Do not put holes in the walls or furnishings.
• Do not mount TVs to walls.
• No candles are allowed (lit or unlit). Tart/candle warmers are also not allowed.

Although you are encouraged to personalize your room, it is also important to remember that you are now living within a residential community. Certain items or displays that you may find funny or appropriate may offend your roommates or your surrounding community. Thus, it is important to communicate with your roommate(s) throughout your stay together.

Each residential room includes built-in or stand-alone drawers and cabinets. Additionally, each room contains a desk, desk chair, bed, bed safety rail (for rooms with bunked beds), and a mattress for each resident. Each room contains two trash cans and one refrigerator/microwave unit (no personal refrigerators or microwaves are allowed). Room furniture or furnishing may not be removed from the room or from one room to another which includes Front Four quads and suites. Removal of furniture may result in room residents being charged for the replacement of missing items.

Every semester, Housing and Residence Life staff will conduct a room inspection to ensure your room meets health and safety standards. Notification will be given, approximately 7 days prior, to let you know when inspections will be conducted.

During the inspections, your room, outlets, wall decorations, and general cleanliness will be assessed. Your personal items will not be searched. Any illegal or prohibited items found may be confiscated at this time. A fee of $25 may be assessed for confiscated items, along with conduct referrals for any alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct.

Confiscated items may be claimed at the end of each semester from the building Staff Office. Unclaimed confiscated items will be donated or disposed of 30 days after the end of each semester.

Commonly confiscated prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

• Candles
• Wax warmers (Scentsy, etc.)
• Hot plates, grills, etc.
• Extension cords, outlet splitters (creating more than one outlet from a single outlet)
• Empty alcohol bottles used for decoration (if under the age of 21 or living in a substance free community)
• Halogen, “octopus,” torchiere lamps with exposed bulbs
• Multi-plug adapters, such as cube adapters, outlet splitters
• Hover boards

The university respects students’ right to privacy. However, a university official may enter a student room without permission under the following circumstances:

• During an emergency (e.g., fire alarm)
• To check on the well-being of a resident
• To inspect, maintain, and renovate rooms
• To address a nuisance to the community

Failing to respond to a reasonable request by a university official (such as being asked to open your door) will result in a conduct referral to the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility. University officials include all levels of in-hall staff.

• Unauthorized or unapproved room changes are prohibited. All room changes must be approved by the SRA or RD/GRD/ARD of the building or complex. Moving into a room prior to finalizing a room change request could result in the cancellation of the request, a conduct referral, and/or being billed for both spaces.
• Anyone living in or occupying a space that is not assigned to the room is prohibited.
• Actively seeking and/or operating any aspect of a business from your residence hall room or anywhere inside a residence hall is prohibited. This includes renting your space to individuals not assigned to the space.

• Soliciting in residential communities is prohibited. Should you observe sales or solicitation occurring in your hall, contact a Housing and Residence Life staff member or the Ohio University Police Department at 740.593.1911.
• Individuals or outside agencies, businesses, or product events are prohibited from using rooms, the buildings or adjacent grounds for any commercial purpose or business, unless written permission has been granted from Housing and Residence Life

Some of the residence halls on campus are part of a heating/cooling system powered in part by chilled water and steam circulating through the buildings. Once outside temperatures begin to decrease in the late fall, OHIO’s Facilities Management department turns off the chilled water and turns on the steam system that controls heating. The opposite occurs in spring. Please be aware that this may limit temperature control in residence hall rooms. If you have a concern regarding the temperature, please talk with your RA first to help troubleshoot the issue.

Rooms with Window Air Unit

• If your room gets warm in the winter, we suggest that you, if able, open another window. Do not run your air conditioner and leave your window open simultaneously as this may cause your AC unit to freeze. If your room is cold in the winter, check the heating vent on the bottom portion of the heating unit in your room. If the vent is covered or blocked, then air will not be able to properly circulate in your room. Move items away from vent. Vents should be kept clear for a minimum of 18 to 24 inches around the vent. This allows the heating system to properly “breathe.” Supplies are available in staff offices to help seal any area around your window that might allow cold air in. Contact your in-hall staff to obtain these materials.

Rooms with Central Air Units

• Some rooms are equipped with central air systems. These units provide residents with the ability to set the temperature within a given range. To help ensure proper function of these units, keep air unit vents clear of obstructions (see above).

If temperature issues persist after you have properly cleared the area around the vent, submit a maintenance request at the Facilities Management website.

The following actions regarding your windows and screens are prohibited:

• Obscuring or blocking windows
• Throwing, dropping, projecting, or hanging anything from the window
• Use of windows as an entrance or an exit, except in an emergency
• Tampering or removal of window screens, latches, or apparatus
• Opening windows while running the AC system
• Not having a screen in an open window