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Housing and Residence Life
Living Learning Center 215
111 South Green Drive
Athens, OH 45701
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740.593.4089
Housing and Residence Life

Expectations and Prohibited Items

There are several guidelines set forth by the Department of Housing and Residence Life, which include but are not limited to: the content included in our Housing and Culinary Services Contract terms and conditions, specialized living experience expectations and contracts, the Housing and Residence Life website, and verbal and/or written instructions from university staff. The following policies listed below are not inclusive of all policies within the Student Code of Conduct but focus on residential communities and expectations within the residence halls.

The Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility administers the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct and the processing of policy violations. The Student Code of Conduct emphasizes the university’s obligation to promote your personal freedom, maturity, and responsibility. Students are strongly encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the Code of Conduct if they encounter any uncertainty regarding university rules and regulations. Questions or concerns may be directed to the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility or Housing and Residence Life staff. As a student, you accept the responsibility to abide by all university rules and regulations.

For more details, refer to the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility website or visit their office in Baker University Center.

Access and Security

Access and security are an active and shared responsibility of both the university and its residents. The residence halls are equipped with electronic access at each entrance. For your safety and security, please adhere to all policies noted below:

Identification
  • Failure of students, visitors, and guests to present proper University or government issued identification to University staff (including RAs) upon request is prohibited.
  • Lending or borrowing an OHIO student identification or government issued identification is prohibited.
  • Knowingly supplying false or misleading identification information is prohibited.

For more information consult the Code of Conduct.

Illegal Entry and Trespassing
  • Unauthorized entry into any living space or restricted access areas of residential communities (e.g., mechanical rooms, roofs, closed buildings, housekeeping closets, storage areas) is prohibited.
  • Permitting unknown persons into residential communities is prohibited.
  • Propping, tampering, or inhibiting locking mechanisms of exterior doors is prohibited.
  • Entering or exiting residential spaces through a window is prohibited.
  • Entry or attempted entry when residential buildings are closed is prohibited.

For more information consult the Code of Conduct.

Keys

Usage

The following are prohibited uses of any issued keys or access cards:

  • Unauthorized use, possession, or duplication of keys and keycards is prohibited.
  • Switching and/or borrowing keys or keycards is prohibited.
  • Throwing keys or access devices out of your window is prohibited.
  • Failure to immediately report lost keys or keycards to the Living Learning Center is prohibited.

Lockouts

If you are locked out of your room, contact a Housing and Residence Life staff member in your building or complex to assist you. If you cannot find a hall staff member to assist you during the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday- Friday, you can visit the help desk at the Living Learning Center on South Green to check out a loaner key.

If your lockout occurs on a Monday-Friday between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. or any time during the weekend, contact your building/complex duty phone. 

Lost and Unreturned Keys

If you lose your key, you will need to visit the Living Learning Center to pick up a loaner key. After 8 p.m. or on weekends, please contact the RA on duty to receive a loaner key.

If you do not find your keys within three days from when you receive a loaner key, you will be assessed $95.00 for a lock change. The charge will be added to your student account.

You are responsible for returning your keys when you move out of a building. Failure to return keys when checking out will result in an assessment of $95 for a lock change.

Highly Discouraged Items

While the items below are not prohibited, they have contributed to increased fire alarms, maintenance issues, conduct concerns, etc. While the items below are not prohibited, they have contributed to increased fire alarms, maintenance issues, conduct concerns, etc. Given this, we recommend not bringing the following items:

  • Toy guns (Orbeez, water guns, Nerf and Nerf like guns, etc.)**
  • Aerosol room spray (Febreeze, automatic air fresheners, aerosol perfume or deodorant)
  • Toilet wipes (even if marked “flushable”)

**While these items are allowed in the residence halls, they CANNOT be used inside the hall. If a student is using these within the hall, the item will be confiscated and the student can retrieve the item at the end of the academic year. 

Prohibited Items and Substances

At Ohio University, we are committed to fostering a safe and conducive living and learning environment for all our students. To ensure the well-being of our community members and maintain a harmonious atmosphere within our residence halls, we have established a set of policies and guidelines that govern various aspects of campus life. Below is a detailed list of prohibited items and substances not allowed within the residence halls.

Alcohol
  • Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by anyone under the age of 21 is prohibited.
  • Providing alcohol to individuals under the age of 21 is prohibited.
  • Residents under the age of 21 are prohibited from hosting an event with alcohol in their room, even if guests are over the age of 21.
  • Underaged students may not be present in a room, suite, apartment, or general vicinity that contains alcohol.
  • Parents may not supply alcohol or consume alcohol within a residence hall if their student is under 21.
  • Residents who are of legal drinking age may have alcoholic beverages in their room, however the alcoholic beverages may not be stored in shared spaces (such as, but not limited to, the shared micro fridge) with a roommate who is under the age of 21. All alcoholic beverages belonging to residents of legal drinking age must be stored on their side of the residence hall room.
  • Residents of legal drinking age are still responsible for their actions and the way they present themselves while under the influence of alcohol.
  • Manufacturing and/or selling of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
  • Possession of common source alcohol containers (e.g., kegs, party kegs) is prohibited.
  • Possession or display of alcoholic paraphernalia such as beer funnels, beer bongs, beer pong tables, etc. is prohibited. The above are just a few examples, but not an exhaustive list.
  • Possession or consumption of alcohol, regardless of age in a community space (e.g., lounges, mod spaces, hallways, community centers, courtyards, etc.) is prohibited.
  • Empty alcohol bottles are prohibited, including those used as decorative items.

For more information consult the Code of Conduct.

Air Conditioners

Ohio University prohibits the installation of personal air conditioners (both window and floor/free standing models). 

Controlled Substances
  • Use, presence of, possession, manufacture, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs, controlled substances, and/or natural or synthetic compounds is prohibited. In these situations, Ohio University Police will be contacted.
  • Prescription drugs taken outside of their intended use or by anyone other than the patient is prohibited.
  • Non-prescription drugs taken outside their intended use as identified on the packaging or as directed are prohibited.
  • Possession of drug-related paraphernalia (e.g., bongs, pipes, syringes, scales, grinders) is prohibited.
  • Students present in a room, suite, apartment, or general vicinity that contains controlled substances may be found in violation of the policy.

For more information consult the Code of Conduct.

Electrical Sources and Appliances

Adaptors and Extension Cords

  • Multi-plug adapters without surge protection, cube adapters, outlet splitters, unfused plug strips or other similar devices are prohibited. Multi-plug adapters with surge protection are permissible.
  • Plugging a 3-prong (grounded) electrical item or cord into a 2-prong outlet is prohibited (e.g., a hairdryer with a 3-prong cord must be plugged into a 3-prong outlet).
  • Extension cords are prohibited.

Appliances/Devices

  • Appliances exceeding 1,000 watts are prohibited.
  • Possession or use of unapproved electrical devices is prohibited. Prohibited electrical equipment and appliances include electrical heating devices (e.g., space heaters), air fryers, toaster ovens, toasters, grills, sandwich makers, food dehydrators, woks, waffle irons, bread makers, personal refrigerator, personal microwave, hot plates, heating coils, electrical skillets, electric griddle, crockpots, self-heating pots and pans, rice cookers, and wax melters.
  • Appliances with exposed elements (e.g., coils) are prohibited.
  • Leaving electrical equipment or appliances unattended while in use is prohibited.
  • Tampering with university wiring is prohibited.  This includes removing or replacing light fixtures or electrical outlets or wiring appliances or equipment to university wiring. All university electrical equipment and appliances must be in good repair. The plugs and insulation must be intact, motor clean, and guards in place. All electrical appliances used in the residence halls must be U.L. listed.

Electrical Overloading

  • Residential facilities vary in their electrical capacity limits. If you find that you have lost power in your room at any time, contact Facilities Management at 740-593-2911. While waiting on Facilities Management, try to determine which appliance or piece of equipment caused the overload.  You may need to redistribute some appliances to another circuit.
  • Electrical cords cannot be run under carpeting, pinched in doors, or placed under piles of clothes.
  • The use of extension cords and outlet splitters is prohibited. Only surge protectors with an attached cord and an on/off switch may be used to create multiple outlets.
  • The microfridge unit and the provided window air conditioners must be plugged directly into separate wall outlets. They may not be plugged into the same outlet.

Microwave and Safe-T Sensor

  • The microwave, which is part of the refrigerator unit provided by the university, has a Safe-T Sensor on the back which detects burning food. Removing or unplugging the Safe-T Sensor is prohibited. Removal and/or damage to the Safe-T Sensor may result in a monetary fine, along with a conduct referral with the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility.
  • If you experience an issue with your Safe-T-Sensor, you should contact Facilities Management.

Lighting

  • Halogen, octopus, and upward facing lamps with exposed bulbs are prohibited.
  • Decorative or holiday lights exceeding 25 feet in length are prohibited.
  • Connecting more than two light strands together is prohibited.

Wall Outlets

  • Air conditioners, microfridge unit, and surge protectors must be plugged in directly to a wall outlet. Only one of these appliances can be plugged in to an outlet at a time. This is necessary so that the outlet does not exceed its capacity.
  • Some residence hall rooms have a light fixture over the dresser with a two-prong outlet built in. No more than one appliance can plug into these light fixtures at a time.

Wi-Fi Enabled Devices

  • There are no wired ethernet connections in the residence halls, including student rooms. All spaces are Wi-Fi only, and students are encouraged to only bring Wi-Fi-enabled devices to campus. 

Tobacco, Nicotine, and Cannabis Based Products
  • OHIO is a smoke and tobacco-free campus. The physical location of a smoke and tobacco-free campus is defined as “facilities, property, and grounds used to carry out the mission of the university.” This extends to sidewalks adjacent to university buildings and grounds.
  • Smoking and tobacco use in personal vehicles on university property is prohibited.
  • Smoking and vaping of any kind, including e-cigarettes (e.g., Breeze, JUUL), is prohibited in residence halls, building entryways or catwalks, or within 25 feet of residential facilities.
  • The use of tobacco or smoking products is defined as “all nicotine, tobacco-derived or containing products, and plant- based products including, but not limited to, cigarettes (e.g., clove, bidis, kreteks), electronic cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos, hookah-smoked products, and oral tobacco (spit and spit less, smokeless, chew, snuff).”
  • Residents under the age of 21 found in possession of nicotine-based products (e.g., ZYN) will be required to dispose of their nicotine products and will be referred to the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility. In hall staff may also confiscate nicotine products if a resident is not 21 years of age or older.
  • No matter your age, you cannot use or possess any form of cannabis, including recreational or medical cannabis, anywhere on Ohio University property or at university-sponsored activities. This means no vaporizers, no edibles, and no smoking. The use and/or possession of cannabis on-campus remains a violation of the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct. For more information about marijuana use on campus, visit Issue 2 Frequently Asked Questions.

For more information consult the Code of Conduct.

Weapons

The following is a guideline of items banned from the residence halls and surrounding areas and subject to further investigation by the Department of Housing and Residence Life and/or the Ohio University Police Department. This list is not all encompassing, and Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to deem non-listed items as weapons. Items deemed as weapons can be confiscated by OUPD or staff members.

  • Guns: Any hazardous or deadly weapon and/or an object that utilizes compressed air in its mechanisms is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to airsoft guns, paintball guns, BB guns, stun guns/tasers, tear gas guns, handguns, shotguns, rifles, semi-automatic weapons, and/or assault weapons.
  • Explosives: Any weapon or object that utilizes a substance that can be made to explode and/or cause hazardous or deadly consequences is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to chemical and dry ice bombs, fireworks, ammunition, grenades, gasoline, bottle bombs, propane, and/or other objects containing toxic or noxious substances.
  • Knives and Other Weapons: Any weapon or object including, but not limited to the following is prohibited: knives with blades over 3 inches long (except standard kitchen utensils that are exclusively used in food preparation), hunting knives, swords, spears, bows, and arrows, daggers, dirks, stiletto knives, machetes, axes, hatchets, switchblades, clubs, and/or batons.
  • Pepper Spray: The possession of pepper spray for personal protection is permitted. A violation of this policy includes the misuse of pepper spray in a manner that causes or threatens serious harm to the safety and security of others. 
  • Souvenir or Non-Active Weapons: Any object mentioned above considered as “inactive,” meaning that the item does not have harmful capabilities, or any realistic replicas or souvenirs of the above-mentioned items are prohibited within the residence hall.
  • Non-Weapons Clause: Any object not mentioned above used to intimidate, threaten, harm, and/or provide force can be considered a weapon under the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct. This determination is made by Ohio University Police Department, Housing and Residence Life staff, and/or the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility.

To abide by the State of Ohio Revised Code, any legally registered weapons may be stored in a locked personal vehicle only. Ohio University Police Department or Housing and Residence Life does not provide storage for any type of weapons. For more information regarding the use or possession of weapons consult the Ohio University Code of Conduct.