VII. Residence Hall Policies and Procedures

The student discipline/judicial system is detailed in the RAM Handbook. Each student is responsible for the policies outlined in the RAM Handbook. The RAM Handbook is distributed at check-in. If you need a copy of the RAM Handbook, you may request a hard copy through Student Government or visit the College's website: http://www.framingham.edu/studentaffairs/

A. Fire Safety

Fire Safety Procedures:
In the event of a fire, the person discovering the fire should sound the nearest alarm by breaking the glass or lifting the plastic alarm cover and pulling the fire bar on the alarm box. He or she should then go to the lobby and tell the Security Desk Attendant, Resident Assistant, or Residence Director who is present.

Fire safety efforts on campus rely on a combination of 1) student cooperation, awareness and responsiveness, 2) emergency response personnel (fire, police and residence hall staff) preparedness and response and 3) the functioning of fire equipment.

Students should be aware that fire extinguishers, emergency exit signs, horns, strobe lights and other fire apparatus are essential to safety and must never be tampered with.

Please note the following fire emergency information, which could save your life:
*Never assume an alarm is false. ALWAYS EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY USING THE CLOSEST EXIT ROUTE.
*DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR!
*Take note of the locations of emergency exit routes, fire extinguishers, and pull stations in your hall.
*Do not open the door if it feels hot. Open all windows and signal for help. Hang out of your window as far as you safely can in order to get fresh air. DO NOT PANIC AND DO NOT JUMP.
*If you are in your room and an alarm sounds, shut your windows, open shades, leave your lights on, and shut the door as you leave.
*Wear a coat and take a towel to protect your head from flames and smoke if necessary.
*Do not attempt to return to your room from any other part of the building.
*Some buildings on campus, including Corinne Hall Towers, are equipped with voice alarms. Pay careful attention and follow the directions given by the voice alarm.
*Stay to the RIGHT hand side of the stairwell when exiting. Allow emergency personnel to access upper floors.
*If you are trapped in a smoke-filled hallway, get down close to the floor where you can breathe easier and crawl toward the nearest exit.
*Walk rapidly to the nearest exit. DO NOT RUN.
*Shut exit doors behind you.
*Once out of the building, go directly to the designated waiting zone and await further instructions. Do not re-enter until directed by the Fire Department or the FSC Police Department.
*Cross streets carefully if necessary.
*Designated waiting zones are:
Corinne Hall Towers - In front of Hemenway Hall
Horace Mann - Dwight Circle
Larned Hall - In front of the library
Linsley Hall - Maynard parking lot
O'Connor Hall - Use State Street crosswalk and gather in front of May Hall
Peirce Hall- Dwight Circle

Any comments or suggestions regarding fire safety should be directed to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs/Director of Residence Life and/or the Chief of the FSC Police Department.

Fire drills in the residence halls may be held periodically each semester. These drills may include late night and blocked exit scenarios. They are also periodically held in other buildings on campus to familiarize occupants with exit procedures. It is suggested that residents keep personal flashlights to augment emergency lighting in case of an emergency evacuation with power loss.

Any act by an individual or individuals using fire equipment except for legitimate fire safety reasons will be dealt with as a serious threat to the general well-being of the College community.

Fire Safety Policies:
The following residence hall policies regarding fire safety are in effect:
1. The burning of candles (with or without a wick), incense, sterno, kerosene or oil lamps is prohibited, even during loss of electrical power.
2. Candles may not be used or possessed. Decorative candles are also prohibited.
3. Cushioned or stuffed furniture (e.g. couches, chairs, futons, etc.) are not allowed in the residence halls.
4. The use of cut "live*trees and/or greens is prohibited.
5. Only good quality, grounded (3 prong), UL approved extension cords and/or surge protectors may be used in student rooms. Extension cords must be 16 gauge or heavier. Extension cords may only be plugged into an approved surge protector.
6. A maximum of one UL approved surge protector may be used per duplex outlet.
7. Extension cords and cords in general may not run under carpets, furniture supports, under items on the floor, in front of traffic areas, in front of doorways, or in any manner which impedes egress.
8. The overloading of electrical outlets is prohibited. Residents are advised to evenly distribute electric load throughout the available outlets. Residents will be responsible for the cost of service calls created by the overloading of outlets.
9. Any behavior that creates risk of fire is prohibited.
10. Residents may not possess and/or use flammable fluids (e.g. gasoline, charcoal lighter, cleaning fluid, kerosene, etc.)
11. The storage of bicycles, motor bikes, or any combustible equipment is prohibited in the residence halls.
12. Tampering with fire equipment or activating fire alarm stations without the presence of fire is prohibited.
13. Individuals must evacuate the residence hall immediately during a fire alarm or follow high rise voice alarms directions (Towers) if applicable.
14. In accordance with state law and for the health, safety, and comfort of residents and guests, smoking is prohibited in all residence halls.
15. Students may not smoke within 30 feet of residence hall entrances or windows.
16. Installation or use of floor platforms/lofts is prohibited.
17. Students may not cook in unauthorized areas or leave the halls' kitchen areas while cooking.
18. Flammable items may not cover the exit path to a room or be hung from ceilings.
19. Extensive or unreasonable use of any paper or other items as decoration is prohibited.
20. No item, flammable or not, shall be hung from the sprinkler head or pipes in any room in the residence halls, nor may an item be hung in such a way that it blocks the sprinkler, heat, and/or smoke detector.
21. Furniture may not be arranged in any way which would block or hinder egress.

B. General Safety Policies and Procedures

It takes the collective effort of all Framingham State College community members to ensure a safe and secure environment. Students play a major role in this process and have personal responsibility. Each student must realize that, like any other community, the Framingham State College community is not immune to safety and security problems. All members of the community must make a concerted effort to be aware of what might be happening around them and promptly report suspicious activity. In case of an emergency, contact FSC Police Department at extension 4911. Community members who remain alert and report concerns to the FSC Police Department greatly enhance campus safety.

Many safety concerns can be alleviated by taking reasonable precautions. Individuals bear the responsibility for protection of their personal and communal property. Members of any community shoulder responsibility for safety and security. Your cooperation and commitment will help keep our community as safe and secure as possible. Safety related information posted on the FSC Police Department website should be reviewed by residents prior to taking occupancy and periodically thereafter.

Each residence hall has a Security Desk. The Security Desk in each residence hall is an important security checkpoint. Equipment sign-out and guest registration take place at the Security Desk which is staffed by a Security Desk Attendant (SDA). Residents must present their ID card to the Security Desk Attendant each time they enter the hall so that residency in the hall can be verified.

For safety and security, students are reminded of the following:
*Keep your door locked at all times, even when you are in the room or bathroom.
*Immediately report any unescorted guests, suspicious person or suspicious activity.
*Regularly monitor campus Public Safety Alert notices. These notices are posted periodically to alert the FSC Community to public safety threats.
*Never sign in guests/visitors you don't know or the guests/visitors of other students. You will be held responsible for their behavior.
*You may request ID, if you are concerned someone is falsely identifying themselves as a Resident Assistant or college employee.
*Promptly report vandalism, damage or concern with safety equipment to a Resident Assistant, your Resident Director, and/or a Campus Police Officer.
*Do not walk alone at night; walk only in areas with good lighting and which are used heavily for pedestrian traffic.
*Never bring strangers into campus facilities.
*DO NOT prop exterior doors open at any time; this provides easy access for unwanted visitors.
*DO NOT leave valuables or money lying in visible locations. Take valuables home over vacation periods.
*Engrave your property. Call extension 4911 for information on the FSC Police Department engraving program.
*Make it a point to get to know FSC Police Officers, Resident Assistants and Residence Directors.
*Always review campus safety information provided by the FSC Police Department.

The following residence hall policies and procedures regarding safety are in effect:
1. Students must comply with reasonable directives from a staff member in performance of his/her duties.
2. Individuals may neither possess nor use firearms, fireworks, explosives, dangerous weapons, paint guns, or hazardous chemicals such as highly flammable or lethal substances or realistic replicas of these items in College residence halls. In accordance with these laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Chapter 269, Section 10 and Chapter 148, Section 39, no person may use or have in his or here possession any firearm. He or she may not sell, explode, or cause to explode any composition of such firearms or fireworks. Information relative to the presence of firearms, fireworks, explosives, dangerous weapons or hazardous chemicals on campus are to be immediately reported to FSC Police Department at extension 4911.
3. The propping of locked residence hall front doors or fire doors is prohibited.
4. Residents are expected to carry valid, active student identification cards and be prepared to show them upon request to any staff member in performance of his or her duties.
5. Students may not possess more than one FSC identification card at one time.
6. Residents must activate the card reader located at the residence hall Security Desk and display their cards to the Security Desk Attendant each time they enter the residence hall.
7. Residents are required to immediately report lost or stolen keys to both their Residence Director and the FSC Police Department.
8. Lost or stolen ID Cards should be immediately reported to the FSC Police Department.
9. Theft, attempted theft, or possession of stolen property is prohibited.
10. Sitting, standing or otherwise accessing window sills or leaning out of the windows is prohibited.
11. No object may be dropped or thrown from any window. This constitutes a serious safety violation because it could result in grave injuries or death.
12. Screens present in rooms and common areas are not to be removed under any circumstances.
13. Residents may not access or use fire escapes or rooftops in any manner, except in safety emergencies.
14. Disruptive or potentially dangerous recreational activities or "hall sports*are not allowed. The equipment involved may be confiscated. "Hall sports*include, but are not limited to: rollerblading, ball throwing/bouncing, hockey, golf, bicycling, Frisbee, use of water toys, skateboarding, etc.
15. Making bomb threats is illegal and strictly prohibited.
16. Bathrooms may not be entered when "closed*signs are posted. Residents and guests may not enter restrooms designated for use by opposite sex.
17. Residents are responsible for the cleanliness of their rooms/suites and must maintain reasonable health and safety standards as prescribed by the College. Waste material must be removed regularly.
18. Each resident is responsible for returning all keys issued to him or her upon departure from the residence halls. Failure to do this will result in charges for lock change and key replacement.
19. Tampering with locks and/or altering or duplicating College keys is prohibited.
20. Lending room keys to anyone other than the resident assigned to the room is prohibited.
21. NO PETS are allowed in a residence hall except fish kept in a tank with a capacity of 10 gallons or less.
22. Gambling of any kind is prohibited in the residence halls.

C. Alcohol and Other Drug Policies and Procedures

It is a goal of the Office of Residence Life and Housing to provide a safe, productive, and healthy residence hall environment which fosters student learning and personal development. The College is determined to establish and maintain working, living, and learning conditions that are free from the negative effects of alcohol and other drug abuse.

Since there are many ways the use of drugs may adversely affect the College community, it is important to have a clear policy. This policy is intended to accomplish the following goals:

*To promote a healthy and safe learning and living environment.
*To demonstrate the commitment of the College to provide:
Education and prevention services,
Referral services, and
Treatment and support services.
*To define expectations of student behavior in regard to illegal drug use.
*To identify the disciplinary procedures for those students who engage in illegal drug-related activities.

This policy establishes the rules and guidelines for alcohol and other drug usage on the Framingham State College campus. Students are accountable for any behavior which infringes on individual or group rights, and/or jeopardizes the health and safety of individuals. This behavior includes verbal or physical abuse toward others while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and any emergency that is created due to alcohol or drug use. The Dean of Academic and Student Affairs is responsible for granting any privileges regarding alcohol consumption in the Residence Halls. Please consult the RAM Handbook for more information on the College's alcohol and drug policies including the minimum disciplinary sanctions for policy violation.

The following residence hall policies regarding alcohol and other drugs are in effect:
1. Possession, use, or manufacture of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in any residence hall or campus facility. (Residence Directors are the only people to whom permission has been granted).
2. Possession or use of any machine used to ingest alcohol in a non-liquid form (e.g. "awol") is prohibited.
3. Any alcohol that is brought past the front doors by a Framingham State College student will be confiscated and not returned. Small amounts of alcohol in open containers may be thrown away prior to the judicial hearing.
4. Containers that once contained alcohol are not allowed, not even for decorative purposes. Such containers may be used as proof of an alcohol policy violation.
5. The use, possession, sale, distribution and/or manufacturing of illegal substances, including marijuana, LSD, cocaine, mushrooms, mescaline, peyote, heroin, and others is prohibited.
6. Possession of drug-related paraphernalia including roach clips, bongs, water pipes, cocaine spoons, rolling papers, or any item containing illegal residue is also prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.
7. Unauthorized possession, sale, distribution and/or manufacturing of prescription drugs is prohibited.
8. In accordance with the alcohol and other drug policies, the College reserves the right to check all bags or possessions brought into the residence halls, or refuse their entry.
9. Public intoxication is prohibited in all residence halls. Public intoxication is defined as an intoxication which causes a disturbance or is dangerous to self, others, and/or property, or in any way requires the attention of the College staff.
10. Students involved in the excessive consumption of alcohol or other drugs leading to intoxication or overdose that leads to a medical emergency and/or intervention jeopardize continuance in housing and will likely be required to immediately fulfill evaluation and/or educational requirements as a condition of continued residency.

D. Appliances and Personal Belongings Policies and Procedures

The following residence hall policies regarding Appliances and personal belongings are in effect:
1. Irons, popcorn poppers, and coffee pots should be used with great care and ONLY in the designated common areas.
2. Refrigerators over 3 cubic feet, high intensity heat producing lamps, waterbeds, water heaters, electric blankets, microwaves, space heaters, lava lamps, hot plates, electric grills, air conditioners, toaster ovens, electric water coolers, crock pots, blenders, toasters, and rice cookers are not allowed in the residence halls. Use of all other electrical appliances are subject to the approval of the Residence Director prior to use.
3. Unless otherwise posted on the floor, hair dryers are to be used with care.
4. All appliances must be unplugged between semesters and during vacation periods.
5. The number of refrigerators and electrical appliances allowed in individual student rooms may be limited based on evaluation of the load on the facility, and is subject to change at any time upon written notice.
6. No more than one refrigerator or microfridge shall be allowed in any double occupancy room. No more than two refrigerators or microfridges shall be allowed in any room with occupancy of three or more. Linsley Suite Common rooms are also permitted one refrigerator or microfridge.
7. The Office of Residence Life and Housing reserves the right to confiscate any and all restricted items discovered in the residence halls.
8. The College does not assume responsibility for loss of or damage to personal articles by fire, theft or any other cause.
9. Anything left in a room, hall, or attached to residence hall property (ex. Bicycles) after a resident checks out, withdraws, has his or her License Agreement cancelled, or after spring semester closing, will be considered discarded and removed. Residents may be billed for removal, disposal, and/or cleaning charges in such cases.
10. Some confiscated items may be retrieved from the Residence Director upon departure at the end of the semester and with the stipulation that they will not be returned to the residence halls. Items not retrieved at this time will be considered unwanted property and will be discarded.
11. Alcohol, alcoholic beverage containers, illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia will not be returned under any circumstances.
12. All bicycles must be stored in designated bicycle racks outside the residence halls. All bicycles stored in bicycle racks must be engraved and registered with the FSC Police Department. Bicycles not registered or engraved will be removed and discarded.
13. Personal microfridge-type units must be inspected and approved by the Office of Residence Life and Housing before they are brought past the residence hall's Security Desk. Units not rented from the College must meet the following specifications:
a. 600 watt microwave
b. max. 3 cubic foot total capacity freezer/refrigerator
c. ENERGYSTAR rated
d. utilize current limiting circuitry and have only one plug to the wall
Requests to bring a personal microfridge into the residence hall should be made in writing to the Office of Residence Life and Housing with a minimum two weeks advance notice. Be sure to include make, model number, and power and size specification sheets with request.

E. Residence Hall Guest Policies and Procedures

A guest is any person a) present in a hall and b) who does not reside in the hall. A visitor is a resident of the hall present, with consent, in another resident's room in the same hall. An overnight guest is a guest who is present in the hall for a majority of the time between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. All guests and visitors are subject to residence hall rules and regulations and are required to comply with residence hall and College policies. Guest registers are provided at the security desk of each residence hall. Security Desk Attendants are responsible for enforcing guest sign-in policies.

Fire codes may require that a limit be placed on the number of people that may be in any room at one time. The Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs or designee has the authority to decrease the number of guests or visitors allowed per resident should the residence hall situation warrant such action. In a disciplinary situation, guest and visitor privileges can be revoked and guests or visitors can be required to leave by a Residence Life staff member in performance of his or her duties.

The following residence hall policies regarding guests and visitors are in effect:
1. Each guest must be accompanied by his or her host at all times, including when the guest is registering in and out of the residence hall.
2. Detailed arrangements for having guests or visitors must be mutually agreed upon by all roommates in advance. If an agreement cannot be reached, then no visitors will be permitted in the room.
3. Host residents are responsible for informing their guest(s) of all the residence hall and College rules and regulations.
4. Guests and visitors of the opposite sex are required to use appropriately designated restroom facilities. Host must escort guest to within 15 feet and remain in visual proximity of restroom door. In single-sex buildings, minimal lavatory facilities are available for members of the opposite sex.
5. All hosts and guests must follow the established sign-in procedure outlined within this policy.
6. Guests may not visit the residence halls with the specific purpose of accommodating their personal housing needs.
7. Guest and visitor privileges can be limited or revoked at any time.
8. Only the main door of each residence hall will be used for the entrance and exit of guests. After the main door is locked, residents and guests will be admitted by the Card Access System or the FSC Police Department.
9. No overnight guest may spend longer than three consecutive nights in any residence hall on campus in a 7-day period. During a twenty-four hour period, a guest must be signed out at least once.
10. It is advisable that residents and/or guests with medical considerations relay pertinent information to their Residence Director and/or Resident Assistant. This information may be useful in case of emergency.
11. All guests must provide an approved and valid form of photo identification to register as a guest. Acceptable forms of ID are: US/ State issued license/ ID card or passport. Guest ID's will be held at with the host's ID at the security desk until the guest is signed out.
12. Resident students wishing to sign in a non-FSC student guest(s) who is under the age of 18, and not accompanied by a parent or guardian, may do so only with an approved Minor Guest visitation card. Minor guest application forms can be downloaded from the Residence Life website at http://www.framingham.edu/studentaffairs/residence.htm
13. Host residents are responsible for supervising the behavior of their guest(s) and visitor(s) at all times and to immediately contact staff if any violation of policy occurs.
14. Host residents may be held responsible for any policy violation committed by their visitor(s) or guest(s) and may be sanctioned as though they had violated the policy themselves.
15. Each resident may have no more than three guests signed in at one time.
16. No more than four people may be in a single room, or eight people in a double room, or twelve in a triple occupancy or larger room at any one time.
17. Non-student visitors must obtain appropriate parking permits from FSCPD.

F. Noise Policies and Procedures

Support of student learning and academic success is a priority in the residence hall community. Large numbers of students living together can create noise and general disturbances inside and outside Residence Halls. In order to help maintain a learning environment, 24-hour Courtesy Hours are always in effect. During courtesy hours reasonable levels of noise, contained within the building and not objectionable to any neighbor, is permitted.

All residence halls also have established Quiet Hours. During quiet hours noise is to be contained within a resident's room. Minimum quiet hours are from 11:00 p.m. through 8:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday; and 1:00 a.m. through 9:00 a.m. on weekends (Friday and Saturday). Quiet hours can be extended/increased by a simple majority vote coordinated by the Resident Assistant and the Residence Director. The length and time of quiet hours cannot be reduced.

Twenty-four hour Quiet Hours begin prior to final exams. They generally begin on Wednesday of the week before each exam period and continue on a 24-hour-per-day basis until the residence halls close for the semester. Residents who do not observe noise policies during twenty-four hour quiet hours may be required to vacate the residence halls.

Some residence halls have established Quiet Floors where quiet hours are from 8:00 p.m. through 8:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights. Students living on these floors must sign a Quiet Floor Contract.

The following residence hall policies regarding noise are in effect:

1. Courtesy hours must be observed at all times.
2. Violation of Quiet hours is prohibited.
3. Resident students must honor any reasonable request to contain noise of any kind to the room they are in.
4. The use of drums, amplified musical equipment, or anything which produces a level of noise not able to be confined to the resident's room is prohibited. (The only exception to this policy is in conjunction with an event or program approved by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs/Director of Residence Life and the Hall Government.
5. Speakers may not be placed in windows or on window sills or directed to the outside of the building.
6. Individuals in hallways or common areas are required to take all reasonable measures to insure that they do not make a level of noise which can be heard in another room.
7. Noise policies apply to outside entry areas and all public areas in the vicinity of the residence halls.

G. Care and Treatment of Residence Halls Policies and Procedures

Residents are expected to exercise great care with treatment of residence hall facilities and furnishings. Mistreatment of facilities and/or vandalism are not tolerated and will likely result in expulsion from the College and/or residence hall community.

Residence halls are furnished with a bed, mattress, desk, chair, dresser, and closet or wardrobe. In the event housing demand is high, certain rooms will have occupancy increased on a temporary basis. In these cases, students may be asked to share a desk, chair, dresser, and/or closet. Students provide bedding, pillows, and other personal belongings.

Members of the Residence Life staff conduct periodic room inspections to ensure cleanliness and to ensure that safety rules and regulations are being followed. At this time, the staff will also make sure that non-issued College property, such as lounge furniture, is not present in student rooms. Residents will be informed in advance of room inspections. Please note that inspections of Linsley Suites will take place daily.

All students assigned to a specific room are responsible for the physical condition and furnishings within that room. All students should review the Room Inventory Form with their Resident Assistant at check-in time and a careful inspection should take place so the condition of all items can be noted. When a student vacates a room an inspection will take place and the condition of all items will again be recorded. Students will be held accountable for any differences beyond normal wear and tear.

Students are expected to leave their rooms in the same condition as they were found at the beginning of their occupancy.

The following policies and procedures regarding care and treatment of residence halls are in effect:
1. College issued furniture may not be removed from student rooms. Residents of the room will be billed for replacement of each missing item.
2. Furniture and/or refrigerators may not be stacked or set in such a way that they are supported by other furniture, ceilings, walls, heaters, or window sills.
3. Cinder/cement blocks are not allowed in residence hall rooms.
4. Furniture may not be removed from lounges or other common areas. If common area furniture is found in a student's room, each resident of that room will be charged $25.00 a day, per piece of furniture, until it is returned to its assigned area and staff is informed. Disciplinary action will also be taken.
5. Residents are to maintain a clean living environment (room, suite, common area, etc.) and must regularly remove trash and debris from their room and clean up any food sources which may attract pests.
6. Residents are to check their residence hall mailbox daily and remove mail regularly. Residents should remove all mail at the end of their occupancy and provide a forwarding address to those from whom they expect to receive mail.
7. Students may not paint or otherwise write or draw on any College property including, but not limited to the walls, doors, windows, shades or any furnishings of the residence halls. Damage charges will result if any College property is painted.
8. Shelves, bookcases, mirrors, bulletin boards, or other items may not be hung over door or attached (nailed, screwed, etc.) to any walls, doors, ceilings or residence hall furnishings.
9. Moderate amounts of posters, etc. may be put up on room walls. Removable non-marking poster tape or putty are the only adhesives allowed to be used on room walls.
10. Posters or other decorations in student rooms are limited to room walls only. Nothing may be posted on doors, windows, shades, heaters, ceilings or room furnishings.
11. If a door is damaged or defaced in any way each resident of that room is responsible for the cost of cleaning, repairing, refinishing or replacing the door to full function and aesthetic quality.
12. Only STAFF-provided name tags for each resident and a dry erase board (9"x12*maximum, mounted only with removable double-sided mounting tape or removable, non-staining putty) are to be mounted on the hallway wall next to the door. No additional boards may be attached to doors already equipped with dry erase boards.
13. Unauthorized items on doors will be removed and discarded.