Chapter 6 – Living on campus

Residence hall living is based on community effort, mutual respect, and consideration of others. Residents are viewed as adults who are responsible for their actions. Regulations are not designed to control behavior as each individual has the sole capacity for controlling his/her own behavior. Regulations do lay out, however, the parameters of acceptable behavior in and around the residence halls. People who choose to engage in unacceptable behavior must be willing to accept that they are responsible for the consequences of doing so. As a resident, you are expected to abide by the following regulations, as well as all other university policies and federal, state, and local laws.

While every effort is made to keep this information current, the Department of Residential Life, Housing and Food Service reserves the right to change or update this handbook, modify policies, or otherwise adjust the content of this document as needed or required to fulfill the mission of the department. For the most current version of this document, department policies, standards of conduct, or other information please refer to the departmental website.

Residence Hall policies are applicable under University of Nevada Student Conduct Regulations and Policies, and apply to property owned or controlled by the university including those areas in and around the residence halls.

Abandoned items. In those instances where items are left in the residence facilities after the owner or resident has moved from the hall, Residential Life shall declare the items abandoned in favor of the University. Residents may be charged for removal, shipping and/or storage of items.
Notification of parents. In certain situations, such as medical emergencies, underage drinking, drug or substance use, behavioral misconduct, or financial issues, Residential Life reserves the right to contact residents' parents, legal guardians, or other emergency contacts.
Renter’s insurance. The University is not liable for loss, theft or damage to any personal property, including during times you are away from the hall. You may wish to take home or store your valuables over holiday periods. Any thefts should be reported immediately to the front desk and the University Police Services. We recommend that you buy insurance for your personal property and engrave a personal identification number on your valuables. We also strongly recommend that you purchase health insurance if you are not covered under your parents' policy.
Residence hall check-in. You and your roommate or suitemates share responsibility for the condition of your room and/or suite. When you check in, be sure all damages are listed on your inventory form. At the end of the year, you will be billed for any damages not listed at check-in. If you find damage after you move in, report it to your RA immediately. Moving into a room without written authorization will result in a $50 administrative charge.
Residence hall check-out. You are responsible for your room and its contents until you are officially checked out. To check out, you must make an appointment with your RA, turn in your keys, and sign your inventory form. Failure to make and keep an appointment to check out by the time the halls close will result in a charge of $150 for improper checkout. All of your belongings must be out of the building by the time the hall closes or at the completion of your last final exam, whichever is sooner. Your RA will indicate possible charges on the form; however, Residential Life, not your RA, will make the final determination of charges. You will be charged for cleaning if your room is left dirty and for any trash you leave in the building.
Residence hall cleanliness. You are also responsible for keeping your room and suite area clean and free of any health or fire hazards. You may check out a vacuum at the front desk for up to a half hour. Hall staff may make routine inspections of rooms and suites to ensure compliance with health and safety standards. Charges will be assessed for cleaning any room which is found unsatisfactory. Continued failure to meet adequate standards may result in cleaning charges and/or cancellation of your License Agreement.
Return housing. If you plan to return to the residence halls next year, you may have the opportunity to select your room and roommate(s) early. Residents in good standing with the University and Residential Life are eligible to sign up in the return housing process. They can choose from designated rooms allocated for returning students, provided they meet the published deadline and submit an initial payment. We hope you'll return for another year!
Room assignments. It is the hope that you and your assigned roommate will be compatible. You are expected to remain in the room and hall to which you are assigned and are encouraged to try and work differences out before requesting a room change. Room change requests will be accepted during the first two weeks of each semester. The Department of Residential Life, Housing and Food Service generally schedules one room change period per semester approximately two weeks into the term. There is a $25 processing fee for second or subsequent room changes during the academic year. The Department of Residential Life, Housing and Food Service is responsible for approving all assignments and reserves the right to reassign individuals to other rooms or residence halls when such a move is deemed necessary.
Room changes. Information for the room change procedure will be posted in the residence halls. Room changes are dependent upon the availability of spaces. (The student initiating the change will be required to move.) If you would like to request a room change, you must:
1. Discuss the situation with your Resident/Community Assistant (RA/CA), Resident Director (RD)/Graduate Resident Director (GRD) and roommate.
2. Obtain a Room Change Request Form from your residence hall front desk or the Residential Life, Housing and Food Service main office.
3. Complete the Room Change Request Form.
4. Notify your current Resident Director of the requested change and obtain his/her signature.
5. After completing the form and obtaining all necessary signatures, bring it to the front desk of your residence hall.
6. If your request is authorized, you will receive a copy of the Room/Status Change Authorization Form from your RA.
7. If your request is approved, you are required to move by the designated time. Failure to do so will result in an improper checkout charge.
Room consolidation. The Department of Residential Life, Housing and Food Service reserves the right to consolidate vacancies that exist in the residence halls. This vacancy consolidation process attempts to ensure that students occupying similar spaces are charged similar rates. If you lose your roommate and there is no waiting list for your residence hall room, you may be contacted by the Residential Life, Housing and Food Service main office. An assignment may be made and a student may move in prior to the time a resident is notified that he or she is receiving a new roommate. Students occupying a double room and paying a double room rate may be required, if a vacancy occurs in the room, to move to another double room, accept another roommate or pay for the room as an accidental private. Similar policies apply in the case of a triple room assignment. It is the student's responsibility to select the desired roommate (another resident without a roommate) or negotiate who will move to which room. Students remaining in a room alone as a result of refusal to move to another room or to provide an unwelcoming atmosphere for another roommate may be charged the Premium Single room rate commencing with the date of single occupancy and could be subject to additional administrative action.
Roommate rights. Either roommate has the right to refuse or revoke room access to any unwanted guest at any time. A roommate's right to enjoy the room they pay for takes priority over the entertaining of guests by another roommate. The same is true for prospective roommates, who have the right to feel welcome in a potential room with a vacancy. For this reason, residents can not occupy furniture beyond that which is designated for them, as it is possible they may receive a roommate at any time.
Unauthorized move-In. No students are authorized to move until they have received official written approval. It is the responsibility of each resident to inform his/her roommate(s) when a room change has been processed. Room and roommate changes made without official written approval will result in administrative action, including but not limited to, a $150 improper room check-out charge and the requirement that you move back to your original room.