Residence Life Policies
The residence hall experience should provide opportunities for individual growth and development and an interpersonal environment that reflects responsible citizenship and a concern for others, as well as an atmosphere conducive to learning.
Residence halls should foster sufficient self-discipline among students so that a reasonable degree of order and a maximum degree of personal freedom and privacy prevail. To this end students develop “social contracts” with members of their living areas to define appropriate behaviors geared towards respect for one another and creating a non- intimidating environment. Students are then free to enjoy those personal growth experiences that come both through introspection and through interpersonal relationships, complementing and enriching the education gained in formal classroom instruction.
Housing & Meal Plan Requirements
All full-time undergraduate students are required to live on campus, with very limited exceptions. Exceptions include those students who live locally with their parents or students who are financially self-supporting according to federal guidelines (with appropriate documentation). Students who qualify for these exceptions should email housing@smcvt.edu to notify the College of their plan to live off campus. Housing requirements do not pertain to graduate students.
The Residence Fee is for room, board and campus services. The Apartment Residence fee is charged to students living in the Townhouses and Apartments. The Traditional Residence fee is charged to students living in the remaining areas. Students living in college housing are required to have their meals in the College dining hall. Students in traditional housing will have a “Carte Blanche” meal plan. Students living in apartment housing will have a “40 Block” meal plan per semester.
Students on the 40 Block Plan have the ability to upgrade to the Carte Blanche plan, however students on the Carte Blanche plan cannot reduce to the 40 Block Plan. The College reserves the right to change meal plans as deemed appropriate. All meal plans cease at the end of each semester and are not transferable.
Prior to the beginning of each school year, each student shall sign a Residential Contract which states specific terms and conditions relating to college room and board. The contract is binding for the academic year. Termination of the contract can only be granted in exceptional cases, at the discretion of the Director of Residence Life.
On-Campus Housing
Saint Michael’s College requires all full-time undergraduate students, 17- 25 years old, to live on campus.
We are unable to house:
undergraduate students who are under 17 years old,
undergraduate students who are over 25 years old,
undergraduate students who are married and/or looking to live on campus with family members, OR
undergraduate students who are not enrolled full time in classes at SMC.
All rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
All on-campus students are subject to the rules, regulations, and policies contained in the Saint Michael’s College Code of Conduct and the Saint Michael’s College Residential Contract.
The College reserves the right at any time to (a) alter, change or cancel a housing assignment; (b) change any room assignment or rate; (c) enter residences during reasonable hours at your request or for routine maintenance, inspections, repairs; etc. (d) enter residences at any time for an emergency; (e) control the residences in the event of an emergency; (f) terminate the housing assignment for violation of College policies and regulations, for health or social reasons, or for other reasons deemed sufficient by the College.
Off-Campus Housing
Full-time undergraduate students living with their parents may live off-campus. Full-time undergraduate students who are under 17 years old or 25 years old or older at the start of the entering semester or are married/have families may live off-campus.
Off-campus students are subject to the same rules, regulations, and policies contained in the Saint Michael’s College Code of Conduct, except for those that specifically pertain to residence hall living.
Exceptions of On-Campus Residency Requirement
As outlined above, all full-time undergraduate students are required to live on campus, with very limited exceptions. Requests for exceptions to this policy must be made in writing to housing@smcvt.edu.
Students who receive an exception to live off-campus should understand that terms of the rental should be agreed upon between the student and the owner of the off-campus residence. The College can in no way act on behalf of either party.
Once a student is approved to live off-campus, they are not eligible to participate in any future room selection process. Students wishing to move back onto campus must submit a written request to the Student Life Office and will be housed on a space available basis.
A student’s residential fee will be terminated once the student submits the appropriate paperwork and room keys have been returned (if during the semester).
Transportation Off Campus
Students who are transported off campus for violation of campus policy will be transported via the Colchester Police or Saint Michael's College Fire and Rescue. Students who need to be transported off campus for emergency medical or mental health needs will be transported via Saint Michael's College Fire and Rescue. If a student refuses to be transported by Saint Michael's College Fire and Rescue they will be responsible for their own transportation.
All other transportation to off campus appointments is the responsibility of the student.
Room Occupancy
Rooms may be occupied from the day before classes begin until twenty-four hours after the student’s last final examination or at the designated time specified in the student’s Residential Contract, whichever comes first. The Residence Areas will be open during Thanksgiving and Easter break at no extra charge. In accordance with the Residential Contract, meals will be served during these times. The Residence Areas will be closed during periods between semesters and during Spring Break. In special circumstances, students may be allowed to stay in the Residence Halls during semester recess at the discretion of the Director of Residence Life.
Students may be charged an additional fee to remain on campus during these times.
Students must have room changes approved by the Student Life Office. Unauthorized room changes are prohibited and may result in fines and /or further sanctions.
Rooms of all students should be kept locked when occupied. The College is not responsible for personal property missing or taken from rooms.
Saint Michael’s College reserves the right to enter student rooms during all vacation and break periods for routine inspection for maintenance and safety reasons. Specifically, turning down radiators, unplugging electrical appliances, and closing and locking windows are some of the routine inspection tasks to be accomplished with the permission of the Dean of Students and/or their designee. Routine inspections will be done by Residence Hall staff members and/or Facilities department staff who will tour houses, apartments, halls, suites, and/or student rooms according to a plan approved by the Dean of Students. During these inspections, any property in open view to be Saint Michael’s College food service, municipal or illegally possessed property will be documented by residence hall staff and reported to the student and the Student Life Office. The Student Life Office may follow up on any reports with room occupants with the intent of returning wrongfully possessed property to its rightful owners. Appropriate disciplinary or civil action may result in those cases where it is determined that a student is in possession of stolen or illegally possessed property.
Every effort will be made to respect the privacy of the occupants. However, the Dean of Students or a designee reserves the right to enter any room at any time where the Dean of Students or a designee believes that the safety of the occupants or other individuals may be at risk, or that serious violations of College policy may be occurring. Preferably there shall be at least one occupant present at the time of such entry, but this cannot be guaranteed under all circumstances.
The Student Life Office may require a student to move whenever the best interest of the College requires such action. Housing assignments may be altered by the Director of Residence Life or their designee in order to achieve the goal of accommodating students with special needs and/or if the best interest of the College requires such action.
Room Selection
Students will select housing for the following academic year during the spring semester. Information on the process, including dates, times, and procedures will be publicized to all students before the process begins.
Keys, Replacements & Lockout Policies
Move In
Room keys will be issued to each student at the beginning of each academic year. New students will receive a room key, a mailbox key, and a Knight Card. The Knight Card is used as the exterior key to the residence halls, and in some cases, for access to individual suites or apartments.
Move Out
At the end of the academic year, students must return all keys that were issued to them at the beginning of the year. Students should keep their mailbox key and Knight Card for the next academic year. If the student is not returning to Saint Michael’s College, they should return their mailbox key and Knight Card. Students will be charged for any keys that are not returned.
Lost Room Keys
Residents MUST report lost keys immediately.
To minimize potential security risks, the lock core on the room door may be changed and new keys will be issued.
Lost / Replacement Knight Cards
In the event of a lost Knight Card, the replacement cost is $40. (In the event that a Knight Card has become demagnetized, the replacement cost is $15.)
Lockouts During Office Hours
Lockout keys and lockout fobs are available at the Student Life Office during business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30am- 4:30pm.) To obtain a spare key, students will need to present their Knight Card or an alternative form of valid identification.
Lockout keys will be provided at no charge for the first three requests. However, failure to return the lockout key or lockout fob will result in a fine ($25 per key / $100 per fob). Residents may be asked to verify that they are in possession of their original room key by presenting it when they return the lockout key.
When a resident exceeds three requests per semester, each new lock-out request during office hours will incur a fee of $35 per incident.
Failure to return a lockout key within 48 hours may result in a charge to the students’ account for a missing key.
Lockouts Outside of Office Hours
If you are locked out at a time outside of office hours, you may call the Switchboard (802.654.2000) for lockout assistance. Switchboard will contact the RA on Duty or a Public Safety Officer to assist.
Lockouts Outside of Office Hours Completed by Residence Life Staff Members
Lockout assistance will be provided by a Residence Life staff member at no charge for the first three requests. When a resident exceeds three requests per semester, each new lockout request will incur a fee of $35 per incident.
Lockouts Outside of Office Hours Completed by Public Safety
Lockout keys will be provided by a Residence Life staff member at no charge for the first three requests. When a resident exceeds three requests per semester, each new lockout request will incur a fee of $35 per incident.
Fees
All fees for room key replacement, Knight Card replacement, lockouts, and lock changes will be placed on a student’s Student Account. The fee will show as “Key Replacement”.
Other
College-authorized personnel may be issued resident room keys in order to carry out routine maintenance and to perform other duties. The College reserves the right to enter resident rooms to conduct repairs, to perform inspections, to respond to emergencies or to restore order, as is noted in the Code of Conduct. Reasonable efforts will be made to notify residents in advance.
Mailbox Keys
Mailbox keys, combination locks, and mailbox assignments will be issued by the Post Office during regular Post Office hours. When a student graduates or withdraws from the college and if they do not return the student’s Post Office keys, they will be billed for replacement. If a mailbox key is lost, a new key can be obtained from the Post Office.
Unauthorized Keys
Unauthorized possession of keys (including copies) to college buildings and facilities, and breaking and entering are offenses which may result in disciplinary action.
College ID (KnightCard)
Exterior access to all residence halls is via a proximity card system. All Saint Michael’s students must carry their College ID at all times, and especially as it serves as a residence hall key.
PLEASE DO NOT PUNCH HOLES IN YOUR ID AS IT WILL DEACTIVATE THE ELECTRONICS CONTAINED INSIDE THE CARD.
Room Alterations (Lofts)
Due to Federal and State building codes and/or fire safety standards, there are strict guidelines limiting the construction of lofts in residence hall rooms. Generally speaking, lofts may be installed for the purpose of raising beds so as to provide additional usable floor space in a room.
Key considerations in this policy are safety and function of the fire protection systems in residence hall rooms. There must be reasonable access to the room and bed, and the loft may not hinder in any way the function of the smoke detector or sprinkler head.
The following guidelines must be adhered to in the installation of any lofts:
The loft area may not exceed 150% of the surface it supports. (i.e., if a single mattress is 16 sq. ft., then a single loft may not exceed 24 sq. ft.)
The top of the mattress may be no less than 36 inches from the ceiling. Lofts may not be installed directly below a sprinkler head.
Access to the room may not be compromised in any way by the installation of a loft. Metal lofts are available and recommended. Any lofts constructed of combustible material (wood) must be painted or coated to retard combustion.
College beds must be incorporated into the structure of lofts and may not be removed from rooms. The College does not provide storage.
No structural or electrical changes may be made to the room, and lofts may not be bolted or nailed to walls.
Any loft that does not adhere to this guideline or is deemed to be unsafe may be ordered removed from the hall.
All lofts or other changes must be removed by the final day of the academic year and the room returned to its original condition.
Students departing prior to the end of the academic year will be responsible for ensuring that the loft is removed and that the room is restored to its original condition. Failure to do so will result in a charge to cover the cost of removing any construction and the cost of reinstating the room to its original condition after the room is vacated.
Abandoned material must be carried to exterior trash dumpsters.
Room Condition / Damages
Saint Michael's College provides housing to students that will be safe, functional and well maintained. This creates a partnership between the students and the Residence Life, Public Safety and Facilities staff. Through scheduled inspections and work orders, the SMC Facilities staff will work diligently to maintain the housing to these standards. Students living in campus housing are responsible for their space. When work orders are placed, Facilities staff will respond and perform the necessary work.
Items that wear out or are broken due to normal wear and tear will be fixed at no cost to students.
Items that are broken due to vandalism, mistreatment or blatant disregard for property or conditions will be charged to the student or students responsible for the space.
At the conclusion of the academic year, all rooms must be restored to their original or comparable condition. A final room check will be conducted by Residence Life Staff after students have vacated their rooms.
Students will be billed for any damage, missing furniture, or excessive cleaning of the room.
Charges will reflect amounts listed in the Repair and Replacement Price List that is made available to all students.
Students are responsible for their living area. If damage happens in a bedroom, the individual student is responsible. If damage happens in a suite or apartment, all residents will be held responsible.
All furniture issued by the College must stay in the room.
The painting or stenciling of any room, suite, or townhouse is considered damage.
Student Life staff will perform health and safety inspections at least twice during the academic year. These inspections will occur after the close of the residence halls for the fall semester and two weeks prior to the closing of the residence halls for the academic year.
Students are responsible for their living space and anyone in that living space including guests. If someone else causes the damage and they are willing to take responsibility, they will be charged. If not, all room/suite/apartment residents will be held responsible and will be charged accordingly.
Room Decorations
Pictures and decorations must be hung in such a way as to protect and not to damage the walls, ceilings, doors, and paint.
Because candles and incense are both open flames and considered fire hazards, neither are permitted in any residential facilities. Halogen torchiere lamps are prohibited in all residence halls/apartments/houses.
All holiday lighting must be UL approved and only used INDOORS.
Room Care / Sanitation
The College has tried, within its resources, to provide a comfortable and pleasant environment for its students as one of the means of achieving academic and personal success. It is a normal expectation that only a minimum amount of repair and renovation will be necessary from one year to the next to make living areas ready for new occupants. It is the responsibility of every student to help achieve this goal by maintaining a neat, clean, and damage-free living area.
Cooking
Any type of cooking except by low voltage microwave ovens and what is done in designated areas in residence halls is forbidden at all times. For safety reasons, hot plates and other cooking devices are not permitted.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators (4.0 cubic feet or smaller) are permitted in student rooms. For safety reasons, refrigerators are never permitted in the corridor of any student residence hall.
Pets
No pets may be kept in residence halls and campus apartments or brought into any buildings on campus. Service or emotional support animals for individuals with disabilities, the presence of which is required by law, are not considered pets for purposes of this policy; service and emotional support animal requirements are outlined below. Students found in violation of this policy would be subject to a fine and/or disciplinary action.
Cinder Blocks
Cinder blocks are not allowed in any residential area.
Quiet Hours
Being courteous to your neighbor is a value that is important to the development of positive communities. In this light, courtesy hours are in effect at all times and quiet hours have been established between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 p.m. - 9:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
During the final exams periods there will be 24-hour quiet hours in all residence halls and apartment buildings. This period will begin on the last day of classes and go through the end of the final exam schedule.
Hall Sports
Games or sports including but not limited to activities such as hockey, golf, bouncing balls, water fights and bike riding are not permitted in the residence halls. Concern for safety of students and disruption to the living community serve as rationale for this policy.
Common Areas
Bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, lounges, and laundry rooms are considered common areas, and are made available to all students. Personal items, such as, but not limited to clothing, bicycles, and athletic equipment may not be stored in common areas.
Students will be held responsible for damages occurring in common areas. If the individual student(s) who are responsible cannot be identified, charges will be divided among all students who live in the affected building. Stairways and hallways must be kept free from all furniture and personal belongings as such objects can pose a fire safety hazard.
Smoking
Saint Michael's College is a tobacco and other smoke free institution and smoking and vaping is not allowed in any area on campus. Please see the Tobacco Free Campus Policy.