Residential Community Standards
The following Residential Community Standards apply to all residential students and their guests/visitors in addition to the community standards listed here.
Residenital Student Community
Please adhere to all policies and standards listed below.
Air conditioners are prohibited in the residence halls, unless a student is approved
for a medical housing accommodation through the office of Student Accessibility. Students
who are approved for a medial housing accommodation are permitted to have an air conditioning
unit up to 6,000 BTUs.
Students are prohibited from defacing, damaging or otherwise altering their rooms
or any other part of the residence hall. This can include but is not limited to: altering
or replacing door locks; making electrical or structural alterations; use of nails,
screws, or any material that defaces surfaces; construction of lofts; hanging items
from windows; and painting of the residence. Students are prohibited from using furniture
or room structures for any reason other than their intended purpose. Students are
NOT allowed to remove any residence hall furniture from their room (i.e., place it
in the hallways/common areas, bring home).
Intentional damage to property, excessive trash, and extreme conditions of uncleanliness
or disrepair is prohibited. Damages that are clearly beyond repair are billed to the
responsible resident(s). Occupants of residence hall rooms will be held responsible
for damage to any room or furnishings. Any damage by students to College property
will be charged to the student(s). Charges for damages to residence hall common-use
areas and furnishings therein will be assessed equally to all residents of the residence
hall. Should the identity of the person(s) responsible for the damage in common areas
be known, that individual(s) would be properly assessed for the necessary repairs.
All building common area damages will be billed equally to all the residents of that
building as per the Housing Agreement and Room Condition Report.
Students are prohibited from painting or applying other methods of direct decoration
(i.e.: ink, watercolor paint, charcoal, etc.) to walls, windows, floors, ceilings,
or doors in residence hall rooms or common areas. Window glass is prohibited from
being covered (i.e.: tin foil, posters. etc.)
Empty and/or decorative alcohol bottles/cans are prohibited.
Due to the potential for injury and/or property damage, students are prohibited from
playing any sports or throwing objects in any area of the residence halls – including
hallways, stairwells, and lounges. This includes but is not limited to:
- The bouncing of athletic equipment such as basketballs.
- Bikes, skateboards, roller blades, roller-skates and scooters.
- Roller blades and cleats should be removed before entering the building. Damages and/or cleaning charges resulting from the misuse of athletic equipment, including the cleaning of cleats in public areas of the residence halls, will be billed directly to the responsible students.
- All athletic equipment, including clothes and shoes, must remain in a room/suite. Residence Life and Conference Services and SMG cleaning services are not responsible for lost items left outside of a room/suite.
Excessive noise (at any time) is prohibited. Reasonable quiet must prevail in the
residence halls at all times. “Courtesy Hours” and “Quiet Hours” have been established
to ensure a student’s study and sleep. Under no circumstances should noise be projected
out of windows. In addition, playing portable stereos in public areas of the residence
halls (lounges, halls, etc.) is prohibited. Repeated noise violations may result in
the confiscation of the equipment in question as well as additional conduct action.
- Quiet Hours: Quiet Hours for all residence halls are in effect 10:00pm-10:00am, Sunday through Thursday, 1:00am-10:00am Friday and Saturday.
- Courtesy Hours: Courtesy Quiet Hours for all residence halls are in effect 24 hours a day. If a student is hearing noise they should first try to work it out with each other and then seek out assistance from the Resident Advisor (RA).
The University and their designee reserve the right to deem any item prohibited at
any time. Prohibited items will be confiscated and stored for 30 days. Unclaimed confiscated
items will be discarded after 30 days.
The following items are considered fire/electrical hazards and are prohibited in the residence halls.
- Multiple Plug Adapters and Extension Cords: when additional electrical outlets are needed, residents must use (UL) approved power strips with built-in circuit breakers. Power strips that are chained together will also be confiscated.
- Connected strands of string lights: one single strand of string lights is permitted as long as the lights are UL approved, used in compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, not touching fire safety equipment, and the lights are not plugged into an extension cord.
- Candles: including candles that have not been burned, without a wick or decorative, and liquid potpourri.
- Incense: including unburned incense.
- Heaters without a safety shut off: Residents may use heaters with a safety shut off, once the heater is approved with a residence life staff member. Approval must be granted each academic year.
- Heating devices: including electric blankets, heating pads.
- Cooking appliances of any kind: this includes hot plates, rice cookers, electric skillets, crockpots Toasters/Toaster ovens, indoor grills, air fryers, etc.
- Combustible substances: lighter fluid, charcoal, sterno burners, propane, gasoline etc.
- Halogen and lava lamps.
- Outdoor grills and camp stoves.
- Hookahs.
- Window Bird Feeder
- Liquid potpourri.
- Room decorations may not cover more than 50% of each wall, in any given space. Ceilings must be kept free of posters, tapestries, and/or other flammable materials.
The University respects the right to privacy and is committed to protecting that right, as well as to taking action that helps ensure the safety and security of all residents.
University officials have the right to enter any room at any time when the University deems it necessary.
If an illegal object or substance is found in a room or suite, all residents may be held accountable for what is found. If rooms/suites are found to be in an unacceptable condition, residents will be expected to make the appropriate improvements. Situations that Manhattanville University or its agents may enter a room include but are not limited to:
- To make necessary repairs or maintenance at any time so as to prevent further damage.
- In emergency circumstances when imminent danger to life, health, safety or property is reasonably feared.
- In circumstances when it is suspected that a violation of Manhattanville University policy is taking place.
- The University performs Health & Safety Inspections up to four times per academic year.
- University and appropriate personnel have the right to search any room/suite and all its contents should it be suspected that a violation of the University’s code of conduct our housing regulations has occurred.
- During the vacation periods such as Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break
