Community Living Standards

IX. Community Living Standards

Residents will be in default of this Contract if they, their affiliates, their guests, or their animals are found responsible for violating any policies and regulations listed here in Section IX, in the Teachers College Student Conduct Code, the Teachers College Policy Library, or any local, state, or federal laws while in any of the College’s Residence Halls.

Residents found in default of this Contract are subject to applicable legal proceedings and/or the appropriate College conduct hearings. Outcomes from residential services judicial proceedings can include, but not limited to, written warnings, fines, loss of privileges, educational sanctions, and/or termination of this Housing Contract.

Access
1. Residents are required to provide access to their Units for the purpose of ensuring proper maintenance of health, sanitation and safety standards; inventory; making repairs; enforcement of College policies and Community Living Standards; and emergencies.
Affiliates
1. Children under the age of 18 must be under adult supervision at all times, including in all community spaces.
Air Conditioners
1. Window air conditioner units must be installed and removed by ORS approved vendors.
Alcohol
1. Alcohol, including possession of open containers, may only be consumed in private residential units, residential lounges and residential courtyards. This does not include Russell/Whittier Courtyard.
2. Persons under the age of 21 are prohibited from possessing and consuming any alcoholic beverages in any location of any residence hall.
3. Resident is responsible for ensuring any guests, including family members and other students, are over the age of 21 before allowing them to possess or consume any alcoholic beverages.
4. Resident who is hosting parties/events is responsible for ensuring that all consuming guests are doing so responsibly and are over the age of 21.
5. Selling any alcoholic beverage at any time in any location in any residence hall is strictly prohibited.
6. Participating in activities that facilitate or promote the rapid, dangerous, and/or forced consumption of alcohol (e.g. drinking games) is prohibited.
7. Kegs, whether empty or containing any alcohol, are prohibited from all suites and individual residential Units.
8. Resident must comply with medical or psychological evaluations when found to be excessively intoxicated in a residence hall.
Computer and Network Usage
1. Resident must comply with Teachers College Acceptable Use of Information Technology policy in the student handbook.
Disorderly Conduct
1. Disorderly Conduct may include but is not limited to: a clear threat to another’s well-being or disrupting the orderly functioning of the residential community.
2. Resident is prohibited from the following:
  1. engaging in loud or excessive noise: including music, voice, musical instruments, unattended alarm clocks, etc.;
  2. throwing objects from windows, rooftops, window ledges, fire escapes, or any other protrusions or surfaces;
  3. throwing glass, wire hangers, large objects or any hazardous materials down trash chutes;
  4. standing, sitting on, or accessing rooftops, window ledges, fire escapes, or any other protrusions or exterior surfaces except for the need to exit the building when other means are not possible;
  5. accessing, inhabiting, or storing items in any of the following locations: an unoccupied Unit not assigned to the Resident, an occupied Unit not assigned to the Resident without permission of the assigned resident, Resident’s assigned Unit prior to Start Date or after Termination Date of this Contract.
3. Resident must comply with any directive(s) from an official agent/staff member of Residential Services or Public Safety.
Drugs and Controlled Substances
1. The unlawful manufacture, possession, use or distribution of non-prescription controlled substances on or about the campus or any site of a College-sponsored or sanctioned activity is prohibited.
2. Water pipes, bongs, hookahs, and other drug paraphernalia are not permitted in the Residence Halls.
Emergency Contacts
1. Resident is required to provide and update any changes of emergency contact information.
2. Teachers College staff reserve the right to use emergency contact or missing person contact information in case of emergency.
Facilities and Furnishings
1. Provided furnishings, appliances, equipment, and technology, as specified in the Unit Condition Form, may not be modified or taken from the Unit or common areas without obtaining written approval from the Office of Residential Services. Approval will be granted solely for medical or family-related reasons.
2. Resident may not paint the Unit or make any alterations or repairs to the Unit.
3. Resident is responsible for maintaining the Unit and its surroundings, removing and disposing of trash and recycling regularly and properly, and maintaining the sanitation and safety standards determined by the College.
4. Resident understands Teachers College staff are permitted to take photos of the Unit and its condition without prior notice.
5. Resident is responsible for notifying the College of deteriorating condition of their Unit and/or furnishings.
6. Resident shall pay the College for any expenses necessary to repair or replace college-owned property damaged by Resident, their guests, affiliates and/or animals.
7. Resident may bring bed bug-free personal furniture into their Unit, as long as furniture does not block egress and is removed upon check-out.
Fire Safety
1. Tampering with and/or removal of fire safety equipment is prohibited.
2. Propping suite entrance doors, common kitchen doors and hallway corridor doors is prohibited.
3. Cooking, other than via microwave, is prohibited in small efficiency rooms in New Residence Hall and single and suite bedrooms in Whittier Hall.
4. Resident is required to stay in the kitchen area at all times while cooking.
5. Resident must ensure all personal heating and cooking appliances are turned off and unplugged after use.
6. Overloading circuits or running extension cords under carpets/rugs is prohibited.
7. The following items are prohibited in the residence halls and will be confiscated: flammable decorations, cut natural or live trees, hot plate burners, candles or any other open flame device, incense, outdoor grills or any other open coil device, combustible items (e.g. gas, oily rags, paints, etc.), explosives, fireworks, firearms or ammunition, halogen lamps, space heaters (excluding College-issued temporary heaters), and non-UL rated appliances.
8. Resident, their guests, and family members must evacuate the building via the stairs when fire bells sound, utilizing the safest exit.
9. Resident must not distract or impede staff from performing building evacuation procedures.
10. Exiting via any Emergency Exit during a non-emergency situation is prohibited.
Guest Policy
1. All guests must have a government issued photo ID to enter residence halls. Public Safety reserves the right to hold the photo ID for the duration of the visit unless the guest has a Residential Services Guest Pass.
2. Guests are not permitted to stay in Unit overnight without Resident being present.
3. Residents who live in apartment shares or suites must notify their suitemates of all overnight guests in advance.
4. Resident understands that Representatives of the Office of Residential Services or Office of Public Safety may refuse to permit a guest entry to the premises for any reason or no reason.
5. Residents and affiliates must be 18 years of age or older to sign in a guest or request a Guest Pass.
6. Guest Passes:
  1. Guest Passes allow guests to visit the building without having to sign in at the residential front desk.
  2. Guest Passes are available for 2 or more days with a maximum of 7 consecutive days. Any request to renew a 7-day Guest Pass requires a 48-hour wait period.
  3. Resident and guest must be present to obtain a Guest Pass.
  4. Any guest who has been issued a Guest Pass for a total of 14 days in a given semester will be required to sign in at the desk for any subsequent visits to any resident.
  5. Failure to return a Guest Pass by the designated date will result in an automatic $20 replacement charge.
  6. Guest Passes are issued by the Office of Residential Services, in its sole discretion and may be revoked at any time.
  7. Guest Passes will not be issued during Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break, or other periods as deemed necessary.
Harassment
1. Teachers College does not tolerate harassment in any form. Please refer to the College’s policy found in the Student Handbook.
Health and Safety
1. All residents are prohibited from creating a health or safety hazard within the academic and residential TC communities.
2. Residential students are required to comply with health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations, and health and safety guidance adopted by the College or Residential Services as it relates to public health crises or emergencies.
3. Adherence to health and safety requirements applies to all residents, affiliates, staff, and guests and extends to all aspects of residential life, including bedrooms, bathrooms, community kitchens, lounges, computer rooms, courtyards and other common spaces.
4. All Units will be inspected for health and safety violations at least once per contract period.
ID Cards
1. Resident is prohibited from giving their TC or CU ID card to anyone.
2. Resident is required to have their TC or CU ID card in their possession each time they enter a TC residence hall.
Keys and Locks
1. Resident may not add or replace locks on any residential door that is associated with the College.
2. Resident is prohibited from giving their keys to any other non-authorized individual.
3. Resident agrees to pay applicable lock change fee for lost, stolen or broken keys. Mailbox lock changes are $20, apartment/bedroom lock changes are $150, and suite lock change are $175.
4. Resident understands that a $50 fee will be assessed to a Resident's Student Account if a Resident has a double lockout (has locked spare key inside of the Unit) or Resident's Guest is locked out and needs to be escorted to the Unit.
Laundry Rooms
1. Resident and affiliates are expected to remove personal items promptly after the laundry cycle ends.
2. Unattended items remaining in the machine after the cycle concludes may be removed. Abandoned or unattended items will be discarded without warning. Teachers College is not responsible for lost, stolen, discarded, or damaged items.
Mailroom
1. Residents are authorized to collect packages for registered affiliates in their Unit, and registered affiliates are authorized to retrieve packages for both fellow affiliates and the Resident of the Unit.
2. Mail and packages that are not picked up in a timely fashion will be returned to sender when possible or discarded.
3. The Office of Residential Services is not responsible for lost or damaged mail and packages.
Noise
1. Courtesy Hours are in effect at all times. Resident must comply with any reasonable request to reduce the noise level.
2. Quiet Hours are designated times that residents need to maintain a noise level that is conducive to sleep and study. On weekdays (Sunday night - Thursday night), the designated times are 11:00 pm - 7:00 am. On weekends (Friday night and Saturday night), the designated times are 12:00 am - 8:00 am.
Pets and Animals
1. All pets are prohibited in New Residence Hall, Whittier Hall, and Bancroft Hall. Emotional Support Animals are permitted in TC residence halls provided they are preapproved by the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID), and must comply with the Teachers College Policy on Animals on Campus. Service Animals are permitted in campus housing without registration with OASID, but owners must comply with TC’s Animals on Campus Policy.
2. Pets (dogs, cats, fish, turtles and birds only) are only permitted in Units in Grant Hall and Sarasota Hall.
3. Resident must comply with:
  1. registering and updating any animals (type and description) that will reside in said Unit during this contract period in the Housing Portal within 7 days;
  2. caring for animals properly, including vaccinating as required by law, cleaning up excrement, noise control, and avoiding interfering or disrupting the lives of other residents;
  3. preventing animals from releasing excrement on any Teachers College property, which includes sidewalks, New Residence Hall courtyards, Bancroft Terrace, or other Teachers College outdoor space;
  4. keeping animals on a leash, no longer than six feet, at all times when taken outside of the Unit;
  5. not taking animals other than Service Animals into any lounges, study rooms, meeting rooms, or laundry rooms;
  6. installing window screens on all windows in Unit.
  7. obtaining a New York City dog license for any dogs in Unit, as required by law.
4. The Office of Residential Services may revoke pet privileges at any time without notice and without cause.
Postings
1. Residents may not affix any signage, handbill, sticker, advertisement, decoration, or other covering on any common walls, the exterior of the room/apartment door (building corridor side) or on the interior of the room/apartment window(s) with wording or designs facing the outside.
Prohibited Items
1. Resident may not possess or use dishwashers, halogen lamps, non-UL rated appliances, washing machines, clothes dryers, or waterbeds in the assigned Unit.
2. Resident may not ride or store gasoline-powered or electric-powered bikes (mopeds) and motorcycles inside buildings.
3. Lithium Ion Batteries utilized in e-bikes, scooters, and other e-mobility devices may not be stored by Resident inside any residential building nor within 50 feet of a residential building.
4. Resident may not possess, use or store other prohibited items as outlined in other sections of this Housing Contract.
Recycling
1. Resident is responsible for knowing and following recycling guidelines as indicated in the Guide to Campus Living which follows NYC guidelines.
Security
1. All residents, affiliates, and guests are required to present their TC or CU ID upon every entry into New Residence Hall, Bancroft, Grant, Sarasota, and Whittier Halls and upon request by an agent or employee of Teachers College.
2. Permitting entry to individuals that do not reside in or are not registered guests in Teachers College Housing is prohibited.
Smoking
1. Any form of smoking, including use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookahs, or devices such as an electronic cigarette or a vaporizer, is prohibited in all Teachers College residence halls and associated courtyards.
2. Smoking is prohibited within 50 feet of all Teachers College buildings.
Solicitation
1. Solicitors or tradesmen, including those who may be Teachers College residents, affiliates, faculty or staff, are prohibited from entering the residence halls for the purpose of conducting business.
2. Residents and their guests are prohibited from conducting any type of business transactions in the residence halls.
Storage
1. Resident may not store or attach any items in any residential common space including hallways, corridors, stairways, exit/entry ways, bathrooms, kitchens, lounges, laundry rooms, roofs, suites, balconies, window ledges and fire escapes.
2. The College reserves the right to dispose of all items left in any hallways, corridors, stairways, exit/entry ways, bathrooms, kitchens, lounges, laundry rooms, roofs, suites, balconies, window ledges and fire escapes.
3. The College reserves the right to dispose of all items left in room/apartment and any College-provided storage after a resident has vacated the contracted Unit.
Student Health Insurance
1. All students in Teachers College housing are automatically enrolled in the full-time student Columbia Health Fee regardless of enrollment status, and coverage is valid until August 14, 2025. This fee cannot be waived.
2. All students in Teachers College housing are automatically enrolled in the Columbia Student Health Insurance and coverage is valid until August 14, 2025. Domestic students may request to waive the Columbia Student Health Insurance with proof of comparable medical insurance coverage.
3. Information concerning fees and deadlines is available online at www.tc.edu/health.
4. Information concerning the request to waive process for the Health Service Program and the Columbia Student Health Insurance is available online at https://secure.health.columbia.edu
5. The Columbia Health Fee and the Columbia Student Health Insurance are separate fees listed accordingly on Resident's bill each semester and are in addition to any other fees/deposits provided for herein.
Subleasing
1. Resident may not sublet assigned Unit or engage in any financial transaction related to the use of the Unit.
2. Resident may not allow a guest to utilize their Unit for overnight accommodations while Resident is not staying in said Unit.
Theft
1. Theft of services or property owned by either an individual or the College, as well as the transportation of College property from its authorized location is prohibited.
2. The College is not responsible for the personal belongings of residents.
Weapons
1. Any weapon or object that may be considered a weapon by the College in its sole and absolute discretion, or any object that may cause bodily harm to the bearer or another individual is strictly prohibited. In unclear cases of definition, the context in which a particular object is used shall determine whether it is a weapon, such determination to be made by the College in its sole and absolute discretion. Objects that are included in this category, but not limited to, are firearms, stun guns, pellet guns, pepper spray, pepper gel, chukka sticks, explosives, dangerous chemicals, ammunition, bows & arrows, knives, slingshots, swords, etc.
Window Guards
1. New York City law requires that window guards are installed on all non-fire escape windows in Units where a child age 10 years or younger is present.
2. Window guards may only be removed by Facilities personnel when approved by the Office of Residential Services.

Community Living Standards

Community Living Standards

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