Assignments/Occupancy

Additional Occupancy

In instances, where there is a high demand for on-campus living, a number of rooms are designated to have a temporary additional occupant.

• Students that reside within an additional occupancy room receive a 20 percent rebate on the housing costs for the period of additional occupancy.
  • This rebate appears as a credit on the students’ bill after the students in that room are offered the opportunity to move to permanent spaces.
  • As residents withdraw from housing, students residing in additional occupancy rooms are made offers to move to permanent room assignments.
  • The need for additional occupancy has historically been eliminated in the spring semester.
• When offered a permanent assignment, residents of additional occupancy rooms may agree to remain together as a voluntary additional occupancy room.
  • The 20 percent rebate ends at the time residents are offered permanent spaces.
  • Students may choose this option by completing and signing a voluntary additional occupancy form provided by the Office of Residence Life and Housing.

Early Arrival and Late Stay Process

Housing license agreements are typically for the academic year only and do not include residency during winter and spring break. The university may, with prior notice to the resident, reassign students to break housing locations. The resident agrees, upon reasonable notice, to remove personal belongings during any break period, so the room may be used for break housing. 

• Students must leave university housing on the day of their last fall or spring semester final examination and on the last class day prior to the spring break period.
• Winter and spring break housing are available for an additional fee. Information about the winter and spring break application process is available on the Office of Residence Life and Housing’s BridgeNet website under: Early Arrival and Break Stay Process.

Break Stay Housing

Break Stay Housing is available to students who have a need to remain in housing during the winter and spring break periods. Students who are interested in the Break Stay Housing option can select this option during the room selection period.

• Break Stay housing students are assigned to the Great Hill Student Apartments or Pope Hall and pay an additional fee. Students who contract for Break Stay Housing are responsible for the full cost of the contract whether or not they choose to remain on campus during the break periods.

The contract runs from the first day of occupancy for the fall semester through the date that the residence halls close for the year in May.

Housing Deposits

A $250 housing deposit and a completed Residence Hall License Agreement are required to be considered for a room assignment.

• The housing deposit is nonrefundable, unless the university is unable to provide a room after accepting the deposit.
• The housing deposit will be credited to the student's account for the semester that they begin living on campus.
• Students who withdraw from housing will forfeit their housing deposit.
• Students who need assistance with paying their housing deposit may reach out to Residence Life & Housing at ResLife@bridgew.edu. 

Housing Eligibility

To be eligible for campus housing a student must be actively enrolled in a minimum of one course at Bridgewater State University, or through a BSU-sanctioned program at all times during their course of residency. If a student withdraws from all classes, or withdraws from Bridgewater State University, they must contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing to formally check out of their room and vacate the residence halls within 24 hours.

Room Change Procedure

All room changes must be approved by the Office of Residence Life and Housing. Unapproved room changes will result in a $35 improper room change fee and a referral to the Office of Community Standards.

In order to verify that all expected resident students that had deposited have moved onto campus, there will be a two-week room change freeze at the beginning of each semester. Residence Life and Housing will begin accommodating room change requests after the freeze period is completed.

The Room Change Request process for room changes that will be processed for the spring semester is available in the weeks prior to the close of the semester. Room changes that are wanted after room selection is completed in the spring go live after the completion of the online room selection process. These room change requests will be completed throughout the entire summer as spaces become available. 

Room change requests are completed based on space availability in the order in which each request is received. Requests that are made for spaces that are available will be completed prior to requests made for spaces that are not yet available. 

• Students who would like to request a room change during the school year must first set up a meeting with their RD or AC to discuss the situation before a room change request should be completed.
• Students may complete a Room Change Request form in the MyHousing portal to indicate interest in moving to another room.

When the request is able to be granted, the student will be emailed a Room Change Pass via their BSU email address.

Summer Housing

Housing is available for students who have a need to remain in housing during the summer break. 

• Applications and information regarding summer housing is available on the Office of Residence Life and Housing’s BridgeNet website at: Housing Info

Withdrawal from Housing

The term of the license agreement is for the full academic year (fall and spring semesters). Students who withdraw from the residence halls and successfully petition for release from their license agreement during the academic year forfeit their housing deposit, pay the housing cancelation fee, and remain liable for housing charges.

• Students may petition to be released from the Residence Hall License Agreement if they can demonstrate an inability to fulfill the terms of the agreement due to an extenuating circumstance:
  • The online petition form can be located on the Office of Residence Life and Housing’s website under: Petition Process.
• Students who are granted a release from the Residence Hall License Agreement will be awarded a refund for housing as follows:
  • 100 percent refund prior to the first day of scheduled occupancy
  • Prorated refunds from the first day of occupancy until Monday after the last day of the drop/add period. No refund thereafter

Facilities

Cleaning/Care of Rooms & Trash Removal

Residents are required to maintain cleanliness, reasonable sanitation and safety standards in all university spaces. Residents are responsible for providing brooms, vacuum cleaners, dust pans, detergents, etc. for the proper cleaning and maintenance.

• Waste materials, including empty bottles, cans and trash, should be removed regularly and disposed of or recycled in receptacles provided within each residence hall.
• Trash should be placed in a plastic bag before disposal in designated areas.
• Floors should be washed and rugs vacuumed regularly.
• Residents are responsible for leaving their room in the move-in condition upon check out.
• In the event that the university must clean a room, suite or apartment beyond reasonable use, wear and tear, the resident(s) will be assessed a cleaning charge.

Damage Billing Policy

Residents are responsible for the condition of the space assigned to them. Each room will be inspected by the Residence Life and Housing staff prior to occupancy, during scheduled health and safety inspections, and also upon termination of occupancy.

• Any lack of cleanliness and/or damage/vandalism to or theft/loss of university property will be charged to the resident's account.
• Charges for damage/vandalism to common use areas within student spaces will be divided among the residents of the hall or apartment or a specific area of the hall.
• All damage charges will be assessed to the resident within thirty (30) days of the expiration of the term of the residence hall license agreement.
• Questions regarding one's bill may be directed to the Office of Residence Life and Housing. Formal appeals for individual damage charges may be addressed in writing to the Office of Residence Life and Housing via email to ResLife@bridgew.edu by the published deadline.

Community Damage Billing: Community areas are spaces shared by all the residents in a given hall (lounges, hallways, stairwells, bathrooms, game rooms, etc.). All resident students pay a $5.00 Building Maintenance Fee each semester to cover the cost of maintenance, cleanup and repair of these common use areas. Community Billing may additionally occur when significant or repetitive damage occurs to these areas and no individual is found responsible:

• Incurred damage costs are equally split among the residents of the floor/wing/stairwell/building and assessed to students' accounts.
• These charges are not subject to appeal.
• Residents with information about responsible individuals should contact their area coordinator or resident director. If identified parties are found responsible for the damage, then those parties will assume financial responsibility for the damages.

Alteration of Premises: Residents shall not make any changes, alterations or improvements to university spaces. This shall include, but not be limited to: 

• The addition or changing of any locks
• Removal of window screens
• The alteration of the heating or lighting fixtures

Furniture

Any/all non-university-owned furniture and furnishings brought into university housing are subject to approval by a Residence Life and Housing full-time staff member.

Any student who would like to bring additional furniture into their personal space must complete this form and await approval from full-time Residence Life and Housing staff prior to bringing the furniture to campus. All furniture must have a Cal 117 or Cal 133 tag on the piece of furniture. Staff will also need to confirm this tag during room inspections. Restrictions and limitations on the amount of additional furniture permitted per room are subject to the discretion of Residence Life and Housing.

The following must be adhered to otherwise:

• All personal furniture must be removed at the end of the occupancy period.
• No personal upholstered furniture is allowed in the residence halls without prior approval.
• University-supplied furniture cannot be removed from the room unless approved in advance by a full-time Residence Life and Housing staff member.

The furniture in community spaces (lounges, games rooms, laundry rooms, etc.) is for the use of all residents of the building and may not be moved from these spaces. The unauthorized possession of university-owned furniture, or unauthorized furniture within a student space, may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.

Room Decorations

Decorations or other items posted in student rooms are limited to room walls only. For safety and maintenance reasons nothing may be posted on, or affixed to, doors, windows, heaters, ceilings, fire safety equipment or room furnishings.

Additionally, in order to maintain residential fire safety; to prevent damage to windows; and to facilitate window cleaning and maintenance; residence hall room windows must remain clear of any obstruction. Posting, hanging, painting, or otherwise displaying decorations, pictures, signs, flags, banners, lighting, or other objects or materials in or upon residence hall room windows or on university window coverings is not permitted.

Pictures, posters, and other decorations that are hung on the walls of residence hall rooms must be hung with an adhesive that will not mar the wall surface.

• Nails, tacks, pins, screws, scotch tape, Command Strips (and the like) and duct tape are damaging, and their use may lead to damage charges.
• No decoration may impede emergency access or exit in rooms, hallways or public areas.

Holiday decorations in the residence halls must meet the following criteria, as established in accordance with fire codes:

• No live trees, wreaths or other live decorations are permitted.
• Holiday lights must be UL approved.

Residence Life

Entry to Resident Rooms

Authorized university personnel may enter residential spaces without notice for the following reasons:

• Maintenance and housekeeping purposes
• Health and safety inspections
• Inspection for damage
• Break closing inspections
• Other situations that are deemed an emergency

The university also reserves the right to enter residential spaces if there is a reasonable cause to believe that a violation of university policies and procedures is taking place.

• If there is some specific reason to suspect that a criminal offense has taken place or that evidence of such an offense may be secured in a room, university officials will enter the room only with a resident's permission or pursuant to a warrant.
• If in the course of any entry, illegal or restricted materials are found in plain view, they will be removed and the affected resident(s) will be notified of the confiscation and may be referred to the Office of Community Standards.

Fundraising Guidelines

Any student organizations interested in conducting a fundraiser in the residence halls should submit their request via email to ResLife@bridgew.edu. This request must be submitted minimally one week prior to the start of the fundraiser. Raffles of any kind cannot be conducted in the residence halls. Once approval is received all groups must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Only BSU-affiliated groups will be allowed to use residence hall space for the purpose of fundraising.
• Any costs associated with the fundraiser must be assumed by the organization sponsoring the activity.
• Proceeds from the fundraiser must be properly accounted for and deposited into the sponsoring organization's account.
• If selling food or baked goods, items must be premade and cannot be prepared in the residence halls (e.g., grilled cheese, hot dog, or burger sales).
• If the fundraiser involves the collection of certain items, the sponsoring group must reserve tables and establish drop-off times. Boxes should never be left unattended.
• Door-to-door solicitation is strictly prohibited.

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited in the residence halls:

• All cooking and food preparation appliances (except as listed below)
• Air conditioners
• Candles
• Incense burners
• Grills
• Space heaters
• Dartboards
• Pets (except fish and those permitted under the Americans with Disabilities legislation)
• Homemade loft or bunk beds
• Cinder blocks and other bed lofting apparatus 
• Upholstered Furniture (i.e. furniture covered with fabric and/or padding/stuffing)
• Hoverboards and Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (EPAMDs)

The possession of any prohibited items may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.

The following items are allowed in the residence halls:

• One microwave oven (under 1000 watts)
• One blender One coffee maker 
• One non-heat generation induction cooking apparatus.
• One refrigerator (up to 1.4 total amps or no more than 3.2 cubic feet)

Students assigned to Weygand Hall and the Great Hill Student Apartments have university provided full-size refrigerators and therefore are not allowed to bring in additional refrigerators. Only additional refrigerators that are approved as a medical accommodation will be allowed to be brought into Weygand Hall or the Great Hill Student Apartments.

The following items are allowed in the kitchen area of the Great Hill Student Apartments only:

• One toaster
• One toaster oven
• One Air Fryer
• One George Foreman-type grill
• One rice cooker

Quiet Hours and Courtesy Hours Policy

Residents must be considerate of neighbors and thoughtful about noise levels at all times. Residents are directly responsible for controlling their own noise level as well as that of their guests. Residents should never assume that if they have not been confronted, that elevated noise level is acceptable.

It is the responsibility of all members of the community to enforce and to adhere to quiet hours and courtesy hours. Cooperation is essential. Quiet hours are:

• Sunday evening - Friday morning: 9pm - 8am
• Friday evening - Sunday morning: 12am - 10am 

Courtesy hours are in effect at all times. During courtesy hours any resident may request that noise be reduced.

At all times the following guidelines apply:

• Loud music or other noise that can be heard beyond the limits of an individual's room is never acceptable and may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.
• Any type of sports or sports-related activities (such as bouncing a basketball) is prohibited at all times.

Room Inspection Procedures

Rooms will be inspected for health, safety and security reasons on a periodic basis and prior to each break period, by a Residence Life and Housing staff member, with or without notice or the presence of residents.

During inspections:

• The standards for the maintenance of residence hall space and furniture will be evaluated and the resident(s) may be required to remove, correct or make other necessary changes to meet university safety and building maintenance guidelines.
• Prohibited items may be confiscated, which may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.
• Occupants of rooms or apartments not found to be in acceptable condition will be charged a fee to cover cleaning costs.
• The university reserves the right to immediately terminate the residence hall license agreement of any of the occupants whose room or apartment has excessive damage or loss.

During inspections, if an unusual situation arises or if there is suspicion of illegal use of the room (i.e. to store stolen goods, alcohol or other drugs) the situation may be reported to university police and may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.

Solicitations

Non-university related commercial activities, solicitations, fundraising activities or advertisements are not permitted in the buildings or on the grounds of the university residence halls.

Safety & Security

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

When a fire alarm sounds:

• All residents and guests must promptly exit the building when a fire alarm sounds, regardless of whether it is a fire drill, false activation or actual fire.
• Any person who is physically unable to exit the building should immediately contact the university police department at (508-531-1212) from a cell phone or 911 from a campus phone.
• Please use the closest exit available, including emergency exits, in your building. Do not use elevators. It is important to be aware of all possible exit locations in your residence hall in the event that one or more of the fire exits are unsafe.
• Questions regarding the procedures should be directed to Residence Life and Housing staff (508-531-1277) or the university police department (508-531-1212).

Meeting Places:

All students are to gather at their building’s designated meeting place so that emergency vehicles and personnel can gain easy access to the building and ensure the safety of those who have exited the building.

• In the event of an emergency, Residence Life and Housing Staff will take attendance at the meeting place in order to give emergency personnel a list of individuals who may still be in the building and may need assistance exiting it.
• Residence Life and Housing staff will direct students to a temporary shelter if necessary.

Special Needs/Accessibility:

Resident students that require accommodations in the event of an emergency evacuation need to contact the Office of Residence Life & Housing to create a plan to ensure their safety in the case of an emergency evacuation.

Re-entering the Building:

No one may re-enter the building until directed to do so by university officials or the police department. Even if an alarm stops sounding students must wait for university officials to allow re-entry into the building.

Visitor Policy

A visitor is defined as anyone who does not reside in the assigned room, suite or apartment, regardless of whether they reside in the same building. Visitors are only allowed within a room as long as all roommates are in agreement that they may visit the room. 

• Visitors must be signed in and escorted by their host at all times.
• Residents may sign in no more than 3 visitors at one time. Residents cannot host more than 3 times the occupancy of their assigned space at any one time. 
• The Residence Life and Housing staff monitors visitor policies and reserves the right to suspend visitor privileges for policy violations or in emergency situations.

Acceptable Forms of Identification  

• Resident students must have their BSU Connect Card to enter a building or to be signed in as a visitor.
• Commuter students and non-student visitors must present a valid (not expired) photo identification (ID). The following types of ID are acceptable:
  • Connect Card (current BSU students only)
  • Passport o State ID card
  • Military ID card
  • Driver’s license
  • Liquor ID

No photocopies or pictures of IDs are acceptable in the place of a physical form of identification.

Prior to signing in a visitor, the host must have the approval of all residents living in the same room, suite or apartment.

• If a student's comfort or sense of privacy is violated by unwelcome visitor(s), they may request that the visitor leave.
• If the residents cannot successfully resolve the matter, a Residence Life and Housing staff member can be requested to assist.

An overnight visitor is defined as a visitor who would be arriving or staying past 11:00 PM.

• Overnight visitors cannot visit for more than 3 consecutive nights in any 7-day period.
• Overnight visitors must not visit in a pattern that may be interpreted by Residence Life and Housing staff as being an additional occupant of the residential space.

Hosts are responsible for their visitors’ conduct and are liable for any damage done to university property or violation of university policy committed by the visitor.

• Visitors must abide by all university policies and procedures.
  • Visitors, even if over 21 years of age, may not bring alcoholic beverages onto campus (including the Great Hill Student Apartments).
  • The university assumes no responsibility for visitors that are not students.
  • Violations of the visitor policy may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.

Visitor Policy – Minors

Non-student guests under the age of 16 are not required to present a photo ID to be signed in. If staying overnight, these visitors must adhere to the following outlined procedures:

• Obtain prior approval from the Office of Residence Life and Housing by signing an agreement indicating that the host student is (a) eighteen (18) years of age or older; and (b) has responsibility for the care, custody, and control of the minor while on University property.
• This agreement serves as an acknowledgment, a liability release, and an emergency medical care authorization for the minor from the minor’s parent or guardian to the host student unless otherwise determined by the Office of Residence Life and Housing. The form can be located on the Office of Residence Life and Housings website at: Minor Visitor Release Agreement

Health and Safety

Federal, state and university policies regarding health, safety, alcohol, drugs, firearms and the like will be upheld in all university residence halls.

• Hallways, stairwells, doorways, elevators, emergency exits and entryways must always be clear.
• Students may not gain access to, cross, or use building roofs in any manner.
• Removing or lifting window screens, sitting on windowsills, leaning out of windows or bringing items into the building via windows is prohibited.
• No item may be dropped or thrown from windows. Tampering with fire safety equipment is prohibited.

Failure to comply with these policies may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards and/or a damage assessment.

Lock Out and Lost Connect Card Policies

Students are responsible for carrying their Connect Card with them at all times. All resident students use their BSU Connect Card to access their rooms.

If a student is locked out they should locate a Residential Safety Officer, Area Coordinator, Resident Director, Resident Assistant, Residential Safety Assistant or Office Assistant. If a staff member is not available the student may have to wait until resident assistant duty begins.

Residents that show a pattern of not carrying their Connect Card by requesting lockout assistance from University staff will be documented and referred to the Office of Community Standards.

• Resident assistants are on duty between 7pm and 7am each day of the week and 7pm and 9am on the weekends.
• On Saturday and Sunday there will also be a resident assistant available on call to address lockouts between 9am and 7pm.
• Information about the RA on duty (i.e. name, phone numbers and room numbers) is posted nightly outside of the RA Office.

If a student loses their Connect Card:

• During business hours (Monday Friday 9am – 5pm):
  • Obtain a replacement card from the Parking and Connect Card Services office prior to seeing a Residence Life and Housing staff member who will code their card.
  • If a Connect Card is lost, the student will be billed $25 by the Parking and Connect Card Office to replace the card.
• Outside of business hours:
  • Residence Life and Housing staff will issue a temporary card that must be returned by the following business day at 5 pm.
  • If a temporary card is lost or not returned, the student may be billed $25 to replace the card.

Malicious Fire Alarm Policy

Tampering with fire safety equipment (e.g., smoke/heat detectors, fire extinguishers, pull stations, pre-alarm covers and fire horns) or initiating false alarms/bomb threats may result in immediate suspension from the residence halls.

When a malicious false fire alarm occurs:

• Each resident of the building will be charged $5 for the alarm. An additional $2 will be added for each additional malicious alarm.
• If two false alarms occur after 10 pm on any night, the Residence Life and Housing staff will request that a fire watch be instituted. This fire watch will be at the expense of the building's residents.
• If there are five consecutive days of false alarms, the Residence Life and Housing staff will request that a fire watch be instituted for the next five consecutive days. This fire watch will be at the expense of the students of the building.

Bridgewater State University offers a $500 reward to any person(s) providing information to university police that result in a finding of responsibility of any individual(s) causing a false fire alarm in a campus building.

Security Procedures

All entrance doors are locked 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.

• Residence hall front entrances are monitored during designated periods. Residence Life & Housing safety staff monitors front entrances and registers guests to the building.
• Secondary exit doors are clearly labeled and alarmed and may not be used except in an emergency.
  • Misusing or tampering with a secondary exit door may result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.
• Resident students may make a request to ResNet for access to landline phone service within their residence hall room.
• Each student room is equipped with a lock and residents are issued an access card. All rooms have locking windows. Students should lock their doors and windows to protect both their property and themselves.
  • Tampering with locks, theft, duplication, or unauthorized use of any Connect Cards to a university facility is a serious conduct code violation.
  • No resident student is permitted to lend his/her Connect Card to another person.
• The university does not assume responsibility for the loss of or damage to personal articles by fire, theft, water damage or any other cause. All students are advised to carry personal property insurance. 
• During break periods students are not permitted in the residence halls. Students who need to enter a residence hall due to an emergency should contact university police for permission to enter and to arrange for an escort.

Public Health Policy

Members of the university community are expected to comply with all mandates of the CDC, MDPH, and associated policies mandated by the university should any requirements come to surface. Please note that Bridgewater State University will conform to all policies as required by federal, state, and local public health officials. Bridgewater State University reserves the right to change policies and procedures at any time in the interests of safeguarding public health

Reviewed and Revised 8.2024 by Justin McCauley, Office of Residence Life & Housing