Residence Life

Commandments of Community Living

If you borrow it, return it.
If you drop it, pick it up.
If you spill it, wipe it up.
If you finish with it, put it away.
If you break it, fix it.
If you can’t fix it, ask for assistance.
If it doesn’t belong to you, leave it alone.
If you don’t like it done to you, don’t do it to others.

Fire/Emergency Procedures

Before a Fire

Know the location of all fire alarm pull stations in the building and how to activate them.
Know the location of all portable fire extinguishers and how to use them.
Know the location of alternate means of exit.

Upon Discovering a Fire

Sound the internal fire alarm immediately to alert all residents.
Notify Public Safety at 484-365-7211.
Shut all doors and windows in the immediate vicinity of the fire.
If the fire is small, use fire extinguishers.
Exit by the stairway from your area. DO NOT use elevators.
Do not run.
Have someone meet fire authorities and direct them to the proper floor and room.

Upon Hearing the Fire Alarm

When you have been alerted by the alarm, verbal warnings, or sense smoke or fire:

Keep low to the floor if there is smoke in the room.
Feel the metal doorknob before opening any doors. If the knob is hot, do not open the door. If it is not, brace yourself against the door, open it slightly. If heat or heavy smoke is present, close the door and stay in the room.
Do not panic.
Seal cracks around the door using sheets, pieces of clothing or whatever is handy, if you cannot leave the room. To let out smoke and bring in fresh air, open windows a few inches at the top and bottom. Then hang an object out the window to attract the fire department or call Public Safety and report that you are trapped. Be sure to give room number, location, and extension number.
If you are able to leave the room:
Put on your shoes and coat. Use a wet towel (if possible) to cover your face. Close all doors as you exit. Do not lock doors. Go to the designated stairway. DO NOT use an elevator. If the designated exit is blocked by fire, heat, or smoke, go to another exit. If you enter a stairway and find it blocked below you, either go to a higher floor or find a window and signal for help.
Always try to remain calm.

Area Coordinators

Area coordinators are live-in professional staff who support residents, respond to emergencies, and serve as liaisons to various campus offices. They supervise student staff who promote and build community.

Resident Advisor (RA)

A resident advisor (RA) is a student staff member who serves as a resource to help you adjust to your home away from home. He/she will be a resource to the services, programs, and policies of the university. RAs are on duty at the front desk Sunday –Thursday from 6 p.m. to midnight and on call after hours from midnight to 7 a.m.; and at the front desk Friday-Saturday from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. RAs who work weekend shifts are on duty and on call from Friday at 6 p.m. until Sunday at 6 p.m.

Residence Hall Council

All residence hall students automatically become members of their residence hall councils. The councils provide a means of uniting students in order to facilitate relationships and increase communication. The residence hall councils are used as a venue for planning, developing, and coordinating hall programs and campus-wide programs. They provide a variety of activities and programs. Emphasis is placed on educational, cultural, social, and recreational programs. The councils are governed by an elected slate of officers which includes president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, king or queen, Student Government Association representatives, and fire marshals.

Residence Hall Association

The mission of the Lincoln University Residence Hall Association is to enhance and develop the life of residential students through advocacy, programming, and leadership opportunities and by providing a place to voice concerns about residence life procedures, policies, and facilities.

Health and Safety Inspections

The RHCs and RAs reserve the right to inspect a room for health and safety reasons. These reasons include, but are not limited to, a complaint by a roommate or residents that the room is unsanitary, that the condition of the room is a fire hazard, or that pests such as roaches or mice are present. The inspection will occur on a monthly basis, and during inspections, the resident may or may not be present.

Room Search

It is the responsibility of the dean of students and director of residence life and/or the residence hall staff to periodically inspect all rooms in the residence halls for damage, fire, and health hazards. Inspections may occur at any time and students will be assessed for room damage. Where two or more students occupy the same room, and individual responsibility for damage or loss in the room cannot be ascertained, the cost of damage or loss will be divided and assessed equally among the residents of the room. Should authorized personnel observe unapproved appliances or objects in the room or notice objects attached to facilities in an unapproved manner, the University reserves the right to have the items removed.

Preventive Maintenance/Physical Plant

The residence life staff works in collaboration with the Office of the Physical Plant to provide quality facilities. During breaks, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer, physical plant staff make necessary repairs to maintain the residence halls.

Repairs and Maintenance Request

As a member of a community setting, every student must assume responsibility for the care of common areas. In addition, a resident is responsible for the care of her/his room and its furnishings. Although housekeeping staff clean and care for the common areas in the residence halls, each resident is responsible for assisting with the maintenance and upkeep of each hall which includes, but is not limited to, cleaning up behind oneself as well as encouraging peers to do the same.

All maintenance requests are through the TMA system.

Please note that requests are handled in the order they are received.

If response time is longer than three days, please follow up with an RA unless it is an emergency. Ask an RA if you have questions about the form.

If an emergency should arise after office hours, notify your RHC or your RA.

Office of the Physical Plant

From time to time, the Office of Residence Life may need to refer broken items to the Office of the Physical Plant for repair. Currently, the physical plant staff handles all electrical, air conditioning, building, water plant, and grounds issues. Because they are responsible for maintaining the entire University, sometimes it may take up to 48 hours or more for them to respond to a referral. Students should not attempt to call the Physical Plant office directly. For tracking and referral purposes, all calls should go through the Office of Residence Life, via the RHCs and RAs, for any authorization to be given for work done by the physical plant staff.

Physical plant personnel will be allowed to enter the students’ room to make repairs even if the student is not present.

Residence Hall Keys

It is mandatory for all University to students to carry their Lion Card student ID and residence hall keys at all times. In the event that you misplace or lose your residence hall keys, please notify your resident advisor, resident hall coordinator, or the Office of Residence Life immediately.

Lockouts

Throughout the academic hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., all lockouts will be handled based on the availability of the resident advisor or resident hall coordinator. A $2 room re-entry fee is to be paid to the residence hall staff member.

Room Changes

Room changes begin after the first three weeks of classes and must be completed by the fourth week of classes. Students requesting room changes must receive written authorization from the RHC prior to moving any personal items from one room to another. Unauthorized room changes will result in disciplinary action. The University reserves the right to make room changes when it is deemed in the best interest of the students involved and the University. Students are allowed one room change without charge. Subsequent requests will require a fee of $25. Students who move without prior written authorization from the Office of Residence Life will also be assessed a fine.

Students are not allowed to duplicate university keys or add locks to university doors and furnishings. Lost and/or stolen keys can be replaced by reporting them to your RA and/or RHC at a cost of $200.

Disciplinary Matters in Student Housing

Minor infractions of University policies, regulations, and guidelines that govern residence life (student housing) will be handled by the resident hall coordinator and/or the director of residence life. Major infractions as well as repeated minor infractions, will be handled by the dean of students as outlined in the University’s Code of Student Conduct.

A complete description of the Office of Residence Life’s community standards, policies and procedures can be found in the Student’s Guide to Residential Living on the student success webpage. Residents are expected to adhere to policies, procedures, and guidelines found in the following aids: (1) Student Housing Contract, (2) Student Handbook, and (3) Student’s Guide to Residential Living.

View the full sexual assault policy, HRM 122, from Human Resources at http://www.lincoln.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/hr/LU-HRM-122-Sexual-Misconduct-Policy-rev-12-10-15.pdf.

Prohibited Behavior

The following behavior is strictly prohibited in residence halls: Loud music, hanging out and yelling in hallways or hallway windows, horse play, water fights, tampering with life safety equipment (fire extinguishers, sprinklers, fire alarms, etc.). These violations will result in disciplinary action and possible revocation of the housing contract.

Furnishings and Damage

Residence hall rooms are furnished and have standard twin size beds, desk, dresser, shades, and blinds. Therefore, furniture from home is prohibited. Also, cinder or cement blocks are prohibited.

Lincoln University strictly prohibits the use of all cooking appliances, microwaves, air conditioners, and space heaters in the student’s rooms.

When damage occurs in the residence halls common areas and the perpetrator cannot be identified, the cost of damage(s) will be assessed among the residents of the floor or building. The following pages list fines for damages, which are also subject to judicial board referral:

Item per Person	Cost
Illegally living in a residence hall	Room and Board
Lock changes	$200
Key replacement	$200
Failure to clean room at check-out (requiring maid service)	$150
Improper check-out	$150
Non-compliance with check-out process	$150
Common areas maid service	$75
Illegal furnishings removal
Residence halls	$150
Computer labs	$150
Student restaurant	$150
Illegal room changes	$150 per day
Fire extinguishers	$100 community
Tampering with life safety equipment (fire extinguishers, sprinklers, fire alarms or exiting an emergency exit)	$500
Smoking (of any kind in Residence Hall)	$200
Graffiti, vandalism	$25–$75 community $100 individual
Vertical pole (stripper pole)	$100
Cyberbullying	$100
Illegal appliances, possession of alcohol, unauthorized gatherings, pets, propped doors	$150
Broken windows	$100
Broken glass (large windows)	$150-$200
Broken doors	$100
Broken/vandalized furnishings	$25 community
	$150 individual
Extensive damage to interior walls	$150
Cinder blocks	$25 per block
Removal of door pieces	$75-$100
Removal of road signs	$75-$150 depending upon size
Drinking/alcohol use	IMMEDIATE INTERIM SUSPENSION Referral to Judicial Board
Underage drinking	IMMEDIATE INTERIM SUSPENSION Referral to Judicial Board
Serving alcohol to minors	IMMEDIATE INTERIM SUSPENSION Referral to Judicial Board
Use, possession, or sale of drugs	IMMEDIATE INTERIM SUSPENSION Referral to Judicial Board
Removal of exit lights/signs	$50 individual
Broken light fixtures	$50-$200
Non-compliance fire alarms/drills	$100–$500
Unauthorized occupancy of a room/squatter(s)	$30 per day
Utilizing bathrooms of the opposite sex	$200 and up
Pets of any kind	$100
Solicitation/advertisement of business	$100
Unsanitary bathrooms	$25 community $75 individual
Failure to sign-in	$75
Inter-visitation violation	$150
Failure to comply (with RA/RC)	$25 community $75 individual
Failure to sign guests in at Public Safety	$100
Quiet hours violation (loud music, horseplay, etc.)	$10 community $50 individual
Illegal appliance*	$75 per appliance
Candles &/ or incense**	$15 per incense/candle
Illegal parties	$75 per person Referral to Judicial Board

*Illegal appliances will be confiscated and will not be returned until the end of the academic year. Any appliances left behind after April 30 will be discarded.

**Candles and incense are prohibited in the residence halls at all times. Speakers are prohibited from use in any room window.

Terms and Conditions of Housing Contract

Housing at Lincoln University is available to all students regardless of race, color, religion or national origin. The housing contract and assignment are subject to the terms and conditions stated in the student handbook and may be waived only by the director of residence life or a designated representative.

In order to reside on campus, the resident is required to be a full-time student registered for 12 credits.
The right of occupancy is restricted to the resident of an assigned space only. Students who are granted a room must occupy it in person. Under no condition may a student transfer his or her right to occupy a residence hall room to anyone else.
Room fees for a term cover residence not earlier than the official check in date for the academic year under the terms and conditions of the Lincoln University insurance policy. Coverage begins on the official check-in date for the academic year and not before.
The residence halls will be closed during official University vacations, recess periods, and between semesters (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, summer, etc.).
Students are responsible for the cleanliness and proper care of their room and its furnishings. Students must use the premises, personal property, and furnishings in a careful and proper manner. At the expiration of the contract period, the student must leave the room in good repair and condition. Assigned occupants of each room are jointly financially responsible for keeping the room and its contents in good order and free from damage by themselves or others. Damages to public/common areas will be prorated to residents of a hall or a specific area of a hall. Damages to public/common areas of a residence hall, graffiti and defacing property will result in a community fine when the guilty party is not identified. If the guilty party is identified, an individual fine will be assessed. Cleaning equipment can be provided if necessary or available. At checkout time, residents are responsible for removing all personal property, waste, and debris and for leaving their rooms in a reasonably clean condition. The University is not liable for any personal property left behind. Should extra cleaning by housekeeping personnel be required because of poor housekeeping by residents, a maid service charge can be assessed.
Students must check out properly in person within 24 hours upon official withdrawal from the University. To check out properly, students must vacate their room, remove all personal property, surrender a room clearance and condition form, room key(s), and student ID to the Office of Residence Life or residence staff in the hall where the student resided. Students must also return all University property to the proper department. Those who do not follow the checkout procedures, including failure to turn in room keys at checkout, will be fined. This checkout process also applies to the end of final examinations week at the conclusion of each fall semester. Please take all valuables home during this time.
The University is not liable for loss of or damage to personal property or for the failure or interruption of utilities and/or sanitary drainage. However, the University is liable for negligence of authorized agents, employees, and representatives of Lincoln University. Each student must purchase personal property insurance before entering Lincoln University to cover personal property.
The University does not have storage areas for students’ personal property. If a student has the need for storage, he/she must find a storage area on his or her own.
The University reserves the right to have agents and representatives specifically authorized by the president of the University to enter the housing space at any time for inspection, health and safety concerns, maintenance and repair of living quarters and contents. Inspections are conducted to administer the terms of the housing contract or other University regulations, consistent with the student’s constitutional right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure. Specific authority is normally relegated to the Office of Public Safety and the vice president of student success. Employees of the University have the right to enter housing space during reasonable hours to perform necessary maintenance and janitorial services as well, even if a student is not present. If there is a reason to suspect a resident is using controlled substances, the University reserves the right to have officials search the room and confiscate the substances. Persons found to be trafficking illegal substances will be subject to disciplinary actions up to expulsion.
The University reserves the right to change or cancel assignments in the interest of order, health, discipline, reasons of economy, when vacancies occur, or for any other urgent reason.
The University reserves the right to change the rates to conform to economic conditions and the rates are subject to change by the trustees of the University.
The possession, carrying, or use of firearms (including pistols, rifles, pellet guns, bb guns, paintball guns, stun guns, tasers, shotguns or ammunition), handbillies, razors, switch blades and other dangerous knives, explosives or other dangerous weapons or chemicals is prohibited in and on all University property, except by authorized law officers and other persons specifically authorized by the University.
Gambling or the possession of gambling devices is prohibited in or around University property.
Possession, consumption, or sale of narcotics or dangerous drugs is prohibited. Bicycles and motorcycles are not permitted inside student rooms or elsewhere in the building.
State laws prohibit the purchase, use, or possession of alcoholic beverages by individuals under 21 years of age. University regulations restrict the use and possession, use, or sale of all drugs and alcoholic beverages by any students. Students will be subject to disciplinary action if found in violation of the alcohol policy.
Cooking is not allowed or permitted in student rooms and is restricted to residence hall kitchens only. The following, and any other appliances the University indicates as prohibited, are not allowed for use in the residence halls, except in a designated area: all cooking appliances, including microwave ovens*, air conditioners, electrical hair preparation appliances*, space heaters, oversized refrigerators*, humidifiers*, clothes irons**, multiple outlets, strings of lights, toaster ovens, hot plates, electric skillets and grills of any kind.

* Permitted with approval from the University physician or the Office of Residence Life.

**Irons may be stored in student rooms, but must be used only in designated areas if available. Students are not permitted to iron on beds.

If a student is noncompliant, the University reserves the right to remove the article, impose a fine, and make a referral for disciplinary action.

Aerial masts, radio or television antennas and other short wave transmitting equipment are not permitted to be installed in or on the residence halls by students (FCC Interference Regulations and Safety Precautions).
Students are not permitted to bring home furniture in the residence halls. However, students may add decorations to their room within the limits of good judgment and safety, but they are not permitted to remove University furnishings from assigned areas to another room or facility. Failure to comply with this provision would result in a fine and disciplinary action. Mattresses are to be used on the bed frame provided; not on the floor, and water beds are not permitted. Students are responsible for the articles of furniture assigned to them and they are charged for shortage or damage to these articles.
The right of occupancy is restricted to the resident(s) assigned to the space only. The student(s) agree not to sell, sublease, or assign the contract to anyone. He or she also agrees not to allow persons to reside in their assigned space beyond the regulated guest visitation period. If a squatter is found residing in his or her room, a fine will be assessed. Repeated offenders will lose their housing assignment, and squatters will be fined for room and board charges for the semester. Guests are permitted to visit during the weekend beginning on Friday and ending on Sunday at noon only. All guests must properly check in at the Public Safety office to receive a guest pass. All overnight guests must have written permission from the residence hall coordinator.
The use of adhesives or other fixtures on doors, walls, wardrobes, woodwork, or furniture is permitted only if the fixtures do not cause permanent damage to the surfaces of the above listed. If nails, tacks, tape, or glue are affixed to University property and cannot be removed without causing damage, the occupant(s) of the room will be held responsible for costs incurred to restore the damaged article to the former state.
Due to a potential hazard, dogs, cats, birds, fish, laboratory specimens, and pets of any kind are not permitted in the residence halls. The University reserves the right to remove pets, and any party(ies) in violation of this term and condition will be assessed a fine and is subject to disciplinary action.
Commercial activities, private solicitation, or advertisement of business enterprises is not permitted in the building or on the grounds of the residence halls, except when permission is specifically granted by the dean of students or the director of student life and development. Neither may solicitors, salesmen, or agents contact students in the residence halls for commercial purpose. Violators are subject to a fine and disciplinary sanction.
Fire alarms or fire extinguishers are located on every floor in each building. Tampering with fire equipment is a serious matter and is in violation of University policy. Due to the hazards and expenses involved, malicious or intentional false fire alarms will result in severe disciplinary action and a fine.
Articles are not to be thrown from or hung in windows and no food or beverages are to be stored between the windows and the screens or the outside ledges. Screens are to be kept in the windows at all times.
Candles and incense are prohibited for use in all residence hall rooms. If a student is found in possession of these items, he/she will be assessed a fee per incident.

NOTE: If the student moves off campus prior to the published “Last Day to Add or Drop Courses,” a prorated amount for housing and meals will be assessed. If the student moves off-campus after this published date, the student will be responsible for 100% of the housing charge and a prorated amount for meals.

Room Visitation Program/Sign-in Policy

Co-educational inter-visitation Hours: All students are governed and must abide by a uniform inter-visitation policy. Students of the opposite sex may visit each other in their facilities or rooms between the following times:

Sunday–Thursday from noon to 11 p.m. and Friday–Saturday from noon to 2 a.m.

The inter-visitation policy is not an attempt to monitor your personal business, but is indicative of the University’s concern for the safety and security of all residents. In order to upgrade the security of all residents, the University has a sign-in policy effective in all residence halls. The sign-in procedure is as follows:

All visitors must enter the residence hall through the front doors only. All other doors are emergency exits only. The use of any other means of entry is considered trespassing and illegal. Sign-in hours begin daily at 6 p.m. in all appropriate residence halls and end at the aforementioned applicable day and times.
There will be a sign-in desk manned and all student visitors must present and leave validated ID cards. Keys are not accepted as a form of ID and will not be used for the sake of visiting. All non-students who are visiting a residence hall must leave valid identification cards (military ID, driver’s license, employment card) at the Department of Public Safety Office to receive a “guest pass.” The host student must meet his or her guest and have him/her sign in at the lobby desk and indicate the time. No one will be allowed to visit the residence hall unless there is a host student present to receive that person. Residents are held responsible for the conduct of their guests.
All residents have the right to privacy; therefore, if the presence of a guest is an inconvenience or is objectionable to a roommate, the guest must leave the room. Cohabitation of any kind is prohibited in the residence halls at any time.
When possible, announcements will be made 15 minutes and five minutes prior to the end of visitation hours by authorized personnel on duty at the desk. However, the visitor is responsible for keeping track of the time and leaving at the appropriate hour. All students must familiarize themselves with the inter-visitation policy and sign-in procedures. Violation of this policy and procedure will result in sanction and disciplinary actions, including suspension.

Quiet Hours

In order to enhance the opportunity for study time, the residence halls have quiet hours posted from 8 p.m. to 11 a.m. During quiet hours, room doors should be closed and residents are urged to refrain from making loud noises, playing excessively loud music, and being generally disruptive. Residents and guests are prohibited from congregating in hallways and stairwells. Violators of the quiet-hour policy are subject to a fine and disciplinary action.

Occupancy During Holiday

During Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break and for periods during the summer, the residence halls are closed. Prior to the beginning of these periods, the Office of Residence Life will set a time and date when the building must be vacated.

During these periods, the University is not responsible for pick up or delivery. The nearest airports are the Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, and Thurgood Marshall/ BWI Airport, Baltimore, Maryland. The nearest train stations are Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Transportation may be provided by contacting the Delaware Shuttle. The shuttle will transport to and from the train station and airport door-to-door 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For reservations call 800-648-LIMO.

Abandoned Property

The University assumes no responsibility for any property such as clothing, books, clocks, computers, radios, or toiletry articles left in residence hall rooms by students at check out. If contact cannot be made with the owner or his or her family within one week, or if the owner is unknown or unprepared to take possession of the property, the abandoned items will be discarded.

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