Policies and Procedures in this handbook are subject to change. Changes occur only after consultation with administration. Any changes will be announced in the Residence Hall newsletter
A/C-Heater Units
The filters of the A/C-heater units will be cleaned once a month by housekeeping. You should not tamper with the unit’s internal service controls; operation of controls should be limited to the outside panel and the vent only. When leaving for breaks, your unit should be set at “4” or approx. 70 degrees automatic cool in summer and automatic heat in winter. A/C-heater units must be able to circulate the air in your room. To make this possible, please keep items away from the front of the unit. Beds must be at least 12 inches away from the A/C-heater unit
Auto repairs
Auto repair of any kind (including oil change) may not be done in any parking lot because of the damage these repairs can do to the ground/pavement. Trash cans are available in the parking lots. Please dispose of your trash in these receptacles.
Bulletin Boards
All material placed on lobby bulletin boards must be approved by a dean or office manager. Hallway bulletin boards are for RA use only.
Camping
To leave campus for weekend camping trips, you must submit a request through the regular weekend leave process. The following information must be verified: specific identification of camping site, approved adult sponsor (age 23+) to accompany mixed gender groups, and separate sleeping arrangements for each gender. Leaves for mixed gender camping groups MUST submit their leave by the deadline for the deans to have enough time to approve the sponsor. Campus-sponsored organizations are expected to follow these same guidelines. Camping alone is prohibited.
Ceiling Tiles
Ceiling Tiles must remain in place and there is not to be anything stored above them. If you notice a damaged or missing ceiling tile in your room fill out a maintenance request immediately to avoid any room damage fines.
Cleats
Before entering the residence halls after engaging in softball, flag ball, soccer, or caving, please take off cleats.
CCTV
Southern is committed to enhancing the safety and quality of life on the campus. A critical component of a comprehensive security plan is the use of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV). Information obtained through video monitoring will be used exclusively for security and law enforcement purposes and will be conducted in a manner consistent with university policies. Video monitoring of public areas for security purposes at the university is limited to uses that do not violate the reasonable expectation to privacy as defined by law. There is a reasonable expectation of privacy in showers, restrooms, and individual resident rooms.
Confiscation Policy
Stereos and speakers that are confiscated because of noise violation will be held for a month before being returned. Cash fines also apply. Other items (such as but not limited to televisions over 43”, posters, firearms, swords, and role-playing games) will not be returned until the resident can take the item home. Weapons may be turned over to Campus Safety.
The university, residence hall deans, and RAs are not responsible for any confiscated items in storage. It is recommended that you purchase personal property insurance for your personal items.
Decorations
When decorating your room, please keep paper decorations to a minimum. During the Christmas season, live trees are not permitted in the building. Lighted candles or door decorations are not allowed either.
Distribution of Information
Anyone wishing to distribute or provide information via pamphlets, newsletters, newspapers, voice, or any other form of communication, must first receive permission from the Director of Student Life and Activities. To post information in the residence halls you will also need permission from the residence halls.
Door Locks
Taping or tampering with door locks is prohibited and will result in a cash fine. If a lock is damaged and needs to be replaced, a fine will be charged for the replacement (see fine list below).
Electricity
To conserve energy, lights and appliances should be turned off when not in use. When you go on vacation or away for the weekend, please turn off lights and all electrical items (except your refrigerator).
Exiting and Entering Dorm from 11:00pm - 6:00am
No one is to exit or enter the residence hall through the periphery doors between the hours of 11:00pm – 6am. Exiting and entering at this time should occur through the main entrance of the residence hall and the proper sign in/sign out process must be followed. Failure to follow this process is a major violation and/or other consequences can occur. (During incident of fire alarm and emergency please exit/enter as instructed.)
End of Semester Violations
When there is less than 1 month to be on RHR or CP due to night check violations, the discipline for major NC violations will be: $35 fine (reduced to $25 if paid before you leave for the semester) and you will be placed on CP for the rest of the semester. If you receive an additional major night check violation, you will receive a $100 fine and meet with the Dean of Students.
Engines and Motorized Vehicles
Because of the potential fire hazard, engines of any type (auto, motorcycle, chain saw, etc.) are not allowed in residence halls, Southern Village, storage closets, or rooms for any reason. All motorized vehicle parts, including tires, are banned from the residence halls and Southern Village. Cash fines, as well as payment for any damage may result.
Eviction Policy
When students are no longer registered for classes, they must vacate campus housing. The student will be notified by a dean in writing that they will have 48 hours to vacate the premises. This policy also applies during summer terms if a student does not retain his or her accepted status. If the student does not vacate housing within the allotted time, his or her personal belongings will be placed in storage, and the student will forfeit all refundable housing deposits and fees. Any exceptions must be arranged through the deans, Student Development, and Student Finance.
Fines
If a resident is fined near the end of a semester and the fine remains unpaid by due date, it will be charged against the resident’s student account with a processing fee applied.
Furniture
Furniture must not be moved from any residence hall lobby or kitchen/lounge area. There is a cash fine for an infraction of this policy (see fine list below).
Hair Cutting
Haircuts should be given in designated and approved places in the residence halls. Drop cloths should be used beneath the chair to minimize mess and clean up.
Illness
A resident with an illness or injury that requires constant monitoring may not remain in the residence hall until he or she is out of physical danger and is cleared by a physician. Health services or the physician will advise in such cases. All other illnesses, such as the flu, should be reported to a dean.
Insubordination
Failure to follow through with what has been requested of you by a dean, whether this request is made in writing or given verbally, will be considered insubordination and may result in Citizenship Probation or further discipline.
Internet Usage
Your use of the Internet should be consistent with the Christian values that Southern maintains. The University reserves the right to check the contents of computer files on the campus and in individual rooms for illegal activities and pornographic materials. You accept this authorization when you rent a room. Accessing pornography, hate sites, and other non-Christian material will be justification for turning off individual Internet service. If you violate the law, criminal prosecution may result. Because wireless service is now available in the residence halls, individual wireless routers permitted.
Lobbies
The main lobbies of each residence hall are open for mixed visits from 8am to 11pm, Sunday to Friday. and until 12:45am on Saturday. Members of the opposite gender are not allowed in any other part of a residence hall. Permission must be obtained from a dean before allowing a person of the opposite gender to help a resident move in. Violators of this policy will be subject to suspension.
If you are using a laptop in the lobbies, headphones are required if you are viewing/listening to anything with sound. Please refrain from watching secular movies in the lobby during Sabbath hours.
Mental or Emotional Health
If for any reason you are discouraged or depressed, talking with a counselor will make it easier for you to deal with your discouragement. The Counseling and Testing Center has professional counseling available for those who are experiencing suicidal feelings and desire help in coping with them. Any student who attempts suicide, displays behavior that could lead to such an act, or demonstrates a tendency toward self-harm, may be placed on an open-ended medical leave of absence. Continuation as a student will occur only after the
student has presented documentation of an approved therapy program.
Night Check
The residence halls close at 11:00pm, Sunday through Friday, and at 1:00am on Saturday. After those hours, the doors closed until 6:00am. All outside doors are locked during closed hours. Night check is conducted at closing time (curfew) each evening. You are required to register your presence in the residence hall. You may meet this requirement by checking in at the night check table in the main lobby or by contacting one of the RAs who is conducting a room-by-room check on the halls at closing time. Once in the residence hall, you must receive a dean’s permission if you need to leave before 6am. This permission must be obtained before the dean leaves for the night. Sign-outs are to be the exception, not the rule. You should take care of outside and off-campus business before closing time. Please make sure to park your car before getting yourself on check.
If you can’t be in the residence hall by closing time due to work, you must submit a petition form to the dean in charge of night check. Only with an approved petition are you exempt from night check violations because of work.
Petition…during the week, you will need to schedule your work to allow you to be back to your residence hall by 1am (2am on Saturday night). Check with one of your deans to see what forms you need to fill out in your residence hall. Petitions should be submitted no later than two weeks after the academic year begins or after new job commences. After two weeks, late arrival may not be excused if no petition has been submitted. If you are a nurse who works a night shift, check with your deans to see what the requirements are for your residence hall.
Late Leaves
One late leave (up until 2:00am) may be requested per week. Under normal circumstances, late leaves give the resident 60 additional minutes beyond curfew to be out of the residence hall. Request forms are available at the front desk and must be approved in person by a dean; they may not be left at the front desk for a dean. Late leaves may be requested for the following reasons: emergencies, special occasions, or out-of-town travel. Late leaves may be requested for any night of the week except Friday and Saturday nights (Out-of-town travel and emergencies are exceptions). Late leaves cannot be obtained during the Sabbath hours. Call-ins will not be accepted by a desk worker. Should you have an emergency that keeps you from returning to the residence hall by curfew, you should call and speak to the dean on duty.
Major Violations
Coming in more than an hour late is considered a major violation of the night check policy. A resident must meet with a dean in this situation. Major violations often result in residence hall restrictions. Other major violations are being unaccounted at night check and signing out of the residence hall without permission. Major violations will result in you being placed on Residence Hall Restriction for one month and could result in a cash fine. If you receive any additional major violations during the same semester, you will be placed on Citizenship Probation for one month.
Night Check Summary
This chart applies to Talge, Thatcher, Thatcher South, Southern Village and the Cottages
(This chart applies to students age 18+)
| Age / Class / GPA | Day | Curfew | Minor | Major |
| All freshman under 20 | Sunday - Friday | 11:15pm | 11:16pm - 12:15am | After 12:15am |
| Saturday | 1am | 1:01am - 2am | 2:01am - 6am | |
| Sophomores+ and must be either 20+ or GPA 3.0+ | Sunday - Thursday | 1am | 1:01am - 2am | 2:01am - 6am |
| Friday | 11:15pm | 11:16pm - 12:15am | After 12:15am | |
| Saturday | 1am | 1:01am - 2am | 2:01am - 6am | |
| 94+ credit hours or 22+ | Sunday - Thursday | 2am | none allowed | After 2am |
| Friday | 12:15am | none allowed | After 12:15am | |
| Saturday | 2am | none allowed | After 2am |
*If you are on Citizenship Probation, you forfeit late curfew
NOTE: Signing out between your curfew time and 6 am requires a dean’s permission. Without a dean’s permission it will be a minor or major violation.
Overnight Guests
If you would like to host an overnight guest, please fill out a visitor registration form for your guest. These are available at the front desk. Special arrangements must be made with a dean if your guest needs to extend his or her visit. Weekday visitors will be charged a $10 a night fee. Please see an Office Manager or Dean to pay this when your visitor arrives. Overnight guests must be 16 years of age or older. Overnight guests must obtain a temporary parking permit from Campus Safety. Call ext. 2100.
Overnight leaves
Anytime you leave campus overnight (even on a school sponsored trip), an overnight leave is required. All overnight leaves are filled out and submitted online at residencelife.southern.edu. Leaves must be approved before leaving the campus. It is the Resident’s responsibility to ensure that their leave has been approved or denied by going to residencelife.southern.edu. Parental approval may be required for any leave. If your plans change and you return on a different date than your leave states, you need to contact the dean on duty or student dean. You must return to the residence hall within your curfew/grace time to avoid a major or minor night check violation. DO NOT LEAVE CAMPUS UNTIL YOUR LEAVE HAS BEEN APPROVED!
If a leave must be cancelled or the resident returns early from a leave, a dean or student dean needs to be informed, and the resident must be in the residence hall by curfew. A change in destination must be reported to the dean. Failure to do so will result in a falsified leave.
Falsification of an overnight leave will result in disciplinary action, which could include suspension.
Residents with overnight leaves should not be in the residence hall during the dates on their approved leave. If you have a leave and are in the residence hall after 11:15 p.m. you must see a dean or student dean to be allowed out of the residence hall.
Weekend leaves must be submitted by 9:00pm on Thursday. Residents that submit a leave after 9:00pm on Thursday must see a dean or student dean for approval. Other aspects of the overnight leave policy are as follows:
1) If the period of the proposed leave from campus includes a work or class appointment, suitable arrangements must be made with the work supervisor or academic dean respectively;
2.) If an emergency situation makes it impossible to return to the residence hall by the date and time stated on the leave, residents have the responsibility of calling their dean to request an extension of time. 3.) A host must be 23 or older for you to sign-out to their house.
4.) No leaves will be approved for sign-outs to Southern Village, Spaulding Cove, or other on campus housing.
Painting
Use of spray paint or other kinds of paint or adhesive is not permitted in the residence hall. A cash fine plus clean-up charges applies to infractions of this policy.
Parking lots
See the map to determine which parking lots are valid for your category. Go to Campus Safety web site (campussafety.southern.edu) to view the parking map. Parking lots on campus are color-coded:
Check with Campus Safety to get the current parking restrictions for your residence hall. If you need to park a vehicle that has not yet been registered, park in the lots that you would normally be allowed to park in. At no time should a resident park in front of the dumpster or garbage pit; towing may result. Residents may not park boats, jet skis, or trailers in any parking lot on campus. At times there will be campus activities that will temporarily require you to park in a different area.
Pets
With the exception of fish, no pets or animals of any sort are allowed in the residence hall unless approved through Disability Support Services as an ESA. The total fish tank capacity for each room is not to exceed 55 gallons, regardless of the number of tanks you have. Any overnight guests who visit residents must also leave pets at home. A cash fine is charged for violation of this policy, and fish tanks will be removed (see fine list below).
Posters
Posters or pictures of nude or partially clothed bodies are inappropriate room decor. Likewise, all decorations that promote a lifestyle contrary to Seventh-day Adventist beliefs are inappropriate. Inappropriate subjects include alcoholic beverages, R-rated movie material, and certain musical groups. Confiscated items will not be returned.
Pornography
Magazines, computers, and posters that contain pornography are inappropriate material for the residence halls. These items will be confiscated and not returned. Repeat offenders of this policy will be subject to discipline.
Public Display of Affection (PDA)
All residents and visitors are asked to conduct themselves in a way that will allow everyone present to be comfortable. Physical intimacy between two people is a private matter. Couples should refrain from PDA (including massaging and sitting or lying on each other) while in the residence hall lobbies or anywhere else on campus.
Residence Hall Discipline
Residence Hall Restriction (RHR) is imposed by the resident hall deans for policy violations. Possible restrictions may include some or all of the following:
Citizenship Probation (CP) places the student on notice that his/her registration may be interrupted or canceled. It also carries some or all the following restrictions:
NOTE: Anyone who is already on CP and receives any majors/minors will:
Right of Entry
The university reserves the right for a residence hall dean, a dean’s representative, or a college security officer to enter and inspect a student’s room whenever necessary. You accept this authorization when you rent a room.
Roommate Bill of Rights
Rooming with another person isn’t always easy. We offer the following “Roommate Bill of Rights” for you to consider. Your enjoyment of life in a residence hall will depend to a large extent on the thoughtful consideration that you demonstrate to each other. Only you can protect these rights. (See next page for details.)
Selling and Soliciting
Sales parties, such as for cosmetics, pots and pans, etc.; using one’s room for a business and soliciting funds for an unapproved activity is prohibited in the residence halls. Exceptions are made through a dean.
Southern Village
Southern Village is meant for older undergraduate students. The number of credits needed to be eligible for Southern Village may change each year depending on availability of residential housing. Students who wish to be eligible for Southern Village must have good citizenship and worship attendance when living in the residential halls. All students who wish to live in Southern Village must have resided in the Southern residents’ halls for at least one full semester. Two weeks after school begins, when registration closes and for the rest of the school year students must have junior status (55 credit hours or more) to move into Southern Village.
Sound Equipment/Noise Policy
Radios and stereos, musical instruments, keyboards, and amplifiers are permitted in your room on a privilege basis. It is your responsibility to see that the volume does not disturb others. The equipment should not be heard outside the room. Headphones are required for those who wish to enjoy their music above that level. Headphones should be used on all equipment from 7:30pm until 6am Residents who are not able to control their equipment as outlined here will lose this privilege. Although a warning will be given, no warning is necessary. If music or computer games are heard outside a room, speakers will be confiscated.
Stealing
You should take precautions to protect your personal belongings. Put your name on your personal property, keep serial numbers in a separate location, and check to see if your parents’ homeowner’s insurance covers your belongings while at school. Consider purchasing a policy of your own. You can get a “Personal Property Items Registration Form” from either Campus Safety or the residence hall Office Manager. Individuals who take any items they do not own without permission will be disciplined immediately and will be subject to suspension. Possession of lobby or kitchen furniture, vacuums, tools, or any other residence hall property without permission will be treated as theft and will result in a minimum fine of $100 (see fine list below). Also, anyone in possession of an unauthorized master card key will be subject to serious discipline or dismissal.
Summer Residents
Residence halls are available to students in the summer for a reduced rate of $300/month. Students who wish to reside in the residence halls during the summer must be taking a summer class, have already been accepted for the following academic year, have a full-time job or a combination of work and classes. To conserve energy and to facilitate repair work, residents will be moved to one or two halls of the residence halls, and the rest of the building will be closed.
TV’s
Students are allowed to have televisions up to 43” in their rooms.
Vandalism
Any damage done to any campus property will result in restitution, fines, and possibly criminal prosecution.
Vaping/Vaping Paraphernalia
Vaping and vaping paraphernalia (including the liquid regardless of nicotine content) is considered a fire hazard and not allowed in the residence halls. Use and/or possession of such items will incur a fine and possible discipline.
Vehicle Registration
Please register your vehicle within three days of arrival to avoid paying for tickets for unauthorized parking or failure to register. To register your vehicle, go to the web site for Campus Safety: southern.edu/campussafety. Then click on the Vehicle Registration option and follow the directions.
Windows
All first-floor windows are regulated so that they cannot be fully opened. Screens on all windows are to be left on at all times. Tampering with the window, such as removing the stop bar or screen, will result in a cash fine per person (see fine list below).
Exiting and entering rooms through windows may result in CP and/or suspension and a cash fine. Residents may be moved to a higher floor if the exit or entry occurs after night check. Zip ties broken on first floor windows will result in a fine.
Please refrain from covering your window with, but not limited to, the following items, flags, posters, signs, decals, etc. The only window covering should be the blinds that the residence halls provide. Covering your window can result in a cash fine (see fine list below). Our goal is to keep the residence halls looking uniform and neat.
Wireless Access Points
Rooms are equipped with wireless access points (located on the ceiling). Please do not touch them for any reason. Nothing is to be plugged into them. Be aware if these points are tampered with, it can result in a cash fine and repair fee. Because wireless service is now available in the residence halls, individual wireless routers are not allowed.