Community Standards
Behavioral Expectations
It is important that all residents understand that once enrolled at Saginaw Valley State University every student is responsible to abide by all University policies and regulations found in various publications including the SVSU Student Handbook/Code of Student Conduct and the Resident Student Handbook/University Housing Contract, in addition to other policies published by the University. Residents additionally are required to abide by all reasonable requests of Housing and Residential Life staff
Bulding Entry
For security purposes, gates and doors to the First Year Suites and Living Centers are locked at approximately midnight. Residents must use their room key to gain entry. All guests must be escorted after 10:00 p.m. in these facilities Residents are reminded not to permit entry to the building by non-residents for safety reasons.
Code of Student Conduct
Admission to Saginaw Valley State University obligates each student to abide by regulations for acceptable student behavior, as stated in the Code of Student Conduct. See the Code in its entirety at 2008-2009.
Directive of University Official
Students are not to disregard the reasonable directive, verbal or written, of a University official. University officials include, but are not limited to, Resident Assistants, Resident Directors and University Police Officers. Students shall not obstruct university housing, residential life or other university officials in carrying out their assigned duties.
Footballs, Frisbees, Snowballs, etc.
For safety reasons, students are not allowed to play ball, toss frisbee disks, throw snowballs, water, water balloons, etc. in or around the residence halls or apartments. No objects are allowed to be thrown in courtyard areas. A minimum of $50 will be assessed to violators. Residents should seek an open space, at least 50' minimum, from the buildings for such activity.
Harassing, Prank Calls
Harassing or prank phone calls are prohibited and are also illegal. Residents participating in such activity will face disciplinary action and possible criminal charges. Victims of harassing or prank phone calls should immediately begin to document the time and nature of the calls, as well as contacting Residential Life staff or University Police.
Health & Safety
The RA of each living area will complete a routine (typically monthly) Health and Safety Inspection. This means that a staff member will visit each unit and check the cleanliness of each room, including bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and common areas. Living units that fail Health and Safety Inspections will be charged a minimum of $75, and additional charges will be imposed if SVSU staff must clean the unit. Disciplinary referrals will also be initiated. Living units that regularly do not pass Health and Safety inspections may be put on a more rigorous schedule for inspections at the discretion of residential life or housing staff.
Housekeeping/Hygiene
It is the responsibility of all residents to keep their assigned living quarters neat, clean and free of any hazard to sanitation or congenial group living. Since several people share the same living area, it is essential for everyone in that living unit to take an active role in cleaning. Students may be removed from University housing facilities for severe or repeated housekeeping infractions.
Incapacitation
Resident students who become incapacitated as a result of drinking, drug usage or a medical condition will receive proper emergency medical care when staff members become aware of their condition. Residents will be financially responsible for the costs of the medical care including ambulance and/or hospitalization costs. Incapacitated students who are in violation of University, local, state or federal laws concerning alcohol and/or other drugs are subject to penalties as prescribed by law or referred to University support programs or community referrals. Residents who seek assistance for students in immediate distress by notifying University or emergency personnel, will not be charged with a violation of the Alcohol/Drug Policy under the Student Code of Conduct.
Kitchen Etiquette
Most of SVSU housing facilities contain cooking amenities. It is important that resident students understand that this accommodation obligates each to keep cooking areas clean and safe from unhealthy conditions. Please read the attachment to understand the University's expections in this regard.
Laundry Etiquette
Laundry facilities are located in each residential community. Residents may access the laundry equipment with their student ID (ACCESS) card. Students should not leave belongings in the laundry rooms unattended. Any loss of personal items is not the responsibility of the University. Residents must remove loads from the end of the wash/dry cycle so as not to restrict use by other residents. Damages resulting from use are not the responsibility of the University. Refunds due to malfunctioning equipment can be obtained from the Office of University Housing.
Live-on/On-duty Staff
Each complex has professional and para-professional live-in staff. See www.svsu.edu/livingoncampus for more information about the on-site Residential Life staff. After business hours and during weekends, there will always be Resident Assistants serving “On Duty.” These staff members are available to handle student concerns, lockouts and other community-related activities. Staff can be located through the Desks until midnight daily or in their rooms at night, or via pager for the residents of University Village West and Pine Grove Apartments. The monthly duty calendars distributed by staff provide complete information about how to best contact staff.
Make Red Pride GREEN Recycling Program
Student efforts have resulted in a recycling program for all residential facilities. Blue recycling containers are provided in each housing unit. You may pick up recycling bags at the desks in each Living Center. Once full, recycling bags are to be dropped off in the large green recycl dumpsters conveniently located near your facility. n You are strongly encouraged to participate in this voluntary program.
Quiet/Courtesy Hours
The Residential Life staff at SVSU is committed to helping create an environment that affords each student the opportunity to study or sleep when they prefer. For this reason quiet/courtesy hours have been established. Quiet Hours means that residents are to refrain from creating any noise that could be disturbing to others. Courtesy Hours will be in effect at all times in all residential complexes and when Quiet Hours are not in force. This means that residents must comply with reasonable requests to keep noise levels to a minimum. Stereos, radios, TV's, computers and all conversations must be kept to levels that will not interfere with other residents. No sound amplification or musical instruments can be played within or in the vicinity of residential facilities. If residents prefer loud music, headphones are required.
It is the obligation of all residents to handle violations of Quiet or Courtesy Hours by first approaching the situation themselves. The policy depends primarily on mutual respect and concern for a satisfactory study/living environment. In the event that residents are not successful in dealing with a violation of quiet hours, a referral may be made to a Residential Life staff member. Residents who violate quiet hours or courtesy hours may be subject to disciplinary action. Quiet hours will be in effect on a 24-hour basis during the final exam week of each academic semester (beginning on the weekend prior to the first scheduled exam day).
Courtesy Hours are in effect at all times except during designated Quiet Hours following. During these respective time frames, all sound must be contained within a resident's room and/or apartment and must not be disruptive to other residents.
Designated quiet hours:
The First Year Suites/Living Centers/UV – East
Sunday - Thursday . . . . . 10:30 p.m. - 10 a.m. Friday & Saturday . . . . . Midnight - 10 a.m.
University Village/Pine Grove
Sunday - Saturday . . . Midnight - 10 a.m.Apartments
Resident Student Rights and Responsibilities
Resident Student Rights and Responsibilities defines the minimum expectations of residents in actualizing individual freedoms, without placing constraints upon the rights of other residents. Read the entire statement by clicking here.
Self-Busing
Students are required to return their own trays to trash receptacles provided for this purpose in university food service outlets. Self-busing is cost effective and leaves the area in good order for other students. Non-disposable items removed from food service outlets must be returned expediently or students may face disciplinary action.
Sex Offender Registration
Pursuant to the Michigan Sex Offenders Registration Act 295 of 1994, sex offenders who are SVSU students enrolled on a full- or part-time basis for 30 or more total days in a calendar year are required to register their current local address (on or off campus) through their local police department.. Students who must register may contact the Saginaw County Sheriff, 1618 Cass Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602. The phone number is (989) 790-5400.
Smoking & Tobacco Products
- All University facilities, including University vehicles, are designated as smoke-free, including all smoking materials or chewing tobacco products.
- This smoke-free policy applies to all students, faculty, staff members and visitors.
- Smoking is prohibited on campus except in residential parking lots and lettered parking lots. However, in no case can smoking in residential parking lots and lettered parking lots take place within 25 feet of any building.
- Smokers are expected to keep smoking areas clean and to use appropriate receptacles to dispose of smoking materials Disciplinary action will occur if students violate the no smoking provision of University housing facilities; consequences could include removal from University housing.
- For the complete version of the new Smoking Policy click here.
Substance Free Housing
Various housing facilities or areas have been designated as Substance-Free. Students who elect this option on housing application materials are expected to adhere to a zero-tolerance environment for the presence or use of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Students who violate the policies associated with these behaviors will be appropriately sanctioned, which may include removal from the Substance Free environment or removal from University Housing. Zero-tolerance also prohibits the presence of empties, posters, symbols, and items or paraphernalia used in conjunction with any of the above.
Visitation/Overnight Guest Policy
Residents may host guests in their rooms by complying with the Visitation and Overnight Guest Policy. Non-compliance may result in loss of privileges. Visitation and hosting guests is a privilege for all residents and is not designed as a means of cohabitation and does not authorize guests as overnight visitors. Residents are responsible for knowing the correct visitation and escort procedures, knowing the identity of their guest(s) and are responsible for guests’ behavior. Residents are held liable for loss or damages to University property caused by their guest(s). Unescorted guests may be required to leave and are subject to arrest for trespassing and the resident may be charged with a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Residents are not to leave a guest in their unit or room at any time.
At the beginning of each academic year (fall semesters), the visitation and overnight guest policy is established by the administrative staff of the Offices of Housing and Residential Life. Within a stated period of time, provisions are introduced allowing a vote by residents to determine community standards for visitation and overnight guests. If a vote is not conducted, the pre-established visitation policy will be in effect for each complex.
The administrative policy is as follows: For Freshmen: Residents in First Year Suites and the Living Centers may host guests from 10 am – midnight, Sunday – Wednesday. Thursday – Saturday, residents may have overnight guests in their rooms through a registration process that must be completed in advance. Overnight guests are defined as any guest who is in the room between 2 am – 10 am, Thursday – Saturday. Overnight guests can stay only with the written permission of all roommates or in accordance with their signed Roommate Agreement. Residents obtain registration forms at the Desks or from Residential Life staff. Overnight guests must be registered before midnight and may not stay more than two consecutive nights; repeated hosting for any number of days/nights is not permitted. Failure to complete the proper guest registration procedures may result in a charge to the resident, loss of visitation privileges or other appropriate sanctions. Roommates who do not report overnight guests may also be subject to the Code of Student Conduct. In First Year Suites and Living Centers, guests must be escorted once the security gates/doors have been secured. For all resident students:
Upperclass communities are not subject to administrative visitation and/overnight guest hours, unless the community calls for a vote to be conducted by the respective community council. However, for all resident students, it is expected that the number of guests a student may have will be not more than two people. The host is responsible for providing linen for the guest(s). Visitation by guests under the age of 18 must be approved by the Resident Director 24 hours in advance of their visit. Overnight guests' vehicles must be registered with Parking Services. This registration does not constitute approval of overnight guests in residential facilities, however. Overnight guests are not permitted, regardless of roommate consent, the weekend prior to exams and during final exams week. The University reserves the right to limit or suspend visitation privileges to protect the rights of others. The rights of a roommate to live in reasonable privacy supersede the right of a host to have overnight guests.