Residence Hall Living
For additional information, contact Residence Life in Dahl Centennial Union at ext. 1330 or reslife@luther.edu.
Luther College is a residential college and strongly believes that life in the residence halls is an integral part of a total liberal arts education. The Residence Life Office is committed—through the combined efforts of professional and student staff—to help shape a residential environment that supports and stimulates students’ academic, personal, and interpersonal learning and development. We are committed to helping students integrate their learning inside the classroom with their rich experiences in the residence halls. We strive to support the development of true communities in our residence halls, communities of faith and learning that are respectful, supportive, purposeful, and intentionally structured. Please see the Residence Life website for additional information: http://www.luther.edu/student-life/housing-dining/residence-life/.
GENERAL HOUSING INFORMATION
Residency Requirement
Luther College is a residential college. All full-time students are required to live in college-owned housing unless married, of nontraditional age (23 years or older), or commuting from their legal guardians’ homes. Off-campus living is limited and is permitted for students only when there is a shortage of rooms in college residence halls. Students must receive written permission to live off campus.
Housing and Dining Contract
Every resident is required to sign a housing and dining contract each year. It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand the contract. The signed document is a contract between the student and Luther College; students who violate provisions of the contract are subject to disciplinary action through the Residence Life or Student Life Office. Violation of policy is defined in the contract and in the Luther College Student Handbook.
ROOM SELECTION AND OCCUPANCY
Room Draw Process
The room draw process occurs late in the spring semester and provides students the opportunity to select a room and roommates for the upcoming year. The room draw process assigns priority for housing based on class standing; the process is designed to give next year’s senior class first priority, the junior class second priority, and sophomore class third priority. Class standing is determined by the Registrar based on credit hours earned through January Term. In order to participate in room draw, students must be registered for the following fall semester.
Roommate(s)
It is the responsibility of each returning student to find his/her own roommate(s). To select a room at room draw, students must have the capacity number of people to fill the room.
Choice is Binding
A student is entitled to one housing choice each academic year. Room and roommate(s) choice is binding unless the student officially withdraws from Luther College. Any changes would incur a $100 penalty.
Vacancies
If at any time after room draw the occupancy of the room drops below capacity, the remaining resident(s) can expect that the vacated space(s) will be filled. Effort will be made to allow the remaining resident(s) a choice in filling the vacancy. The Residence Life Office has the right to assign a student to a room without prior consent of the person(s) currently living in the room.
Room Changes
Room changes are permitted for students if and when roommates are having adjustment problems and for other special circumstances. Prior to a room change being approved, students are expected to have made a good faith effort toward resolving the roommate situation. This includes discussing the situation with the RA or professional staff member, and completing a roommate conference if requested. Four basic criteria must be met for a change to occur: 1) student(s) involved have attempted to resolve roommate situation, 2) vacant space is available, 3) students affected have consented to the change, 4) the Residence Life Office has approved the change.
Room Keys
At check-in, each resident will receive one room key. Throughout the year this key will be the responsibility of the student. Lost or stolen keys should be reported immediately to the Residence Life Office to ensure the safety of the student and his/her belongings. A $25 charge for a lost or stolen key will be assessed to change the lock and cut a new key. A charge of $25 also will be charged for failure to return the key at the time of checkout.
Access Keys
In the fall each student is issued an access key for their residence hall. The access key will permit the student to enter their residence hall between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. when the outside entrances are locked. The student will be charged $25 for a lost or stolen access key.
Personal Property
Luther College does not carry insurance on personal property of students and is not responsible for loss of or damage to such property, including property stored in lockers, storerooms, student rooms, or any storage spaces. Students use these spaces at their own risk. The college will not be held responsible for any property of students left in or delivered to the residence halls. It is strongly encouraged that students check their family insurance for coverage and, if necessary, purchase private personal property insurance from a reliable company.
The safekeeping of student property is the responsibility of each individual. Rooms should be locked at all times and personal property secured.
Any theft or vandalism should be reported to the Hall Director and to Campus Security Office immediately.
Fire Safety Information
Fire safety policies explained in brochures, the Housing and Dining Contract, the Safety & Security website , or in any related city, state, or federal laws are taken seriously. Residence Life staff will conduct official room inspections during each fall, winter, and spring break. Room inspections may take place during other times as well. During inspections, prohibited items (see below) will be confiscated and fire safety fines will be assessed for policy violations.
Any violations to policy will be taken seriously. Sanctions, therefore, may include any or all of the following:
• $25 minimum fine per prohibited item or for failure to evacuate during an alarm
• $150 individual fine for false fire alarm, tampering with fire safety equipment, or setting a fire
• $500 community fine (if individuals cannot be found and held accountable for false fire alarm or tampering with fire safety equipment)
• Administrative conduct hearing with Director of Residence Life
• Social probation for the remainder of the current academic year
• Possible legal ramifications including prosecution by College officials or outside
agencies
The following activities, some of which can activate fire alarm systems, are prohibited in the residence halls:
• throwing balls, frisbees, and other objects
• shooting water or other objects
• spraying paint, liquids, or other objects
• using power saws and other electrical tools
• tampering with any fire safety equipment
• obstructing or propping open fire safety doors
• failure to immediately evacuate upon alarm
The following items are prohibited in student rooms for health and safety reasons:
• candles, incense, oil lamps, halogen torchiere lamps, spider lamps, and open flames
• smoking and illegal drug paraphernalia
• flammable substances such as gasoline, cleaning fluids, lighter fluid and mineral spirits
• motorized vehicles such as motorcycles and mopeds
• live Christmas trees, other live holiday greenery, large decorative bulbs
• fireworks and other explosives
• firearms, ammunitions - including pellet guns - bows and arrows, slingshots, large knives, switchblades, dangerous martial arts equipment, and other potentially hazardous items. These items should be checked in and stored at the Decorah Police Department.
• electrical appliances: toasters, toaster ovens, microwaves, space heaters, and any appliances with an open hotplate or heat coil
• extension cords, multi-plug outlets, overloaded circuits
Pets
Animals present a definite health concern to residence hall living because of disease and allergies and potential damage to the buildings in the form of stains and odor. Pets, with the exception of fish, are not permitted in college housing. Each violation is a $50 fine.
COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE AND POLICIES
Intervisitation
Students in all residence halls may be on floors assigned to the opposite sex between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on weekdays (Sunday-Thursday). On weekends (Friday and Saturday), the visitation hours (8:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.) will remain in effect for students living in designated first-year areas. For individuals living in areas not designated for first-year students, open visitation will exist on Friday and Saturday nights.
Although the college has established visitation hours, a student’s right to study, sleep, and exercise control over his/her personal space takes precedence over the right to host guests. The Residence Life Office/Student Life Office will actively intervene if conflicts arise between roommates with respect to the intervisitation policy.
Additional information:
• In all residences, an escort policy will be in effect on weekends, from midnight to 2:00 a.m. in first-year residence spaces and until 8:00 a.m. in other residences. Each host is responsible for escorting a guest on and off the residence hall floors during those times.
• Cohabitation (living together) with persons other than designated roommates is not permissible.
• If a guest of the same sex will be staying longer than 48 hours, it is necessary to register the guest with the resident assistant on that floor.
• Guests under the age of 18, who do not attend Luther must present proof of parental consent and be registered with the resident assistant.
Courtesy and Quiet Hours
Courtesy hours are enforced 24 hours each day. During courtesy hours, residents are expected to act in a manner that demonstrates respect for the rights of others to study and sleep in their rooms. Residents shall not make or allow any improper or disturbing noises in the building, sing or play musical instruments, watch television, or use their radio or stereo in a way or at a time which might be objectionable to other residents.
Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. each day. During quiet hours, noise should not be audible outside of a resident’s room with the room door closed. In addition, creation of noise disturbances in the corridors and bathrooms is unacceptable. These times ensure a quiet atmosphere conducive to studying and sleeping. The hours may be expanded in either direction, but not shortened.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on any and all Luther College property.
Alcohol/Other Drugs
Please see the Alcohol and Other Drugs section in this handbook.
Vacations/Breaks
The residence halls are closed during the two official college vacation breaks (Christmas Break and Spring Break). Only one residence hall will remain open to provide vacation housing. Students who have been approved to remain on campus during the break periods will be asked to secure housing in another student’s room in the designated vacation housing building.
Article IV: Privacy
4.1 Entering Student Rooms
4.1.1 Entry by unauthorized student or college personnel into student rooms, unless by prior consent of occupant(s), is forbidden. Hall Directors and Resident Assistants are authorized to enter student rooms for purposes of enforcing stated college regulations. Entry of this nature does not require an authorization to search.
4.2 Inspection of Student Rooms
4.2.1 Residence Halls and College-Owned Houses
4.2.1.1 Rooms may be inspected in the interest of maintaining or protecting college property at any time by those in charge of the hall/house or by administrative staff and maintenance employees of the institution.
4.2.1.2 Any college property provided for use in lounges or other public places found in the room of any student may be removed without recourse of search procedures and any room may be inspected at any time for the purpose of locating misplaced property of the college. Disciplinary action may be initiated subsequent to the recovery of the property.
4.3 Search of Student Rooms and Personal Possessions of Students
4.3.1 Residence Halls, College-Owned Housing, and Off-campus Housing
4.3.1.1 Except under emergency circumstances in which the safety of life of a person(s) is in danger, students’ rooms and possessions of students shall not be searched unless appropriate authorization has been obtained.
4.3.1.2 The Dean for Student Life or any member of his or her staff so empowered by him or her shall provide the searcher written authorization before the search is conducted specifying the reasons and the objects or information sought.
4.3.1.3 The student should be present, if possible, during the search.
4.3.1.4 Students may be subject to search by local authorities under warrants issued in a court of law.