Living on campus is one of the best ways to experience all that college life has to offer. Ohio Valley University encourages all students to live in campus housing, but requires only certain students to do so.
Specifically, if you are an unmarried full-time student, you will be required to live in campus housing unless:
• You have earned at least 60 credit hours, or
• You are 21 years of age or older, or
• You live at home with your parents in the primary family residence, or
• You are a single parent with dependents in residence.
Students who do not live on campus are required to have an "Off Campus Residence Record" on file in Student Life. Additionally, students who are not required to live on campus should treat this privilege with extreme care and make personal choices that will be consistent with the University's identity, mission, and purpose.
Check-In and Check-Out Procedures
Some aspects of your college life require more organization than others. Check-in and check-out are two of those of circumstances. We've created the following procedures to aid in that activity.
Check-In Procedures
• Each time you check into a new room, you must complete a Room Condition Report as part of the check-in process. You and the Resident Assistant will review the report and inspect the condition of your room
• Room changes must be requested in writing, stating the reasons, approved by the dormitory supervisor and will only be considered after the second week of the semester. If students change rooms without permission, they will forfeit their entire room deposit.
• Every resident is required to obtain a room key. You will be charged a partially refundable key deposit of $35.00 during check-in. Lost keys should be reported immediately to the dormitory supervisor, and will result in forfeiture of deposit. A partially refundable key deposit of $35.00 will be charged each time a new key is issued.
Check-Out Procedures
• When checking out, you must carefully remove all wall posters, pictures, tape, Plasti-tak, etc.
• A damage report must be filed with the Dormitory Supervisor indicating any damage to the room or furnishings. Unless proven otherwise, unreported damage will be considered your responsibility.
• Rooms must be thoroughly cleaned prior to check-out.
• Room keys must be returned directly to the Dormitory Supervisor in order to receive the partial refund.
• You must also sign and complete a Room Condition Report.
• If you fail to complete the check-out process, or if the room needs cleaning or damage repair, all or part of the deposit may be forfeited. If a refund is due to you, it will be returned following the completion of your final semester in the dormitory.
Cleanliness & Damage
Living in campus housing is a privilege, which carries certain responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is to maintain a clean and damage-free environment that all students can enjoy -- even those who come after you.
In light of that concern, a $150.00 damage/cleanliness deposit will be charged to your account as part of the initial semester registration. You are responsible for any damage that may occur in your room. Damage should be reported immediately to the Dormitory Supervisor. You must also report any damage to the residence hall baths, laundries, hallways, etc. Those responsible will be billed for the cost of the repair. Any damage may reduce the amount of refund from the deposit.
Additionally, you are encouraged to keep your living areas neat and clean at all times. Your Resident Assistant will make an inspection of your room every month. You must thoroughly clean your living area prior to inspection. If you fail a cleanliness inspection, you will be fined $25.00. Residents with habitual room cleanliness violations will be required to meet with the Dean of Student Life.
Laundry Facilities
College life can be dirty, especially when you're playing flag football in the mud bowl or working out in the fitness center. Even though your mom won't be here to help, the University provides laundry facilities in each residence hall when dirt happens. Be sure that you don't leave your clothing unattended. And please report use of the laundry facilities by non-residents or unauthorized visitors to your dormitory supervisor, so that we can ensure the space is available for resident use only.
Curfew & Sign-Out
Curfew
Sleeping, studying, and personal reflection are important aspects of college life, especially for students who are new to the university culture. In order to encourage students to balance those concerns with all the fun and excitement of college, the University has an evening curfew for resident freshmen and sophomore students.
On Sunday - Thursday, the curfew is midnight to 6 a.m. On Friday & Saturday, the curfew is 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. During curfew, students must be in the assigned areas of their residence halls or in the Commons area.
Students who have earned 60 credit hours or students 21 years old or older are granted the privilege of not having curfew restrictions. If you fall into this category, you are expected to use this privilege with discretion and consideration for others.
Late permission for freshmen and sophomores to be out of the residence hall after curfew will be granted at the discretion of the dormitory supervisor and only in cases of absolute necessity. Students with late permission must sign out appropriately.
Each student with a curfew is allowed 15 "late minutes" each semester. After those "late minutes" are used, violations of the curfew policy may result in the following disciplinary responses:
1st Offense = Written Warning
2nd Offense = Personal meeting with the Residence Life Director
3rd Offense = Personal meeting with Dean of Student Life + 1-day suspension
4th Offense = Personal meeting with Dean of Student Life + 3-day suspension
If a student aids another student in violating curfew (i.e. upperclassmen allowing underclassmen to use his/her ID to swipe into the building, opening the doors for an underclassmen, allowing an underclassmen to sneak through a window), that student may be disciplined in the same manner as the student violating curfew (see above for disciplinary responses).
If students who have curfew leave the residence halls after curfew or engage in behavior that is deemed to be an attempt to deceive residence hall personnel (i.e. stuffing beds), the following disciplinary responses may result:
1st Offense = Minimum of 1-day Suspension + Individualized Action Plan
2nd Offense = Minimum of 3-day Suspension + Individualized Action Plan
3rd Offense = Suspension for remainder of semester + Re-application to enroll in subsequent semesters
Sign-Out
When signing out, students must sign-out by 8 p.m., must go to the destination indicated on the sign-out sheet, may not sign-out to the homes of single students of the opposite sex, and must leave the residence halls before curfew on the night of their scheduled departure. Sunday through Thursday, students with curfew requirements are permitted to sign out only to their parent’s home. If students remain in the residence hall past curfew, the sign-out will no longer be valid. Students who sign-out are not permitted to return to the residence hall prior to 6 a.m. the following morning. Student Life personnel reserve the right to investigate the accuracy of the information submitted on the sign-out sheet.
If you are detained and cannot return to campus at the expected time, you must phone the dormitory supervisor or a resident assistant. Voice mail messages may be left. If you fail to return when expected and do not call, the dormitory supervisor may phone your parents to confirm your whereabouts.
Rampy Hall Supervisor (men's hall):
304-865-6087
Smith Hall Supervisor (women's hall):
304-865-6099
Violations of the sign-out policy may result in the following disciplinary responses:
1st Offense = Minimum of 1-day Suspension + Individualized Action Plan
2nd Offense = Minimum of 3-day Suspension + Individualized Action Plan
3rd Offense = Suspension for remainder of semester + Re-application to enroll in subsequent semesters
In addition, failure to completely fill out the sign-out form will result in the following disciplinary responses:
1st Offense = Written Warning
2nd Offense = Personal meeting with the Residence Life Director
3rd Offense = Personal meeting with Dean of Student Life + 1-day suspension
4th Offense = Personal meeting with Dean of Student Life + 3-day suspension
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours are designed to provide an environment that is conducive to rest and study.
Official quiet hours in the residence halls begin at 11:00 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on the weekends and continue until 8:00 a.m. the next day.
During these hours, there should be no noisy activity in the rooms, halls, lobbies or lounges, nor should there be audible noise from televisions, stereos or radios outside the rooms at any time. You are encouraged to use headphones for private listening.
Violations of the quiet hours policy may result in the following disciplinary responses:
1st Offense = Written Warning
2nd Offense = $25.00 Fine
Subsequent Offenses = $25.00 Fine
Safety & Security
One of the best aspects of living on campus at Ohio Valley University is the focus on safety and security for residents. The University attempts to provide such an environment, and there are some things that you can do to help.
Specifically, students should keep their rooms locked at all times. If they fail to do so, the University will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property. If this is a concern for you, you are encouraged to purchase personal property insurance that covers such loss. Also, please immediately report lost or stolen items to the dormitory supervisor.
Students or visitors will not be permitted access to your room without your permission.
Commuters cannot be in the Sidwell Commons, Rampy Hall, or Smith Hall after curfew unless they have permission from a dormitory supervisor to stay in the residence halls overnight. Residents will be charged $25 per night for each overnight guest. Overnight guests must remain in the residence halls after curfew each night and until 6 a.m. the following morning.
Also, keep in mind that students shouldn't remove window screens and will be assessed a $25 fine for doing so; may not use windows for entry or exit, nor may they assist others in doing so; and are not permitted on roofs of campus facilities at anytime.
Finally, students are asked to be aware of the fire extinguishers, fire/smoke alarms, and door closures that are installed in various locations on campus including the residence halls. Periodic fire drills will be conducted in each residence hall, and students are expected to participate and obey all guidelines set up for each drill. Tampering with fire extinguishers or other safety equipment shall result in a $50 fine.
Prohibited Items & Activities
Please give your attention to the following prohibited items and activities.
Prohibited Items:
• Free weights are not permitted in your room unless you have a standard, approved weight mat.
• You may keep small aquariums (fish and turtles only) in your room. Otherwise, no pets are permitted.
• Candles, incense/incense burners, and kerosene lamps are not permitted in the residence halls. Appliances that present a fire hazard such as hot plates, skillets, toasters, and toaster ovens are also not permitted. Pop-corn poppers, coffeepots, microwave ovens, and small refrigerators are allowed.
• Darts and dartboards are not permitted in the residence halls.
• Wall hangings that are revealing or suggestive may not be displayed. Also, wall hangings or decorations that contain bad language, advertise alcoholic beverages, or are racially offensive to individuals or groups are not permitted.
• Street or road signs or any other type of public property should not be displayed in dormitory rooms.
• Hot plates, grills, deep fryers, and similar items are prohibited in dormitory rooms due to fire safety reasons.
Prohibited Activities:
• Excluding pizza deliveries and vending machines, food is not to be sold in the residence halls.
• No soliciting will be permitted in the dormitories.
• Water battles and other rowdy or potentially harmful or destructive activities are prohibited.
• Outdoor sports equipment may not be used indoors.
• Students are not permitted to accept overnight babysitting assignments in the dormitories.
Violations of the prohibited items and activities policy will result in a $25.00 fine per occurrence.
Furnishings in the Residence Halls
• Dormitory rooms are adequately and appropriately furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, and closet. Feel free to organize your room furnishings as you please, as long as you don't remove them from your room.
• Cable jacks are available in each room. Students need to provide their own cable-ready televisions and co-axial cables.
• A television is also available in the commons area, and is preprogrammed to avoid viewing of material that is inconsistent with the mission of OVU.
• Residence hall rooms are pre-wired into the campus phone/voice mail system, and a phone is provided. The phone service provides local calling capabilities only. You are encouraged to purchase phone cards for long distance service on campus. For safety reasons, phones must remain plugged in at all times or a $25 fine will be issued.
• Each residence hall also has two lounges, and a large commons area is placed between the residence halls to encourage student activities.
• Rooms are 17' 10" by 11' 9". Windows measure 49" (w) by 55" (l). Blinds are built into the windows.
• Any furniture belonging to the residents left in the room at the end of the semester will result in a $150.00 fine.
Residency Requirements
