Residential Rules of Conduct

The following rules are part of the Rules of Conduct and apply to all residential students and their guests/visitors in addition to the Rules of Conduct listed above.

Air Conditioner: Air conditioners are prohibited in the residence halls, unless a student is approved for a medical housing accommodation. The Medical Housing Accommodation Application is available on the Residence Life & Conference Services website. There are clear limits to the capacity of electrical wiring. Overloading of circuits is a fire hazard. Therefore, students who are approved for a medial housing accommodation are permitted to have an air conditioning unit up to 6,000 BTUs.
Alterations to Residential Unit: Students are prohibited from defacing, damaging or otherwise altering their rooms or any other part of the residence hall. This can include but is not limited to: altering or replacing door locks; making electrical or structural alterations; use of nails, screws, or any material that defaces surfaces; construction of lofts; hanging items from windows; and painting of the residence. Students are prohibited from using furniture or room structures for any reason other than their intended purpose. Students are NOT allowed to remove any residence hall furniture from their room (i.e., place it in the hallways/common areas, bring home).
Campus Visitation Policy: Please review our Campus Visitation Policy.
Damages, Cleaning, and Charges: Damages that are clearly beyond repair are billed to the responsible resident(s). Cleaning charges due to abuse of facilities or excess trash left behind in a room are at the expense of the resident(s). Public area damages or area losses that are preventable (broken windows, graffiti, stolen furniture, broken light fixtures, door knobs, crash bars, etc.) are billed, in equal amount, to the group responsible for the public area. It is the responsibility of all residents to notify the RD or RA of an individual who damages community areas or property. If the individual responsible is identified, that person will be held accountable for the damage charges. If the individual cannot be identified, damage charges will be distributed equally amongst the residential community.
Decorations: Room decorations may not cover more than 50% of each wall, in any given space. Ceilings must be kept free of posters, tapestries, and/or other flammable materials. Decorations on door exteriors should be within the bounds of good taste and are subject to Residence Life approval. Students are prohibited from painting or applying other methods of direct decoration (i.e.: ink, watercolor paint, charcoal, etc.) to walls, windows, floors, ceilings, or doors in residence hall rooms or common areas. Window glass is prohibited from being covered (i.e.: tin foil, posters. etc.)
Decorative Bottles/Cans: Decorative alcohol bottles/cans are prohibited, as such items may attract bugs and pose a health risk.
Playing Sports and Use of Athletic Equipment: Due to the potential for injury and/or property damage, students are prohibited from playing any sports or throwing objects in any area of the residence halls – including hallways, stairwells, and lounges. This includes the bouncing of athletic equipment such as basketballs. Bikes, skateboards, roller blades, roller-skates and scooters are also prohibited from use in any area of the residence halls. Additionally, roller blades and cleats should be removed before entering the building. Damages and/or cleaning charges resulting from the misuse of athletic equipment, including the cleaning of cleats in public areas of the residence halls, will be billed directly to the responsible students. All athletic equipment, including clothes and shoes, must remain in a room/suite. Residence Life and Conference Services and SMG cleaning services are not responsible for lost items left outside of a room/suite. Athletic equipment left in public areas may result in judicial charges.
Noise: Excessive noise (at any time) is prohibited. Reasonable quiet must prevail in the residence halls at all times. “Courtesy Hours” and “Quiet Hours” have been established to ensure a student’s study and sleep. Under no circumstances should noise be projected out of windows. In addition, playing portable stereos in public areas of the residence halls (lounges, halls, etc.) is prohibited. Repeated noise violations may result in the confiscation of the equipment in question as well as additional conduct action.
Courtesy Hours: In Founders and Spellman Halls, noise must not be heard more than 4 rooms from the source. In Dammann and Tenney Halls, noise must not be audible to a separate suite with its suite door closed. Courtesy Quiet Hours for all residence halls are in effect from 10:00am-10:00pm Sunday through Thursday, 10:00am-1:00am Friday and Saturday. Graduate Housing should establish “house rules” as they pertain to noise ordinance with the approval of Residence Life staff.
Quiet Hours: In Founders and Spellman Halls, noise must not be heard more than two rooms from the source. In Dammann and Tenney Halls, noise must not be audible outside the suite with the suite door closed. Quiet Hours for all residence halls are in effect 10:00pm-10:00am, Sunday through Thursday, 1:00am-10:00am Friday and Saturday. Graduate Housing should establish “house rules” as they pertain to noise ordinance with the approval of the Office of Residence Life staff.
Prohibited Items: The College, Office of Residence Life, and their designee reserve the right to deem any item prohibited at any time. Prohibited items removed will be discarded.
Prohibited items will be confiscated and stored for 30 days. Unclaimed confiscated items will be discarded after 30 days. Possession of prohibited items will result on judicial action, which may result in a $250 fine.

The following items are considered fire/electrical hazards and are prohibited in the residence halls.
1. Multiple Plug Adapters and Extension Cords: when additional electrical outlets are needed, residents must use (UL) approved power strips with built-in circuit breakers. Power strips that are chained together will also be confiscated.
2. Connected strands of string lights: one single strand of string lights is permitted as long as the lights are UL approved, used in compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, not touching fire safety equipment, and the lights are not plugged into an extension cord.
3. Candles: including candles that have not been burned, without a wick or decorative.
4. Incense: including unburned incense.
5. Heaters without a safety shut off: Residents may use heaters with a safety shut off, once the heater is approved with a residence life staff member. Approval must be granted each academic year.
6. Heating devices: including electric blankets, heating pads.
7. Cooking appliances of any kind: this includes hot plates, rice cookers, electric skillets, crockpots Toasters/Toaster ovens, indoor grills etc.
8. Combustible substances: lighter fluid, charcoal, sterno burners, propane, gasoline etc.
9. Halogen and lava lamps.
10. Outdoor grills and camp stoves.
11. Hookahs.
12. Liquid potpourri.
The following items present safety concerns and are prohibited in the residence halls.
1. Weapons: the College considers the possession of weapons to be a violation of the law and therefore prohibits the possession or use of firearms, explosives and knives, including pocket knives. The College also prohibits the use of any other objects that may be utilized in a dangerous manner.
- Unauthorized Loft beds
  Items that create a disturbance and/or interfere with the mission of the College are prohibited.
- Oversized speakers or other items that create a repeated noise disturbance in the community.
- Window bird feeders.
Room Entry: The College respects the right to privacy and is committed to protecting that right, as well as to taking action that helps ensure the safety and security of all residents. College officials have the right to enter any room at any time when the College deems it necessary. If an illegal object or substance is found in the room or suite, all residents may be held accountable for what is present. The College reserves the right to enter any room/suite without prior notification. Periodically, Residence Life staff members make room/suite inspections. This is to verify room conditions and cleanliness and to take inventory of College Property. If a room/suite is found to be in unacceptable condition, the students residing in the room/suite will be expected to make the appropriate improvements. Should a room be in an extreme condition of un-cleanliness or disrepair, a fine may be imposed and disciplinary measures may be taken.

A) Room Entry & Search: The college reserves the right to enter any room suite without prior notification. Manhattanville college or its agents shall also have the right to enter a student’s dwelling under the following stipulations:
1. To make necessary repairs or maintenance at any time so as to prevent further damage.
2. In emergency circumstances when imminent danger to life, health, safety or property is reasonably feared.
3. In circumstances when it is suspected that a violation of Manhattanville College policy is taking place.
4. During Health & Safety Inspections
5. During the vacation periods: such as Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break.
College and appropriate personnel have the right to search any room/suite and all its contents should it be suspected that a violation of the college’s code of conduct our housing regulations has occurred.

B) Health & Safety Inspection
1. The office of Residence Life & Conference Services performs residence hall health & safety inspections up to four times per academic year.
2. The health & safety inspections are primarily designed to find and eliminate violations related to prohibited items, fire safety, and cleanliness of the room.
Vandalism: Damage to property, whether College property or property belonging to another person(s), is prohibited. Occupants of residence hall rooms will be held responsible for damage to any room or furnishings. Any damage by students to College property will be charged to the student(s). Charges for damages to residence hall common-use areas and furnishings therein will be assessed equally to all residents of the residence hall. Should the identity of the person(s) responsible for the damage in common areas be known, that individual(s) would be properly assessed for the necessary repairs. All building common area damages will be billed equally to all the residents of that building as per the Housing Agreement and Room Condition Report.

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