University Housing Regulations
(Student Group Regulation)
The following regulations are established to govern the conduct of individuals living in and visiting university housing. They shall apply to all students regardless of class level, place of residence, or group affiliation when they are in or around any University-owned housing facility.
1.0 INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMMUNITY RIGHTS
The University Housing Bill of Rights provides a clear statement of each individual’s rights within the university housing community. These rights are best secured through clear statements of each individual’s responsibilities.
1.1 No person shall cause or otherwise contribute to unreasonable noise in residence halls or areas immediately surrounding university housing. (Unreasonable noise is that which interferes with, or has the potential for interfering with the legitimate rights of others.)
1.2 No person shall interfere with attempts of others to study.
1.3 No person shall interfere with attempts of others to sleep during reasonable and/or posted consideration hours.
1.4 No person shall interfere with the free access of another to and from his/her own room, suite, apartment, work area, or office in a residence hall.
1.5 No person shall play any athletic games in a common area of a university housing without proper authorization.
1.6 No person shall interfere with the safe or clean environment of others.
1.7 No person shall allow an animal, bird, or other pet to enter a residence hall. (Noncarnivorous fish, service animals, and approved assistance animals are exceptions.)
1.8 No person shall remain in the vicinity of an ongoing policy violation of which they have knowledge.
1.9 No person shall fail to report a policy violation of which one has knowledge where such violation causes or threatens to cause a substantial negative impact on the safety of members of the University community.
(See also: General Student Regulation 2.00 and 3.00.)
2.0 SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY
Fundamental to the protection of the individual is the maintenance of an environment that is physically safe and predictable. As members of a group, each individual has a special responsibility to ensure that safety hazards are eliminated, fire equipment is maintained, and fire procedures established and followed.
2.1 No person shall create, or help to create, a safety hazard.
2.2 No person shall throw or drop anything out of or off of a window or balcony.
2.3 No person shall possess or use firecrackers, fireworks, firearms, or other dangerous weapons or explosives. (NOTE: Legal weapons must be stored at the Department of Police and Public Safety.)
2.4 No person shall possess or use in university housing, without proper authorization, any chemical or other dangerous substance, compound, or container of such substances, which may injure, molest, or cause damage.
2.5 No person shall set a fire in residence halls or areas immediately associated with residence halls.
2.6 No person shall falsely report a fire, nor interfere in any way with emergency services or procedures, nor fail to conform to established safety regulations.
2.7 No person shall tamper with fire equipment, nor use such equipment for other than the prevention or control of fire. (Fire equipment shall include, but not be limited to thermal detectors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire extinguisher boxes, fire hoses, and any other fire-fighting devices.)
2.8 No person shall use unauthorized cooking appliances in his or her room, suite, floor study room or other unauthorized hall facilities in a residence hall – residents of University-owned apartments may use appliances as outlined in their lease. (Unauthorized cooking appliances include hot plates, toasters, toaster ovens, rice cookers, woks, crock pots and other electrical devices (excluding microwaves) intended for the preparation, heating or cooking of substantial food items.)
(See also: General Student Regulation 2.00, 3.00 and 4.00.)
3.0 PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY
The protection of personal property is important to the well-being of the individual. Protection of community property protects the investment all residents make through the payment of their room and board.
3.1 No person shall tamper with or borrow without permission the personal property of others.
3.2 No person shall, without proper authorization, remove any property from its assigned place in university housing.
3.3 No resident of University Apartments shall fail to keep the area immediately in front of their apartment clean, orderly, and free from safety hazards.
(See also: General Student Regulation 4.00.)
4.0 ALCOHOL
The University Housing community is part of a larger community, and as such, is not only governed by its own regulations, but by University policies and state law. The State of Michigan establishes the age at which alcohol consumption is legal. Furthermore, alcohol may not be consumed on state land, except by special exception of the body governing the land, which in this case is the MSU Board of Trustees. Because the majority of hall residents are under age, the privilege of drinking alcohol is extended only to those of legal age in their private rooms, suites, or apartments.
4.1 No person shall possess open alcoholic beverages within a residence hall, except within the confines of student rooms, suites, or apartments or at social events approved by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services.
4.2 No person shall organize or participate in a student group event where alcohol is consumed but not approved for consumption (e.g., floor party).
4.3 No person shall allow the presence of more than five times the normal occupancy (excludes over or under assignment) in a student room, suite, or apartment where alcohol is being consumed.
(See also: General Student Regulation 2.00.)
- Residence Halls Association
- Associated Students of Michigan State University
- Approved on an interim basis by the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services
- July 13, 1981
- Amended July 18, 1984
- Amended August 8, 1988
- Amended August 25, 2018