Student Handbook
8. RESIDENTIAL LIFE HANDBOOK
Residential life at Bacone College is more than a place to sleep. It is an integral part of the College experience. The Residence Hall provides an atmosphere of belonging and friendship - a place where life-long friendships are made. The Residential Life Program provides a variety of facilities and competent personnel to assist you in academic and social development.
The Residential program consists of the Dean of Students and Housing Managers who are responsible for the buildings and grounds. These staff assist students in academic, social, physical, and spiritual development. Housing policies and regulations are established to ensure the safety, privacy and value systems of each resident and the total Bacone College Community. Our goal is to create an atmosphere that will promote integrity, honesty, spiritual growth and a feeling of community.
Six residential facilities are offered; Poloke Hall, Posey Hall, McCoy Hall, Pod style
Apartments, Walter Starr and the Bacone Conference Center. All applications for residence must be made to the Housing Office.
Campus Living - The Residential Life Philosophy
Bacone College is a residential college and strives to accommodate as many students as possible on campus. Living with other students in campus residence facilities is significant for Bacone College students. Living in campus residence units challenges students to expand and explore their attitudes, values, and interests. Request for exemption from the College Housing policy to reside off campus will be considered when students meet the exemption standards of the policy and when extraordinary circumstances exist which justify the consideration of an exemption. Unless an exemption is granted, students are required to live on campus. Scholarship rates are tied to residential status. If you are granted an exemption to live your campus your scholarship will automatically go to the rate of $3,800 for the Academic Year.
A positive relationship exists between the community and Bacone College. The College shares a commitment to continue this relationship by working with students to maintain the quality of the environment in neighborhoods surrounding the campus. The expectation for students who move off campus is that they will be a positive influence in the neighborhood in which they reside.
All residents of the campus are an integral part of the community and, as such, will assume an active role in developing and monitoring an atmosphere that promotes success for all members.
As a community member, your rights and responsibilities must be balanced with the needs of your neighbors. Off campus residents are subject to discipline from the college for any and all incidents that occur off campus. These incidents include but are not limited to the following. City citations, explicit use of social media, arrests, any altercations that originate off campus but culminate on campus, etc.
To assist in fulfilling the Residential Life Philosophy, there are several staff members that you should be aware of who are available and here for you. Feel free to contact the Housing Office at housing@bacone.edu, 918-781- 7215.
The rights of students living on campus:
• The right to a clean and healthy environment.
• The right to read, study and sleep in an environment free from undue interference and
noise.
• The right to privacy and freedom with personal activities.
• The right to expect that a roommate will respect your personal belongings.
• The right to free access to your room without pressure or intimidation from your
roommate.
• The right to expect reasonable and cooperative use of room shared equipment and
materials (internet, electricity, etc.).
• The right to host guests with the expectation that the guest will abide by the hall policies
and respect the rights of the roommate and other residents.
• The right to have conflicts resolved quickly.
Housing Staff
The Dean of Students oversees the placement of students, supervision of the
Housing Managers, and all Student Life staff. The Housing office can be reached after hours and for room lock outs at 918-360-4384. Problems or questions can also be directed to the Housing Office
at housing@bacone.edu to resolve any concern that may arise.
Housing Managers
The Housing Manager is responsible for the overall administration and operation of the residence hall. The Housing Manager works closely with Bacone College's facility management company (DTZ) to ensure that the building is clean and in good working order.
Campus Opening/Closing of Residence Halls
Residence halls are open during the regular academic year from mid-August through mid-May. Official closings may include: Christmas Break, Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break and Spring Break. An official closing means the Residence halls are closed. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Housing Office if you need to extend accommodations.
Students who must remain on campus during periods of residence hall closure are subject to relocation and weekly charges. Charges could range from $25-$200 per week.
A list of the holidays is outlined in the Academic Calendar located on the website, http://www.bacone.edu.
Halls are closed at 3:00 P.M. on the last day of classes and re-open at 1:00 P.M. on the day before classes resume. Exceptions will be made only to those approved through the Dean of Students. Meals are not available on-campus during periods of school closing.
Check-In Procedures
1. Report to the Housing Office to be cleared to move into the Residence Hall.
2. After clearance, you will be directed to the appropriate Residence Hall, where you will meet your Residential Adviser and Housing Manager.
3. Once you reach your room, you will be required to sign the check-in form indicating your acceptance of the room, its contents and condition.
Checkout Procedures
All rooms must be left clean and in good order. If the College must do extensive cleaning beyond normal maintenance, there will be a cleaning charge. The rooms must be swept, vacuumed and/or mopped. All trash must be taken to the appropriate dumpster. Do not leave trash in the room, common area, lounge, hallway or stairwell. The room must be in the same order as it was during check-in.
• Close and lock all windows.
• Turn off all heaters/air conditioners.
• Check out with your Residential Adviser and Housing Manager.
• After the room has been inspected, the Housing Manager and/or Residential Adviser will either sign off on the room or assess fines on the checkout form. If damage has occurred, the resident’s account will be charged for the amount of the damage.
• If you do not check out properly, or fail to check out, you will be charged for key
replacement as well as for any damages or cleaning costs.
Any personal items left in the room are considered abandoned property and may be disposed of
by the college. No abandoned property will be held for student reclamation.
This information has been developed in order to implement your success and development in residential hall living. The following is a partial list of items and their typical cost for any
missing furniture or damages to the room. (Actual cost may vary).
Repair Charges
The following are typical replacement/repair costs for common items. (Actual charges may vary and may include labor/installation charges)
Item Replacement
Bed Frame (bunk or single) $200
Mattress $125
End Frame $125
Dresser $275
Desk $240
Chair $85
Closet Door $125
Mirror $50
Door (paint/replace) $60 - $320
Smoke Detector $125
Blinds (replace/repair) $25
Floor (replace tile) $9 sq. Ft.
Remove/Replace Carpet $12.50 sq. Ft.
Window Screen $25
Ceiling Tile $9 each
Light Fixtures/Cover $50
37
Air Conditioner/Vents $40 - $300
Outlet Cover $5
Replace Window $350
Door Jam Repair $120
Door Stop $225
Excess Cleaning $100
Door Lock Replacement $150
Fire Extinguisher — Replacement or Recharge $100
Fire Alarm Pull Station $75
Fines
Bacone College reserves the right to fine students for violations of hall policies. Fines/discipline may be assessed in the following amount, but is evaluated on a case by case basis.
Removal or Relocation of items from room or lounge areas $50
Using Emergency Exit $150
Excessive Noise $10
Unauthorized Pets $250
Violation of Residence Hall Agreement $50
Damage of Furniture or Property $100 & Cost of Replacement
Unauthorized use of Games, Equipment or Electrical Appliances $10
Smoking Violation $50
If violation causes fire alarm to activate and fire department to respond. Student will be fined for the cost of the Fire Department to send emergency personnel. Cost varies from $100-$500
Alcohol Violation $50
Violations of Hall Safety/Tampering with equipment $250+
Unauthorized Access (Giving students who are not assigned to your room access) $100.00
Use of Candles, Incense or Oil Lamps $10
Failure to Evacuate Residence Hall for Fire Drills or Emergencies $50. Could result in arrest if deemed necessary by the Bacone Campus Police, Muskogee Fire Department, or any law enforcement agency on scene. Unsanitary Room $20
Unauthorized Room Change $100
Students who incur excessive fines per semester or who exhibit chronic non-compliance with school policy may be referred to the Dean of Students for possible additional disciplinary
action up to and including suspension/expulsion.
Residence Hall Agreement
Available for review in the housing office and at www.bacone.edu.
Removal from the Residence Halls
As stated in the housing contract, Bacone College reserves the right to terminate a contract or to impose disciplinary reassignment upon reasonable notice and with good cause. Good cause refers to any conduct, which disrupts the order of administration and/or function of the College and its activities. Suspension or withdrawal from the College automatically results in termination of the housing contract. If you are suspended or Administratively Withdrawn from Housing your housing charge will be forfeited and will remain on your student bill. All Housing Managers and Residential Advisers are college representatives and have the authority to enforce Residence Hall Procedures.
Room Change Procedure
Discuss the request and reason for the requested room change with the Housing Office • A room change may be considered if the Dean of Students approves the request.
• Before any changes occur, the Dean of Students must approve a Room Change Authorization form.
• Students are subject to a $100 charge for student initiated room changes.
• Unauthorized room changes may result in a fine and other disciplinary sanctions. Roommates
If you experience initial difficulties in adjusting to a new roommate(s) or residence hall life, remember that you are not alone. Honesty, consideration, mutual respect, discussion, compromise, and understanding are important in learning to live in a community setting. Laundry Facilities
A laundry facility is available to residential students. Hours of operation are posted on the laundry room door.
Off-campus Laundromats are also available in the Muskogee community. Refer to the yellow pages of your telephone directory for further assistance. Bacone College is not responsible for clothes left unattended in the campus laundry rooms.
Need to talk to someone about a problem?
It is not uncommon to experience loneliness and anxiety while at college. The best thing to do is to talk to someone. At Bacone College we want to listen. The first step in the process of getting help is to contact the Office of Student Life. Our staff will help you determine the program that best fits you and your situation. Give us a call at 918-781-7344.
Residence Hall Visitation
Visitors are welcome to visit students living in the residence halls at Bacone College. A visitor is defined as anyone who is not a resident of the dorm they are visiting. Visitors must obey campus rules and respect campus personnel. Hours listed apply to all areas of all Residence Halls. Sunday - Thursday 8:00 A.M.. - 12:00 A.M.
Friday – Saturday 8:00A.M. - 2:00A.M.
Visitation Boundaries are:
1. Pod style Apartments and Conference Center — North, East, and South parking lot; and East and West Roadways.
2. Posey, Poloke Walter Starr, and McCoy Halls — Visitation rules apply once the person has entered the patio area, parking area or building.
The following rules apply to visitation:
1. Your guest must have a photo ID
2. You are responsible for the conduct of your guests and must accompany them at all times.
3. Visitors under the age of 18 will not be allowed in the halls, unless accompanied by parent or guardian or unless written permission is on file with the Housing Office.
4. Any visiting non-student who exhibits undesirable behavior may be asked to leave campus.
5. Failure to escort your guest at all times or late guest departure may be considered a visitation violation.
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours are from 10:00 P.M. until 7:00 A.M. and apply to all hall public areas and rooms. Quiet hours are extended to 24 hours a day during finals week. Quiet times are designed to assist you in completing your studies and homework, or just a time for relaxation. During these hours, noise levels should be low enough that they cannot be heard outside your room.
Excessive noise will not be tolerated at any time. Frequent violations may result in relocation, removal of sound producing items (stereo, TV, musical instruments, etc.), a fine and/or your removal from the halls may occur. To report noise violations please contact your Residential Adviser first. If your Residential Adviser cannot be reached please call the housing on call phone 918-360-4384.
Room Inspections
Bacone College retains the right to enter and inspect rooms at any time with reasonable cause for purposes related to maintenance, Campus Police and/or investigation of Bacone College violations. Without prior notice, Student Life/Housing staff may conduct room checks for health and sanitary conditions. If your room fails inspection a fine may be recommended. Maintenance workers will always try to let the staff know when they need to enter the rooms. In any event, they will always knock before they enter the room. Our Housing Managers and Residential Advisers will conduct routine rooms checks to ascertain needs of students as they relate to their campus living environment.
Furniture and Equipment
No couches or large furniture are allowed in any of the housing units. Student rooms in McCoy Hall, Posey Hall and the Conference Center can accommodate a comfortable size chair.
Common areas of the Pod style Apartments can accommodate one (1) futon. No excessive amount of furniture is allowed in common areas of these units due to the need to keep the entry/exit clear in case of emergency. Darts and dartboards are not allowed in the Residence Halls due to potential wall damage. Weightlifting equipment is available to all students. The fitness center is located in the Student Life Center. The fitness may be closed due to scheduled athletic training. Please leave any weight lifting equipment larger than hand held weights at home. Student Life provides a variety of board games, pool tables, ping-pong tables, and other sports equipment for your use.
We want our residence halls to have a standard appearance from the exterior. For that reason, hanging of blankets, flags, tin foil, etc., between the blinds and the windows is prohibited. Extension cords are not allowed. Strip outlets can be used provided they have a fuse or circuit breaker within the unit. A strip outlet must be plugged directly into the wall and not into another strip outlet. Small appliances such as dorm refrigerators should be plugged directly into the wall.
Cooking and Dishwashing
Small microwave ovens may be used for warming snacks or microwave meals in your room. Residents are required to use disposable dishes, as the washing of dishes is not permitted. Do not dump food in the water fountain or the bathroom sinks. Left over food should be disposed of properly by placing it in the dumpster. Food should be stored in airtight containers and should not be left open. Inappropriately stored food or food not disposed of properly may result in a fine.
Candles, Lamps and Incense
Burning of candles, oil lamps, halogen lamps, incense, plug in air deodorizers or other burnable substances is not permitted in the residence halls due to potential fire hazard. Unauthorized use of such items will result in a fine.
Cable Television
Basic cable is provided in each student room for your entertainment. If the cable is not working properly, notify your Residential Advisor and the Housing Office. Any resident who tampers with or splices into Cable TV, telephone, or computer lines will be referred to the Dean of Students for discipline. Installation of satellite dishes is not allowed and will result in a fine.
Internet
All residential units have a cable modem for each resident in the room. Residents are responsible for appropriate use of the modems.
Lounges/Common Areas
The lounges and common areas are provided for your comfort and relaxation, as well as for all hall residents. Furnishings in the lounge may not be moved and must remain in the lounge.
Please be considerate of your fellow residents when quiet hours begin.
Pets
No pets are permitted in the Residential Halls or on Bacone Campus in general. Pets are defined as but not limited to the following animals. Dogs, cats, birds, fish, snakes, rodents, etc.... Fines will be assessed and Animal Control officers will be instructed to pick up any unauthorized animal. Continued violations of unauthorized pets may result in suspension and/or expulsion from the Residential Halls. In order to have an authorized service animal students must do the following. Obtain a written prescription to be renewed every semester by a licensed medical professional.
Your animal must be a registered therapy animal.
A non refundable deposit of $500.
Updated vaccination records of the animal.
It is the responsibility of the student to pick up waste from their service animal inside and outside of the Residential Halls.
Damages from your animal will be assessed to your student account.
Continued damages caused by the service animal will result in suspension and/or expulsion from the Residential Halls.
Housekeeping
Public Areas:
All public areas in the residence halls will be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. All residents should assist in keeping the public areas clean and clear of debris by disposing of soda cans,
pizza boxes, trash, etc. The College provides routine cleaning of the restrooms and common
areas of McCoy, Poloke, Walter Starr, and Posey Halls.
Your Room:
Each resident is expected to keep his/her individual room in a clean and sanitary condition. Trash must be placed in the dumpster provided outside each building. Trash is not to be placed in hallways or stairwells.
Pod Style Apartments:
Residents of the Pod Style Apartments are responsible for keeping their common areas, restrooms and rooms clean.
Conference Center:
Residents of the Bacone Inn are responsible for keeping their rooms and restrooms clean.
Trashing
It is our intent to provide a clean, safe, secure and sanitary residence for each of our students. Trashing includes the following offenses that will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action:
1. Throwing trash or garbage of any kind out of a window.
2. Leaving trash anywhere in or outside the residence halls (except in trash receptacle).
3. Sweeping out a room and leaving the debris in the hallway.
4. Water and shaving cream fights/throwing of water balloons (except in planned student activities).
5. Excessive trash in restrooms and lounges.
If damages occur or extra cleaning is required from these actions, charges for repairs and cleaning may be assessed to that pod, wing or building.
Vandalism
If your room or a common area has been vandalized, notify Campus Police immediately (918-781-7200.)
Students are responsible for securing their assigned room and immediate living areas. In instances of vandalism to a shared living area that cannot be attributed to an individual, the entire floor will be charged. The minimum sanction for vandalism is the cost of material and labor to repair or replace vandalized items. Cost will be assessed to individuals identified or divided evenly among area residents.