Resident Hall Handbook

PROCEDURES & SERVICES

PROCEDURES & SERVICES

COMMUNICATION University Housing will communicate with resi dents via their official University e-mail account. It is the responsibility of the student to check their e-mail account regularly, as important infor mation is communicated (i.e. contract informa tion, housing updates, conduct information, and package arrival).

participating in these ceremonies have the right to a peaceful session and may not be disturbed unless welcomed to do so. Students with the right to practice ceremonial smudging in a residence hall are not required but are asked to inform the Residence Life Coordinator prior to their first practice. This is not for approval or denial of the practice but to ensure open communication and understanding of the specific student’s needs. Students with out the federally protected right to Ceremonial Smudging may also burn for religious reasons. However, they must request to do so from University Housing. Additionally, whereas on-campus residents live in densely populated communities and non-prac ticing persons have a right to smoke-free air, courtesies are requested, including: • Proper ventilation, such as closing doors to the hallway or common areas, utilizing open windows or fans, and avoiding setting off smoke detectors (tampering with or covering smoke detectors is not allowed); • Knowing the location of the nearest fire extinguisher and fire pull station; • Following traditional cultural practices which includes a safe environment for containing embers and ashes; • Extinguishing embers/ashes appropriately;

ABANDONED PERSONAL PROPERTY Students are responsible for the removal of all personal belongings when they check-out of their room. University Housing reserves the right, without assuming any liability, to dispose of all personal property considered to be abandoned. Students have 30 days to claim their abandoned property. Abandoned property will be boxed up and stored as needed. The student who has abandoned the property will be notified via their Stout e-mail account and via letter to their home address of the date by which their items will be disposed of accordingly. BED BUGS University Housing hires a team of profession als to do a complete search of all residence hall rooms every year to verify that we have no bed bugs in our buildings. If you suspect that you or someone you know has brought bed bugs into the residence halls, please contact your RA or Residence Life Coordinator immediately and submit a Maintenance Request through the Housing Gateway. BUILDING ACCESS & SECURITY The residence halls are closed to the public 24-hours a day, except during move-in and move-out periods when the buildings may be unlocked during the day to ease the process. All other times, residents of the hall will need to use their Stout Blue Card to access their build ing. Students should not let unknown people in the door behind them and should always meet guests at exterior doors to escort them in the building. Do not prop open any outside doors; doing so endangers the security of all residents.

If you suspect there is an unauthorized or suspi cious person in the hall, contact University Police. Residents are also encouraged to lock room doors and carry renter’s insurance. While the University is not responsible for personal pos sessions that are lost, stolen or damaged, we will investigate any cases of theft.

Follow us on Instagram @StoutHousing for help ful reminders and information.

FRONT DESK Each residence hall front desk provides students and guests with services including distributing hall and campus information, equipment, access to specialty rooms, cleaning supplies (vacuums, garbage bags, etc.), loan key check-out, room check-in and check-out, packages, and reserva tions. For a list of standard desk inventory, view the Resources on the Housing Gateway.

To report any unauthorized or suspicious person or theft, contact University Police, (715) 232-2222.

CEREMONIAL SMUDGING & RELIGIOUS BURNING University Housing recognizes the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, and therefore acknowledges that smudging and the non-recreational use of ceremonial tobacco and other medicines are a part of the traditions, celebrations, well-being, and spiritual practices for many Indigenous peoples. The use of these medicines in the residence halls is the right of Indigenous peoples, including but not limited to citizens of recognized and unrecognized sover eign tribal communities, First Nations peoples, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Ceremonial smudging involves the burning of one or more sacred medicines, which may include tobacco, cedar, sage, sweetgrass and other sacred medicines. Smudging is a ceremony for purifying or cleansing the soul of negative thoughts of a person or place. Prayers, spoken aloud or in silence, are part of the ceremony. The smoke from the burning and smoldering of these sacred medicines is considered a purifying agent for the mind, body, and spirit. Students

Front Desk Hours of Operation: Sunday–Thursday

10:00 am–10:00 pm 10:00 am–midnight

Friday–Saturday

Phone

715-232-3333

GRIEVANCE PROCESS If you feel a Housing staff member has used their position to pressure, coerce, or inappropriately influence others to attend or participate in a meeting or has otherwise acted inappropriately, please see your Residence Life Coordinator or contact the supervisor of the person whom you feel acted inappropriately. HALL DAMAGE FEES A list of hall damage fees can be found in the ‘Residence Hall Damage List’ section of this handbook. Any time a resident checks-out of their room, building staff will inspect the room for cleanliness and damages. It is important that

• Communication with roommate(s); • Communication with Residence Life Coordinator.

These guidelines are in place within the res idence halls for the student’s personal living space. Outside of residential buildings, students must follow UW-Stout, UW System, and State of Wisconsin guidelines.

14 | PROCEDURES & SERVICES

PROCEDURES & SERVICES | 15