 |
||
 |
    |
|
|
||
|
|
|||||||
|
Housing Policies and Regulations Students are expected to respect the rights and property of fellow residents, and not abuse the facilities or furnishings of the Houses. Most issues involving student conduct in the Houses are dealt with through the self-governing system by student judicial committees, or by the staff. In case of serious infractions of Institute policies and procedures, the Dean's Office or the Committee on Discipline may also impose sanctions, including suspension from Institute housing Alterations to physical conditions of rooms and hallways (including painting, building lofts, etc.) must be approved by the House Manager. Residents are not permitted to alter or add to any part of the building structure, mechanical, or electrical systems. Policy regarding
Additions and Alterations: 2.Each residence, through their house government, develop their own guidelines for materials that may be displayed within their residence. These two points are now official Housing Policy. Housing recognizes, however, that during Orientation, the practice of developing and hanging banners is one that has been an asset to the orientation process. As such during the period of August 15 to Registration Day, Residence Halls may work with Housing to safely affix Banners. All banners must be safely affixed to residence halls only during the time frame and must be removed on or before Registration Day. Click here for more information visit our page on bed bugs Bicycles must not block halls or stairways and must not obstruct handicapped ramps or access ways. Check with the House Manager about bicycle storage facilities within the House. Students are expected to clean their rooms or apartments before leaving and to return the room to a condition ready for occupancy (this includes returning any furnishings removed at any time during the year). The student is responsible for having the unit checked, locking the door, returning the keys, and checking out at the desk with the House Manager before leaving. Failure to do so will result in a fine. Rent continues to be charged until all keys are surrendered to the House Manager. Legal restrictions on student residences do not allow the Institute to permit any student residing in an Institute House to conduct a business operation from within a House or to use an Institute House, mailbox, internet access, or telephone for commercial purposes. Commercial activities in the halls are therefore forbidden. Furniture assigned to a House lounge and/or apartment common area may not be appropriated for a student's personal use. Furniture must not be physically removed from the house/hall. (Biohazard-Radioactive) The possession, manufacture, storage, or use of hazardous materials in the Houses is forbidden. Hazardous materials include but are not limited to: hazardous chemicals, biohazardous material, radioactive substances, lasers (class 3b or class 4), explosives, and ammunition. Detonation of firecrackers or other explosives or the throwing of missiles of any kind from within the Houses is forbidden. Fire crackers are considered to be Class C Explosives in Massachusetts, for which a State license is required to possess or handle. The use of charcoal lighter-fluid and gasoline within a House is forbidden. Gasoline engines and all flammable-liquid and flammable-gas powered vehicles, devices, and containers are not permitted within a House. The storage or use of flammables and accelerants such as gas grills, hibachis or charcoal grills is strictly forbidden. Contact the Environment, Health, & Safety (EHS) Office at 2-3477 if you have any questions concerning the above restrictions on hazardous materials. Discipline Procedures for the Institute Houses Within a residence there exist several options for resolving internal cases, in addition to those outlined in Appendix II, Student Conflict Resolution and Discipline at MIT. These include: Informal resolution among the residents, Resolution with the assistance of the Graduate Resident, House Government and/or Housemaster, assistance of the GSC, or bringing charges against another resident before the House Judicial Board or DormCon. Gas Cylinders (liquid nitrogen, helium, nitrous oxide, etc.) The possession, storage, or use of any gas cylinder in the Houses is not permitted, with rare exception under the guidance and approval of the DSL Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator, in conjunction with the Housing Office. MIT Procurement Policy prohibits the delivery of gas cylinders and other hazardous materials to residences, so any attempt to purchase these materials will result in order cancellation, confiscation of cylinders, and potential disciplinary action if it has not been previously approved by EHS.Setting fires, tampering with fire fighting equipment, fire-alarm systems, fire protection sprinklers, or smoke detectors, turning in false alarms, making a bomb threat, or refusing to evacuate during a fire alarm are serious offenses under Massachusetts law and MIT regulations and can result in severe disciplinary action. The use of flammable decorations, including natural evergreens, in any room, corridor, stairwell, lounge, dining hall, lobby and other public areas is prohibited by Massachusetts fire laws. The use of non-flammable decorations must be approved by the House Manager. No objects may be placed in any exit or on fire escapes. Residents are not permitted on the roofs of any House, except in designated areas approved for assembly use. Use of fireplaces needs to comply with MIT guidelines. For more information, visit the Dormitory Fire Safety Information and Fire Safety Inspection Policy for Residence Halls pages. Health, Safety, and Sanitation Corridor and enclosed stairway doors that are considered fire doors are not to be obstructed, "blocked" or propped open. Students are expected to maintain their living areas, including kitchens and bathrooms, in a safe and sanitary condition. Obstructions, fire hazards, and unsanitary conditions can affect the comfort and safety of all residents. If these standards are not maintained, the House Manager may have the area cleaned. Any special cleaning required to maintain safety and sanitary conditions will be billed to the appropriate residents of the House. In extreme conditions, the House Manager may close a kitchen if unsanitary conditions continually prevail. The Cambridge Health Code does prohibit cooking in student rooms other than those specifically designed as kitchens. (This prohibition includes the use of microwaves, toaster ovens, hot plates, coffee machines, etc.) City inspectors have the authority to close a House for flagrant and continual violations. Residents are not permitted to duplicate room, apartment or house keys, or to possess a master key. Unauthorized use of keys may result in disciplinary action up to and including separation from the Institute. You will be charged for the loss of keys and lock change by the House Manager. All keys must be returned to the House Manager upon check-out. Student MIT Cards are used for residence access. Each residence outside door is equipped with electronic readers to replace the outside door key system, thus enhancing security in the housing system. If you lose your Student I.D. Card, contact your House Manager and report the loss immediately. Coin-operated washers and dryers are located in each Institute House. Students in all Institute Houses must provide their own bedding, towels, and soap. Plans for construction of lofts must be submitted to the House Manager, who will review and approve adequacy of structural design. For reasons of safety and to ensure that sleeping residents are visible in a building fire search, lofts may not be attached to building components or be enclosed with drapes, curtains or doors. The structure must have smooth surfaces with no protruding nails, bolts, or angle forms. Per electrical code, no electrical wiring or lighting fixtures may be fixed to the loft structure. Sprinklers must not be blocked or shielded and "coffins” are prohibited. Completed structures are subject to inspection by the House Manager for approval. House Managers may consult with the EHS Office to review regulations covering location, height, and size. Lofts are prohibited in Simmons Hall. Mail, Parcel Post, and Express Service Each Institute House room or suite has a separate locked mailbox, usually located near the House Manager's Office. In addressing mail or packages to a student in the Institute Houses, please specify the House, the room, and the street address of the House. All students who drive or park any motor vehicle on MIT property must register that vehicle each academic year with the Campus Police, or be subject to a fine or towing at the owner's expense. An MIT parking permit is required for any vehicle on MIT property and all vehicles are subject to the MIT motor vehicle regulations. Parking permits are extremely scarce and first year undergraduate students are ineligible for them. Exceptions to the parking policy for first year students are rare and made on a case by case basis. On-street parking is limited and subject to towing regulations and emergency bans. Transfer and upper class students living on campus may be eligible for parking permits through a house lottery. Since fewer than 200 parking spaces exist on campus, each house holds a lottery each fall to allocate them. Do not bring a car to campus until you have secured a parking permit. Students living off-campus may be eligible for a parking space in the MIT West Lot. Applications for the limited commuter spaces are accepted in early September. The possession, storage, or use of nitrous oxide in Housing is forbidden without exception. Because nitrous oxide can be abused as an inhalant, residents who are found with this substance may be subject to disciplinary action as stated in the MIT Standards of Conduct. The DSL leaves it up to each Living Group to determine any enforced "quiet hours"e;. However, a resident and/or neighbor has the right to object to noise (especially caused by loud music) which prohibits him/her from studying or sleeping, or which is audible well beyond the student's own room. Refusal to cooperate in lowering disturbing noise can result in disciplinary action by the House and/or DSL. Students are allowed to have guests, not to exceed three nights in any given week. Overnight guests are permitted in Institute Housing with the advance permission of all students of the room/suite in which the guest is staying. The host student(s) is (are) responsible for the conduct of her/his guests including damages caused by them. Students within Institute Housing are collectively responsible for their own conduct as well as the conduct of their guests. Sleeping overnight in the public areas of a House (e.g., lounges) is prohibited. Consideration should be given to the rights of roommates at all times. MIT Housing has a no pets allowed policy in all undergraduate and graduate residences. The term "pets" includes mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Fish are not specifically prohibited. A program allowing a very limited number of cats by current upper class students has been implemented in the following residence halls: East Campus, Senior House, Bexley, and Random. Policies, rules, and regulations that need to be observed for this exception can be found at http://web.mit.edu/dormcon/pets. Students accompanied by a Guide or Hearing Dog are exempted from the prohibition of pets on campus. Permission must be attained from the Disability Services Office for guide or hearing dogs and roommates will be informed of the presence of this type of pet and allowed to transfer if a problem arises. Due to safety concerns, the use of propane cooking equipment on MIT Housing property is prohibited. Safer alternatives include electric grills, charcoal grills, and house kitchens. Exceptions to this policy are rare and require permission from the DSL Environmental, Health, and Safety Coordinator, in conjunction with the Cambridge Fire Department, and require at least two weeks advance notice and a detailed proposal including safety precautions. In general, exceptions may only be granted if propane equipment is operated by a professional caterers, under the supervision of a licensed plumber and in the presence of a detail from the Cambridge Fire Department. Refrigerators may be kept in student rooms and some lounges in the Institute Houses. Refrigerators and locations must be approved by the House Manager and are subject to inspection for safety and sanitation. Damage caused by a refrigerator will be charged to the owner(s). Refrigerators which use sodium dioxide or ammonia for a refrigerant are not permitted. Refrigerators must be kept in sanitary condition at all times, including vacation periods. Responsibility for Personal Property The Institute assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to personal property of students or guests. This includes, but is not limited to, loss by fire, theft, water, and malfunction of electrical or mechanical systems. Residents are advised to obtain insurance to cover their personal property or check if their parent's homeowner policy will apply. Because the residence halls and apartments are MIT property, authorized MIT personnel have the legal right to enter student rooms. However, MIT recognizes that entry into a students’ private living space is a serious matter and the Institute respects student privacy within their living areas to the maximum possible extent. The Institute however reserves the right to enter a room or apartment at any time when imminent danger to life, safety, health or property is reasonably suspected as determined by The Police@MIT, DSL, the House Manager or their authorized representative. The Institute also reserves the right, with advance notice to the residents whenever reasonably possible, to inspect the condition of the room or apartment, conduct a room inventory, to show an apartment or room to prospective residents, to inspect for fire and health hazards, to enforce the rules and regulations of the Institute, to make repairs, installations, additions or alterations to the room or apartment or building or to remove placards, signs, fixtures, alterations or additions to the premises which are in violation of MIT standards.All rooms in the Undergraduate Residence Halls are furnished with a bed, mattress, dresser or wardrobe, desk and chair, bookshelves, and wastebasket for each resident. All beds are twin extra-long (39x80). Students must supply their own room lamps. Each student is responsible for his or her room furniture. This furniture is to be used only in the space to which it has been assigned. If a student wishes to remove furniture from a room, he or she must first request permission from the House Manager and make the necessary arrangements for storage or transfer within the residence. Students are responsible for insuring that stored furniture is returned to rooms before they vacate for the year (even if they are returning in the fall) to avoid being charged for replacement costs. There are some residence halls where all room furniture must remain in place, check with your House Manager. Safe Ride is a safety shuttle sponsored by the Campus Police, DSL, and Undergraduate Association (UA). The fleet of four vans, two of which are wheelchair accessible, drive on a set route to the main Cambridge campus, as well as to all graduate and undergraduate living groups in Cambridge and Boston. It operates seven days a week, every day of the year, from 6 pm until 3 am on Sunday through Wednesday, and from 6 pm until 4 am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. After hours of operation, and until daylight, the Campus Police will give rides in marked cruisers on request to both Cambridge and Boston. Safe Ride is a free service that is constantly changing and improving. Safe Ride runs on a schedule so that the vans reach every destination at a pre-determined time. The drivers are full time service assistants who are employed by the Campus Police, and who drive through the route with a veteran before they drive alone. They have direct radio contact with the Campus Police at all times. This service provides all members of the community with a safe means of transportation to all on-campus destinations and every MIT living group, on- or off-campus. Although MIT has had an extremely low rate of reported rapes over the years, there is a great deal of awareness about this crime, and information and programs about personal safety, acquaintance rape, and sexual assault are presented during Orientation. If you would like additional information on our crime prevention programs and services, you may call Counseling and Support Services at x3-4861 or the Campus Police at x3-1212. Smoking is prohibited in all areas of MIT residence halls, including all student rooms, hallways and lounges, except as noted below. Certain designated MIT residence halls allow smoking in private residences (e.g., Housemasters' apartments) and in student rooms if all of the students are smokers and request in writing (smoking agreement form) that smoking be permitted in their rooms. Anyone who violates this policy will be subject to discipline under the procedures applicable to him or her as a student at MIT. Limited storage space is available for residents in most buildings, but the Institute assumes no liability for personal property, and articles must be removed when occupancy is terminated. Articles not removed are subject to sale at auction in the term following the graduation or withdrawal of the owner. Please Note: If you need accessible housing due to a disability, you must provide medical documentation to support your request. You may send your documentation directly to the Housing Office, or to the Disability Services Office (DSO) to be forwarded to Housing. Determination of such housing request will be made in consultation with MIT Medical. Spaces designated for students with disabilities may be assigned to other students with the understanding that a transfer to a different space may be required during the contract-period if a unit designated for students with disabilities is needed for a student who requires one. Such a transfer would be arranged quickly to avoid inconvenience to the individuals involved. Rent for a new space assigned will be charged from the day of transfer. Residence hall rooms are either provided with a telephone or students are issued a personal Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) account, depending on the building. In residence halls where MIT has recently upgraded internet access, rather than a room phone, students will be issued a personal SIP account. This SIP account consists of an MIT telephone number with voice mail. The voicemail is accessible via e-mail. The SIP account can also redirect all calls to the resident's personal cell phone. An undergraduate resident may not sublet, transfer, or share an Institute room, nor may an unassigned person reside there at any point during the academic year, including summer (Graduate residents may sublicense their accommodations during the summer or IAP. For more information, see: http://web.mit.edu/housing/grad/sublet/index.html). A resident may not trade places with another person in or out of the Institute House system. If a resident of an Institute House is discovered at any point to be in violation, the Institute reserves the right to cancel his or her assignment, even if previously confirmed, and take disciplinary action as appropriate. While waterbeds are not prohibited in those houses where they can be accommodated structurally, approval must be obtained from the House Manager prior to installation. Waterbeds do present some serious problems which residents should be aware of. The two major ones are the risks from leakage and electrocution from faulty heaters. Electric heaters must be U.L. approved. All waterbeds must be enclosed in a tank capable of holding all the water if a leak occurs. Students using heaters in conjunction with a water bed should be aware there is a potential danger of electrocution or shock. Students installing waterbeds must accept full responsibility for any damage or injury that may be caused by the waterbed. Before installing a waterbed, a resident must sign a release form accepting responsibility for all damages to the residence hall structure, mechanical systems, and personal property of other residents which may be caused by it. The resident is responsible for all labor costs associated with draining and moving the waterbed to facilitate repairs to the residence hall structure or mechanical systems. The resident must remove the waterbed when she/he moves out of the room or leaves for the summer or must pay the labor costs for the housing staff to remove it. Waterbeds are not permitted in the graduate halls or apartment buildings. Hunting knives, switchblades, swords and other dangerous blades are not permitted on MIT Property or in any Institute approved living group. Firearms, air rifles, air pistols, and ammunition are not permitted on MIT property or in any Institute approved living group. Possessors of firearms are required by law to obtain permission from the Chief of the MIT Campus Police to bring firearms on campus. All students are reminded that firearms must be licensed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Violators are subject to a one-year mandatory jail sentence and up to a $1,000 fine. More information on firearms regulations may be obtained from the MIT Police Office.
last update: September 17, 2009 |
