Housing & Residential Life

One of the chief purposes of residential life at Champlain is to provide a positive environment in which students can learn and thrive in their academic pursuits, while preparing for their careers. The College is firm in its resolve to maintain this positive educational environment, and expects all residential students to conduct themselves with the highest regard for their fellow students and for College policy as outlined in the College’s Student Code of Conduct and the Diversity Value Statement. 

Residency at Champlain College is reserved for full time students.  Housing priority is given to Champlain College undergraduate students.  The opening and closing dates for residence halls follow the undergraduate calendar.  The privilege of enrollment at Champlain or residency in housing may be withdrawn from a student at any time, on any grounds, if the College considers such action best for the welfare of the institution and/or the student. Student conduct cases involving residential students will be investigated by the Office of Community Standards and resolved in accordance with the procedure outlined in the section titled Conduct Review Process, unless the College decides to take interim or permanent action without following such process, as referenced in the Student Code of Conduct.

Housing & Residential Life staff not only oversee the day-to-day maintenance of the residence halls and enforce College policies, but also provide valuable guidance and support to residential students. They are committed to creating respectful, diverse and inclusive communities. Very often, they can quickly and directly resolve any concerns.

The major responsibilities of Housing & Residential Life staff are to get to know each resident and to actively help each resident become a part of the College community; to build a fun, responsible and engaging community among students within each residence hall; to develop a working knowledge of College resources and refer students to appropriate personnel when necessary; to discuss, clarify and enforce the College’s policies and procedures as published; and to be on duty and available in their residence halls 9:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. daily. Housing & Residential Life staff are expected to perform rounds of the building when on duty.

Balconies

All balconies must be kept neat, uncluttered, and safe. Items on balconies must be wholly contained within the balcony.

The following items are the only items permitted on balconies:

• All-weather furniture

• Plants

• Outdoor string lights

College furniture may not be used on balconies for any period of time. Obstructing the view of the balcony from the outside by hanging items (flags, towels, tapestries, etc.) is strictly prohibited. Students who share responsibility for a balcony are encouraged to communicate with one another about items placed on the balcony area. All students who live in a suite/apartment attached to a balcony will be held responsible for violations through the Conduct Review Process.. 

Building ledges that may only be accessed from a student room or through a window are not considered balconies. Unauthorized access of this type of ledge would be a violation of the Unauthorized Access policy.  Residents may not climb onto nor place property on to these areas, even if there are railings on the ledges.  Throwing, tossing, or lowering objects from balconies is strictly prohibited.

Bicycles

Outdoor bike racks are available at all residence halls (or nearby). A good quality lock (not a cable lock) is essential. Bicycles may not be stored in hallways, stairwells, near fire escapes or in any manner that might obstruct access to or egress from any room.

There are indoor, secure, bike storage rooms available to residents on campus in Juniper Hall, Butler Hall, 194 Saint Paul Street and Cushing Hall.  Students not assigned to live in these locations can request card access to the bike storage area by emailing reslife@champlain.edu.

All bikes shall be taken home at the end of the spring semester. Bicycles that are not removed from bike storage areas at the end of the spring semester will be considered abandoned property and will be disposed of per Champlain College’s policy. The College assumes no liability for the loss or damage of students’ personal property.

Cleaning and Room Inspections

Students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms and any connecting bathrooms throughout the academic year and/or contract period. Common bathrooms are cleaned by the College on a regular basis.  Each resident must clean up after themselves after each use.

To maintain standards of health and cleanliness, sheets and mattress protectors must be used on all College beds. Bottles and cans may not be collected in lounges or hallways and must be removed from individual rooms weekly. 

The College reserves the right to inspect a room at any time, reserves the right to immediately remove all health or safety hazards, and reserves the right to take any actions determined at its discretion as are necessary to further the Student Code of Conduct and/or student compliance with applicable law. The College staff conducts maintenance and safety inspections of students’ rooms in an effort to discover and repair maintenance problems in their initial stages and to prevent hazards from developing. Potential Code of Conduct or legal violations discovered in the course of maintenance and safety inspections will be referred as deemed appropriate to the Office of Community Standards or other authorities.

Fire Safety in Residence Halls

Residential fires are the most common fires in the United States, claiming more lives than any other type of fire. For residents’ safety, the residence halls have fire safety equipment, procedures, rules, and expectations. Residents are expected to follow all fire safety procedures and requirements.

Residents are prohibited from tampering with fire safety equipment. Tampering with fire safety equipment may result in disciplinary action, exclusion from the residence halls, and even criminal charges. 

Fire Prevention Guidelines

Fire prevention is of critical importance in a large community environment because so many lives are endangered by accidents or careless actions. The following list is an outline of fire safety expectations to keep residents and the community safe.

• The College reserves the right to inspect a room at any time, and reserves the right to immediately remove all health or safety hazards.

• Candles and incense are not permitted in any residence.

• Cooking is not permitted in the residence halls outside of designated kitchen areas. Cooking appliances in student’s rooms constitute a fire hazard and, if found, will be removed by the staff. This includes all types of coffeemakers.

• Microwaves that are provided by the College in the common spaces of residence halls may not be moved for any reason.  

• Grills are not permitted at any residence hall except at College approved outdoor events.

• Sunlamps, immersion coils and extension cords are not permitted. Power strips are permitted.

• Students may decorate their rooms and residence halls, but real greens are not permitted and only UL-approved lights may be used. Lights may not be draped in doorways or hung from the ceiling or fire safety equipment, and they may not be used anywhere near fabric or paper decorations. The College reserves the right to remove any decorations that present a fire hazard. Extra furniture that presents a safety hazard may be removed by the College.

• All exits are to be kept free of obstructions.

• All fire escapes, extinguishers, alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are for use in emergencies and in supervised fire drills only. Their use for other purposes is a serious violation of College policies.

• Halogen lamps are not permitted in residence halls.

• No drapes, flags, tapestries or other flammable materials may be hung from walls, ceilings or lofted beds  in such a way as to interfere with egress from the room or the operation of a light fixture, sprinkler head or smoke detector.

• Sprinkler heads, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, alarms/pull stations, and fire extinguishers may not be removed, covered or otherwise tampered with. 

• Torches and all types of lighters that emit a continuous flame are prohibited.

Students will be fined $100 for any violation of these regulations, including unnecessary removal or discharge of a fire extinguisher, covering or removing detectors, or tampering with pull stations, smoke or heat detectors, emergency exits, carbon monoxide detectors or any life-safety device. Students who fail to exit a building during a drill or an unplanned alarm may also be subject to this fine or similar sanctions (if the responsible party is not identified, the fine may be levied against all building residents). Violation of these regulations is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct that will be adjudicated through the Conduct Review Process.

Unannounced fire drills in residence halls are conducted once per year with most students participating. The Campus Public Safety staff will conduct a fall training session for all students in each residence hall upon request. The procedure for running a fire drill is as follows:

1. A Campus Public Safety officer will arrive at the residence hall before the drill is initiated.

2. A Campus Public Safety officer will telephone the local fire department to report when the drill will begin, so the department can take the building offline.

3. In a planned drill or unplanned alarm, a Campus Public Safety officer will check all the rooms to make sure that all students have evacuated the building. 

4. After the evacuation of the building is complete, Campus Public Safety will silence the alarm and reset the pull station. The Campus Public Safety officer  will reset the panel and notify the local fire department that the drill is complete.

In the event of an unplanned alarm, please note the following:

1. Everyone must evacuate the building immediately. No one may reenter the building for any reason.

2. Only after the local fire department establishes the safety of the building may residents re-enter the residence hall.

 The College’s annual fire safety report is available at the Campus Public Safety and Security Office or online at: https://www.champlain.edu/current-students/campus-services/campus-safety/annual-security-report

Furniture

All furniture provided to a student in their residence hall room (bed, desk, chair, mattress, etc.) must remain in a student’s room.  Personal furniture pieces may be brought into the room, but no College furniture will be removed.  Only lofts provided by the College are allowed.  Students may not make structural changes to their rooms. Air conditioners of any kind cannot be installed in student rooms, as this represents a safety hazard and a drain on electrical systems that are not designed to accommodate these loads.

Furniture in common areas has been arranged by the College to provide the best setup both for the residents and for College functions. Lounge furniture is not to be moved into  students’ rooms or to be placed outside on a balcony, porch or lawn for any period of time. 

Guest Privileges

A guest is defined as any individual (student or non-student) who is not assigned to the building/room they are visiting.  The hours of room and lounge visitation are 9:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m.-midnight on Friday and Saturday. In all cases, residents and their guests are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not intrude on the rights of privacy or significantly interfere with the normal residential lives of others. Residents may be held responsible for actions of their guests under the Student Code of Conduct.

Overnight guests are permitted for no more than two consecutive nights in a month and only with the permission of roommates. Residents are required to notify Housing & Residential Life staff whenever overnight guests will be present in the building. Residents must be present while the guest is in the building. Guests must be visiting a particular person in a residence hall. The person who is the host in the residence hall is responsible for the behavior of that guest. 

1. The resident of the building must allow their guest access to the building.  Residents are not permitted to loan their Student ID card to their guest to gain access to the building at any time.

2. Sleeping in the common areas of residence halls is prohibited.

3. The College may refuse entry to nonresidents or require them to leave the premises, at the College’s sole discretion.

4. Guest(s) may stay in a particular residence hall no more than two (2) days per month, and a maximum of five (5) days per semester.

5. No one may live in a residence hall unless he or she is registered to live there through Champlain College. At the discretion of the Housing & Residential Life staff, guests staying more than the allowed period of time may be banned from further visitation in College residence halls.

Insurance

Champlain College is not responsible for missing, stolen, or damaged personal property in the residence halls. The College strongly recommends that residential students purchase insurance coverage in the event that personal items are stolen or damaged.

Mail

The Mail Center is open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. For the most up-to-date information regarding the Mail Center, please visit their website.  Please note that Mail Center hours are subject to change.

All residential students will receive mail at the campus Mail Center in the CCM building at 375 Maple Street.  Students are notified via their Champlain “mymail” email address when a letter or package arrives, and can pick it up at the Mail Center. Students are required to show their Student ID in order to pick up mail. All mail to and from students on campus should use this address:

Student’s Name 

Champlain College

375 Maple Street

Burlington, VT 05401

Prepaid outgoing USPS, UPS and FedEx mail can be dropped off at the Mail Center during open hours which is picked up by each carrier daily. If a student requires postage for an outgoing letter or package to be sent via USPS, it can be done so at the Mail Center, as well. Please keep in mind that the only type of payment accepted is through the Champlain College Student Cash Card.

Meal Plan

All residential students, with the exception of 194 St. Paul Street residents are required to purchase a meal plan for the College dining facility (IDX Student Life Center) and are charged according to the meal plan. The College believes that bringing students together for meals fosters new friendships and is an important part of collegiate life at Champlain. 

Students must present an ID card at each meal. Students on the full meal plan cannot transfer meals to others. Students may not take food out of the dining facility unless they have permission from a dining employee.  Students are expected to behave just as they would in their own home or at a restaurant. Behaving in a way that disrupts or disturbs other people is prohibited, and violators may be removed from the dining hall. Students who violate dining hall policies may be referred to the Office of Community Standards for adjudication.  Serious violations may result in cancellation of meal plans which would impact a student’s ability to live in campus housing.

Parties

Large parties may not be held in the residences. Instead, the College makes the IDX Student Life Center and the Alumni Auditorium available during evening hours for social functions. To coordinate events in these facilities, contact the Event Center.

Recycling

Burlington residents are required by law to recycle the following items: paper (including cardboard), plastics #1-7, aluminum cans, and glass bottles and jars. Items should be reasonably clean. For full details on what can be recycled, go to http://www.cswd.net/recycling/. Recycling of these items is the responsibility of residents as well as the responsibility of all faculty and staff. There are receptacles in the residence halls for these items, and it is expected that residential students will participate in the recycling program. Returnable bottles and cans may not be gathered in lounge areas or in the hallways.

Residence Hall Damages

Students will be charged for damages to residence hall furnishings and buildings beyond what is considered normal wear and tear. When specific responsible parties cannot be identified, any assessment of damages to common areas, such as hallways, bathrooms and living rooms, will be apportioned among all floor residents or all hall residents. Similarly, when damages occur within a room, the person responsible will be billed accordingly. In the event that responsibility cannot be placed on a particular individual, the cost of repair will be shared by all residents of the room, suite, apartment, floor or building. At the discretion of the Student Accounts Office, students may be suspended from classes for nonpayment of any bill.

Residence Hall Noise Policy

When living in a community with other students and College staff, it is important to remain respectful of others at all hours of the day and night. It is expected that electronic devices will be operated at a reasonable, considerate volume at all times. Speakers or amplifiers may not be placed in windows or outside at any time.

Quiet hours are 11:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. daily, but courtesy is expected 24 hours a day. During exam periods, 24-hour quiet is required in all residence halls. Continued violations of quiet hours may result in referral to the Office of Community Standards or removal from housing.

Residential Unlock Services

The unlock service is a courtesy offered by Campus Public Safety (CPS) and Resident Advisors. This service  is not meant to be abused nor used as an alternative to purchasing a new identification card that has been lost or damaged. There may come a time when students are locked out of their room and need assistance gaining access.  In these times, Students should first reach out to the Resident Advisor on call if between the hours of 9:00 pm-12:00 am. If outside of the hours of 9:00 pm-12:00 am students should contact CPS at (802) 865-6465 and explain their location and need for assistance. When the CPS Officer or Resident Advisor responds, they will request to see photo identification in order to confirm the student’s identity and room assignment.  

Individuals needing access to their campus room will be granted three courtesy unlocks per semester by Campus Public Safety or Housing & Residential Life.  Additional unlock requests will be assessed a fee of $25.00 per unlock. Campus Public Safety or Resident Advisors will not collect the fee at the time of the service. A notice will be sent to students at a later date with instructions for payment.

To preserve the safety of all residents, Campus Public Safety and Resident Advisors will only provide students with access to the residence hall in which they live.  

During school breaks and in summer, or whenever residence halls are closed, Campus Public Safety will not be able to provide access to the residential halls without prior coordination and permission from Housing & Residential Life. 

Lost or damaged cards can be replaced at Compass Student Services in Perry Hall (802-860-2777). Each replacement card cost $20.00. 

Residence Hall Break Closures

The dates that the College will close for breaks can be found on the Housing & Residential Life website. Students are also notified via communication in the residence halls about upcoming residence hall closings.  Students are expected to adhere to these dates and vacate their residence hall rooms on time. Exceptions will only be considered in cases of extenuating circumstances. Students failing to vacate on time will be referred to the Office of Community Standards, and may be subject to sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct.

Room Assignments 

Incoming students are encouraged to submit housing and/or roommate preferences via the Incoming Student Housing Preference form available to admitted students on the College website. The College will attempt to assign students based on their preferences. The same buildings are often chosen by many incoming students, so it is not always possible to grant all students’ preferences. Roommate choices will be honored only if both parties make the request to live together.

Returning students are assigned priority numbers in the Spring semester, during housing selection, in order to select rooms for the following year. Priority numbers are based on the number of credits earned toward graduation. Detailed housing selection information is released each March and is available on the Housing & Residential Life Department web page.

Students wishing to move during the academic year must follow the Room Change Process outlined on the web page. Information regarding special accommodation room assignments can be found in the Accommodations section of this catalog.

Students may occupy housing assignments in accordance with the opening and closing dates of residence halls, which follows the academic calendar. Students are required to sign housing agreements/contracts before moving into a residence hall. By taking ownership of room keys and having access to your housing assignment, it indicates a student’s understanding and agreement to Housing & Residential Life and Champlain Colleges policies, and regardless of a signed contract/agreement. Students are expected to remove all personal belongings from their assigned living area and associated common areas on the date their housing assignment ends, whether it is due to a room change, required relocation to another residential space, termination of student housing or withdrawal from the College. All items remaining in student rooms and associated common areas at the end of their contract period or when the student leaves an assigned space will be considered abandoned property and will be disposed of per Champlain College’s discretion.  The College assumes no liability for the loss or damage of students’ personal property if property has been abandoned.  Students will be assessed a cleaning fee for removal of abandoned property.

The College reserves the right to reassign, restrict or terminate student housing where that decision will serve a compelling community interest or as deemed appropriate through the Conduct Review Process. This may include a restriction from participating in future housing selection processes.

Room Change Requests 

At Champlain College, we believe strongly in the educational benefits of learning to live with others and practicing responsibility, collaboration, and compromise. All residential students will complete living agreements with their roommates during the first few weeks of the semester. The Housing & Residential Life Staff works with students to help mediate and resolve potential conflicts.  We are committed to helping students learn important lifelong interpersonal and conflict-resolving skills and our staff will assist students in attempts to resolve their issues themselves before any room change process occurs. Steps towards resolution of conflicts could include revisiting the living agreement, participation in a discussion with a Resident Advisor, and/or discussion with an Area Coordinator. More information about the Room Change Process can be found on the web page.

No student has the right to change rooms without the proper authorization from Housing & Residential Life. Unauthorized room changes are prohibited and may result in student conduct action.

In the event of an approved room change, students are responsible for moving their belongings. Housing & Residential Life staff members, Campus Public Safety Officers, and other staff members are not available to assist in this manner. Students may be able to borrow equipment to assist in the moving process, and should check with Housing & Residential Life staff regarding the availability of such equipment.

The College reserves the right to reassign students as necessary.

Solicitation in the Residence Halls

No sale or solicitation of materials or services of any type is allowed within the residence facilities without the written permission of Housing & Residential Life.  The entire campus Solicitation Policy can be found under College Policies in this College Catalog.

Storage

Because storage space is very limited and students sometimes move from room to room during the academic year, individual room furniture may not be disassembled or removed from a residence hall room. No space is available for storage of students’ belongings over the summer.

Theft

Suspected thefts should be reported immediately to Campus Public Safety. It is the student’s  responsibility to carry theft insurance on their property in the residence halls; the College does not assume responsibility for any personal possessions that are lost or stolen.

Unauthorized Access Areas

Unauthorized access to the roof, fire escapes, ledges, and/or window of any building is prohibited. Accessing any area that a reasonable individual knows or should know is considered a private and/or unauthorized area is prohibited. The following actions are in violation of College policies and may result in removal from College housing:

• gaining access to the roof of any building, including a residence hall;

• gaining access to a fire escape unless for the purpose of emergency evacuation;

• throwing or dropping objects from roofs, windows, balconies, fire escapes, and/or ledges, whether accidental or deliberate;

• sitting or standing on a window, balcony, or building ledge, or allowing any body part to dangle over a window, balcony, or ledge;

• climbing on or rappelling from any College owned or operated buildings or structures;

• placing items, including banners and flags, on balconies, fire escapes or ledges or allowing them to hang outside windows.

Windows

Windows may not be used for entry or non-emergency exits. Students are encouraged to keep windows closed and locked when not present in the room in order to help ensure the safety and security of belongings and property.

During Health and Safety Inspections, members of the Housing & Residential Life team conduct inspections of residence hall rooms which can include ensuring windows are closed and locked. Windows not found in this condition may result in a Health and Safety violation being issued for the students living in the room/suite.

When damage is caused by windows left open during inclement and freezing weather, the person or residents of the room responsible will be billed accordingly.  This could include damage caused by a water pipe bursting, or precipitation entering the window and damaging the surrounding area.

Hanging/displaying anything in a window which can be seen from the outside of the residence hall is prohibited.  This includes any flag, poster, sign, etc.  Residents will be asked to remove anything hanging/displaying in a window and will be requested to comply immediately.