Below you’ll find policies and procedures related to the following:

Alcohol & Illegal Drugs

Possession, consumption and or use of certain drugs is prohibited. These drugs, which are against Federal, State, MnSCU or Bemidji State University laws and regulations include alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, barbiturates, hallucinogens and narcotics. “Displays” of empty containers are not conducive to the goals of our academic and personal learning environment. The presence of empty alcohol containers also presents ambiguity as to the potential of students to have violated the alcohol policy. Possession of empty alcohol containers will be documented and will be considered a violation of the alcohol policy.

Students who are present during a policy violation demonstrate support for that violation and create ambiguity regarding their role in the situation. Therefore, all residents or guests present during an alcohol or illegal drug policy violation are held responsible for the violation. It is expected that students distance themselves from policy violators. If alcohol is discovered in the residence halls the staff member will ask the residents to drain it and recycle the containers. Failure to comply with this request will result in further Code of Conduct charges.

Appeals & Exceptions

Residents have the right to appeal actions, decisions, exceptions to current policies and procedures relating to the Department of Housing & Residential Life. The BSU Complaints and Grievance Procedure should be followed.

Beds

Beds can be lofted to save space. Simply choose that preference on your online housing application and a loft kit will be reserved and billed to your account.

Beds also have the ability to be bunked. Please contact the hall staff to receive the necessary safety hardware prior to bunking beds.

Non-university beds are allowed in many residence hall rooms. The university bed must be properly marked and stored with permission from a Residential Life staff member. Residents are responsible for moving all bed parts to storage. Any non-university beds brought into a residence hall room may not exceed the width of 36 inches (with the exception of Cedar Apartments).

Water beds are not permitted in any residence hall building.

Beds, frames, and mattresses must never be left in the hallway. Stored beds must be returned to your room in original condition prior to checking out of the residence hall. Beds may only be stored by the student to which they are assigned. One person in a double room may not store both beds.

Bomb Threats

In the event of a bomb threat, the affected residence hall(s) will be evacuated and residents will be directed to a safe location, not to return until instructed to do so by Residential Life staff, BSU Department of Public Safety personnel or civil authorities. Failure to evacuate may result in civil action as well as a referral to the BSU Student Conduct System.

Check-In Procedures

Room Condition and Inventory Forms are used to determine responsibility for damages upon check-out. Upon move-in, residents are to complete the Room Condition and Inventory Form with their Resident Assistant (RA). It is the resident’s responsibility to make sure that all damages in the room have been listed. Additional damages found during move-in should be reported to the RA, who will record the information. If a room change occurs during the year, the resident must be sure to properly check-out of the old room and complete a new Room Condition and Inventory Form and key sign-out for the new room.

Check-Out Procedures

Failure to check out and/or vacate the residence hall by NOON on the closing dates will result in a $25 administrative fee for a late check out. Failure to complete any part of the below check-out process may result in a $25 improper check-out fee.

Following this checklist will help students to avoid any improper check-out charges.

  • Residents who plan to check out of the halls at the end of Fall Semester must provide written notice prior to December 1st to cancel the contract for spring semester. First year residents must remain on campus both fall and spring semesters.
  • Bunked beds must be returned to original configuration.
  • Beds that have been removed from the room must be returned and properly assembled.
  • The room must be clean. This includes sweeping the floors, dusting, wiping out dresser drawers and placing all trash in the dumpster outside of the residence hall.
  • The Room Condition and Inventory Form and the Hall/Room Checkout List must be completed and signed.
  • Storage lockers must be clean and checked out of with the Housing & Residential Life office.
  • A forwarding address card should be completed at the residence hall reception desk. Students should notify all magazine publishers and newspapers of the change of address.
  • The room key must be returned to the residence hall reception desk.

Closet Doors

Closet doors are not to be removed from Residence Hall rooms.

Community Agreements

Each semester, each residence hall floor will develop a community agreement. The objective of the community agreement is to assist residents in defining what they would like to see happen in their community and to establish their own group living contract. Since a positive community atmosphere is very important, residents are encouraged to actively participate in the development of this floor community agreement.

Contractors-Vendors

Contractor and Vendor Residence Hall Building Access Policy

All contractors and vendors performing duties in the residence halls will have access to keys and access fobs through the Department of Public Safety. A list of employee names using the keys and access fobs must be submitted to Residential Life prior to beginning the project or contract. The contractor/vendor is responsible for returning all keys and access fobs to the Department of Public Safety at the conclusion of each work day. All keys and access cards/fobs must be accounted for following completion of the days work. Keys and access fobs may be checked out from public safety at 7am and returned by 8pm the same day. A vendor/contractor working in the residence hall before or after the designated times will need approval from the Department of Housing & Residential Life. The vendor/contractor will assume financial responsibility and be held liable for replacement of locks on all doors that keys and/or access fobs operates. Buildings are to remain locked at all times to maintain security. Contractor’s employees will not admit any individuals to the building and will assume responsibility should they do so.