Housing Policies
Many students living in the residential buildings make two important discoveries: first, they have more individual freedom than before; and second, the intense academic demands and shared living arrangements require more self-control and individual discipline than ever before.
Because the residential communities exist within the larger structure of the university, residents remain subject to university policy, as well as federal, state, and local laws. It is your responsibility to know the policies and rules of the university. Staff do not assume the role of a parent, but behavior that violates university policy will be addressed and may result in disciplinary actions, sanctions, and/or loss of housing privileges.
It is our goal to provide a safe, secure and educational community for all residents. In that spirit, this list is compiled to highlight some of the policies, rules and regulations (this is by no means a complete list). All of these are in conjunction with the university policies stipulated in the UC Santa Cruz Student Policies and Regulations Handbook and the Terms and Conditions of residence.
Alcohol
Federal and state laws, as well as university policy, prohibit alcoholic beverages from being sold, furnished, possessed by, or given to any person under the age of 21. In addition, no possession or transportation of open containers or consumption of alcoholic beverages will be allowed in public areas by any person, regardless of age or college affiliation. Kegs or other “common source” containers holding alcoholic beverages are not allowed on campus. Displays of alcohol containers are prohibited.
Animals and Pets
No pets (except fish in a 10-gallon or smaller aquarium) are allowed in the residential community. Assistance/Service animals need advance approval and must meet university guidelines. Additional information can be found at ada.ucsc.edu/program-access/service-animals
Bicycles
To comply with fire regulations and for general purposes of safety, bicycles may not be parked in walkways, hallways, stairways, or entryways. Improperly parked bicycles may be removed by college staff. It is a requirement to equip your bicycle with the appropriate lights and reflectors. We strongly recommend all bikes be secured with a lock.
Candles, Incense, or Sage
No smoking materials, including but not limited to the items listed above, can be burned or used in any residential room or apartment.
Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia
The university and the college must adhere to all federal and state laws as they pertain to illegal substances. Delivering, furnishing, transferring, manufacturing, using, and possessing illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia is strictly prohibited at the university. Additionally, the university does not recognize the privileges associated with a medical marijuana card. Drug paraphernalia is defined as all equipment, material, and products intended for use or designed for use in growing, processing, harvesting, storing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing a controlled substance into the human body.
Fire Safety
Tampering with (attempting to disable, dismantle, shut off, reset, or remove) any safety equipment, including smoke detectors, fire hoses, extinguishers, sprinkler system equipment, and/or alarm pull stations, is strictly prohibited. This includes covering a smoke detector. Touching or hanging anything from a sprinkler pipe or sprinkler head is prohibited. Individuals are expected to evacuate at the sound of an alarm.
Furniture
Furniture may not be removed from any residence room/apartment or common area. Students found in possession of college/university furniture, other than what was assigned to their room/apartment, may be charged for its replacement. Residents found to have dismantled furniture without college permission will be charged for all costs related to reassembling the furniture and replacement costs. Room, apartment, and lounge furniture may not be taken outside and/or onto patios, decks, or balconies.
Halogen Lamps
Because of the high risk of fire, all halogen lamps are prohibited in residential facilities.
Harassment Policy
Physical and verbal harassment will not be tolerated by students, staff, or faculty and is prohibited on the UC Santa Cruz campus. If any form of harassment occurs, notify a staff member immediately. It is the policy of the college and the university that the working and learning environment shall be free of harassment, including any form of sexual harassment. The college and the university will take action to eliminate harassment. For further information on sexual harassment please refer to the Student Policies and Regulations or contact the campus Title IX Officer at (831) 459-2462.
Health and Safety
Student shall not engage in any behavior or activity which endangers the health, safety, or well-being of any person.
Musical Instruments
Instruments are allowed in the residential facilities however amplification and drum sets are not permitted in the residential facilities. Instrument use must conform to established noise policies.
Noise Policy
To preserve academic and community standards, noise levels must be held to a minimum at all times and students will be expected to adhere to campus quiet hours. Quiet hours shall be maintained between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday and 12 midnight to 10:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Twenty-four hour quiet hours are in effect beginning at 10:00 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the start of finals and for the remainder of the quarter.
Pests
Student is responsible for ensuring that all items brought into the residences are free of pests – including clothing, bedding, suitcases, backpacks, packing materials, furniture, and other belongings. In the event Student discovers or suspects a pest problem, Student agrees to immediately seek University assistance by placing a work order (ches.ucsc.edu/cruzfix). Student shall not attempt to treat a problem or arrange for any third-party to perform treatment. If an infestation does occur, Student must follow the treatment protocol (including preparing the room and personal belongings) as instructed by the University. Failure to strictly comply with the prescribed treatment protocol may result in Student being liable for the costs associated with remediation.
Information About Bed Bugs
Bed bug Appearance: Bed bugs have six legs. Adult bed bugs have flat bodies about 1/4 of an inch in length. Their color can vary from red and brown to copper colored. Young bed bugs are very small. Their bodies are about 1/16 of an inch in length. They have almost no color. When a bed bug feeds, its body swells, may lengthen, and becomes bright red, sometimes making it appear to be a different insect. Bed bugs do not fly. They can either crawl or be carried from place to place on objects, people, or animals. Bed bugs can be hard to find and identify because they are tiny and try to stay hidden.
Life Cycle and Reproduction: An average bed bug lives for about 10 months. Female bed bugs lay one to five eggs per day. Bed bugs grow to full adulthood in about 21 days. Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding.
Bed Bug Bites: Because bed bugs usually feed at night, most people are bitten in their sleep and do not realize they were bitten. A person’s reaction to insect bites is an immune response and so varies from person to person. Sometimes the red welts caused by the bites will not be noticed until many days after a person was bitten, if at all.
Common signs and symptoms of a possible bed bug infestation:
- Small red to reddish brown fecal spots on mattresses, box springs, bed frames, mattresses, linens, upholstery, or walls.
- Molted bed bug skins, white, sticky eggs, or empty eggshells.
- Very heavily infested areas may have a characteristically sweet odor.
- Red, itchy bite marks, especially on the legs, arms, and other body parts exposed while sleeping. However, some people do not show bed bug lesions on their bodies even though bed bugs may have fed on them.
For more information, see the websites of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Pest Management Association.
In the event Student discovers or suspects a pest problem, Student agrees to immediately seek University assistance by placing a work order (ches.ucsc.edu/cruzfix).
Smoke-free & Tobacco-free Environment
In accordance with University policy, smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, the use of e-cigarettes, and the use of unregulated nicotine products is prohibited in all UC Santa Cruz facilities, on all University grounds, and on all University-owned and leased properties regardless of location. This policy applies to all indoor and outdoor areas, and is also applicable to all vehicles when on University property and to University controlled vehicles wherever in use. more »
See Also
