Residential Life Policies & Procedures

Queens University of Charlotte’s Residence Life and Housing department is committed to the health, safety, and security of Queens residential students. The department has herein developed policies to foster an environment of mutual respect and to promote the safety of the residents within.

The following policies and procedures apply to all residential students and are enforceable under Queens University of Charlotte Honor Code. This list is not all-inclusive. All other policies can be found in the Honor Code. 

Residence Hall Health & Safety Policy 

As a Queens student, everyone is responsible for maintaining the health, safety and security of our community. It is your responsibility to understand the following expectations: 

Room Keys: Students should not be duplicating, lending, or borrowing room keys or access cards not assigned to them. Keys and access cards are intended for use by the person to whom they were issued. Students should not lend their keys or access cards to others. 

Unauthorized Entry: Entering any restricted, locked, or closed residence hall space, basement, or roof top is prohibited. 

Hall Sports: Riding skateboards, in-line skates, bikes, or other like modes of transportation or throwing any object in the residence halls is prohibited. This includes engaging in sports (e.g. golf, lacrosse, soccer, hockey, etc.) within the residence hall. 

Hallways & Stairwells: Hallways, stairwells, and landings are to remain empty, free, and clear of personal belongings at all times within the residence halls. Students may not move unused furniture from their rooms into hallways. 

Security Systems: Students should not interfere or tamper with residence hall security systems. 

Academic Participation: Queens students are expected to be actively engaged in their academic schedule and attending classes in order to remain living in the residence halls. 

Health & Safety Checks: Residence Life and Housing (RLH) will conduct Health & Safety Inspections at least once per semester. Rooms should not be excessively dirty (open containers of food, excessive trash in the room) or without a clear path for exit creating a health and safety concern for residents. Excessively dirty rooms attract bugs and mold.  If a room is deemed excessively dirty, residents will be given a warning and allowed time to clean the room. The room will be re-inspected within 5 business days and failure to clean or clear the room is a violation of this policy. 

Room Entry and Search: The university reserves the right to enter and/or search a student’s room for any of the following reasons: 

• it is believed an emergency exists; 
• it is believed a university or residence hall violation is occurring; 
• the well-being of the occupant or other students is at stake; or 
• for the purposes of maintenance. 

Administrative searches are performed by a full-time university official. University officials are not permitted to open personal items of students (backpacks, suitcases, etc). However, they are allowed to open closets (for the purpose of a visual search only), look under beds, and open and remove items from refrigerators and coolers. A Queens staff member (including student staff) may also enter each room during a fire alarm or drill to make sure that the residents have evacuated the building.

Residence Hall Furniture, Windows, and Doors 

University Furniture: Furniture provided in the residence halls must stay in the assigned room or suite. Within private residential spaces, furniture may be arranged as desired provided it does not block egress or cause damage. All personal property must be removed at the end of the academic year. Residence Life and Housing is unable to store any furniture not originally assigned to a room. 

Common Areas: Furniture is also provided in all buildings, including such things as lobby furniture (couches, tables, chairs, TVs), and large trash cans. Common area furniture may not be moved to an individual room. Damage to any common areas or the furniture in those areas may result in building-wide charges. 

Room Obstruction & Setup: 

• The display of signage that would interfere with the integrity of campus housing facilities is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited, to advertisements for businesses and lighted signs on windows and doors. 
• Residents may not remove the screens from their room windows or other residence hall windows at any time, nor take any action that may damage the window or screen. To protect individuals who may be walking outside the residence halls, no objects of any type may be thrown, dropped, pushed out of, placed outside of, or hung from any residence hall window. 
• The installation and/or use of cameras on the exterior of rooms is prohibited. 
• Propping interior fire doors or exterior residence hall doors, or preventing them from properly locking, will be subjected to the Student Conduct Process. 

Fire Hazards 

The following articles are considered a fire hazard and are prohibited from campus housing: 

• Wood paneling, particleboard, room partitions, space heaters, and decorations, such as parachutes, fishnets, ceiling fans, and excessive numbers of posters are not allowed. 
• No furniture or decorations should block entry or exit in any manner. Room furnishings may only be used in ways appropriate to their construction. 
• Students are not allowed to bring their own mattresses without prior approval from Residence Life and Housing and the Office of Student Accessibility Services. 
• Unapproved grills or other flammable devices are prohibited in or near campus housing. This includes, but is not limited to gas cans, lighter fluid, and propane. 
• Extension cords are prohibited in campus housing. The suggested alternative is a power strip with an internal safety circuit breaker. These can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Target, or similar stores, as well as the University Bookstore. 
• Housing units have defined limits on the capacities of their electrical systems. Overloading the systems can present a fire hazard. Only sealed-unit appliances are permitted in student rooms. Additional large appliances, such as microwaves, portable washing machines, and refrigerators are prohibited. The following may not be used in student rooms unless provided by the university: open-faced electrical or heating appliances (such as broilers, space heaters, or toaster ovens). 
• Mopeds/scooters, oil lamps, incense or lamps with halogen bulbs, string lights, rope lights, pre-lit trees, fiber optic trees/lights, electric blankets, live trees, or live garlands. LED strip lights are permissible. Please visit the Residence Life and Housing page on My.Queens.edu for a direct link to the proper LED strip lights. 
• Flags or other coverings may not be placed under or over electric lights, heat-actuating fire detection devices, smoke detectors, or fire extinguishers in campus housing. Covering or hanging anything on or near sprinkler heads is prohibited. 
• The possession and/or burning of candles and incense and the use of any open flame is prohibited. 
• Possessing or using fireworks or explosives.  

Animals on Campus  

Other than approved service animals or fish in a 10-gallon tank, no animals may be kept in campus housing for any time period or for any reason. All animals that are visiting campus (other than approved service animals) must be kept outside of all residence halls. Policies related to approved service animals are provided to students when the animal is approved. Students may not have emotional support animals in campus housing without proper prior approval from the Office of Accessibility Services and Residence Life & Housing.  

Students with an approved Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal (ESA) must abide by the Policies & Procedures outlined by the Office of Accessibility Services. 

Students are required to follow leash laws as outlined by Mecklenburg County: 

Mecklenburg County Leash Law: The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have strict leash laws that apply to all animals except cats. Animals must be on a leash. ALL dog owners who take their dogs for walks in their neighborhoods and/or in public parks (not designated as dog park) are required to keep their dogs on leash and under physical restraint at ALL TIMES. Please note that having the leash in your possession and not attached to the dog is not considered having the dog on a leash and you will still be subject to a fine. Full details can be found on their Leash Law and Tethering webpage.

Noise 

In campus housing, it is imperative that all residents respect the rights of others living near them, above, and/or below them. Residents who feel that their neighbors are being too loud are encouraged to talk with their neighbors about the disturbance and/or contact either their RA or Campus Police if the disturbance fails to immediately cease. 

• Any use of sound equipment should be confined to the individual student’s room and should be at a level that does not disturb other residents. 
• The playing of percussion, brass, electric instruments, or excessively loud instruments is prohibited in campus housing. 
• Courtesy hours are in effect at all times. Anyone approached about noise levels should try to decrease the noise and contain it within their room. 
• The following quiet hours have been established: 
  • Sunday through Thursday 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (this includes Friday morning to 8:00 a.m.). Friday and Saturday from midnight to 8:00 a.m. 
  • During Reading Day and throughout the exam period, quiet hours are in effect 24 hours a day beginning at 10:00 p.m. the night prior to Reading Day. 

Visitation 

A visitor is defined as any person who is not an assigned resident of a particular residence hall room. When hosting visitors, you are expected to conduct yourself in a considerate manner with regard to the rights and needs of your roommate, suitemates, and residential community. The following guidelines apply to residence hall visitation: 

• No overnight visitors or guests under the age of 17 are allowed unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or sponsored by an office or department of the university as a prospective student. 
• Off-campus visitors must be escorted at all times in the residence halls and to the appropriate bathroom. 
• Current residential students are not required to be escorted when visiting another residence hall on campus. The hosting student is responsible for ensuring that off-campus visitors comply with all residence hall policies and will be held accountable for the behavior of their guests. 
• No visitor may be an overnight guest for more than two consecutive nights or for more than eight nights total during a semester. No overnight visitors will be permitted during final exam periods. 
• No more than 2 overnight guests may stay with a student per night. 
• Cohabitation by current students and/or off-campus guests not assigned to the particular residence hall is strictly prohibited.
• No more than one person is permitted to use the shower or toilet stalls simultaneously in any residential facility.