When students completely move out of the residence halls either at the close of the semester or throughout the academic year, they need to complete an official check-out by by doing an express check out via the box in the lobby. This should not be completed until a room is fully vacant, broom swept, and keys are ready to be turned in.
Each room is assessed for its condition and shared via the housing portal with a student upon check in. Damage that exists upon checkout that did not appear on initial inspection will result in a damage fine being assessed to the student’s account. After all students move out, members of hall staff and other campus partners will review rooms for damage and repairs.
Students are held responsible for room or furniture damages they or their guests cause. In addition, suite residents are held responsible for repair of damages occurring in common areas of their suite; floor residents are held responsible for repair of damages occurring in public areas of that floor; and building residents are held responsible for damage occurring in public areas of their building.
It is the responsibility of all residents to prevent damage and notify Housing and Residential Education staff of the responsible parties involved when damage occurs. Excessive damages, those which exceed regular wear and tear (i.e., holes in drywall, large stains to carpeting, broken ceiling tiles, unsanitary conditions, etc.), to rooms or common areas may result in disciplinary action. To learn more about avoiding individual, suite, or community damage and gain a sense for typical charges, scroll down and review the appropriate section.
Avoiding Individual Damage
- When you move into your room, be sure to carefully review and via your housing portal on your room inspection. Note any paint chips, nail holes, missing or damaged furniture, and other damage you observe. It is important to go through this same process if you change rooms during the year.
- As you decorate your room, be sure to use poster putty or dry wall–safe adhesive to hang photos or posters.
- Do not disassemble your bed or other furniture.
- Keep your keys! Be sure to keep your keys somewhere you will not lose them. You will be charged for each lost key and the cost of replacing the lock.
- When you notice items that need repair in your room, submit a work order with Facilities. After you file in the work order, notify your RA/RD about the damage.
- Furniture in student rooms, suites, or common areas may not be moved to other locations. All residents of the room, floor, or building will be billed for lost, damaged, or moved furniture.
- Avoid extra cleaning charges by leaving your room in the same condition as upon move-in. This means you should:
- completely remove all personal items from your room
- sweep the floor and,
- wipe down hard surfaces before checking out
You should leave your room as clean as you found it. Before applying a fine for extra cleaning, Housing and Residential Education and Facilities staff consider whether or not the extra cleaning is a result of an intentional oversight in cleaning the area (i.e., you will receive an extra cleaning fine for leaving behind large amounts of personal belongings, but you will not receive an extra cleaning fine for leaving behind a hanger).
Avoiding Suite Damage
- When you notice items that need repair in your suite, submit a work order with Facilities. After you file in the work order, notify your RA/RD about suite area repair/damage.
- Furniture in student rooms or suite common areas may not be moved to other locations. All residents of the suite will be billed for lost, damaged, or moved furniture.
- If you know who is responsible for causing damage to either College property or personal property, report it to a Housing and Residential Education staff member or to the Emerson Police Department. You benefit directly by reporting the identity of anyone who damages College or personal property.
Avoiding Community Damage
- Remember that all residents are responsible for items that are damaged or missing in common areas (hallways, bathrooms, laundry rooms, recreation rooms, computer labs, lounges, lobbies, stairwells, etc.).
- When you notice items that need repair in the common area of your residence hall, submit a work order with Facilities. After you file in the work order, notify your RA/RD about community area repair/damage.
- Furniture in common areas may not be moved to other locations. ALL residents of the floor or building will be billed for lost, damaged, or moved furniture.
- If you know who is responsible for causing damage to either College property or personal property, report it to a Housing and Residential Education staff member or to the Emerson Police Department. You benefit directly by reporting the identity of anyone who damages College or personal property.
Charges
- Improper Checkout: This charge is assessed when students fail to schedule a check-out appointment with a Resident Assistant or show up on time for their check-out appointment.
- Typical Charge: $50
- Extra Cleaning: Student rooms are to be left at minimum with broom-swept floors; failure to do so will result in a charge.
- Typical Charge: $25
- Ceiling Tiles: If ceiling tiles are damaged or broken, the cost of their replacement will be assessed to the students’ bill.
- Typical Charge: $25
- Painting: If the walls of a room are damaged to the point of needing to be repainted, students will be charged.
- Typical Charge: $50
- Holes in the Wall: Any holes in the wall result in a charge; the cost of the damage will be dependent upon the size of the hole.
- Typical Charge: $50-$150
- Key Replacement: If a student loses his/her keys, he/she will be charged for each lock that has to be replaced.
- Typical Charge: $75 per lock change, $10 per mailbox key
- Disassembled Beds: Any student whose bed has been disassembled will be charged.
- Typical Charge: $50
- Missing Lounge Furniture: Any missing or damaged lounge furniture will result in a charge.
- Typical Charge: $50-$300
- Community Area Damages: Any damage to community spaces will be divided between and charged to the entire floor or building unless an individual is found responsible.
- Typical Charge: depends on damage
**While these charges are the most commonly applied, this is not an exhaustive list of the possible charges a student can receive.