Contract Agreement

Please read all the information associated with this contract. By signing the Housing and Dining Services Contract you are agreeing to abide by the terms of the contract described herein. The University's acceptance of a housing payment does not constitute a guarantee to provide residence in a particular green, room style or living environment.

Housing Guidelines

Parietal Rule:

All undergraduate students with fewer than 90 credit hours prior to the beginning of the academic year and two academic years (six quarters or four semesters (transfer students), full-time enrollment) in the residence halls must reside in University-owned housing and participate in a mandatory meal plan during the academic year. Students enrolled for summer school are bound by the same guidelines. Credit hours earned by students while attending high school (via advanced placement, Senate Bill 140, Senior to Sophomore, etc.) will not be considered toward exemption eligibility from the housing requirements. For transfer and re-enrolling students, the number of hours earned will be subject to certification by the Director of Admissions. Students subject to the housing regulation who fail to comply with this condition of registration may have their registration denied or canceled.

IMPORTANT:

The Housing and Dining Services Contract is binding for the entire academic year (regardless of credit hours/quarters earned), fall through spring quarters, unless the student withdraws, graduates, or is engaged in a full-time curricular program away from the Athens campus.

Housing Exemption

Students wishing to be exempt from University housing and/or meal plan must submit a Housing Exemption/Termination Request Form and meet one of the following criteria:

Students enrolled for fewer than 11 quarter hours during the academic year and for fewer than 5 hours during a summer session.
Married or single parents residing with their spouse or children within 50 miles of the University
Students residing with parents or legal guardians, whose permanent residence (as defined by University guidelines) is within 50 miles of the University.
Veterans having 18 or more months of active military service.
Students (i.e. continuing) wanting to reside in a recognized fraternity or sorority house must have earned 45 or more credit hours and have resided in the residence hall for one academic year (three quarters). Continuing students do not have this exemption option available to them once the academic year begins.
Admitted students 23 years of age or older prior to the academic quarter in which they enroll.

Students leaving Ohio University for any reason during the fall or winter quarters and who return before the summer quarter of the same academic year are still obligated by the terms of their original housing contract, but are not guaranteed the same room upon return.

Note: Continuing undergraduate students with 90 or more hours of credit earned and two years in residence at the beginning of the fall quarter, and new students with 90 or more credit hours and two years in residence, may reside in off-campus housing that meets their individual needs. The University bears no responsibility for the living conditions or problems arising therein with either the homeowner or the student resident.

Housing Regulations

Air Conditioners/Personal Refrigerators:

Ohio University prohibits the installation of personal air conditioners and refrigeration units. Medical needs that require special accommodation must be identified no later than June 15th and must be accompanied by a recent physician's statement (issued within the last 30 days) outlining the specific medical need of the student in order to be considered for an air conditioned room. Accommodations and university-owned equipment will be utilized to best meet the needs of the individual within university-owned equipment will be utilized to best meet the needs of the individual within university owned residence hall. Returning students whose medical needs require air-conditioning should select from the air-conditioned rooms available on campus during the Returning Student Room Selection process. No additional or personal air-conditioners may be installed.

Emergency Room Entry:

The University reserves the right to enter a student room without student permission in the following circumstances: 1.)during an emergency (e.g. fire alarm), 2.)inspect, maintain, and renovate rooms as may be deemed necessary. 3.)local service providers, when necessary, to enter rooms to make adjustments or repairs. 4.)need to check on the well-being of a resident or 5.)activity in a room is a nuisance to the community (e.g. noise from an alarm clock).

Reassignment/Consolidation/Termination:

The University reserves the right to reassign students to accommodations as may be deemed necessary, and to assign students to temporary accommodations until permanent accommodations become available.
The University reserves the right to consolidate students into under-assigned rooms as a matter of fairness and for energy savings as defined in the "Student Room Consolidation Policy".
The University may terminate the Housing and Dining Services contract and take possession of any room at any time for violation of the provisions of the Housing and Dining Services contract, health reasons and/or University regulations.

Use of Residence Hall Rooms:

Residence hall rooms are designed to house students only. Individuals or outside agencies are prohibited from using rooms, the buildings, or adjacent grounds for any commercial purpose, unless written permission has been granted from Residence Life and Housing. This applies to the distribution of goods or services for which a student or outside solicitor receives compensation.
The use or possession of intoxicating beverages is governed by the laws of the State of Ohio and the rules and regulations of Ohio University.
The use or possession of drugs without proper medical documentation or supervision is prohibited by Ohio University.
The use or possession of firearms, firecrackers, gunpowder, martial arts weaponry, knives, or explosives is prohibited.
Gambling of any sort is forbidden.
Pets (except for fish) are not permitted.
Tampering with or misuse of fire alarm systems and firefighting equipment is prohibited.
Financial responsibility associated with residence hall rooms and contents are assigned to the designated resident.
University-owned property may not be removed from the assigned room. Costs associated with room damage or extra custodial services will be charged to the residents of the room.
Lofts must conform to requirements established by Ohio University. Home constructed lofts are not permitted. Unapproved personal furnishings that do not meet University guidelines are prohibited. Lofts not owned by the university are the responsibility of the student to both assemble and disassemble.
Tapestries or other items may not be suspended from the ceiling.
Residents of a hall are liable for damage to furnishings and fixtures in common spaces (ie., bathrooms, lounges, mods). Community billing may occur.
The use or possession of high wattage electrical appliances (i.e., hot plates, ceiling fans, additional refrigerators) is prohibited. University approved and provided combination microwave/refrigerator/freezer units are available in each room. Tampering with or altering in any way the electrical fixtures and equipment within the residence hall rooms and/or common areas is prohibited.
Candles and incense are prohibited.
For fire safety, the only torchier-style halogen lamps allowed are those conforming to the most current UL standards.
Cooking in non-designated kitchens is prohibited. Only the reheating of food using the University provided microwave is permitted.
Electronic equipment capable of transmitting radio waves of any frequency (i.e., short wave, citizen or amateur bands), are not permitted without special permission from the director of the Ohio University Police Department and the Office of Residence Life. External radio and television aerials are prohibited.

Personal Property:

Ohio University is not liable for the loss or damage to any personal property of a student. Students should contact their insurance agent about acquiring separate coverage for such situations.

Additional Fees:

Ohio University reserves the right to charge guests for overnight accommodations as deemed necessary to cover expenses related to the safety and security of the residence hall system.
All students are required to pay for the type of accommodations in which they are residing, beginning with the initial room assignment and rates are adjusted after all room changes/reassignments. The University cannot guarantee capacity preferences.

Rates and Board

Room and meal plan rates for the current year are listed online at www.ohio.edu/housing. It is anticipated that these rates will increase. These rates are approved by the Ohio University Board of Trustees and will be provided via e-mail once they are determined.

Housing Deposit

A $200 deposit/pre-payment must accompany the housing contract. This payment will be credited to your fall quarter room and board charge. Deposit payments can be made online with a credit card or an eCheck at www.ohio.edu/bursar or a personal check can be mailed to: Office of the Bursar, P.O. Box 960, Athens, OH 45701-0960.

Initial electronic billing is sent to the students Ohio University OAK account in mid-August.

The housing deposit/prepayment refund schedule is as follows: May 1 - First-year students; June 1 - Transfer and continuing students. Please Note: deposits paid by continuing students wishing to return to the residence halls for the following academic year may be refunded only if the student has not yet selected or been assigned a room.

All refund requests must be made in writing (E-mail, fax or letter) to: Housing, Ohio University, 060 Chubb Hall, Athens, OH 45701; Fax: (740) 593-4089; E-mail: housing@ohio.edu

All students are required to pay for the type of accommodations in which they are residing. The University cannot guarantee capacity preferences.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Refunds are processed by Housing only after the student has removed all of his or her belongings from their assigned room and a Residence Life staff member has completed a checkout form and returned it to our office. Please keep in mind that cancellation of room and board must be requested in writing directly to Housing and does not automatically cancel charges assessed by other University departments, and/or class registration. The students should check with the Office of the University Registrar for questions related to cancellation of registration.

Housing will not be able to remove housing/food service charges from a student account as long as he or she is enrolled for classes on the Athens campus unless the student has received an approved exemption/termination of their commitment.

Residence Hall Room Reservation and Cancellation

Room reservations will be held until noon on the second day of classes each quarter. Failure to report (check in) by this time will result in cancellation of your room reservation, and a partial (minus the deposit amount) refund will be generated. For first-year students, room reservations will be cancelled on August 25 if the student has not attended summer orientation, registered for classes, or made a reservation to attend fall orientation.

Refund Schedule and Amounts

The amount of refund is based on the following percentages of the quarterly room and meal charge, minus the nonrefundable deposit/prepayment of $200. For purposes of this policy, the week begins on the first day the residence halls open. Please note that amount of refund may vary if a change of rate occurs.

Prior to opening of residence hall - 100% (minus deposit)
1st week of quarter - 75%
2nd week of quarter - 50%
3rd week of quarter - 25%
4th week of quarter or after - NO REFUND

Rebilling Policy

Students who pay for one capacity room and who are reassigned or make a room change to a different style of room will be credited or re-billed for the difference. Credits or re-billings are prorated on a daily basis.

Under the Room Consolidation policy, rooms that house fewer than the designated number of residents may result in students being required to move. Under no circumstances can a room house more students than the occupancy level assigned by Housing.