Residential Life Policies & Procedures

Mask Policy

All students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors—regardless of vaccination status—are required to wear masks indoors. According to the LA County Public Health Department, Los Angeles has seen a slow down to the increase of COVID-19 cases since the county reinstated masking indoors three weeks ago. Our general campus guidance will ask everyone to mask as they approach buildings and groups of people. 

Our expectation is that everyone is responsible for providing their own mask to ensure a proper fit. Supplemental disposable masks will be available to anyone who loses, forgets, or soils their mask from departmental administrative assistants and at key campus locations:   

• Campus Inn
• Campus Safety
• Human Resources
• Registrar’s Office
• Residence Halls
• Wardman Library
• Weingart Hall 

Anything that is made of thin, single-layer fabric (gaiter, bandana, etc.) is not an acceptable mask. See more guidance on the CDC website. 

Temporary Guest Policy Update

Effective August 7, 2021

In response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Whittier College is temporarily suspending the residential guest policy. Until further notice, guests who are not current Whittier College students are not approved to enter the residence halls. Congregate living presents higher risk for COVID-19 outbreaks. Emergency requests must be approved by the Director of Housing & Residential Life in consultation with related departments (e.g., Health Services, Student Disability Services, etc.) at least 2-3 business days prior to the guest’s requested arrival. Students must email ResidentialLife@whittier.edu to seek permission for emergency reasons. 

It is the goal of Whittier College and Housing & Residential Life to allow guests in the residence halls as soon as the current LA County COVID-19 spike has decreased to a level that will not create undue risk to the general campus and residential community. 

Isolation/Quarantine Housing Policy

Whittier College is required to adhere to LA County Public Health guidelines for Institutes of Higher Education related to COVID-19. In an effort to keep the general campus community safe, students who have COVID-related symptoms (as confirmed by the Student Health & Wellness Center), or have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed to a positive case, must comply with Whittier College isolation/quarantine policies and protocols. This may include but is not limited to relocating residential students to a temporary isolation/quarantine housing assignment until permitted to return to the general campus community. Meals and other resources will be provided to residential students in isolation/quarantine. Students who do not wish to relocate on campus, after being instructed to do so, must seek off-campus accommodations and will be restricted from campus until they are approved for return. Non-compliant students will be required to leave campus and may be charged with policy violations according to the student code of conduct process and may also be charged for off-campus hotel accommodations. All financial charges will be applied to their student account. Meals will only be provided to students who comply with Whittier College’s isolation/quarantine protocols.

Alterations to Room

The College does not assume responsibility for any claims for damages or injuries sustained by residents or others in their rooms as a result of modifications made to their furnishings such as, but not limited to, bunk beds, bookshelves, lofts, partitions or other structures. Residents may not attach structures to walls, closets, or cabinets in the residence hall rooms. The Residential Life staff reserves the right to request residents to dismantle such structures.

• You may not paint your room. A minimum fine of $300 will be assessed if the room is painted.
• Your room is furnished with a bed frame, mattress, dresser, closet, desk and chair.

Lounge and Community Areas

Residents are encouraged to use the residence hall lounges for studying, relaxing and watching television. Students may schedule events such as speakers, meetings and other activities by contacting the AD.

Removal of furniture is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. A minimum fine of $50.00 will be assessed for each piece of lounge furniture found in a student's room. Please remember, lounge furniture is for everyone's use and enjoyment.

As a member of the community, each resident is responsible for the condition of their floor and residence hall. Common area damages incurred during the year which cannot be individually assessed or accounted for will be absorbed equally among members of the floor and residence hall. Common area damages detract from our communities and raise the cost of maintenance and upkeep. These costs are passed on to students through increased housing rates. We strongly encourage you to take pride in your residence hall and to report those who damage residence hall property.

Quiet Hours

Quiet hours are in effect between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 8:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Courtesy hours are 24-hours a day, seven days a week. If you have a concern regarding noise, you are encouraged to first approach those responsible and resolve the matter amongst yourselves before seeking the support of a staff member. However, on-duty Resident Advisors and Campus Safety officers can always be called on with any concerns including noise issues. The number for Campus Safety is 562.907.4211.

Personal Property

Though theft is uncommon in the residence halls, you can never be too careful. Make sure any valuable personal items are insured. Whittier College assumes no responsibility for loss of property due to theft. Therefore, you are encouraged to purchase your own personal property insurance or check to see if you are insured through your parent, guardian, or other party's homeowners' insurance. If you are interested in insuring your personal property, check out College Plus, the premier personal property insurance plan specifically designed for College Students. Remember to keep your room door locked at all times. Campus Safety provides engravings for personal items.

Posting Signs and Banners

All signs, fliers, banners, etc. posted in share spaces in the residence halls must be pre-approved by your Area Director.

Bulletin boards are available for posting, but must first be approved by a Housing & Residential Life staff member.

Guests

Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests and must inform them of housing policies. Members of each residence hall floor vote annually to establish visitation hours for each residence hall floor.

Only the assigned number of students plus two guests may occupy a room at one time. Guest visitation is limited to three consecutive days.

All guests must be respectful of the rights and comfort of roommates at all times. Roommates must all approve of a guest in order for them to be authorized in the shared spaces of the Housing & Residential Life room space. The College does not condone cohabitation. If the behavior or frequency of overnight guests becomes a concern for a roommate, the problem will be addressed by Residential Life staff. The staff reserves the right to request that a guest leave a residence hall.

Only persons of the same gender may use bathrooms located on residence hall floors designated for use by their respective gender. Some floors may vote to offer gender-inclusive restrooms, but otherwise this policy must be respected. The campus map displays the location of gender-inclusive restrooms across campus.

Musical Instruments

Drums, guitars, horns, etc. are not to be played in the residence halls.

Pets/Animals

Due to the developing situation with COVID-19 and other concerns, Pet Friendly Themed Housing has been suspended. Students should contact Student Disability Services regarding emotional support animals and other accommodations.

No animals may be allowed in any residence halls unless they are approved through Student Disability Services, with the exception of fish or turtles. Fish tanks may not be larger than 15 gallons. If you are found to have a pet, or feeding an animal in or around the building, you will be subject to disciplinary action and fees ranging from $25.00 to $50.00 for every day the animal is in your room. All students with approved animals on campus must sign an addendum agreement prior to being authorized to have the animal on campus.

Recreational Activities

All recreational activities including, but not limited to, bouncing balls, lacrosse, hacky sack, skateboarding, roller skating, roller blading, frisbee, running and bicycling, are not permitted in the hallways and lounge areas of the residence halls due to damages and/or possible injury.

Residential Property

Misuse, abuse, theft or destruction of College property is not permitted. Violators of this policy are subject to disciplinary action which may result in restitution and loss of housing privileges. In addition, actions of residents that result in excessive cleaning by our housekeeping staff will not be tolerated. Please do not sweep room remnants into the hallway or leave hair cuttings in the bathroom. Fines and charges will be assessed in these situations.

Roofs, Windows, and Balconies

Residents are not permitted on the roof, balcony or fire escape of any building. A minimum charge of $100.00 will be assessed and used to pay for damages to the structure. Residents may not throw or dispose of objects from windows or stairwells at any height. Residents may not access rooms through windows.

Smoking

As of September 2, 2018, Whittier College is a tobacco-free campus. Smoking and tobacco use are prohibited in all areas of the College. As outlined in the Tobacco-Free Policy, this includes the use of electronic devices such as vape pens, and all other tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco.

Soliciting

In an effort to ensure the safety of students and prevent interruption of study, Housing & Residential Life prohibits solicitation and door-to-door sales. Distribution of posters, newsletters, flyers, etc. is prohibited in the residence halls. Special exceptions may be granted by the AD or the Director of Residential Life for administrative or programmatic purposes.

Theft

Students may develop a tendency to leave their rooms unlocked and valuables unattended. However, petty theft does occur from time to time in residence halls. Always lock your room door, carry your keys, and keep valuables locked up or hidden (even when you're just down the hallway or on your way to the bathroom).

Vandalism

Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct.

Campus-Wide Emergencies

In the event of a campus-wide emergency, residents will receive direction from the RA, Area Director, or residential life staff. If asked to evacuate a building, you should go to your hall's designated meeting place in one of the four campus zones. In the event you are in a different part of the campus at the time an emergency occurs, you should proceed to your nearest evacuation zone and notify your residential community (when appropriate) of your status.

After arriving at the designated meeting area, please check in with your Resident Advisor. Please do not leave the campus until you have checked in with your Resident Advisor. Remember to leave contact information with the Resident Advisor should you choose to leave campus during or immediately following a campus emergency.

Each student should put together an emergency kit that contains a flashlight, emergency phone numbers, a copy of your driver license or identification, a 5-day supply of any prescription medications you take, a change of clothes, and personal care items.

Changing Rooms/Roommates

Room changes may only take place during the third week of each semester and it is your responsibility to find another resident with whom to switch rooms. All room changes must be registered and approved by your Area Director. Room changes will not be permitted outside the open room change period.

Attempting to force a roommate out of the room or preventing a roommate from moving into the room are grounds for immediate termination of the housing contract and will result in further disciplinary action.

Keep in mind that good relationships don't happen overnight. It is a gradual process that takes time and is achieved through continued communication and honest feedback.

Check-in/Check-out Process

A check-in/check-out process has been established to ensure that each student room and its furnishings are maintained in good condition. When you check into your room, a residential life staff member will complete a Room Condition Inventory Form (RCI) for you. You are requested to verify that all the information on the inventory form is accurate. When you check out of the room, any damages to the room or furnishings will be charged to you if they have not been noted on the inventory form.

The check-in/check-out process is very important and there is a $50.00 - $125.00 fine for improper check-in or check-out of a room. You must make arrangements with your RA at least 24 hours in advance to check out of your room.

Keys and Lockouts

Should you happen to lock yourself out of your room, your RA or the RA on duty, will unlock your door between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and midnight, Sunday through Thursday, and until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Students must contact Campus Safety during the all other hours. 

Staff members are not permitted to unlock a door for anyone other than the resident of the room. Illegal entry into a student's room may result in loss of housing privileges. A lost key will result in a charge of $125 (core charge plus necessary keys) to your Business Office account.

Maintenance Requests

Emergency Requests

All emergency requests should be made by contacting the Department of Facilities Services directly at 562.907.4261. For emergencies during off-hours or weekends, contact Campus Safety at 562.907.4211.

Any maintenance requests not taken care of within a week should be brought to your Area Director's attention.

Non-Emergency Maintenance Requests

All non-emergency maintenance requests should be reported to your Resident Advisor, who will place a work order request with the Department of Facilities Services. Remember, the sooner a problem is reported, the quicker the request can be addressed.

Housing During School Breaks

All halls remain open during Thanksgiving Break. Halls remain open for athletes and international students during Winter and Spring Breaks. Please speak with your RA to obtain appropriate paperwork. The residence halls are closed during the summer.

Except in cases of withdrawal from the College or approved leaves of absences in accordance with the policy set forth in the College Catalog, if the Student chooses not to reside in College Housing during the term of this Agreement or after participating in the online room selection process referred to in Section 8 above, the Student continues to be liable for the payment of the amounts set forth in Section 5 of the Housing & Residential Life Housing Agreement for the entire term of the Housing Agreement.

A request for release from this Agreement must be approved by the Director of Housing and Residential Life. Requests must be submitted via email the Director of Housing & Residential Life at least four weeks before the first day of classes to avoid penalties or fees. 

The Student (1) whose request for release from this Agreement is approved, or (2) who officially withdraws, or (3) who is approved for a leave of absence or medical leave of absence as set forth in the College Catalog, will be assessed a percentage of the semester charge for housing as set forth in Section 5 above according to the Cancellation of Institutional Charges Policy contained in the College Catalog. The student is responsible for returning their room key and fully checking out of their room within two business days. Failure to do so may result in late stay fees, improper check-out charge of $100, and the cost of a lock core change.

If the Student is found guilty of destroying or damaging College property, or found in violation of College policies or regulations, including, but not limited to, those specified in the Student Code of Conduct, policies located on the Whittier College Website, or College Catalog, the College reserves the right to change the residential assignment, incur fines, and/or terminate this Agreement. The College also reserves the right to terminate housing for the Students whose actions the College deems to threaten the health, safety and welfare, of other students or the College.  If the Student is suspended, dismissed, expelled or asked to leave College Housing for any reason, the Student is not eligible for any refund or cancellation of their responsibility for payment of the amounts required under this Agreement.