Townhouse Users' Guide: Rules & Regulations

2009-10 Academic Year Supplement to the Townhouse License for Residence

Items listed alphabetically:

Alcohol
Intentional misuse by individuals or groups or consumption of alcohol by individuals under the age of 21 will be responded to through appropriate College policies.

Appliances
Residents are responsible for the proper use and reasonable cleanliness of all College-owned appliances. If you have questions about proper operation, manuals are available from any townhouse Resident Assistant (RA). Failure to properly maintain College-owned appliances could result in exclusion from townhouse living. Personal cooking appliances may only be used in the kitchen areas.

Check-Out and General Facility Cleanliness
As is the general sentiment throughout this agreement, it is expected that townhouse residents will ensure that appropriate care is afforded to these facilities. That includes a reasonable state of cleanliness at all times. Periodically and at the end of each semester, trash and recycling should be removed from individual rooms, bathrooms, and common areas. Perishables should be discarded from the refrigerator and elsewhere. Floors should be swept and carefully mopped and individual doors should be secured. At the conclusion of the academic session, reasonable attempts should be made to return the facility in the condition in which it was received. There may be a cleaning assessment for failure to do so.  Residents who consistently fail to meet cleanliness standards may be removed or refused future residency in the townhouses.

Common Space versus Private Space Designation
Common areas are defined as the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and hallway spaces within individual apartments. Private spaces are defined as the student bedroom area.

Complex Office Staff
The staff office is located in the Townhouse Commons building. Regular office hours are posted on the door. If you have a non-emergency need and the office is not currently staffed, please leave a voicemail message at (607) 587-2940 (ext. 2940 from any campus telephone), or you can slide a note under the office door. In an emergency, contact University Police at (607) 587-3999 (ext. 3999 from any campus telephone).

Door Propping
Propping of a door is prohibited and propping utilizing the lock mechanism is specifically prohibited.

Energy Conservation
Residents are expected to reasonably conserve energy by keeping doors and windows closed during excessively hot or cold periods. Each townhouse offers individual heating and cooling controls. Appliances should be used in a manner consistent with their intent and design. Mechanical failures should be reported as outlined in the work order section of this document.

Fire Pits
Fire pits and campfires are not permitted on the Alfred State College campus.

Fire Suppression System Activation
In the event of fire suppression system activation, residents may be responsible for costs and losses incurred by the College. Costs are dependent upon a determination of responsibility and fees are due upon receipt of notification. Personal losses attributed to roommate's actions are not addressable through the College. Recourse may be obtained through civil processes.

Furniture
No college-owned furniture may be removed from the interior of the townhouse facility at any time. 

Gaming Tables
Gaming tables including, but not limited to water/ beer pong tables are not allowed in the townhouses.

Grilling
Personal charcoal and gas grills are not allowed in the townhouse complex. College-owned grills are provided in the picnic area immediately adjacent to the Commons building. Users are required to provide their own charcoal and starter, but due to fire code regulations, charcoal starter cannot be stored in apartments. Spent charcoal and other waste must be properly disposed of in the containers provided at the site.

Health & Safety
As stated in the Townhouse License for Residence, residential professionals and student staff, University Police, Facilities Services personnel, and other employees of the College have the right of access to any room at any time for the purpose of supervising conditions regarding damage, safety, health, and compliance with College and residential regulations. Items noted as health and safety concerns or violations must be responded to and rectified by residents within a reasonable period of time.

Insurance
As stated in the Townhouse License for Residence, the College does not maintain insurance for a student's personal possessions and is not liable for any damages to or loss of personal belongings under any circumstances. Townhouse residents are especially encouraged to explore coverage under existing family policies and pending that, to purchase independent coverage that addresses their specific living situation.

Land Line Telephone
Per your License for Residence, each resident is required to purchase and connect a landline telephone in your private bedroom. There is no charge for unlimited, on-campus telephone use and any outside number can call into your room at no cost to the resident. If you choose to purchase an off-campus/long distance package, contact the ACES office in Central Dining Hall.

Lockouts
In the event of lockout, contact a townhouse RA or the RD-On-Duty at (607) 587-1239 (ext. 5551 from any campus telephone). Proof of identity is required for lockout assistance.

Mail Delivery
You are asked to check your campus mailbox daily for important notices and mail from the outside world. Each apartment has one mailbox.

Open Container
Village of Alfred laws and the College Student Conduct Code specifically prohibit open alcohol containers outside of campus residential facilities. Students in possession of open containers are liable to civil and campus sanction, including fines and exclusion from townhouse living.

Over-21 Residential Designation
During the first three weeks of each semester, individual apartments may request specific designation as an over-21 accommodation if all residents meet the required age designation at the time of application. Students residing in designated over-21 accommodations may enjoy specific privileges accorded to that lifestyle option. Approval of over-21 applications is at the discretion of the Director of Residential Life and the status may be rescinded at any time.  This will include verifying judicial status for drug and alcohol violations.  In the event of a roster change, all residents must continue to be over the age of 21 in order for the apartment to maintain an over-21 designation.

Periodic Inspection
As stated in the Townhouse License for Residence, residential professionals and student staff, University Police, Facilities Services personnel, and other employees of the College have the right of access to any room at any time for the purpose of supervising conditions regarding damage, safety, health, and compliance with College and residential regulations.

Pest Control
In the event of mice or other vermin, report the condition immediately to the RD-On-Duty at (607) 587-1239 (ext. 5551 from any campus telephone).

Public Space Use - Please help us keep our campus clean.
You are encouraged to use the public space adjacent to the townhouses; however we ask that you do not leave recreational equipment, lawn furniture, or other belongings outside beyond when they are used. Failure to adequately remove trash could result in exclusion from townhouse living. In the townhouses, public areas are defined as any location on the exterior of the facility.

Recycling
Outdoor recycling drop-off points for cardboard, glass, metal, and paper are located adjacent to the dumpsters. Residents must provide their own recycling receptacles inside of individual apartments and recycling must be removed as dictated by reasonable sanitary requirements. Residents are required to place recycling securely inside of containers provided at the drop-off point and to close container lids and access doors. Failure to adequately remove or dispose of recycling could result in fee assessments and exclusion from townhouse living.

Trash Disposal
Outdoor trash dumpsters are located adjacent to recycling bins. Residents must provide their own indoor trash receptacles and trash must be removed as dictated by reasonable sanitary requirements. Residents are required to place trash securely inside the dumpsters and to close lids and access doors. Failure to adequately remove and dispose of trash could result in fee assessments and in exclusion from townhouse living.

Under-21 Residential Designation
The presence and use of alcohol in apartments designated as under-21 lifestyle will be managed according to the Student Code of Conduct.

Work Orders
Non-Emergency - Please report any minor needs to a townhouse RA as soon as possible. This can be accomplished by a visit to or a call to the staff office at ext. 2940. Examples of non-emergency needs include burned-out light bulbs, contained water leaks, ineffective air conditioning, a malfunctioning stove or oven, or damaged walls or furniture.

Emergency Repairs during regular office hours - Contact the RD-On-Duty at (607) 587-1239 (ext. 5551 from any campus telephone). If Townhouse staff members are unavailable, contact the Office of Residential Life at ext. 4326. If necessary, contact University Police at (607) 587-3999 (ext. 3999 from any campus telephone). Examples of emergency needs include plugged toilets, refrigerator failure, flooding, inoperable locks, windows that won't close, loss of water or electrical power, or a loss of heat when the outside temperature is below 45 degrees.

Emergency Repairs outside of normal office hours - Contact University Police at (607) 587-3999 (ext. 3999 from any campus telephone).