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University Housing Living Guide

Supporting Florida Tech on-campus Students

Guideline Owners: Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Our Mission

Residence Life strives to provide a friendly, engaging residential experience that is conducive to the academic and real-life success of the modern college student. This is accomplished through our dedication to customer service, exemplary leadership, and educational programming experiences.

Our Philosophy

It is our belief that Florida Tech students residing on-campus are the benefactors of two unique educations: academic and "real life." Academic education stems from the classroom, where students will learn calculations, configurations, and derivations. The "real-life" education is what the Florida Tech student experiences beyond the classroom. For this educational experience, the students shape their own learning through interactions with their roommate(s), floormates, community programs, and campus clubs and activities. The Residence Life staff strives to provide as many opportunities as possible for this education to occur. We believe that the more a student puts into Florida Tech, the more they will receive and the more likely they will be to succeed.

Residence Hall Guidelines

Many people live together in our campus communities and it is necessary to establish guidelines to govern the behavior of and protect the rights of all who reside in residence halls. All on-campus residents are responsible for knowing and complying with the following university residence hall guidelines.

Policies and Procedures

All students should familiarize themselves with the policies and procedures of the university which can be found in Florida Tech Student Handbook. Students residing in university housing are responsible for knowing and following all the information provided in this University Housing Living Guide and the Campus Housing Contract.

If a student leaves any belongings behind upon check out or being removed from University housing, these objects will be assumed to be abandoned and may be donated or disposed of. The student may be responsible for all associated removal and disposal costs.

Florida Institute of Technology is committed to protecting the safety, health, and wellbeing of all students and guest/ visitors. Alcohol and drug abuse pose a threat to the health and safety of students and employees and to the security of our equipment and facilities. This guideline includes any conduct in conflict with State laws, Student Handbook, or the University Drug and Alcohol policy; students who reside on campus must comply with additional alcohol policies:

○ A student who is 21 years of age or older may possess and/or consume alcohol in their residence hall room or apartment provided that no other individual under the age of 21 is present unless that individual is the roommate.

○ The door to the room or apartment must be closed when in possession of or consuming alcohol.

○ No guest under the age of 21 is allowed in the residence hall room of a 21-year-old student while alcohol is being consumed.

○ Individual possession of alcohol is limited to students who are at least 21 years old and a resident of the room or apartment.

○ Displays of alcoholic beverages, funnels, empty alcohol boxes or containers are prohibited.

Personalizing your living space is an important part of making your room your home. Please be advised that you may not make any permanent alterations to your assigned living space. Residents are permitted to personalize their rooms. Residents are not permitted to use nails, screws, pins, staples, acetate, adhesives, stickers, tape, or any other device that puts a hole in the wall or leaves residue. Residents are not permitted to paint their room, hallways or furniture, build partitions, or remove, install, alter, or change the room lock. Hall staff can assist with recommendations on appropriate methods to hang items on walls. No decorations can be displayed in exterior, public-facing windows.

Students are responsible for maintaining a clean room and/or apartment. Cleaning is defined as being free from excessive dirt, stains, contaminants, impurities, excessive clutter, blood-borne pathogens, laundry or other personal items, and food waste that may cause a safety hazard.

Any food kept in residence hall rooms must be stored in appropriate, tightly closed containers. All perishable food should be removed from the room during official vacation periods such as the end of the winter semester and Spring Break.

Upon inspection, Residence Life staff may require students to reconfigure, maintain or clean their room, apartment, or appliances. Students may also be billed for trash removal, repairs, and pest control associated with the lack of care of their room or apartment.

Bathrooms

Students are expected to assist in keeping the bathrooms clean. In community bathrooms, towels and washcloths and other toiletry items are to be kept in rooms and custodians clean bathrooms on a weekly schedule. Students in suite/apartment-style residences are responsible for cleaning their bathrooms regularly. Please only flush toilet paper in the toilets to prevent issues or damage to the plumbing.

Recycling/Bottles and Cans

Recycling is to support the university’s commitment to sustainability initiatives and to help conserve the environment. Recycling is defined as sorting, collecting, and processing materials to manufacture and sell as new products.

All students are responsible for placing their non-contaminated reusable paper, plastic, aluminum, corrugated boxes, and metal products into the proper recycling bins. Bottles and cans should be cleaned and empty prior to disposal. They present a general health and roach-pest hazard when not properly disposed of.

Residents are responsible for ensuring recyclables are clean and washed out. Contaminated recyclables include food containers with scrap food, grease, ketchup, mustard, sauces, and other materials that make the product unsuitable for recycling. Contaminated recyclables such as pizza boxes are unable to be recycled.

Trash

It is the responsibility of residents to keep the living space in the community clean and free from waste. Trash, food containers, and unsanitary situations can attract pests as well as create unpleasant living situations for the community.

Residents and their guests are required to keep trash or recyclables inside their apartments, suites, or rooms until disposed of. Any trash or recyclables in the breezeway or hallway, including but not limited to balconies, lobbies, and lounges are prohibited.

Students are responsible for emptying trash and cleaning personal and shared areas of the room or apartment regularly. Residents are required to transport personal trash to the nearest dumpster. Failure to properly dispose of trash may result in individual or common area trash removal charges.

Students are responsible for reading and understanding their Campus Housing Contract. Room assignments are provided through the Student Housing and Meal Plan Application Portal.

Eligibility for On-Campus Housing

Any currently registered full-time degree seeking student is eligible for on-campus housing. Other registered students may be permitted to live in housing with permission from University Housing.

Undergraduate Two-Year Residency Requirement

Florida Tech has an educationally-based policy requiring all full-time undergraduate students enrolled at the Melbourne campus who have earned less than 56 credits hours and who are 20 years of age or younger to reside in university residence halls and participate in a university meal plan. Students who have met one of the following may be exempt from this policy through an application with the Assistant Vice President of Housing and Campus Services.

1. Veteran of military service (two years or more)
2. Married
3. Primary caregiver for dependent children
4. 21 years of age or older (at the start of the first day of classes)
5. Reside with immediate family within 50 miles of the Florida Tech campus Participant in a university-approved off-campus internship that requires living outside of the local area (50 miles or more)
6. See the Undergraduate Two-Year Residency Requirement Policy for more details.

Housing Accommodations

If a student with special needs requires adapted facilities, the student should please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources at 321-674-8072 or accessibilityresources@fit.edu. The student should also notify Campus Housing in writing as soon as possible to request an assignment for a residence designated to meet the student’s needs

Checking Into your Residence Hall Room

After completing a housing and meal plan contract and adding the deposit to the student’s account, students will be assigned a room based on room availability and room preference. A housing deposit is required to access the housing and meal plan contract. Students may not check into a room until they are given permission.

Room Change

Residents are prohibited from changing room assignments without receiving official authorization from the Housing and Residence Life staff. Room changes are permitted only during select times of the academic year and only with approval from the Housing Department. The room change period begins three weeks after the beginning of each academic term. Students requesting a room change must submit their request for a change to the Housing Department. At the time of the request, students will be asked to provide a reason for the change request and will be given instructions on the change process as well as guidelines for completing the move. Not all moves will be approved.

The process may require students to meet with and speak to the Residence Life Staff for mediation, as well as communication with all individuals involved including current roommate(s) and future roommate(s).

Housing Reassignment

Florida Tech reserves the right to reassign students. Should resident students be required to vacate a room or building, reassignment to other available residence units or to increased occupancy of rooms remains the right of the university.

Checking Out of your Residence Hall Room

Any time students change their housing assignment, they must check out of their room. All students must remove all personal belongings, thoroughly clean the room, return the furniture to its original configuration, return key(s) and complete the confirm checkout form online.

Failure to do so may result in being charged for failure to check out, lost keys, and any other appropriate charges. All residents must check out of their housing assignment if not returning to university housing or the term has ended, in accordance with stipulations in the housing contract terms and conditions.

Residence Life staff, Resident Directors, and Resident Assistants do not assess fees for damage, repairs, or cleaning. Final inspection of all rooms and determination of any fees is conducted by university staff after you have checked out.

The following list of charges is to be used as a guide when billing for damages during and at the end of the school year. Actual costs may be higher if irregularities are incurred, or weekend labor is necessitated. This list is not all-inclusive of fines and damages and subject to change at any time due to cost of materials and labor; this guide should only be used as a reference to approximate cost.

Furniture Damaged or MissingDescriptionCost
Bed disassembled All parts accounted for $ 25.00
Bed parts/ Replacement Bed Ends $125.00
Mattress Cut/Badly stained (recovered) $75.00
Mattress missing needs to be replaced $125.00
Desk Damaged $ 50.00
Desk Drawers missing (ea.) $ 50.00
Desk Missing $150.00
Chair Damaged (seat/back) $ 50.00
Chair Broken/ beyond repair $120.00
Chair Missing $120.00
Dresser (regular) Damaged $ 50.00
Dresser (regular) Damaged beyond repair $125.00
Dresser (regular) Drawers missing (ea.) $ 50.00
Book shelf Missing $ 50.00

 

Apartment FurnitureDescriptionCost
Sofa (3 person Couch) Replaced $ 950.00
Sofa (3 person Couch) Damaged $ 200.00
Love Seat (2 person Couch) Replaced $ 700.00
Love Seat (2 person Couch) Damaged $ 200.00
Lounge Chair Replaced $ 500.00
Lounge Chair Damaged $ 125.00
Refrigerator Damaged $ 100.00
Refrigerator Missing or damaged beyond repair $ 600.00
TV Stand Replaced $ 175.00
Common Room Table Replaced $ 200.00
Kitchen Table (Panther Bay Only) Replaced $ 300.00
Common Room Table Chair Replaced $ 100.00
Stool Replaced $ 100.00
Kitchen Cabinets Replaced Replacement Cost
Counter Top Damaged Replacement Cost
Range Damaged $ 100.00
Oven Damaged $ 150.00
Sink Damaged $ 150.00
Cabinet doors Damaged $ 35.00
Thermostat Damaged $ 100.00
Smoke detector Damaged $ 200.00
Smoke detector Missing $ 200.00

 

Bathroom FixturesDescriptionCost
Mirror Missing or broken $ 165.00
Toilet / Commode Broken $ 250.00
Toilet seat / Lid Damaged (replacement) $ 35.00
Toilet tissue holder Damaged or missing $ 25.00
Soap dish Replacement $ 25.00
Tile Replace missing tile (per tile) $ 5.00
Shower head Replace missing $ 25.00
Towel Rack Broken $ 30.00
Sink Broken $ 125.00
Faucet handles Replacement (ea.) $ 35.00

 

Room DamagesDescriptionCost
Door plate Missing $ 20.00
Peephole Damaged (replacement) $ 10.00
Closet door Holes $ 50.00
Room door Lock $ 120.00
Room door Dead bolt $ 65.00
Room door Holes $ 50.00
Room door Broken (replacement) $ 150.00
Ceiling Holes (minimum) $ 25.00
Walls Holes (repair / plaster and paint) $ 50.00
Walls- Major painting will be reviewed by facilities Chipped paint min. per wall $ 25.00
Floor Cut makes on tile (min per tile) $ 15.00
Floor Paint on tile (min per tile) $ 15.00
Floor Carpet - damage actual cost
Closet doors Removed (all parts accounted for) $ 10.00
Door or window tril Paint (min) $ 10.00
A/C vent Cover damaged (min) $ 25.00
Quad room lights Damaged (ea.) $ 65.00

 

Microfridge DamagesDescriptionCost
Microwave Replacement $ 100.00
Unit interior Burn marks (touch up paint) $ 20.00
Plate wheels Replacement $ 35.00
Freezer/Fridge Replacement $ 150.00
Interior door Damaged $ 32.00
Exterior door Damaged $ 50.00
Shelf Replacement $ 35.00
Drip pan Replacement $ 25.00
Drawer Replacement $ 35.00

 

Window Glass / Screen DamageDescriptionCost
Screens Missing $ 60.00
Screen (Columbia Village) Missing $800.00 per window
Glass Broken (min) $50.00
Glass Residue $10.00-$30.00
Blinds Damaged (replacement) $ 90.00
Blind slats Damaged (ea.) $ 5.00
Pull cord Broken $ 15.00

 

Fire Safety EquipmentDescriptionCost
Fire Safety Equipment Tampering $200.00
Extinguisher Replace $200.00
Extinguisher box Damaged/replace $200.00
Smoke detector Damaged/ removed $ 100.00

 

Cleaning ChargesDescriptionCost
Microfridge/ Fridge Cleaning minimum $50 - $100 Price per incident
Dirty room Cleaning minimum $25-$150 Price per incident
Dirty bathroom Cleaning minimum $25-$150 Price per incident
Dirty shower Cleaning minimum $25-$150 Price per incident
Trash Cleaning minimum $25-$150 Price per incident

 

For those rooms/apartments with adjustable air conditioning settings, air conditioning should be set between 72° and 76° Fahrenheit in the “cool” setting. Tampering with the system through direct contact or indirectly influencing the temperature control sensor is prohibited, can be referred to the conduct office and is a fineable offense.

Because of energy management concerns, and to secure the integrity of the central cooling system, all windows and exterior doors should remain shut at all times.

If you experience uncomfortable temperatures in your room/apartment or believe that your air conditioning system may be broken, contact the Office of Facilities Operations at 321-674-8038 or facilities@fit.edu.

Damage to university property or property of a member of the university community is prohibited. Any damage by students to university property will be charged to the student's account after an assessment has been made. Damages not listed on the room inspection report will be billed to your account. You are responsible for thoroughly reviewing your Room Inspection Report and notifying University Housing staff within 48 hours after moving in of any discrepancies.

Prorated charges may be assigned to residents for damage to public/common areas such as hallways, stairwells, bathrooms, lounges, etc. Every effort will be made to identify specific individuals and groups responsible for common area damage. When specific individuals are not identified, the cost of repair or replacement may be divided equally among the floor or hall residents. Charges will be added to student accounts.

The type, quantity, and condition of the furniture are noted by the Residence Life and Housing staff prior to Check-In and post-Check-Out. All furnishings belonging to the university are to remain in the student's room. The university strictly prohibits any room furnishings from being removed and stored off-campus. Alterations to university furniture are prohibited.

All beds must sit securely on the floor and may not be elevated by cinder blocks, bed risers, or other structures.

Removal of furniture from public areas (lounges, study rooms, entryways) is not permitted.

If a student with special needs requires adapted facilities, the student should please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources at 321-674-8072 or accessibilityresources@fit.edu. The student should also notify Campus Housing in writing as soon as possible to request an assignment for a residential space designated to meet the student’s needs.

Fire hazards: the possession, storage or use of items deemed to be fire hazards is prohibited. Please refer to for more details. Candles, incense, etc. may not be burned in student rooms or public areas within a residence hall except for use in a group ceremony that has been approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs.


All holiday decorations must be removed prior to fall, spring and summer residence hall closing.

  1. Live trees and cut vegetation are prohibited (exception: temporary display of cut flowers and/or house plants are acceptable, as long as it does not create a fire or health hazard).
  2. Any decorations on or around an artificial tree must be non-combustible or properly treated with fire retardant material.
  3. Decorations for holidays and celebrations should be of noncombustible material.
  4. Lighting/Candles
    1. Any electrical lighting must bear the label of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) and be in good condition (free of frayed wires, loose connections, and broken sockets).
    2. Candles, candle or wax warmers, incense, neon signs, and halogen lamps are prohibited.
    3. Light bulbs must be arranged so they do not ignite any combustible materials. No combustible material can be near the bulb or any part of the electrical connection(s).
    4. Lighting strings may not be plugged in one to another.
    5. Lights should not hang more than three inches from the ceiling.
    6. Possession of or use of any candle, ember, glowing or open flame article is prohibited. Permits can be authorized through the fire marshal for special events on a case-by-case basis.

 

Overnight guests are permitted. The host must have prior permission from all roommates. In a 30-day period, guests are only permitted to stay overnight a total of three nights regardless of whether those nights come in succession or not. During a semester, an individual is only allowed to be a guest on campus for a maximum of seven nights regardless of whether those nights are in the same room/apartment or not.

Guests in residence halls with community-style bathrooms are only permitted to use the appropriate gender-assigned bathroom.

All personal property must be stored in the student's room and may not be left in hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, or other common areas. The university does not assume responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged articles. Students are urged to mark all personal items with permanent identification, avoid leaving valuables and large sums of money in unlocked rooms, and should lock rooms during any absence. All losses should be reported immediately to residence hall staff who will report the loss to a member of Campus Security. Any problems with door locks should be reported immediately to Security.

Students assume all risk for their personal property. The university does not provide any insurance and assumes no liability for any personal property. Arrange to insure your property through either an individual or homeowner’s insurance policy.

Keep your door and windows always locked. Do not unlock or prop open the outside doors to any university facility.

Fish kept in fully enclosed 10-gallon or smaller aquariums are permitted. All other pets are prohibited.

Students will be fined a minimum of $50 and instructed to remove the pet from university premises within 24 hours for violating this policy. Failure to remove the pet warrants removal by the university at the student’s expense.

Students are responsible for any damage, cleaning, or pest control costs associated with the presence of a pet.

University accessibility approved emotional support animals are permitted in the designated student’s housing. For more information, please see the Emotional Support Animal Policy and for accommodations related to service animals for students please see the Service Animal Policy.

Students' safety and health are the University’s number one priority. As elsewhere, in the residence hall students are required to follow the Student Code of Conduct.

Sports in the Halls

To preserve the health and safety of students living in the residence halls, the active use of sporting equipment inside the residence halls, including, but not limited to sports balls, bats, skateboards, scooters, bikes, rollerblades, etc. is strictly prohibited. The active use of such property within the halls can pose a safety risk to others and potentially cause damage. Students are welcome to store such equipment at their discretion, as allowed by university policy, but are asked to refrain from using it within the residence hall buildings.

Modes of Transportation Use

Use of skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, bicycles, or other similar modes of transportation in the residence halls is prohibited (note – no gasoline powered vehicles may be brought, used, or stored in or around campus facilities – they must be parked in designated parking areas).

NOTE: Refer to University Bicycle and Skateboard Regulations, as well as the Parking and Traffic Regulations for any additional questions about Transportation safety on-campus.

The university is not responsible for bicycles. It is recommended that bicycle registration be completed with the Office of Security for all bicycles on campus.

  • Bicycles should be locked when not in use.
  • Bicycles may be stored in bike racks or in residence hall rooms provided they do not block egress from the room.
  • Bicycles may not be stored or parked in hallways or stairwells, or attached to building signage, vegetation, area grills, recreation equipment, or any portion of the building.
  • Any bicycle found in violation of this policy may be removed by a university official and held in campus storage for a maximum of thirty days to be claimed by the owner.

Missing bicycles should be reported to Security.

The Student Code of Conduct: Dangerous Items section outlines the items that are prohibited for students on-campus; please see the list of items below for items prohibited in the Residence Halls.

Electrical Equipment/Illegal Appliances

All electrical equipment must be UL-listed and properly maintained.

  • All power strips must have surge protection.
  • Extension cords cannot be placed under the carpet or on the ground or floor across exit areas and must be plugged directly into the wall.
  • Only one device may be plugged into an extension cord.
  • Automatic shutoff feature is required on appliances.
  • Coffee makers and air popcorn poppers are permitted.

Prohibited Item List Examples

As mentioned elsewhere in university policy, candles, incense, kerosene lamps, space heaters, lighter fluid (or match-ready charcoal), propane, charcoal, gasoline or other combustible fuels, halogen lamps, containers for storing combustible fluids (including any gas-powered apparatus whether filled with fuel or not), or any device with a flame are prohibited in university facilities.

The following appliances/items are NOT allowed and are considered prohibited items except for listed exceptions:

Air Conditioners
Bed Risers
Wax Melt Systems
Grills (Propane/Charcoal)
Homebrew Kits
Hookahs
Toaster Ovens
Large Electric Water Coolers
Lava Lamps
Oil Fryers
Open heating elements (i.e. Hot Plates, Soldering Iron, etc.)
Power Tools
Pressure Cookers
SCUBA tanks (Unless completely empty)
Strobe Lights
  • No more than one microwave permitted (plugged directly into the wall; not to exceed 15 amps and 700 watts) per residential housing assignment.
    • Note: The university may already provide a microwave in your assigned housing assignment
  • Additional refrigerators and freezers

A refrigerator or micro-fridge is provided in each room/apartment and is the only refrigeration unit permitted inside the residence halls. The refrigerator or micro-fridge may not be removed from the room or altered at any time. To report issues regarding your refrigeration unit, contact the Housing Department at housing@fit.edu.

Electrical alterations and/or room construction are NOT allowed in any residence hall room.

All prohibited appliances and equipment will be confiscated and held for a maximum of two weeks (so they may be taken off-campus - not to return) after which point the items will be donated/disposed of. Other items (e.g. fuels) will be disposed of at the discretion of Campus Security.

If you have any questions regarding a device or appliance that is not listed here, please contact your Resident Assistant.

Signs and Traffic / Construction Equipment

Possession of traffic or street signs and construction equipment (traffic cones, barricades, flashing lights, etc.) is prohibited. Incidents will be reported to Campus Security and/or the Melbourne Police Department and students may be required to provide evidence that the items were lawfully obtained or have the items confiscated.

Electric Transportation Equipment

Electric Personal Transportation Equipment (PTE): any device with an electrical propulsion system, including but not limited to electric bicycles, electric skateboards, hoverboards and electric scooters must be UL rated and properly maintained.

Usage: A person using an electric PTE is prohibited from operating these devices inside the residence halls and apartments. An Electric PTE device must be dismounted and walked or carried inside the residence halls. Storage: Electric PTE devices are permitted to be stored inside residence halls or apartments. If a person is using a large electric PTE, that person must secure the device at a bicycle rack or other appropriate location which does not impede access to and from buildings or walkways, violate fire control regulations, or impede emergency access to or from a building or area (i.e. stair railings, building columns, light poles, benches, trashcans, etc.).

Exceptions:

a. Any mobility assistance device necessary for an individual with a disability
b. Any utility equipment used by University employees or contractors completing responsibilities
c. Maintenance, service, or deliveries by vendors

 

 

At no time should the noise coming from a room or apartment disrupt the campus community.

  • Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday. During quiet hours, noise should not be audible outside of your room or apartment.

  • Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day. During courtesy hours, students are expected to cease noise coming from their room or apartment if a request is made by a resident or a staff member.

  • Quiet hours will also take effect at 5 p.m. on the Friday before finals week and will remain in effect until the end of the semester.

Students have the right of privacy and to be free from unreasonable intrusion or searches within their campus residences. University staff will enter rooms only under specific circumstances related to health, safety or maintenance, which are detailed in the housing contract. Students have the responsibility to respect the privacy of other members of the University community.

Web Camera and Associated Items Policy

It is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct for a person to knowingly spy upon, observe or otherwise view (using equipment such as webcam, video camera, digital camera, etc.), photograph or cause to be photographed any individual who is in a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, without the prior effective consent of such individual.

The use, consumption, possession, sale, manufacture, trafficking or transfer of any illegal drug or controlled substance, as defined by Florida state or Federal law, or for which the individual does not have a valid prescription is strictly prohibited and includes any actions in conflict with the university Drug and Alcohol Policy or the Student Code of Conduct.

Drugs are defined as compounds that are illegal except when taken under a doctor’s prescription for the individual named on the prescription.

  • Use, display, and/or possession of drug paraphernalia are prohibited.

  • This includes but is not limited to bongs, pipes, hookahs, water pipes or any item modified or adapted for planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing a controlled substance into the human body.

  • Cannabis is illegal under federal law, and is therefore considered an illegal drug By Florida State Statute, Florida Clean Indoor Act (FCIAA) 386.201, smoking is prohibited inside all buildings. Refer to the university Smoking and Tobacco Use Policy for details about designated outdoor smoking areas and policies.

 

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