Residence Hall Community Living Standards

Access/Keys

Residents will be able to use their student ID to access the residence halls. Residents will also be issued keys to their room, which they are expected to use responsibly. The effectiveness of our safety precautions is dependent upon responsible action by members of the community:

Students are not to loan their student ID or keys to others at any time.
Tampering with any lock is strictly prohibited.
Keys are the property of the University and must be returned when a student checks out of the room or at the request of Residence Life or Student Affairs staff.
No keys may be duplicated. Residents found duplicating University keys are subject to conduct action as well as the cost of rekeying.
Should a key be lost or stolen, the resident is responsible to immediately report to Residence Life or Student Affairs staff so that appropriate steps can be taken to prevent illegal entry. There will be a mandatory lock and key replacement fee to be determined by the locksmith. Arrangements for a new lock and/or key must be made with the Residence Life coordinator. Refer to the Lockout Policy for information.
Should a student ID be lost or stolen, the resident is responsible to immediately report to Campus Security by emailing HelpDeskCampusSecurity@woodbury.edu so that appropriate steps can be taken to prevent illegal entry. Arrangements for a new student ID must be made to Campus Security by emailing HelpDeskCampusSecurity@woodbury.edu. Once you give Campus Security written confirmation to have your student ID replaced, you will be charged the mandatory replacement fee, as determined by Campus Security, to your student account.
Failure to timely report a lost student ID card or room key may result in appropriate conduct action. Such cases include, but are not limited to, unauthorized individuals accessing the residence halls with lost keys or cards, or duplication of a room key.

Alcohol

Alcohol is not allowed in the residence halls. Empty alcohol bottles are also prohibited in the residence halls, even for decorative purposes.

Alterations

No changes will be made in the residence hall by the student without written permission from the Residence Life Coordinator. This includes, but is not limited to: shelves, partitions, clothesline, lofts, window coverings, wallpaper, painting, plumbing, electrical, heating, other structural changes or alterations to furniture, or the removal of Woodbury University furniture and its replacement with items owned by the student.

Bathrooms

Residents and guests who identify as male must use residence hall bathrooms designated for males. Residents and guests who identify as female must use residence hall bathrooms designated for females.

Bicycles, Skateboards, Skates And Scooters

Bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates, scooters, and other such items may not be ridden in the residence halls. Bicycles may not be parked in walkways, hallways, stairways, or entrances. Bicycles should only be locked to bicycle racks.

Community Damages

A community area is defined as any area other than individual student rooms–for example: bathrooms, hallways, lounges, exterior doors, stairwells, balconies, etc. Charges for damage to community areas in a residence hall will be the responsibility of:

Any individual who accepts responsibility for or is found to be responsible for the damage.
All of the residents of a particular wing, hall, floor, or building where the damage occurs. The Residence Life coordinator, in consultation with the Maintenance Department, shall determine this charge.

Controlled Substances

(See Student Code of Conduct, “Drugs & Controlled Substances.”)

Cooking

Cooking in rooms is strictly prohibited. Cooking appliances with exposed heating elements or high energy consumption, such as microwaves rated more than 700 watts, air fryers, hot plates, electric coffee pots, immersion heaters, popcorn poppers, crock pots, electrical heaters, electric frying pans, electric woks, stoves, toaster ovens, air conditioners, torchiere style halogen lamps, ultra-violet sun lamps, or any other appliance that uses over 800 watts of electricity (with the exception of hair dryers), and/ or any appliance that does not meet current UL specifications are not permitted in residents’ rooms. All cooking must take place in the residence hall community kitchens. As members of a community, students should remember the following when using a kitchen area:

Residents are responsible for cleaning appliances, dishes, etc., that they use. Dishes left dirty in the kitchen or bathrooms for more than 24 hours will be thrown out. Items may not be stored on top of the refrigerator. Please do not leave personal belongings in the kitchen.
Refrigerators are for all residents to use. Residents should mark their food with their name, room number, and date the item was placed in the refrigerator. Refrigerators will be cleaned at the end of each term and unmarked and spoiled food will be thrown out.
The University does not accept responsibility for food left in refrigerators; therefore, students should respect the personal property of others and refrain from using food, utensils, and anything else left by other resident students without their expressed consent to do so. Students will be subject to disciplinary action if they remove another student’s personal belongings from the kitchen area(s).
When cooking, students must be present in the kitchen area. Students are not permitted to cook food in the microwave unless present. Disciplinary action, including fines, will be taken if these procedures are not followed.
A student failing to maintain the safety of the kitchen will be fined $25 or more and may face additional disciplinary action. This includes leaving an oven or cooktop on after food preparation is completed or failing to clean up spills.
COVID-19

Preventing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in the residence halls is an utmost importance in ensuring the safety and well-being of the residential community.

Because COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus, congregated living settings, such as the residence halls, are areas where transmission is at a higher risk, including, but not limited to, high-touch surfaces, such as exterior entrance doors, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. Residents are expected to follow these requirements to protect themselves and others while in the residence halls:
When required, masks must be properly worn indoors whenever residents are outside of their rooms.
A resident must remain in their room if they are feeling sick.
Students failing to comply with these requirements may be subject to conduct action or penalty. Please note that additional changes and updates due to COVID-19 will be communicated via email and posted in the residence halls.

Disruptive Behavior

Behavior that disrupts the residential environment, infringes on the rights of others in the community, or corrupts the generally accepted sense of public decency within the community is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, throwing items in the hallways, bouncing balls on the floor/hallways, throwing objects from windows or balconies, standing, sitting on, or jumping off rooftops or balconies, indecent exposure, or any other behavior that may disrupt other students’ attempts to study or sleep.

Electrical Appliances

The following appliances are not permitted in the residence halls: any appliance requiring 220 volts or 1500 watts, hot plates, air conditioners, or any appliance with an exposed heating element. In each room, residents may have one small refrigerator (3.0 cubic feet or smaller capacity, 1.5 amps or smaller rating, Energy Star Qualified) and one single-serve coffee machine. Use of all other appliances is prohibited.

External Air Conditioning to South Hall

To provide students with a more comfortable and equitable living experience the university will consider the addition of external air conditioning to South Hall in certain instances. The policy as defined below is subject to change based on operational demands and availability. The university will evaluate the need for external air conditioning in South Hall based on the seven-day National Weather Service forecast in Burbank. In addition, the University will identify 24-hour cooling station(s) available on campus.

Filming

Filming of any kind is not allowed in any communal spaces (lobby, hallways, kitchen, etc.) without the express prior approval of the Residence Life coordinator. Any requests for external filming must be submitted through the FREA process and requires at least two weeks advance notice. Students wishing to film for classes or other minor projects may film within their own residence hall rooms as long as no equipment or other hazards are present outside of the room.

Fire Safety

Tampering with fire doors, smoke detectors, pull stations, fire extinguishers, sprinkler heads, or other fire safety equipment is prohibited.
Students must immediately evacuate when a fire alarm sounds and may not re-enter until the alarm has been silenced and the “all clear” is given by a University staff member.
Leaving items unattended on a residence hall stove or in an oven at any time is prohibited.
The following items are prohibited in the residence halls: candles and incense (even for decorative purposes); cooking appliances that are not University-approved (see Cooking policy for more information); air conditioning units or ceiling fans not installed by the University; live Christmas trees and wreaths; extension cords; and halogen lamps.
Students may not tamper with or augment any electrical devices that may lead to harm. Any surge protectors utilized may not cause damage to surrounding facilities or cause harm to others attempting to enter to utilize the space.

Only University-approved appliances are permitted. See Cooking policy for more information.

Guests

A “guest” is defined as any individual who does not live in a student’s assigned room. Residents are allowed to have overnight guests in their rooms for three consecutive nights (not to exceed 10 nights per semester) under the following circumstances:

If a resident has a roommates, every roommate’s consent is needed.
Residents assume responsibility for their guests. Guests are subject to the same rules, regulations, and expectations as their host and their host is responsible for informing the guest of the rules, regulations, and expectations in advance.
Violation of University policies or abuse of the guest policy will result in revocation of the resident’s guest privileges.
Guests must carry identification with them at all times and show it upon request to Residential Life staff members, Student Affairs staff, or Campus Security.
Guests must be accompanied by the hosting resident at all times.
Guests must leave the building at the request of Residence Life Staff members, Student Affairs staff, or Campus Security.
Guests who identify as male must use the residence halls bathrooms designated for men. Guests who identify as female must use the bathrooms designated for females.
The maximum number of guests allowed in a residence hall room at any given time is one guest per resident. This applies to all guests, whether they are visiting or staying overnight.

Hallways

Students must remove all personal belongings from the hallways. Items left in the hallways, including room furniture, are considered fire hazards. Any items left in the hallways may be discarded. Residence Life is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen items left in the hallways.

Health Insurance

Woodbury University requires that all residents have medical insurance. In the event of illness or injury, the University is authorized to contract emergency care on behalf of and at the expense of the student. For detailed information on the Woodbury University Plan, please visit https://clients.garnett-powers.com/univ/woodbury/

Lockout Policy

Residence Life recognizes that students will occasionally lock themselves out of their room. Residents who check out loaner keys, loaner IDs, or call the RA on Duty for assistance more than three times an academic semester will be subject to fines. The first three lockouts during the academic semester will not result in a fine except in cases outlined below.

Students will be assessed a $125 charge for lost keys. Students will be charged the same amounts for failure to return room keys within 24 hours after acquiring a temporary key, upon checking out, and/ or leaving the university.
If the resident locks themselves out while in possession of the temporary key, ID, and/or require additional personnel to access their room, the resident will automatically be charged $25 per incident regardless of number of lockouts.
Once the student regains access to their room, the temporary keys must be returned to the Housing office within the time specified. Failure to do so will result in a room lock change and a lost key fee. The student assigned to the room is responsible for fees associated with changing locks.
If a key is returned without the proper key code, is blank, or is the wrong key for their assigned room, the student will be assessed a $150 charge to change the room lock.
Residents must return all assigned room keys at the time of checkout. Keys sent in the mail after checkout will not be accepted, except in cases where the resident has obtained explicit permission from the Residence Life Coordinator or designee.
After three lockouts, residents will be charged a lockout fee for each lockout and must meet with the Residence Life Coordinator:
- Fourth Lockout = $25
- Fifth Lockout = $50
- Sixth Lockout or more = $100

Musical Instruments

Practicing musical instruments in residence halls is prohibited if it can be heard outside the room.

Noise/Quiet Hours

Noise can be very disruptive to a community and, therefore, courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If someone asks a resident to reduce the volume of his or her stereo, voice, etc., the request must be honored. Residents are expected to anticipate and respect the needs of other residents, specifically the need to live in an environment with minimum annoyances to pursue academic goals and promote student wellness. In the spirit of community consideration, stereo speakers and stereos must not be directed out of windows/doors or used outside the living unit. Stereos should be played at levels that do not disturb others. Music, talking, or other sounds are too loud if the sound can be heard by neighbors, in the corridor, or outside the building. Repeated disregard for appropriate sound levels will result in the removal of the equipment from the student room.

In addition to courtesy hours, quiet hours are in effect during the following times:

Sunday – Thursday: 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Friday – Saturday: Midnight to 9 a.m.
During studio finals and traditional exam periods, quiet hours will be in effect 24 hours a day.

Pets

Animals are not allowed in the residence halls at any time this includes brief visits by family or friends. Fish are the one exception allowed in the residence halls with a maximum tank size of 10 gallons. The resident is responsible for any water damage caused by the tank. All electrical fish tank equipment must be unplugged during times when the halls are closed. This policy does not apply to service animals, defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as an animal “that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.”

Rightful Occupancy

The University’s rooms are designed for occupancy by one, two, three, or four students (as assigned). Students may not sublet a University room to another person.

Residence hall rooms are for the exclusive use of full-time Woodbury University students and not intended for families, spouses, and/or domestic partners.

Room Changes

Students may request to change rooms by emailing housing@woodbury.edu with the requested change and the reason for wanting to change rooms. Any student who requests to change rooms may be charged an administrative fee of $50 per move at the discretion of the Residence Life Coordinator.

Room Personalization

Residents are encouraged to make their residence hall room their home by personalizing their rooms. The following rules should be kept in mind when decorating to avoid damage charges:

Building alterations, additions, or changes to rooms may not be made. Alterations may result in charges to return the room to its original condition.
Damage to wall surfaces can be prevented. When hanging things on walls avoid using nails and/or tape. By using a product such as “Sticky Tac”, “Hold It”, or “Blu-Tac” you can minimize damage to walls. Scotch and duct tape will also remove paint and damage walls. Students will be charged for damaged walls regardless if steps were taken to repair such damage.
The University reserves the right to dispose of all stored items not properly claimed or for items left in rooms after student has vacated the assigned space.
University furniture: The University provides each resident with a bed frame or loft, mattress, desk, chair, chest of drawers and closet space. No University-owned furniture may be removed from the room that it is assigned without authorization from the Residence Life Coordinator. Residents may rearrange the furniture inside their room provided it is returned to its original condition and location at the time of checkout. Furniture from any vacant room or community area may not be moved into another room. Students who are found to be in possession of University furniture not assigned to that specific room may be subject to conduct action.
Non-University furniture: Upholstered furniture used in University residence halls must have fabrics that meet the criteria of California Flammability Bulletin 117. Only furniture that meets this fire-retardant code will be allowed in University residences. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that any furniture he/she brings onto campus meets these codes. This automatically eliminates vinyl furniture, such as beanbag chairs, and upholstered furniture that is not classified as being fire-retardant. Students bringing furniture on to campus must have written verification that the furniture is up to code. Waterbeds are not permitted.
Lofts: In rooms where homemade or rented lofts are permitted, lofts must meet all fire retardant and safety codes. Wood material used must either be pre-treated wood and stamped indicating that it is flame-resistant material or be coated with a UL flame-retardant coating that has been rated for flame spread of 25 or less or has a zero flash point. All surfaces must be treated. All lofts must be inspected and approved by an authorized representative of the Residential Life staff member within 24 hours of being set up. Lofts that do not pass inspection must be removed from the premises within 24 hours. Students failing to comply with these requirements may be subject to conduct action or penalty.
A surge protector should be used with all stereo, computer, television, or other sensitive electronic equipment. The University is not responsible for any damages that occur due to electrical surges.

Smoking

In accordance with Section 41.5 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, smoking is prohibited in the University residence halls; this includes individual rooms, lobbies, lounges, corridors, bathrooms, etc. Additionally, all smoking by faculty, staff, students, and visitors is prohibited on campus. This includes the use of electronic smoking devices, and vapes. Please see the Student Code of Conduct for more information.

Solicitation and Posting

No advertising, selling, or commercial soliciting is permitted in the residence halls. Student Affairs must approve the posting of flyers in the residence halls. No sign, banner, signal, advertisement, aerial, or other equipment or illumination may be exposed on or at any window or other part of the residence halls.

Student Housing Contract

The Student Housing contract is a legally binding document between the University and the student. This contract is valid for one full academic year. All on-campus residents accept the terms of the contract upon retaining possession of room keys. When a student accepts the aforementioned agreement, the student agrees to stated conditions regarding the usage of the residence hall facilities and the rights of others who live there. The student is responsible and accountable for upholding their part of the contract. The Student Housing contract shall be considered applicable and binding for all Woodbury University students residing in the residence halls, regardless if it were signed prior to the start of occupancy. Hard copies of the Student Housing contract are available in the Office of Residence Life.

Trash

Residents are responsible for keeping their rooms and community areas clean and free from litter. Trash must be taken to trash dumpsters located outside of the building. Trash may not be taken to or left in lounges, kitchens, bathrooms, or other community areas.

Unauthorized Entry

Only residents and authorized persons are allowed in the residence halls. Students should not grant residence hall access to individuals who are not residents of the hall or who they do not know. Only authorized persons are allowed to enter restricted areas in the residence hall. These areas include, but are not limited to, storage rooms, electrical rooms and boxes, maintenance and housekeeping closets, and roof areas.

University Breaks

The residence halls are closed during Winter Break, except for designated Winter Break housing. All residents must leave their rooms by the designated closing time and may not return until the residence halls reopen. Residents who do not vacate the residence halls by checkout time will be assessed a $100 Failure to Vacate Fee.

Windows and Window Screens

Tampering with or removing window screens is prohibited. Residents will be billed for the repair or replacement of damaged screens. Students are prohibited from climbing in or out of residence hall windows.