Section 2: Student Housing Facility Information
1. Types of student housing available:
The university provides two residence halls accommodating 210 men and three residence halls/efficiency apartments accommodating 410 women that are single sex halls for undergraduates. There are five residence halls/apartments for undergraduates that accommodate 1725 that are co-educational facilities by room/floor. There are 1522 residents in rooms that have a private bathroom within suite, room, or apartment.
Buccaneer Ridge apartments accommodates 660 residents/staff/guest in 311 apartments; consisting of one and two bedrooms and efficiencies and 210 two-bedroom apartments. These apartments are available to sophomores and above.
Buccaneer Village Apartments is family and graduate housing accommodating 116 students in one- and two- bedroom apartments and single occupancy graduate efficiency apartments.
Off-campus housing information is located in the Center for Adult, Commuter, and Transfer Services. The Center provides a handbook and rental listings from the Chamber of Commerce, the local newspaper and individuals who list rentals with the university. All persons interested in off-campus housing are told via the Off Campus Housing Handbook and the rental listing that East Tennessee State University does not inspect living accommodations and accepts no responsibility for the condition or acceptability of the units listed with the Center or with other listings provided. Landlords listing accommodations directly with the university have agreed to abide by the nondiscrimination policy of the university.
2. Policies on housing assignments and requests by students for assignment changes:
The university provides the maximum amount of student housing permitted by institutional resources. Students residing in the residence halls (see ETSU Residence Hall Student Handbook) are given first choice for fall housing during a designated period. Space for new students in housing is assigned on a "first come, first served" basis, regulated by the date the housing application and deposit is received. Hall and room assignments are made according to the date the completed housing application and deposit are received by the Office of Financial Services, the student's stated preferences for a particular hall and/or roommate and space availability. Students applying for fall housing, whose applications are received prior to April 1, will be given priority. Applications received after July 1 will be assigned according to the date received and geographical location (not within commuting distance). Moves may be requested through the Resident Director or Housing and Residence Life for unusual and/or special circumstances.
Assignments within the Buccaneer Village (see Buccaneer Village) are based on the date the completed application and deposit are received and upon the size of the family. One-bedroom units are assigned to couples without children. Two-bedroom units are assigned to couples with one or two children. The university does not have appropriate housing for families with more than two children. Assignments in Buccaneer Ridge are made for sophomores and above based upon date of application and deposit and availability of desired space.
3. Policies concerning the identification and admission of visitors in student housing facilities.
The Department of Housing and Residence Life strives to provide affordable, enjoyable, safe, and well maintained services and facilities for students living on campus. It is also a goal to establish interactive and inclusive learning communities within the halls through the participation and involvement of all members. A variety of lifestyle options provide opportunities for students to engage in active social learning in a structural environment such as the residence halls. This environment can allow for lifestyle choices, yet set high expectations for students and encourage value clarification, independence, and autonomy.
All residents are expected to contribute to the development of the community by demonstrating respect for themselves and others. Visitation policies state the time, place, and manner in which residents may host visitors of either sex in their rooms or other living areas of the residential units. These policies cover the room/apartment, hallways, lobbies, and all other common areas of the residence facility/apartment and are in effect at all times throughout the year.
The procedures are designed to accommodate visitors in a manner that is respectful and responsive to resident concerns for safety and privacy, while ensuring an appropriate balance between academic and social needs within the residence community. At no time should the presence of visitors disrupt the community or supersede a roommate's right to privacy.
- Residents may choose between halls/floors/areas with the
following Lifestyle Options:
(a) Restricted visitation in which no guests of the opposite gender are allowed at any time may be requested by a student. A floor, wing or individual room may be designated a restricted visitation area by the Office of Housing and Residence Life, depending on demand.
(b) During the first two weeks of the academic year, the residents of each designated hall/apartment will vote on their visitation hours for that academic year. Three choices ranging from noon to midnight on Sunday through Thursday with a noon to 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday will be presented for a vote by each Hall Council, and a simple majority vote of the residents is required for implementation.
(c) Designated halls/apartments will vote on visitation hours as defined in Option (b). Additional hours may be selected to include visitation from noon Friday to Sunday midnight. A designated area, generally the lobby, will be established to allow assigned residents to host guest of both genders on a 24-hour basis.
(d) The Department of Housing and Residence Life will designate selected halls/apartments as co-educational by floor, wing, or alternating room/apartment. Residents will select their own visitation hours. Roommates must agree on the designated hours.
- Every effort will be made to provide each resident the type
of housing option requested, but the University reserves the
right to defer individual assignments, if building space and
student choice make this necessary.
- These options for visitation shall operate in accordance with
the following policies:
(a) Hall staff is expected to be on the premises during special events and visitation, except during times of area coverage, during which time housing personnel will be responsible for the afternoon visitation of a specified area.
(b) Each guest must check in and out of the residence hall at the lobby desk. Procedures will be determined by the Department of Housing and Residence Life.
(c) Each guest must be escorted from the lobby to the host/hostess' room and from the room back to the lobby to check out. Guests are not to be unattended in the hall or stairwells at any time.
(d) Designation of bathroom facilities: For residence halls with individual or suite bathrooms, visitors shall use these. For those halls with specified bathrooms for members of the opposite sex, visitors shall use these. In halls with no such designation, the Hall Staff shall designate one during visitation.
(e) During visitation, proper conduct and decorum are important and expected of both the host/hostess and the guest(s). Guests may be asked to leave the building and/or be prohibited from visiting if found to be violating policies, damaging property, or being a potential harm to themselves or others.
(f) Room checks may be made by facility staff at any time during room visitation.
(g) In facilities that are not pre-designated as No Visitation or as Co-educational by the Department of Housing and Residence Life, the residents shall vote during Fall Move-in on their choice for visitation hours for their hall/apartment. Hall Council and/or residence hall staff in accordance with housing personnel will decide each spring semester for the following fall on three options for hours under option (b). The three options under these plans will be called the maximum hours, medium hours, and minimum hours they would want under their designated plan. A simple majority vote is required for implementation.
(h) Unless the Hall Council petitions to the Department of Housing and Residence Life by December 1 for a change in hours, the same hours will remain in effect for the spring semester. A Hall Council can petition to the Department of Housing and Residence Life for a change in their visitation plan for the following semester if demand dictates. A simple majority vote of the residents is required. The Department of Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to approve visitation plan changes after ascertaining the demand, usage, staffing, and occupancy rates of the hall. Also, summer/semester break visitation plans will be determined accordingly.
(i) Visiting hours in hall lobbies not designated as 24-hours are from 9:00 a.m. to midnight, Sunday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday.
(j) Overnight guests of the same gender must be registered with the hall staff and are permitted to stay for a maximum of three consecutive nights in a thirty-day period. The roommate must approve, and there must be an unoccupied bed available in the room for each person staying overnight.
(k) With the increased visitation privileges, there is a greater responsibility to be shared. The primary responsibility for management of the total visitation program rests with the individual resident, Hall Council, Residence Hall Association, and the residence hall and housing staff.
(l) All violations of the visitation policy shall be dealt with through the established judicial procedure of the Residence Hall Association, Residence Hall Judicial Board, Office of Housing and Residence Life, and East Tennessee State University. Visitation violations are to be considered serious and dealt with in that manner. Failure to comply with visitation policies may result in disciplinary action, which may include losing visitation privileges or being moved to another lifestyle option hall.
(m) Classification of major visitation violations:
- i. Deliberate avoidance of regulations governing visitation
(example: sign-in/sign-out procedures, uninvited or unescorted
guests, entrance or exit from non-designated doors.
- ii. Entertaining guests at times not designated or for
extended periods beyond the close of visitation.
- iii. Failure to comply with the rules of the Tennessee Board of Regents, East Tennessee State University, Department of Housing and Residence Life, and the Residence Hall Association.
- i. Deliberate avoidance of regulations governing visitation
(example: sign-in/sign-out procedures, uninvited or unescorted
guests, entrance or exit from non-designated doors.
4. Measures to secure entrances to student housing facilities.
Students residing in the residence halls are required to follow the Student Housing Rules, Residence Hall Conduct and Disciplinary Sanctions (Residence Hall Student Handbook).
All residence halls are secured 24 hours a day and have been equipped with a card access system. Residents may gain entrance only to their residence hall via their student I.D. card. All other doors are locked 24 hours a day and are equipped with an indicator that alerts the Campus Police and hall staff, if left ajar for a designated period of time. Also, a direct telephone line to Campus Police is located at each card access door. The residence halls have interior doors leading to the hallways that are equipped with combination or card access lock and remain locked at all times. Security cameras are located within and around most housing facilities.
Each resident is given the combination to the interior doors or their ID card is activated when they check into the residence hall. It becomes the residents’ responsibility to keep the combination from unauthorized persons (male or female) for their own protection, as well as other residents of the hall. In the event a resident discovers the combination has been compromised, the resident must notify a member of the housing staff. Housing and Residence Life will be responsible for having the combination changed. It is the responsibility of the resident to contact the Resident Director or Resident Advisor for the new combination.
In Buccaneer Ridge Apartments, each bedroom is furnished with a switch, when activated, will sound an alarm indicating an emergency within that particular apartment unit. The alarm is activated at the Public Safety Building immediately when the switch is pulled. Each apartment has a key/card for the front door entrance, and each bedroom has a separate and individual key.
The Department of Public Safety and Housing and Residence Life operate a Night Patrol from approximately 12:00 a.m. until 4:00 a.m. each night in the vicinity of the residence halls, apartment complexes and parking areas. These individuals are not police officers, but are equipped with two-way radios and have a uniform. Duties include checking for propped doors, checking locked doors, watching for any unusual event, providing a walking escort, and checking parking lots around the residence halls. A full-time security guard along with privately contracted night patrol, patrols Buccaneer Ridge during late night and early morning hours.
5. Standard security features used to secure doors and windows in students rooms:
Students residing in the residence halls are required to follow Student Housing Rules, Resident Responsibilities (Residence Hall Student Handbook).
Residents are either issued a key to their room/apartment or their ID card is activated for access to the building and /or room/apartment as they check into facility. If the key is lost, stolen or misplaced, a resident may sign out a "temporary key" from the Resident Director until the lock can be re-keyed. If a resident fails to return the issued key when checking out or withdrawing, the lock will be re-keyed. If an ID card is lost, stolen, or misplaced, the resident must notify hall staff, Public Safety, and ID Services immediately for deactivating the card and securing a replacement.
Residents are required to guard their I.D. card/room key for their security and protection. It is the responsibility of the resident to keep up with his/her I.D. card/room key and to have it available to gain access to the building/room when needed.
In most residence halls, and some apartments, the windows are non-operable. Window screens are health and safety equipment. Residents are informed that window screens should not be unhooked or removed from the windows. If a screen is damaged, it should be reported to the Resident Director. NOTE: Windows are equipped with standard window locks. All doors and windows are checked each break to see if they are functioning properly.
Students residing in Buccaneer Village are required to follow Buccaneer Village Rules, Resident Responsibilities (Buccaneer Village Lease Agreement). Students residing in Buccaneer Ridge Apartments are required to follow the terms and conditions as set forth in the Agreement of Lease.
A key is issued to each resident upon checking into the apartment. If the key is lost, stolen or misplaced, a resident may sign out a “temporary key” from the manager of Buccaneer Village/Ridge.
Residents must guard their apartment key for their security and protection. It is the responsibility of the resident to keep up with his/her apartment key and to have it available to gain access to his/her apartment when needed.
6. A description of the type and number of employees, including security personnel, assigned to the student housing facilities which shall include a description of their training:
The residence halls are staffed with eight Resident Directors (RD), five Assistant Resident Directors (ARD), seventy-one Resident Advisors (RA's) and five full-time Area Coordinators/Managers who provide on-call coverage 24 hours per day 7 pays a week. The RA's are undergraduate students who are hired on student work programs. The residence hall staff receives security related training prior to the beginning of school each fall/spring from the professional staff of Housing and Residence Life and Department of Public safety. RAs/RDs provide coverage in all housing facilities from 4:30 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. each day from Monday - Thursday and 24 hours coverage on the weekends.
The Department of Housing and Residence Life employs personnel
to provide area coverage for all residence halls from 8 a.m. - 4:30
p.m. Monday through Friday. Area coverage personnel carry a
telephone and receive training similar to hall staff. Buc
Ridge and Governors Hall employs students assistants to staff the
desk area during selected hours.
The Department of Public Safety/Housing and Residence Life provide
supervision to privately contracted Night Patrol staff that patrol
within and around the residence halls and residence hall parking
lots between the hours of 12 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. when the residence
halls are open and during breaks/holidays. One full-time
security guard along with a part-time contracted night patrol,
provides security from 9:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m. at the Buc Ridge /Buc
Village apartment complex. Public Safety provides the
security training for these individuals.
The housing staff is provided with copies of police reports concerning housing incidents and appropriate follow up is taken on any security problems.
7. The type and frequency of programs designed to inform student housing residents about housing security and enforcement procedures:
Public Safety and the Department of Housing and Residence Life conducts a crime prevention program presented at the beginning of each semester in each residence hall. Residence Hall staff conducts floor meetings at the beginning of each semester and reviews the security and enforcement procedures with the residents. Additionally special programs are presented throughout the semester on such topics as Rape, Date Rape, and Assaults. Information is also provided to residents through the Orientation programs and the Preview program for new students prior to the start of fall semester. In addition, the Residence Hall Association sponsors a self protection program each year. Residents are informed via staff posters, memorandum, etc. of any particular problems that occur. Residents are encouraged to register for emergency alerts and they are asked to provide an emergency contact and number.
8. Policy and any special security procedures for housing students during low-occupancy periods such as holidays and vacation periods:
Guidelines for the use of residence halls during holiday and vacation breaks are maintained in the Office of Housing and Residence Life . These guidelines are set up for the smooth operation of the residence halls and to maintain the safety and security of everyone. These guidelines include safety precautions:
- A. Residents staying on campus during closed periods may be
required to consolidate for safety and security reasons.
- B. Only residents with permission will be authorized to use
their I.D. card to gain access to the exterior entrance door and
will be given the combination to the interior doors where
applicable.
- C. Residents will only use the entrance and exit door
designated by the card access system.
- D. All doors are to remain locked - never propped open.
- E. No visitors (male or female are allowed in the residence
halls during the break periods.
- F. Area Coordinators/RDS supervise activities during the
closed period.
- G. The Department of Public Safety is notified of the special halls which remain open and are provided with a roster of those students staying during a closed period. Night patrol is maintained.
9. Policy on the housing of guests and others not assigned to the student housing or not regularly associated with ETSU:
Students residing in the residence halls are required to follow the Student Housing Rules, Visitation Policy, previously discussed (#3, Policies concerning the identification and admission of visitors in student housing facilities). Residents are responsible for their guests, and guests are expected to follow all rules and regulations.
Residence facilities may be occupied by ETSU staff and may be leased to other persons in connection with programs and activities. Guests residing in housing facilities are generally placed in areas separate from students. Guests are not placed in the same room or apartment of a resident. Guests are issued access cards/keys to gain entrance to the hall/room.. If the card(s) are not returned, it is deactivated in the access system. If a key is not returned, the lock is rekeyed.
For special camps and conferences held on campus, groups must register with the Office of Campus and Conferences. Guests are advised to lock their room doors and to safeguard the access card/room key.. Entrance doors are secured 24 hours a day. Guests are informed that drugs, alcoholic beverages, firearms, fireworks, combustible engines, weapons and explosives are not allowed in the residence halls or on campus. Residence halls/apartments are staffed with Resident Directors, Assistant Resident Directors, Camp Managers, Resident Advisors, and Area Coordinators.
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