Residence Life

The Office of Residence Life provides traditional, cottage-style, and apartment-style residential options for students. All residence halls are air-conditioned and have Ethernet connection in the rooms; all residence halls have wireless access as well. All residence halls have laundry rooms and laundry machines which require no additional cost.

Each resident shall be provided at a minimum with a bed, chest of drawers or dresser, closet space, desk and chair.

Each resident is responsible for the condition of the assigned room and shall reimburse the college for all damages to the room, and damage to, or loss of, fixtures or furnishings. Residents shall not move or rearrange any stationary fixtures, or remove any college furnishings from their rooms or apartments. Residents are prohibited from moving common area and lobby furniture or fixtures into their rooms or apartments. This includes placing any indoor furniture outdoors. Any such removal of communal furniture may be subject to disciplinary proceedings and/or criminal penalties. Additional furnishings brought into the room must be freestanding and clear of all existing fixtures, furniture, window and/or walls and must be removed at the end of occupancy. Students may not use or construct temporary walls, lofts, or any other furnishings even if free-standing. Due to fire regulations, the mattress supplied by Berry College is the only mattress that may be used in the residence hall room. Any property left in the room at the end of occupancy is disposed of by the college and an appropriate fee assessed.

The college assumes no liability for loss or damage to a resident’s personal property for any reason. The college encourages students to insure their belongings.

All repair needs should be reported via the Brightly app, available through http://myapps.berry.edu. Requests must be submitted online.

Resident Assistants (RAs) are students that live on each floor of the residence halls and in the Townhouse and Cottage areas. They are employed by the college to assist the students in their living area. Their responsibilities include peer counseling, residence hall programming, promoting a spirit of unity and safety, and an atmosphere conducive to study and maintaining residence life policies and institutional regulations.

RA Desks

There are seven RA desks in the residence halls. The RA on duty assists residents with lockouts, emergencies, and providing resources for other common resident concerns.

• Ford RA Desk: East Mary Lobby
• Morton/Lemley RA Desk: first floor of Lemley
• Townhouse, Thomas Berry, and Centennial RA Desk: Townhouse F
• Mountain and Cottage RA Desk: second floor of Pilgrim
• Dana RA Desk: 2nd Central Dana Lobby
• Morgan and Deerfield RA Desk: Deerfield Lobby
• Oak Hill Residences RA Desk: front left side glass office at entrance gate

For assistance during business hours, the Office of Residence Life is available at ext. 2209 (706-236-2209):
Monday – Friday, except Holidays: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

RA Desk Hours (Lemley, Townhouse, Pilgrim)
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.
Monday-Thursday: 5:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.
Friday: 5:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.
Saturday: 12:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.

RA Desk Hours (Dana, Deerfield, Ford)
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.
Saturday: 12:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.

RA Desk Hours (Oak Hill Residences)
Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

RAs and Head Residents are on-call after desk hours for emergencies.

This housing contract is binding for the entire academic year and may not be terminated by the student. Students who withdraw from the college during the terms of this agreement are subject to cancellation fees as follows:

• Between Room Selection and May 1st: 100% of the $200 prepayment is refunded
• After May 1st and before June 1st: 50% of the $200 prepayment deposit is refunded
• After June 1st: the student forfeits the $200 prepayment

• This housing contract, unless otherwise provided, shall be binding for the entire academic year.
• Assigned rooms should be vacated, checkout procedures completed and all keys returned within 24 hours after a resident’s last final exam.
• Failure to check out properly and/or return all keys shall result in charges and/or disciplinary action. Improper check out charge is $100 and additional charges may be assessed if necessary.
• Residents may not occupy or leave personal belongings in any room before their contract date starts or after that date ends without permission from the Office of Residence Life

• The college cannot guarantee a student a particular type of accommodation. Assignments to specific halls and rooms are made in accordance with the established policy for priorities as space allows.
• The resident understands that the college makes all assignments without regard to race, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or age.
• The student agrees to provide the college with information and preferences requested on the housing preference form for the purposes of hall, room and roommate assignments.
• Mutual requests for assignment with a specific roommate are considered but not guaranteed.
• If any resident unreasonably refuses to accept a roommate or hinders the college in the assignment of a roommate, the college may, at its discretion, require that resident to be reassigned or consolidated to a different room, and/or be subject to disciplinary action.
• Where there is a vacant space, the room must be maintained by the occupant(s) in a manner that allows for immediate occupancy. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action and/or charges related to preparing the room for occupancy.
• The college reserves the right to assign students to temporary accommodations in the event that regular rooms are not available. Students who accept a temporary assignment do so with the understanding that they may be given a short notice to relocate to a permanent or other temporary space. Failure to relocate in the time allotted by the Office of Residence Life may result in the loss of the assignment.
• Any student with a disability or medical condition that may necessitate a special housing assignment should complete the intake form and submit supporting documentation on the Accessibility Resources website. Requests for housing accommodations are due May 1 for incoming students and February 1 each year for returning residents.
• The college reserves the right to assign residents to any available space and, when deemed necessary, consolidate spaces for maximum availability purposes.
• Rooms may be occupied and vacated only in accordance with schedules published by the Office of Residence Life. The college reserves the right to use rooms in any residence hall during periods between academic semesters. The residence halls do not close for Thanksgiving break. The residential facilities close during the period between the close of fall semester and the beginning of spring semester.
• Any student who fails to occupy his or her assigned space by the first day of classes is bound by this contract but may lose his or her assigned space and can be assigned to a temporary space unless prior arrangements have been made with the Office of Residence Life.

Every student is personally required to complete designated check in procedures at the beginning of occupancy and complete designated check out procedures at the end of occupancy. The Room Condition Report, obtained at check in, will become the basis for an assessment of charges due to damage or loss. Failure to return a signed Room Condition Report results in the student’s acceptance of the College’s pre-assessment as valid. Before moving out, a student is required to remove all trash and remove all personal possessions, and leave the room or apartment clean.

Charges for additional cleaning required, removal of personal property, or for any damage or loss of College property, normal wear and tear excepted, will be billed to the student(s). Trash and/or possessions left in hallways, lounges, or other communal areas will result in additional charges that will be distributed among all residents of the building and/or area.

• Rooms may be occupied only upon assignment by the Office of Residence Life, and all exchanges, transfers and vacating of rooms must be approved in writing by that office
• Students who fail to follow the proper check-in/check-out and/or room change procedures may be assessed an improper check-out charge and are subject to disciplinary action that may include termination of this housing contract with the forfeiture of the housing deposit and may incur the entire year’s housing fee
• Students may submit requests for room changes during published designated periods. All room changes are at the discretion of the Office of Residence Life
• Administrative room changes may be considered for approval during non-designated periods, which are the first and last two weeks of each semester
• The college reserves the right to modify room assignments in an effort to consolidate spaces
• Consolidation may also occur due to disciplinary reasons, health, safety, catastrophe, closing of a facility, or irresolvable incompatibility of roommates, and to cancel or terminate this contract for disciplinary reasons
• The college reserves the right to temporarily or permanently reassign a student for violation(s) of the residence hall policies or of Viking Code. Students placed on disciplinary probation are not permitted to live in Centennial, Thomas Berry, Townhouses, Cottages or other specialty housing.
• Students living in the Cottage area or other specialty housing (including Gunby and Rollins) may be relocated if behavior is counterproductive to those living environments
• Students or their parents agree to assume additional fee/costs for voluntary hall changes and/or disciplinary reassignment
• Students must follow check-out procedures published by the Office of Residence Life

Students who return prior to stated hall openings for fall semester and/or spring semester must have authorization from the Office of Residence Life as well as the place of on-campus employment (supervisor must contact the Student Work Office), or athletic coach by the predetermined deadline. Specific details (dates, deadlines, etc.) will be published by the Office of Residence Life. For students arriving early, students should be prepared that it is possible they will move into a temporary assignment until their assignment is ready.

• Rooms must be maintained in good sanitary condition, and upon checkout, the room must be in the same condition as when possession was taken, ordinary wear and tear excepted
• Damages to students’ rooms, including costs for special housekeeping or for replacing missing furnishings, are charged to the resident responsible for such damages, if known, or to the last known residents of that room. Residents shall advise the residence hall staff of any deteriorated conditions of the room or its furnishings
• Damages to the public areas of a residence hall, including costs for replacing missing furniture and other furnishings, which cannot be attributed to specific individuals or groups, are divided equally and charged to each resident of that building or area. This includes but is not limited to trash and/or personal discarded possessions
• Each resident is required to complete a room condition report online upon occupancy and return it to the resident assistant
• When occupancy is terminated, it is necessary for the room to be inspected by the resident assistant. Any unacceptable cleaning or damages noted after occupancy are charged to the resident(s). Failure to abide by proper checkout procedures results in an improper checkout charge plus any appropriate additional charges
• Lounges serve as a place for social gatherings, hall programs, and studying for the residents of the residence halls and their guests. A resident should accompany guests at all times while in the residence halls. Sleeping is prohibited in all lounges and common areas.

• Keys are issued by the Office of Residence Life. For safety reasons, the Office of Residence Life strongly advises students not to loan their room keys to anyone, including other students. Keys must be returned when occupancy is terminated. If a key is lost or not returned after occupancy is terminated, the cost ($50) of installing each new lock and making new keys is charged to the resident. All keys are property of the college and shall not be duplicated. Existing locks may not be altered and auxiliary locks are not allowed. The unauthorized use or possession of residence hall key(s) other than the one(s) assigned is prohibited.
• Lock-outs: Each resident is expected to carry their keys at all time, even if they will be gone from their room for only a short time. If, however, you become locked out, please go to your area office. The person on duty, after confirming your identity and residence, will escort you to your room and open your door. Residents will be given two free lock-outs per year. After the first two free lock-outs, the next lock-out will cost $5.00, with the fee increasing by $5.00 for each subsequent lock-out ($5 for third lock-out, $10 for fourth lock-out, etc.). This fee will be charged to the resident’s account.
• Lost keys: If you lose your keys, please report this immediately to your RA or the Office of Residence Life. Your lock(s) will be changed and you will be assessed a fee of $50.00 per lock. Keys that are broken or damaged should also be reported to your RA or to the Office of Residence Life.

The $200 housing pre-payment allows students to participate in Room Selection for the next academic year. The prepayment will be deducted from their fall room charges. After a student selects or is assigned a room during the Room Selection Process, the housing pre-payment is not refundable in full.

Students who do not pay the housing pre-payment are not permitted to participate in Room Selection and will be assigned a room by the Office of Residence Life.

This payment is different than the enrollment deposit students pay when they apply to the College.

For students living in a room designed as a single room, an additional charge will apply as stated under Tuition and Fees on the Business Office website.

Residents may not request rooms to be converted to lower occupancy (double to single).

Storage for student belongings is not provided on campus. The college suggests that students contact one of the several storage facilities in Rome and Floyd County.

Study rooms are provided in several locations in College housing. Quiet conditions should be maintained at all times. Lobbies may be used for 24-hour study space. Students and/or guests may not sleep in study rooms nor are study rooms a place of dwelling for residents’ guests.

All resident students are expected to abide by residence life rules, policies and procedures, the Viking Code and public law. As residence rules may be modified from time to time, it is the responsibility of each student to remain informed about such changes. Students in violation of residence life policies may be subject to disciplinary action. Sanctions for significant and/or repeated violation of residence hall policies can include eviction and/or expulsion from the residence life program. Conduct history will be taken into account when students desire to live in Centennial, Thomas Berry, Townhouses, Cottages, or other specialty housing.

While the Office of Residence Life reserves the right to make determinations about the appropriateness of items within the residence community, in general, students are prohibited from possessing or using the following items in the residence halls or on the Berry College campus unless otherwise authorized:

• Candles, candle warmers, or incense
• Grills, smokers, and similar devices with open flame and/or open-heating elements are prohibited in and around all residential facilities. Built-in outdoor grills are located around campus for resident use. Registered student organizations and campus departments may reserve and use the grill available for reservation from the Facilities Services. This grill should not be stored or used withing 50 feet of any campus structure.
• Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or any other tobacco products
• Empty and/or displayed alcohol-related containers, funnels
• Dangerous and/or other flammable chemicals
• Hookahs, E-cigarettes, vaping devices
• Household items that include but are not limited to: Halogen lamps, sun lamps, space heaters (including Pelonis fan type units), hot plates, clothes washers and dryers, external antennas, and water beds
• Kitchen appliances/items. This includes, but is not limited to: Toasters and toaster ovens (note: these items are permitted in residence hall rooms that are equipped with full kitchens), Air Fryers, InstaPot style cookers, electric skillets, George Foreman-style grilling machines, portable stove burners, non-thermostat-controlled coffee makers, open heating element appliances, and refrigerators larger than 4.5 cubic feet
• Non-U.L. approved power-strip extension cords
• Pets (other than fish in a 20-gallon or smaller aquarium).
• Stolen property (e.g. traffic signs, construction lights, traffic lights and other items)
• Weapons. This includes, but is not limited to: Firearms, switchblade knives or knives (blades longer than three inches), martial arts weapons, bows and arrows, crossbows, pellet guns, paintball guns, electronic shocking devices, including tasers, clubs or life-like replica weapons

While the Office of Residence Life reserves the right to make additional determinations about the appropriateness of behavior within the residence community, in general, students are expected not to engage in the following conduct in the residence halls:

• Activities or action that present actual or possible danger or disturbance to the resident or residence community
• Alcohol possession or use, regardless of age
• Blocking, hanging, tampering with, or attaching items to fire safety equipment (e.g. sprinklers, smoke detectors, emergency horns, fire strobe lights)
• Cohabitation
• Cooking in residence hall rooms and/or outside of an approved kitchen area
• Covering room doors using nails, hot glue, or any permanent adhesive
• Dangerous activity
• Dropping or throwing things from windows or balconies
• Entering window ledges and/or rooftops without authorization
• Entering student rooms through windows
• Passing items through residence hall windows
• Scaling walls or ledges
• Skateboarding, inline skating and/or riding bicycles or motorized vehicles in the residence halls. Electric scooters with lithium batteries are not allowed on Berry College campus.
• Drug possession or use (i.e. illegal or narcotic drugs). This includes the misuse of legal pharmaceutical drugs and/or possession of drug-related paraphernalia
• Hosting visitors of the opposite gender outside Residence Life approved visitation hours
• Littering in communal areas and outside buildings
• Loaning residence hall keys or your Berry ID card to any other person for any reason
• Sales and solicitation
• Smoking or use of tobacco products. This includes cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, E-cigarettes and vapors.
• Tampering with and/or misuse of life safety equipment, including but not limited to: Heat and smoke detectors, emergency/fire pull stations, extinguishers, hoses, exit signs, and fire alarm systems
• Use or storage of combustion engine vehicles in the residence halls
• Vandalism. The intentional or unintentional abuse or misuse of college property may constitute vandalism
• Violating residence life approved quiet hours and/or noisy or disturbing behavior

Items left in residence hall rooms after the resident has moved from the hall or when there is no ownership indicated on items will be disposed of at the end of each semester.

There are a limited number of electrical outlets in each room and these may not be altered for any reason. Students are required to use heavy duty extension cords or adapters approved by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Extension cords can be used for just one appliance at a time. Students must maintain a one plug per one receptacle ratio at all times. Extension cords may not be placed under carpet or rugs at any time.

A guest is defined as a nonresident who requires a room in which to sleep for the night. A resident may have overnight guests, limited to two guests for two consecutive nights. Overnight guests must be of the same gender and at least sixteen years of age. Guests should not have access to the residence hall and/or room without the presence of the Berry student who the guest is visiting. Guests are required to abide by all standards of conduct outlined by Berry College and are the responsibility of the Berry College student hosting the guest.

All residents are expected to maintain a reasonable sound level at all times. Minimum quiet hours for all residents are from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. every day of the week. Twenty-four hour quiet hours begin at 6:00 p.m. on the last day of classes of each semester for the duration of the semester. Failure to abide by the minimum or established floor quiet hours constitutes a violation of residence hall policy and could result in conduct action. Floors designated as quiet/study floors are expected to maintain a reasonable sound level that is conducive to a study/academic environment at all times.

Appearance of the residence halls, both interior and exterior, must be attractive to residents and guests. Signs or objects (e.g. towels, flags, posters, etc.) may not be placed in windows, on doors or balconies/ledges except as approved by the Office of Residence Life.

Use of nails, screws, tacks and adhesives that damage walls, doors, furniture or fixtures is prohibited.

The college reserves the right to enter a room at any time to determine compliance with all safety and health regulations and provisions of public law, college regulations and residence life policies, to provide cleaning or maintenance work, conduct an inventory of college property, or if there is an indication of danger to life, health or property.

In order to maximize building security and the safety of residents, the outside doors are locked 24-hours a day. Residents are responsible for ensuring that exterior and interior doors are left in a locked position. Residents are advised to lock their windows and doors at all times. Student ID cards and keys should be carried at all times and should not be loaned for any reason. Residents should report anyone or anything suspicious or any lost or stolen articles to Berry College Police. The college does not assume responsibility for loss of, or damage to, personal items or for personal injury. Residents, or their parents, should arrange their own insurance coverage.

Students are required to carry their Berry student ID at all times. Students may gain access to all residence halls during visitation hours with their Student ID card. In accordance with the Viking Code, students are expected to present it to college officials including residence life staff upon request.

Visitation is defined as the period of time when it is acceptable for students of the opposite gender to visit residence halls and rooms.

Visitation hours for all residence halls are as follows:
Sunday–Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Visitation policies may be temporarily adjusted or suspended to ensure the safety of residents in the case of public health concern(s).

Visitation is a privilege of living in a community. At the beginning of each semester, resident assistants will have meetings to discuss policies and procedures and how these policies and procedures impact community. As a member of the Berry College community, it is your responsibility to respect and adhere to the visitation policy.

Berry College believes that residence halls should be a clean and safe environment in which to live. In an effort to minimize chances of health problems, fire and/or bodily injury, health and safety inspections will be conducted by Residence Life staff to identify potentially hazardous situations within the residence halls. Normally, these inspections are conducted before the residence halls close for breaks. If the room needs attention by the occupants, an inspection slip denoting the problem(s) will be left in the room with copies to the Office of Residence Life. All problem areas should be corrected within twenty-four hours. Health and Safety violations not corrected within the twenty-four hour period will be filed as an incident report and referred to the campus conduct process.

Students who have non-approved animals in their room will be required to remove the animal immediately and will be charged $250 for each instance.

In potentially dangerous safety violations, the Residence Life staff reserves the right to correct the safety situation immediately.

Health and safety inspections may occur at any time between 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Health and safety inspections may be performed more often in the Centennial, Thomas Berry, and Townhouse areas as well as Cottages and all other spaces with private bathrooms/kitchens.

Residents may request to be present for the inspection. Residents are responsible for contacting their RAs to arrange a time. This must happen within 24 hours of the email notification of the health and safety inspection.

During the course of a health and safety inspection:

• RAs are not permitted to open drawers, closets, or ask residents to do so
• RAs are only permitted to open fridges if there is probable cause to do so (concern of spoiled food or presence of alcohol-related items - such as alcohol residue in containers or empty alcohol containers)

Some examples of health and safety violations include, but are not limited to the following:

• Possession or use of an unauthorized appliance (These will be confiscated)
• Possession or use of candles or incense
• Leaving an unattended clothing or curling iron plugged in
• Possession of a pet in college residence halls
• Playing or possessing darts in the residence halls
• Possession or use of alcohol
• Smoking or possession of tobacco products (i.e., hookahs, E-cigarettes, and vaporizers) in the residence halls. (All residence halls are substance free)
• Overloaded extension cord. An overloaded extension cord is one that has more than one item plugged into it
• Failure to maintain a clean room or suite

The College reserves the right to enter a student’s room when it has reason to believe an emergency exists, the wellbeing of the occupant or other students is at stake, a College regulation is violated, or for purposes of maintenance, health and safety inspection.

• All residence hall room searches which are conducted by Berry College officials must be approved in advance by one or more of the following: the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, the Associate Dean of Students, or other college official designated by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• A residence hall room may be searched by a Berry Residence Life officials (professional staff) and a Head Resident as a witness only if there is “reasonable cause” to believe that the occupant(s) is (are) using the room for purpose(s) which is (are) in violation of federal, state, or local laws, or college regulations. “Reasonable cause” is defined as facts and circumstances sufficiently strong to warrant a reasonable person to believe that the room is being used in violation of federal, state, or local laws, or college regulations.
• If the appropriate administrative official believes that such “reasonable cause” does exist, an administrative search authorization will be issued and executed.
• An administrative search authorization will not be executed for any search which is to be made by police authorities or for anyone other than for an appropriate, designated official of Berry College. If a search is to be made for evidence which is to be used by police authorities for the purpose of criminal prosecution, then such police officials are to obtain a search warrant from an official authorized to issue such warrants. At no time should police officers be present for or participate in a room search without a proper search warrant.
• The occupant(s) of the room should be present whenever possible. If present, the occupant(s) should be: (a) given the reason for the search, (b) presented a copy of the administrative search authorization and (c) informed that any contraband or illegal materials found may be used in internal administrative action, a College conduct hearing, and/or possibly in a court of law.
• Should the search for any specified materials uncover other materials indicating illegal activity or violation of College regulations, such material should also be seized.
• When the search is completed, the Berry staff member(s) shall complete a search inventory form, specifying the room searched, name of the occupant(s), staff member conducting the search, and a detailed explanation of material seized. All drugs and/or drug paraphernalia confiscated should be secured by campus safety
• Fire marshal inspection of premises: (Georgia Safety Fire Law 92 A 723) Right of entry to inspect premises. The commissioner and his delegated authorities have the right to enter all buildings and premises subject to this chapter at any reasonable time for the purpose of examination or inspection.