Residential Life Policies and Procedures

Reporting a Violation of Residential Life Policies

As a four-year residential university, Converse strives to create a living environment that is safe, secure, and clean where students are best able to work, study and sleep in one’s assigned residence. It is expected that students live in a community with minimal interference from excessive noise, disrespect, or negative behaviors by peers and/or guests. It is believed that residents have the right to free expression but that expression does not include the right to harass, threaten, injure or silence others. As such, by living in the Converse community, students are expected to abide by the following residential policies:

Residency Requirement

All new students under the age of 24 are expected to live on campus unless they attended a Spartanburg County High School or make their permanent home in Spartanburg County. Students aged 24+, students with custodial children residing with them, and/or married students reside off-campus. Students should submit in writing to the Dean of Students a request for a waiver from this policy if they meet any of the exceptions outlined in the policy. Students who are married may continue to reside in Converse University residence halls; however, marital status does not change the visitation policy and spouses are subject to the standard visitation policy requirements. If Converse students marry each other, they may not reside together in on-campus housing. Students living in college residence halls must be full-time students. Infractions of the residency requirement policy will be handled by the Dean of Students. Students found in violation of this policy may be charged university room and board fees.

Transfer students may request to live on campus if certain stipulations are met. The residential policy for transfer students can be found in my.converse.

Change of Status Request

Students needing to change their status must complete the required Questionnaire on MyConverse and the Change of Status form will be sent to their Converse email address. Students changing from Boarding to Day MUST be living with their parents/legal guardian at their legal home address and their signature is required on the Change of Status form. All forms must be submitted to the Director of Residential Life for processing.

Proof of South Carolina Residency

Residency requirements are established by the South Carolina Code of Laws and Commission on Higher Education regulations.

Students may provide legible copies of at least two (2) of the following acceptable documents to show proof of parental/guardian residency.

Statement of full time employment;
Designating South Carolina as state of legal residence on military record;
Possession of a valid South Carolina driver’s license, or if a non driver, a South Carolina identification card. Failure to obtain this within 90 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
Possession of a valid South Carolina vehicle registration card. Failure to obtain this within 45 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
Maintenance of domicile in South Carolina;
Paying South Carolina income taxes as a resident during the past tax year, including income earned outside of South Carolina from the date South Carolina domicile was claimed;
Ownership of principal residence in South Carolina; or
Licensing for professional practice (if applicable) in South Carolina.

*Please note that any single indicator may not be conclusive

Owning property in SC or locally by itself does not allow students to establish residency as the other requirements still must be met. South Carolina or the local address must be the primary state of residence.

Housing Assignments

A nonrefundable annual deposit of $200 must be paid to the University before a student will be assigned a room. This fee applies to new, entering students, as well as to students currently enrolled who plan to return the next year. The fee is due in the Spring of each year. Reminders are sent to all students via email.

Room Selection—New students are assigned to University housing prior to their arrival on campus. New students receive notification of housing assignments and roommates as soon as that information is available. Room selection for returning students takes place in the spring of each year through a lottery system. Each student’s priority number for choosing a room is determined by academic class standing utilizing a computer generated lottery number program. Traditional undergraduate students will participate in Spring Room Selection. Housing for graduate students and Converse II students is based upon availability.
Private Rooms—Any student occupying a double room by themselves will be assessed $2,000 per academic year in addition to room and board. This includes any student whose roommate moves out or who is otherwise left in a room alone and who does not make arrangements to find another roommate. Students will be permitted 2 weeks to find a roommate before super-single fines are assessed. The student is responsible for finding another roommate. If the student occupies a room alone for less than a full academic year, the fee will be charged on a pro-rated basis. Exceptions are made when extenuating circumstances exist such as when an uneven number of students makes no roommate available. Double rooms used as singles (super singles, a fee of $2000 per year) are allowed only in designated areas and cannot be guaranteed for any length of time. First year students are not eligible for private rooms.
Consolidation— The Office of Residential Life reserves the right to require occupants of rooms not filled to capacity. Any vacant room or suite space may be filled at the discretion of the Director of Residential Life. Please be aware, it may be necessary for our office to make last-minute changes that may not allow much time for advance notice.
Keys— All room keys will be issued by the Director of Residential Life. If a room key is lost or missing, the student must report this to their Resident Director immediately. To obtain another room key, the student must meet with the Director of Residential Life. The charge for losing a KABA lock room key and having the core changed is $150; all other types of keys are $75. Any lost key card will be deactivated and replaced with a fee of $25.
Lockouts—Students are reminded to lock their doors and carry their room keys at all times. If a student is locked out of their room, they will need to call Campus Safety to unlock their door. This may occur twice without charge. Beginning with the third time, any student who is locked out of their room will be assessed a $5.00 fee on their Business Office account. Students who repeatedly lock themselves out of their rooms may be referred to the Director of Residential Life for further sanction. At no time will a Residential Life Staff member or Campus Safety grant a student access to another student’s room without that student’s permission.
Arrival Registration—Students participate in arrival registration each time they return to school from a break (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break). This registration lets the Resident Director know that residents have arrived safely. If a student does not plan to arrive on the date scheduled for students to return, the student should call their Resident Director, Student Development and Success, or the Director of Residential Life. Parents may be contacted if a student does not arrive by the expected time.
University Furniture- University residence hall rooms are furnished with beds, desks, desk chairs, dressers, and MicroFridges. Apartments are fully furnished with beds, desks, chairs, dressers, couch, end table, coffee table, tv stand, dining room tables, bar stools, and basic kitchen appliances. Students are responsible for the condition of the furniture originally assigned to the room or apartment, and may be billed for damages incurred during the year. Furniture assigned to a room must remain in that room for the duration of the year. Facilities is not authorized to remove furniture and will not do so if asked by a student. For the Health Wellness and Safety of all living in the residence hall community, students may not add any additional furniture to the common areas of their living space within the residence halls. This includes any (love seats, couches, benches, recliners) of any type. All furniture must be purchased, inspected, cleaned and approved by Converse University only. Any of the additional furniture listed above found in the residence halls without being issued by Converse University will be in violation of the Student Handbook. The student will be required to meet with the Director of Residence Life and could be subject to the loss of on campus housing.
Residence Hall Displays— Students may not display any flag or signage in the windows of campus housing that compromises the integrity of the facility and/or is clearly visible from the outside of the building.
Community Areas—Community areas in the residence halls and apartments (lobbies, study rooms, bathrooms, elevators, kitchens, hallways, laundry rooms, etc.) are the joint responsibility of all students living in that building. Residents should treat community areas as they would their own homes and hold each other accountable. Damages incurred in community areas will be divided and charged to each resident of a hall or building unless the specific students responsible are identified.
Room Check In/Out—Students are required to check in with the residence hall staff before moving into their rooms. During the check in process a student is required to agree or disagree with the Room Condition Form that has been assessed by Residential Life staff. Room conditions must be noted at the time of check in. When checking out of rooms, students must also meet with the residence hall staff who will inspect the room and any conditions that are different will be assessed and a potential damage charge will be issued to their student account. The charge for losing a room key and having the lock changed is $150. Students accept responsibility for their room and furnishings as of the date of occupancy and are responsible for any damages subsequent to that date. A Room Damage Form will be completed by Residential Life Staff if there is damage upon check-out. Charges will be placed on a student’s account and must be paid prior to the release of grades, transcripts, or registration for the next term. The University will not be responsible for any items a student leaves in a residence hall room when the student checks out, withdraws, leaves for university scheduled breaks, or takes a leave of absence from the University. Any items that remain will be considered abandoned and will become the property of the university. A student who is not enrolled in classes as a result of a Leave of Absence, Withdrawal or Academic Disqualification must check out of their room upon the official date of the Leave of Absence, Withdrawal or Disqualification.
Separation from the University—Students are responsible for removing and appropriately discarding personal belongings from their assigned rooms or apartment. Any personal items remaining in rooms/apartments/common areas after checkout will be deemed trash and will become the property of the university. Items will be removed and appropriately discarded at the student's expense. This also applies to students who withdraw/LOA from the university or are not active students. These students who vacate housing during the academic year will have 48 hours from the submission of a separation from the university to remove all belongings and checkout, unless otherwise notified by a Residential Life Director.

Visitation

The residence hall visitation policy includes but is not limited to hours designated for guest visitation; excessive stays; disruptive behavior by guests; cohabitation and children in the halls. The visitation policy is a privilege. If it is abused, the student, floor, or building may have this privilege suspended or revoked.

General guidelines -

Specific days and times when visitation will be allowed will be approved by the University and distributed to all students and posted in the residence halls and the Heath at the beginning of each term. Students are responsible for the conduct of their guests and must escort guests at all times.
All guests male and female must be properly registered.
Use of visitation hours should be by mutual agreement between roommates in the roommate contract. The roommate contract will always take precedence. It is the right of every student to have privacy in their assigned room, and no student should feel obligated to give up that right at any time. In the interest of preserving respect for privacy, a roommate may ask a guest to leave their room and this request should be honored.
Students are responsible for accompanying guests in the residence hall at all times and is responsible for the guest’s actions
Students may not have more than two guests at the same time
Guests may be asked to leave the University campus at any time should their behavior be disruptive or be in violation of University regulations and policies.
Guests may not be given the use of Access Cards or room keys at any time.

Guest & Overnight Visitation Policy

Students may have guests (male or female) in their residence hall rooms as designated for their living area. Guests may stay for no more than three consecutive nights at three different times during a term or no more than 9 nights during any term, unless specific permission has been granted by the Director of Residential Life or their designee for a longer visit.
Any student signing a guest in with a fake name will be sanctioned by their Resident Director or sent to Civitas.
Guests may not be given the use of Access Cards or room keys at any time.
Visitation may take place in the lobbies of the residence halls at any time. Sleeping overnight in lobbies is not permitted.
Visitation may take place in the student’s room in the residence hall according to the following regulations:
1. Residents may invite a guest into the halls between the hours:
  1. 10:00 am - 12:00 am Sunday through Thursday
  2. 10:00 am - 2:00 am Friday through Saturday
  3. Residents may host an overnight guest on Friday and Saturday nights.
  - Overnight guests of the opposite sex are required to use bathroom facilities that align with their gender.
  - A "guest" or "visitor" is defined herein as any individual that is not a current Converse resident student. Commuter students are considered "guests" or "visitors" to the residential community. A current residential student that doesn’t reside in your room or suite is a guest.
All visitors/guests of an Converse University resident must be escorted by the resident throughout the residence hall from the time of entry to the time of exit; this includes being escorted to bathrooms, lounges, and all other areas of the residence hall. Guests may not be left alone in a residence hall room or suite.
All residents must reach a common agreement with their roommates/suitemates prior to hosting a visitor or overnight guest.
Guests must be at least 18 years of age

Guest Sign-in

Converse University requires residents to sign-in all visitors and overnight guests. Guest/visitor sign-in is critical in case of an emergency.

All residents must complete the form using the QR Code posted in each residential community.
QR codes are located at the entry door of all residence halls and CA room doors.
Only the resident hosting and responsible for the guest may sign-in the guest.
All guests must be signed-in prior to entering the residence halls.
Guests may not have in their possession a resident's room/suite key or Converse ID.
A guest may not be unattended in the residence halls, including in common areas, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

**Failure to sign a guest in will be considered a violation of this policy and will result in disciplinary action.

Children/Underage guests in the Residence Halls

Residents may not have children or underage(under 18 years of age) guests living with them in the residence halls. This includes overnight stays and lengthy visits (defined as more than 1 hour) during the day. Any resident with a child or underage guest present in the residence halls for a lengthy visit must must obtain permission from the Director of Residential Life.

Babysitting in the Residence Halls

Babysitting in the Residence Halls is not permitted. Babysitting is defined as caring for a child while a parent or guardian is otherwise occupied. If a child will be present in the residence halls for a lengthy visit (defined as more than 1 hour), the resident must obtain permission from the RD/Director for that living area. The Visitation Policy, which applies to males and females above age 6, is explained in this Undergraduate Student Handbook.

Residence Hall Security

All students will be issued an access card which allows them to gain access to the University residence halls. Of major concern to the University is the safety and welfare of all students and the protection of property. In order to address these concerns, certain procedures regarding the use of access cards have been established.

Residence Hall Access—In order to ensure safety on campus, a student is responsible for their own access card. Each student should use the card assigned to them. Cards are not to be loaned to other students or non-students. Students must report a lost card to Campus Safety immediately so the card can be deactivated. New cards will be issued at replacement cost.
Entering the Residence Hall—A student is able to enter their residence hall when the residence halls are open for each academic session. If a student forgets their access card, the RD/AD on-call must confirm to Campus Safety that they are the resident student. If they are unable to confirm this and Campus Safety is unable to locate your CA or RD/AD, you will not be permitted entry into the residence hall.
Guests and Day Students—Guests or Day Students must abide by the same rules governing their hostesses. The guest must be accompanied by their hostess or another Converse student with an access card. Violations of residence hall access policy will be under the jurisdiction of Civitas Council and may result in fines or other sanctions. All Day Students must sign in at the front desk.
Breach of Security—Behaviors that jeopardize the safety and security of the campus community are prohibited. Violations include but are not limited to key/access card misusage; tampering with locked doors; unauthorized access to areas such as campus roofs or window sills; damage to lighting/exit signs; and propping of doors.

Fire Safety

Violations of fire safety policies create undue hazards in the residential community. Violations include but are not limited to setting off a fire alarm; failure to evacuate a building; failure to comply with safety inspections or to correct hazards noted during inspections; tampering with fire equipment; and causing a fire alarm. Specific guidelines are listed below:

Evacuation of a residence hall when alarms sound is required;
DO NOT re-enter the building until firefighters or Campus Safety inform you it is safe to do so;
No one is allowed on fire escapes except in an emergency. Never place anything on these escapes or near the windows that lead to them;
No furniture, shoes, clothes racks, bicycles, suitcases or other items may be left in the halls or stairwells;
Overloaded electrical outlets are not permitted; no extension cords.
No objects are to be hung from the sprinklers;
No candles, candle warmers, incense, oil lamps, halogen lamps, hot plates or other types of open flames or heating elements are allowed in the residence halls or the Heath;
No space heaters or ceiling fans are permitted in any residence. Items will be confiscated by the Campus Safety Department, residential life staff, the Dean of Students or their designee.
Nothing can be hung within 18 inches of the ceiling in Belk, Dexter, Fleming, Howard, Kate, or Pell. Nothing can be hung within 24 inches of the ceiling in Andrews or Williams. This includes fire rate fairy lights and LED lights.
Tampering with any fire equipment in the Residence Halls including pulling fire alarms, covering smoke detectors, disarming fire extinguishers will be an automatic $500.00 fine added to your account and you will be required to meet with the Director of Residence life and Student Conduct.

Cooking—Fire safety regulations require that cooking equipment with exposed heating elements, such as popcorn poppers, hot plates, instant pots, air fryers or electric grills (George Foreman) may not be used in student rooms, but may be used only in the community kitchen areas or Fleming, Kate, and Howard kitchen areas. Coffee Pots with an automatic shut off are permitted.

Students found in violation of a fire safety policy will receive notice allowing them 24 hours to make necessary adjustments. Students may be required to meet with hall staff, to correct the situation, or they may face disciplinary action. In more serious cases, the individual will be referred immediately to Civitas Council or the Director of Residential Life.

Community Living

Students are expected to care for the community space and abide by the values adopted by the campus community. Violations include but are not limited to hall conflicts which disrupt the education purpose; uncleanliness or damage to community property such as restrooms, hallways, kitchens, lobbies, and laundry rooms; creating excessive noise during courtesy/quiet hours; improper disposal of trash, instigating targeted and/or harmful pranks, and failure to abide by opening and closing guidelines.

Responsibilities of Residents—

to engage in routine personal care activities that promotes a clean and healthy environment;
to conduct oneself in such a manner that does not violate the rights of others;
to treat all members of the community with dignity and respect;
to discourage bigotry and discrimination of others;
to refrain from unhealthy behavior that creates risk or danger for one’s self or others;
to refrain from lewd and indecent conduct;
to take all reasonable means to protect from theft or damage of personal property
to take all reasonable means to protect from theft or damage the property of others including that of the University;
to be aware of and observe University regulations and to honor the legitimate requests of the University and its appointed agents;
to be aware of, observe, and abide by South Carolina and Federal laws and regulations.

Private and Semi-Private Bathrooms

It is the responsibility of the residents with private and semi-private bathrooms to clean and maintain their bathrooms in an acceptable sanitary condition. Belk, Fleming, Kate and Howard Halls all have bathrooms that the residents are required to maintain. Failure to do so will result in a fine to each suite mate. $50 for first offense, $75 for second offense, $100 for third offense and may result in removal from suite style living.

Communal Bathrooms

It is the responsibility of residents with communal bathrooms to be respectful of the community and housekeeping staff. Residents should be mindful to clean up after themselves any sanitary products, their own blood borne pathogens, hair dye, body paint, paint, glitter, etc. in their community bathrooms. Failure to do so will result in a fine of $50 first offense, $75 for second offense, $100 for third offense.

Health and Safety Inspections and Right of Entry

Converse is committed to respecting the student’s right to privacy. However, Converse also reserves the right to enter rooms in order to perform required maintenance, determine the condition of Converse property, investigate a reasonable suspicion of a violation of Converse's rules and policies, and to maintain the health and safety of all students. Throughout the year, including hall closing periods, Converse reserves the right to clean, check, and repair residential rooms, community areas, and suite bathrooms. Whenever possible, Converse will notify the student in advance of maintenance work to be done and shall exercise all reasonable care with personal belongings of the student. Converse will not be responsible for loss or theft of any personal belongings in student rooms.

Health and Safety Inspections will be conducted by the Office of Residence Life twice a month in the residence halls and apartments. These inspections will be announced at least 48 hours prior to the date and time of inspection. Converse reserves the right to remove any object or material from a student room that violate a Converse policy.

If a student fails a health and safety inspection, the student must correct the issue(s) within 48 hours, meet with their RD, and continuously maintain compliance moving forward.

Smoking Policy

Converse University is a tobacco-free campus. Therefore, smoking or vaping of any tobacco products is prohibited in all residence halls, common areas, porches and student rooms. Please refer to the entire Tobacco Policy in the Handbook.

Residence Hall Opening and Closings

All residence halls are closed during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring, and summer holidays. Students may not remain on campus during those times. Failure to meet the scheduled check in/out time or appointment will result in a $150.00 minimum late check-in/out fee, with an additional $50.00 per hour not to exceed $300 per day. If a student is in the residence halls after the official closing time and before the official opening time of the residence halls the above fines will be applied. Specific opening and closing times for residence halls are listed on the University Calendar. Students should make plans accordingly. Students permitting access to roommates or peers to gain entry to a residential space, prior to their university approved move in or move out date, will be assessed a fine of $150 per day/ per person.

Room and Roommate Changes

A student may only move during the designated room change period. The University reserves the right to change students’ room assignments if considered in the best interest of the University and/or students involved. Every student involved in a room change must have a solution worked out that is suitable and agreeable for everyone concerned. The Resident Director or Community Advisor is available to assist students in working out a solution. The following procedures apply:

All requests to change rooms must be submitted to the Director of Residential Life for approval.
A student who wishes to change must speak to their CA. The Director of Residential Life will not discuss a Room Change until an agreeable solution has been reached.
It is the responsibility of the student who initiates the move to tell their roommate they want to move, will be the one who actually makes the move unless another mutually agreeable solution can be worked out and will make certain they (or their roommate, if the roommate chooses to make the move) sees the Resident Director.
All room keys must be turned in to the Resident Director after the change can take place.
The Community Advisor will also check the room for damage before the students move and the Room Condition Form must be signed by the student who is moving.
After final approval, there is a 24 hour to one week period before the actual move can take place, timeline would be determined and agreed upon by all parties.

Quiet Hours

General courtesy should be given 24 hours a day to respect the needs of all residents in the living community. Quiet hours will be established at the beginning of each year by each residential community with the help of the Community Advisor. The agreed upon hours will be documented and hours will be enforced by residential students and Community Advisors. If noise coming from a room can be heard through a closed door, the noise is considered too loud. Repeated quiet hour violations may be addressed by the Director of Residential Life. Quiet hours are in effect from the first reading day through final exam week for each term.

Responsibility of Personal Property

The University does not assume any obligation or responsibility for the loss of damage to items of personal property of students which may occur in University buildings or on University property. Students and parents are encouraged to carry appropriate insurance to cover such loss or damage. Students should carry the appropriate coverage to protect their belongings against potential damage, loss, or spoilage due to appliance failures or other incidents. The University is not responsible for any items left by students in University housing facilities after a student checks out, withdraws, or takes a leave of absence from University. Such items will be considered abandoned property and may be retained or disposed of at the discretion of the University.

Pregnancy Policy

The following policy concerns students who experience a pregnancy while living in campus housing. All students should be aware that confidential counseling is available both on and off-campus to support students who become pregnant.

Students who become pregnant may contact the Dean of Students or Case Manager as a resource. The Student Development and Success staff will refer the student to the appropriate on/off-campus support to assure that the student has information about prenatal care. It is Converse's goal to help the pregnant student have a healthy, comfortable and supportive living environment at Converse throughout their pregnancy.

Pregnant students are welcome at Converse and may continue taking classes and engaging in all other community activities. If a student prefers to take a medical leave-of-absence with the intention of returning to campus after delivery of the baby, such leaves may be requested and coordinated through the Division of Student Development and Success.

Room Entry

The University reserves the right to enter and/or search a student’s room when there is reason to believe an emergency exists, a university or housing violation is occurring or has occurred, evidence suggests criminal activity, the health, safety or well-being of the occupants or other persons is at stake, or for purposes of maintenance. In the case of suspected criminal violations, searches may be conducted by law enforcement officials. Reasons for entry include but are not limited to:

Inspections: regular maintenance, work order repairs, and health and safety inspections conducted by the residential life staff or university maintenance/facilities staff. Inspections will be preceded, if possible, by 24 hour notice to the resident(s). Student staff members may enter rooms without a full-time university official for the purpose of University inspections (to conduct a visual inspection), which includes opening closets, looking under beds and opening and removing items from refrigerators.

Search: entry into a room/apartment/ suite without notice or search warrant to investigate suspected state and/or federal law violations. The search may include but is not limited to, opening drawers and refrigerators, examining furnishing and personal effects, and searching adjoining or shared bathrooms, kitchen, or living areas.

Emergencies: University staff may enter student housing without notice or search warrant to prevent danger to person, property, or the building itself for the following reasons:

Incident to and following a lawful arrest
For and in the pursuit of a fleeing dangerous criminal suspect
Under urgent necessity (such as persistent loud screaming or excessively disruptive noise)
Necessary to prevent loss of or destruction of an item to be seized

Evidence produced during a room search may be used in university judicial proceedings. A university staff member and/or campus safety officer may enter each room during any fire alarm or drill to make sure that the residents have evacuated the building.

Pets

Out of consideration of those with allergies and because of damages and health hazards caused by many animals, only fish are allowed in the residence halls at any time. Specific details are outlined below:

Fish may be kept on campus not to exceed 1 10-gallon freshwater tank or 4 1-gallon or less fresh water bowls or containers. No other animals may be kept in or near campus housing for any length of time. Keeping a pet for a family member or friend or having a family member or friend visit with a pet for any length of time is prohibited.
Pet related items, including but not limited to, pet cages, pet food, water bowls, kitty litter, and leashes may be deemed as evidence of animals in campus housing and are prohibited.
Animals are permitted on campus property (outside buildings) only under the control of a leash and any animal waste must be removed immediately.

A resident determined to be responsible for the presence of an animal is subject to a $300 fine. The residents within an apartment or room where an animal is found are also each subject to a $100 minimum fine for not reporting. Subsequent offenses will result in a doubling of the previous fine. In addition to the fine, the owner of the animal will be responsible for all damage and cleaning costs resulting from the animal. If there is a second violation of this nature, resident(s) will be subject to student conduct action. Animals must be removed immediately from the campus.