Housing Policies

Apartment-mate Concerns

You may not make roommate or apartment changes without the approval of the Residence Life Office. Adjusting to living with others whom you do not know takes time. Many students make the assumption that a relationship will not work out before they have taken the time to communicate their need and listen to the needs of others. Learning to work out problems with others is an important part of life.

To help you learn to communicate your needs and expectations, the staff will ask you and your apartment mates to complete an Apartment Agreement that specifies the rules and norms you and your apartment mates decide to live by in your home. The substance of the agreement is up to you and your apartment mates. We will ask you to discuss your preferences for music and noise, cleaning schedules, the sharing of food and possession and several other areas that can become sources of conflict.

When conflict arises, as it will in every relationship, we ask that you discuss your concerns with your apartment mates first. You may also go to your RA or any of the professional staff for help. They will assist you in this discussion, if necessary. If things do not improve after you have attempted to make your apartment situation more comfortable by discussing the issues, you should talk with the Residential coordinator about the possibility of a change in your living situation.

In order to give students time to get to know each other and to work thing out with their apartment mates, Residence Life staff does not generally allow apartment changes during the first three weeks of school. However, student should feel free to consult with the Residence Life staff regarding their situation.

The college does reserve the right to reassign rooms and apartments or remove residents from the apartment when necessary. Residents in an apartment with vacant space may have new students assigned to their space at any time. Residents are responsible for keeping the unoccupied space vacant and ready for immediate occupancy. Administrative charges, up to the value of the space for the semester, will be levied against residents who procure additional space.

Withdrawal Procedures

All Residence Hall Contracts are for the entire academic year. A student must have an approved release from the contract in writing to terminate charges for room. To obtain a contract release, the student must prove that there has been a significant and unforeseen change in circumstances since the applicable contract cancellation date that prohibits the student from fulfilling his/her contractual obligations.

A Petition for Contract Release will NOT be accepted for review without appropriate supporting documentation. Submission of the petition and supporting documentation does not ensure an approved contract release, but merely proper review and evaluation. Contract Releases require a meeting with the Director of Residence Life & Off-Campus Housing.

Termination/Cancellation

The following shall constitute grounds for cancellation of the agreement by the College. No refund in housing charges shall be made for cancellation resulting from any of these reasons:

Default on the terms of the agreement or payments
Dismissal from the College for academic or disciplinary reasons
Expulsion from housing for disciplinary/behavioral reasons
Changing status from full-time to part-time student

The following shall constitute grounds for cancellation of the agreement by the student:

In case of injury or illness which necessitates withdrawal from the College, the student will be released from the contractual obligation when substantive proof of the matter asserted is presented in writing to the Office of Residence Life & Off-Campus Housing. Students will receive a refund of their housing costs according to the refund schedule below.
A student who elects to participate in a College sponsored mobility or exchange or study abroad program which necessitates residency away from campus must comply with this agreement during the times the student is attending classes at the College. The student will be released from the contractual obligation for the time the student is participating in the College sponsored program.
Students who withdraw from on-campus housing voluntarily during the semester or at the end of the fall semester and continue as students at the College will be responsible for the entire academic year’s housing charges.
Students who withdraw from the College voluntarily during the semester will receive a refund of their housing costs based on the refund schedule.

Refund Schedule

(Applies only to students withdrawing from the College or those with bona fide illnesses requiring withdrawal from the College.)

Prior to assigned move-in date 100% less $300 housing reservation deposit
Within first week of classes 80%
Within second to fourth week of classes 40%
After fourth week of classes No refund

Students enrolled at the College for their first semester and who are receiving financial aid will be subject to the refund policy dictated by the Federal Financial Aid guidelines unless they leave campus housing for disciplinary reasons.

All students who withdraw, take a leave of absence, or are separated voluntarily from the College during the academic year must notify the Office of Residence Life & Off-Campus Housing and vacate their housing space within 48 hours of the effective date of such action. Students who must leave as a result of College disciplinary action, who create or present a danger to self or others, or involved in any involuntary withdrawal procedure may be required, at the discretion of the College, to leave immediately.

Exiting Housing

Upon exiting housing it is the student’s responsibility to contact their Residential Community Advisor in order to schedule a Check-Out Time. The following procedures are completed upon Check out:

Room is accessed by RA to determine arrival/leaving condition. Any noticeable damage is sighted on Room Condition Form and signed by the student exiting, thus acknowledging any and all damages. NOTE: Each apartment will also be accessed by a Professional Staff member of the Residence Life staff and additional damages can be documented and charged to all or individual students within the apartment.
Both apartment keys and mailbox keys MUST be returned. If keys are not return, the student who does not comply will be charge for the cost of replacing the keys and possible the lock to the apartment for safety reason.
Residential Community Advisor will remind the exiting student to remove all valuables and property. Failure to complete Check Out will result in a $100 improper check out fee with the option for additional charges. (Example: cost of key replacement, damages, cleaning, etc.) Additional explanation of proper Check Out Procedures can be obtain from the MICA Residence Life guide and by contacting the Office of Residence Life & Off-Campus Housing.

Damage Appeal Process

If damages are assessed to a room, each student held responsible and charged will be sent a Damage Appeal Form. The Appeal Process deadline is June 17, 2011. All appeals submitted after this period will not be considered unless there are extenuating circumstances. Appeals will NOT be accepted via telephone.

All appellants will receive notice within two to three weeks regarding the status of their appeal. The Appeal Process Board’s decision is FINAL and cannot be appealed.

If the cost of damage exceeds your $250 damage deposit, a hold may be placed upon your student account if the payment is not made by the indicated deadline.

Residence Life, Facilities Management, and Building Services are responsible for all repairs and determine the cost of the damage. These amounts are pre-determined and are based upon charges for time, labor, and materials. The cost to repair or replace fixtures in rooms may NOT be appealed.

Final apartment inspections are NOT conducted by student staff at the time of check out. The Assistant Residential Coordinator and Residential Coordinator are responsible for assessing damages in apartments and conduct inspections within 48 hours of departure.

Grounds for Filing a Damage Appeal

You were billed for damage(s) that you believe to be a result of “normal” wear and tear.
If you believe that you have been billed incorrectly or in error.
If your claim is that another individual is responsible for the damage. The student responsible might need to meet with the Residential Coordinator and be asked to sign a Damage Responsibility Form, which will result in the responsible party being billed. Without this documentation, the Appeal Process Board will not reverse the charges.

All Appeals must be sent via standard mail to the following address:

Attention: Damage Appeal Board
Residence Life & Off-Campus Housing
Commons 2.108
120 McMechen Street
Baltimore, MD 21217

What is an RA?

A Residential Advisor(RA) is a student member of the
Office of Residence Life who works and lives in on-campus housing.
The RA shares the responsibility for implementing the basic goals
of the Office of Residence Life by promoting individual and community
development through educational and social programs. The RA role
consists of several components-including being a campus resource
to residents, a peer counselor, a community builder, and assisting
with both College and Residential Life policy enforcement. The RA
reports directly to the Residential Coordinator (RC) and works
collaboratively with the Director of Residence Life and the Assistant
Residential Coordinator (ARC). Remember that they are there to
help you.
How do I find an RA?
An RA will be available each night for student assistance. For
the Commons, please contact the Commons Gatehouse 24-hour security/hospitality front desk at
410.462.7500 or 7501 and ask for the RA on duty; he or she
will contact you. For Meyerhoff House please
contact the Meyerhoff 24-hour security/hospitality front desk at
443.552.1600 or 1601. For Mount Royal and Gateway please contact the 24 hour security desk at 410.225.5286. If you have a non-emergency question or
concern, stop by the front desk or the RA apartment. Also remember
that they are busy students, so if you do not receive an answer fairly
quickly, please stop by the Office of Residence Life for assistance.

Check-in and Apartment Condition Reports

When you move into your apartment, you and your RA will complete
an apartment condition report. The forms are used to note the condition
of the furniture and the apartment when you move in. To avoid
charges when you move out, it is important that you are as thorough
as possible on these forms when you move in. Because these forms
do not list every possible thing that you may be charged for, you may
be responsible for damages not listed on the form.

Rooms and Roommate Changes

Adjusting to living with others whom you do not know takes time.
Learning to work problems out with others is an important part of
life. When conflict arises, as it will in every relationship, we ask that
you discuss your concerns with your apartment-mates first. You may
also go to your RA or any of the professional staff for help. If things
do not improve after you have attempted to make your apartment
situation more comfortable by discussing the issues, you should talk
with the RC or ARC about the possibility of a change in your living
situation.
In order to give students time to get to know each other and
to work things out with their apartment-mates, Residence Life staff
does not generally allow apartment changes during the first three
weeks of the semester. However, students should feel free to consult
with Residence Life staff regarding their situation. You may not make
roommate or apartment changes at any time without the approval of
the Residence Life Office.
The College does reserve the right to reassign rooms and
apartments or remove residents from apartments when necessary.
Residents in an apartment with vacant space may have new students
assigned to their space at any time. Residents are responsible for
keeping the unoccupied space vacant and ready for immediate
occupancy. Administrative charges, up to the value of the space for
the semester, will be levied against residents who procure additional
space.

Disability Accommodations in Housing

Students living in on-campus housing who wish to request special
accommodations for disabilities must contact the Learning Resource
Center and provide appropriate documentation to support their request.
The Learning Resource Center can be reached at 410.225.2416.
The Learning Resource Center will notify the Office of Residence
Life of the request and any necessary accommodations.
Students new to the College must contact the Learning
Resource Center and provide all appropriate documentation by June
1 prior to the fall semester (December 15 for spring admission).
Students currently enrolled at MICA must contact the Learning
Resource Center and provide all documentation by March 15 to
apply for housing the following academic year. Any student requesting
accommodations must reapply for services each year they wish
to live in college housing.

Keys

When you move into your apartment you will be issued two keys: an
apartment key and a mailbox key. These keys are for your use only
and you may not lend them to anyone else.
Although MICA has made every effort to make your environment
secure, only you can ensure your safety by locking your apartment
door and taking your keys whenever you go out-even if you are only
going to visit another apartment or to put your trash in a trash room.
This practice will also keep you from locking yourself out of your
apartment.
For safety reasons, when residents lose their keys, the Facilities
Management staff will generally replace the core lock to the apartment.
The charge for changing the core lock will be $100 for the replacement
of the core and all keys. For your safety, please notify Residence Life
staff if you have lost your keys so that we can replace them and you
can secure your apartment. All keys need to be returned when you
leave housing and charges will be levied to replace cores and cut
new keys as necessary.

Apartment Lockouts

If you find yourself locked out of your apartment, you should first try
to find an apartment-mate to let you in. If no apartment-mate is available,
contact the 24-hour desk in your facility and they will locate the
appropriate individual to let you in. You will be asked to provide
appropriate ID.
Please note: Locking yourself out of your apartment is not considered
an emergency. Residents who repeatedly need lockout assistance
will be charged $5 after the third lockout and the charge will increase
by $5 for each subsequent charge (i.e., fourth = $5, fifth = $10, etc.)
These charges are billed cumulatively at the end of each semester.
For your safety and the safety of your apartment-mates, please notify
the front desk when you have lost your keys. Never leave your home
unlocked to avoid a lockout or lock-change charge.
Breaks, Closings, and Checking Out
Residents may stay in college housing over Thanksgiving, fall break,
and spring break. Residents, with the exception of those in Sutton
Place, will not be allowed to occupy or access their apartments over
winter break.
Students must leave housing 24 hours after the last day of their
fall or spring semester exams. Special arrangements may be made
for residents living great distances away. Please talk with the RC at least one month prior to the scheduled break.
Residents who have completed their crits and exams may be
required to leave immediately if their behavior is disruptive to the
College or residential community. A $100 late checkout fee will be
assessed to individuals who move out during the first hour after the
designated checkout time each semester. Each additional hour over
and above the first hour will result in an additional $50 late fee. Prior
permission to stay may be granted to residents with extenuating
circumstances. If a student's circumstances require the student to
stay in the facility after the checkout day, an overnight fee comparable
to local hotel rates may be charged at the discretion of the Office of
Residence Life.
You may leave belongings in your apartment over break periods
during the academic year; however, we encourage you to remove
valuable items because the College is not responsible for any loss or
damage. Additionally, we recommend that students carry renter's
insurance to cover valuable items in their apartments (see "Personal
and Student Property" section). Residence Life does not offer summer
storage, but the office can refer you to several local storage companies
that do.

Repairs and Maintenance Requests

Once a work request has been submitted, the maintenance supervisor
will prioritize your request and the work will be done as soon as
possible. If Facilities Management staff members have been in your
apartment to make a repair, they will leave a work status sheet that
tells you they have been there and lets you know the status of the
repair. Facilities Management staff also conducts routine pest control
that requires access to apartments.
Students in the Sutton Place apartments will need to file their
maintenance request with the front desk in Sutton Place. Sutton
Place management and facilities staff will follow a procedure similar
to the College's and will make every effort to complete the work in a
timely manner.

Maintenance Emergency

A maintenance emergency is anything that is likely to affect the safety
of students or cause immediate harm to property. Examples are: a
major water leak, no heat when it is freezing outside, or a broken
window.
Call the 24-hour desk in your community and report the emergency
situation. The desk assistant will contact the appropriate staff and
will take steps to see that the emergency is resolved.
If the situation is not an emergency, front desk staff will suggest
that you complete a maintenance request at the front desk. If you
need a repair that is not an emergency, please go to the front desk
and complete a maintenance repair request.

Trash Removal

There are three trash rooms located on the first level of the Commons
complex. Meyerhoff House is equipped with several trash rooms. Trash receptacles for the Mount Royal Apartments
are located behind the apartment units. Gateway trash rooms can be found on each floor. Students are responsible for carrying their trash to the designated trash areas. Trash should not be allowed to build up in apartments, as it represents a health and pest risk.
To meet health requirements and to control unwanted pests, all
trash must be bagged and discarded in the trash receptacles in the
trash rooms. Residents who leave their trash on balconies, stairwells,
hallways, or walkways will be asked to place their trash in the trash
rooms. Residents who fail to bring their trash to the designated centers
will be charged a $25 trash-removal fee for each bag or item of trash.

Recycling

All residential facilities support single stream recycling. Each apartment has a recycling can. All facilities have designated recycling
drop-off points that are clearly identified, usually found in the trash rooms. All reycling should be placed in clear trash bags and placed in teh proper area for your residence hall. Food contamination-such as soiled pizza boxes and other cardboard food containers-should not be included in your recycling bag. Facilities Management staff will generally
empty these drop-off points once per week.
In addition, there is a container in the Commons Parking Lot
behind Building #1 to collect glass, plastic, and metal recycling that may not fit into a bag or the trash room.

Scheduled Health and Safety Inspections

Members of the Residence Life staff will conduct general inspections
of apartments each semester. These inspections are made to check
for compliance with fire and safety codes, necessary maintenance
repairs, and the general cleanliness of apartments, which if dirty may
pose health risks or attract pests (particularly kitchens and bathrooms).
It is important that all students living in on-campus housing follow
all guidelines for appropriate use of materials (solvents, chemicals,
etc.) when making art in the residence halls. Information about
appropriate use of materials can be obtained in the resource
displays located in the residence hall studios, from your RA, or
from your faculty members.
A safe and healthy community requires that residents maintain
adequate cleanliness and health standards. Members of the staff do
not make the judgment that neat is better than messy; however, a
clean apartment, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom areas, is
essential to the health of residents as well as the rest of the community.
For this reason, we ask you to keep your apartment clean.
The inspections will be announced ahead of time and you will
be notified of the date and time. Reasonable efforts will be made to
ensure that at least one resident of the apartment is available at the time
of the inspection. You will be notified of the results of the inspection
and, if necessary, you will be given an opportunity to clean. If you do
not clean after being informed of the necessary requirements, you
will be charged for the time and labor it takes for Facilities Management
staff to do the cleaning. If you have damaged the apartment, do
not attempt to make a repair. Facilities Management staff will repair
all damages to the apartment and the residents responsible may be
charged for the repairs. Any policy violations encountered during
these routine inspections will be addressed.

Emergency Situations and Issues of

Health and Safety

24-Hour Desks: Security, Hospitality, and Information
The Commons front desk, located at the Gatehouse entrance and
staffed 24 hours a day, is the central information point for safety and
security concerns in the Commons and for the Mount Royal Apartments.
The desk assistants monitor those entering the Commons
24 hours a day and are able to view the parking lots and the front of
the Commons through security cameras. The desk assistant is also
connected to the RC, RAs, and with Community Safety staff on
campus. You may call or visit the desk at any time, day or night, if you
have a concern or need information.
The Meyerhoff House and Gateway desks function in the same capacity as
the Commons front desk, but for the residents of Meyerhoff House, Gateway and Mount Royal residents.

Medical Emergency

If an ambulance is necessary, dial 911 and provide the following
information:
1. Tell them your situation and the location

If you are in the Commons, the address is: 120 McMechen Street, and your apartment number or the location of the emergency.

If you are in Meyerhoff House, the address is: Meyerhoff House, 140 West Lafayette Avenue, and your apartment number or the location of the emergency.

If you are in the Mount Royal Apartments, the address is: your building number and apartment, West Mount Royal Avenue.

If you are in the Gateway, your address is 1601 Mount Royal Avenue and your apartment number or the location of the emergency.

2. Then call Community Safety at 443.423.3333. The Community
Safety dispatcher will contact Residence Life and Community
Safety staff who will assist you.
If an ambulance is not necessary, but you or another student need
medical assistance:

During regular weekday office hours (9 am to 5 pm), call MountRoyal Medical Associates (410.225.8855) and talk with the nurse.

After 5 pm or on weekends, call either the Commons Front Desk (410.462.7500 or 7501), the Meyerhoff Desk (443.552.1600 or 1601), The Gateway desk (410.225.5286) or Community Safety (443.423.3333) for assistance.

Residence Life and Community Safety staff will assist you.

Fire Emergency

If you have a fire in your apartment, get out of the apartment, shut
the door, and activate a hand-pull alarm. Then move with others
down the stairwell to the designated evacuation location. Report
the fire's location to staff and fire officials.

If the smoke detector goes off and you smell smoke, get out of
the apartment staying near the floor, shut the apartment door, and
activate the hand-pull alarm in the stairwell. Then move with others
down the stairwell and to the front of the designated evacuation
area. Report what happened to staff and fire officials.

If the smoke detector goes off and you know that the source of
the smoke is not dangerous (for example, cigarette smoke), air the
apartment out and the smoke detector alarm will go off on its own
accord. Because neighbors often call the front desk when they
hear smoke detectors go off, notify the front desk in your community
and tell them what happened.

If you think that your smoke detector is defective, ask the front
desk to put in a work request immediately. Staff will check it quickly.
If it is beeping periodically, our staff may just need to replace the
battery. You cannot turn off or cover your smoke detector. Remember,
tampering with or disconnecting a smoke detector or other fire
equipment is prohibited because it endangers you and others.
Severe disciplinary action will be taken if you tamper with any
safety equipment. If you suspect that your smoke detector is not
working properly, ask that it be checked.

If you ever hear an alarm and are unsure as to the nature and/or
cause of the alarm, please treat the situation as an emergency, exit
the location, and inform the relevant staff immediately.

Fire Safety

All residents and guests must evacuate their apartments when a fire
alarm sounds. Walk quickly to the nearest stairwell and go out of the
nearest exit to the designated gathering point. Follow the directions
of all housing and security staff and any fire personnel.
Tampering with any safety device (including smoke detectors,
carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, or fire alarms) is
expressly prohibited and considered a serious violation. Disciplinary
action could include dismissal from College housing and possibly
arrest and prosecution. In the interest of fire safety, the following
items have been banned from College housing and will be confiscated:

NO halogen floor lamps

NO candles (the only permissible candles are decorative candles with new wicks-these may not be lighted in College housing. Candles with burnt wicks will be confiscated. The practice of melting wax for any purposes, including for art projects, is not permissible.)

NO incense

In addition, only UL-approved electrical products may be used in
College housing. All extension cords and plug strips must be UL
approved. Please look for the "UL" symbol on products before
bringing them to campus.

Personal and Community Safety in College Housing

In addition to the physical features built into the residence halls
(such as enclosed living spaces, security screens, window stops,
and closed-circuit monitoring of the building exteriors), MICA provides
numerous other services designed to keep the communities as safe
as possible. Examples of this would be the MICA Evening Shuttle,
along with the rounds completed within the complexes by the RA
staff at night.
While Campus Safety staff work around the clock, there are
some precautions we ask you to take to minimize the possibility of
crime on campus and to ensure your own safety. The most important
precaution you can take is to always be aware of your surroundings-
both on and off campus. Students must work together with staff
to provide their own safety. Being safe in and around the campus
housing means doing the following:

Never prop open building entrances; if you see an open door,always report it to staff

Report strangers immediately

Report anything that seems suspicious, no matter how small, to the 24-hour desk

Lock your apartment door and take your key with you when you leave-even if you are just going to another apartment or doing your laundry

Keep the window stops in place on your interior windows and never open your interior windows farther than the locks allow

Keep your window screens in place

Never leave valuables in your apartment in plain view

Take the evening shuttle to and from campus buildings at night

Use the parking lots with care, stay alert, and walk quickly and directly to the entrance of the building

Please remember if you do not follow these guidelines, not only are
you jeopardizing your own safety, but also the safety of everyone
else in the residential community.

Personal and Student Property

The college is not responsible for the loss of or damage to
students' personal property. Students are urged to:

Purchase surge protectors to guard against occasional electrical surges

Record the serial numbers of valuable personal items

Secure appropriate insurance

As a precaution, students are also encouraged to take valuable
belongings home during break periods. Residents are urged to
confirm existing coverage under the homeowner's policy of their
parents or guardians and, if not covered, to secure individual
property or renter's insurance.

Parties

Gatherings are permitted in individual apartments and must abide
by College policies regarding noise, alcohol, and other drugs. They
must be confined to an apartment, and fire regulations prohibit no
more than 20 people in an apartment at a time.
All student residents of an apartment should agree to host the
party. Student hosts are equally responsible for all activity that occurs
at their gathering and should make sure that guests are complying
with all College policies, including those regarding alcohol, drugs,
and noise.
Residents may plan parties open to residents in the Gatehouse
common room or on the first floor of Meyerhoff. All parties must be
registered with and approved by either the Residence Coordinator
or Assistant Residence Coordinator at least 48 hours in advance.

Entrance and Guest Policies

All Maryland Institute College of Art students (including residents),
faculty, and staff may enter the residential facilities after showing
their current MICA ID to the desk assistant at the front entrance.
All guests who are not current full-time students, staff, or faculty
at MICA must use the front entrance and must be escorted by a
student resident the entire time they remain in the residential areas.
Guests will also be asked to leave picture identification and to sign
in and out at the 24-hour desk. Guests found in the common areas
without student hosts will be asked to leave immediately.
If residents arrive with guests, they are expected to use the
front entrance only and to have their guests sign in. Students who
either prop doors or admit students through other means than the
front desk place the entire community at risk and will face severe
disciplinary action.

Guest Policy

Each student resident may have up to five guests visiting at a time if
they have the approval of their apartment-mates. Students should
remember that they are responsible for the actions of their guests
and must escort them any time they are in the common areas of the
residence halls.
All guests are subject to the same rules as residents. Guests
may not bring alcohol or illegal substances into the residence halls.
With the consent of their apartment-mates, residents may have
overnight guests for three consecutive nights, and the same guest is
limited to nine total days of overnight visitation in a semester. Overnight
guests are a privilege and a courtesy extended by your fellow
apartment-mates. Guests may not move into an apartment. Residents are responsible for the actions of their visitors. Disciplinary action may be taken with residents for the behavior of their visitors.
Student residents need to be considerate of their apartmentmates
when having guests over and should show appropriate respect
for their apartment-mates' needs for privacy and space. If, after talking
with their apartment-mates, residents are unable to resolve problems
regarding guests, they should talk with Residence Life staff.

College's Right of Room and Apartment

Entry and Search

The College reserves the right to enter rooms or apartments when,
in its discretion, it determines that there may have been a breach of
terms listed within the Housing Agreement, the Student Handbook,
or the Academic Bulletin.
The College reserves the right to enter and search a resident's
room or apartment without notice when it deems it necessary to
protect the safety of the resident or other occupants, for investigation
and resolution of policy violations, to address disruptive behavior,
to provide emergency service, or to conduct safety inspections.
Additionally, representatives of the College may enter a resident's
room or apartment (during reasonable hours) when necessary to
provide inspection, service, repairs, improvements, or maintenance.
The College reserves the right to search a room or apartment
without notice when there is sufficient reason to believe, as determined
by the College, that a violation of College regulations or policy or
violations of state, federal, or local law is occurring or has occurred.
During such a search, a reasonable effort will be made to have the
resident present at the time of the search.
The College reserves the right to remove College or personal
property from a room or apartment. If during the time a staff member
is in an apartment for any reason, he or she sees illegal or dangerous
items in plain view, the items will be confiscated and disciplinary
procedures will be implemented.
By signing the Housing Agreement, the student consents to
having his/her room or apartment entered and searched in accordance
with the terms and conditions of this policy. The student expressly
agrees and acknowledges and his or her signature on the Housing
Agreement authorizes the College to enter his or her room or apartment
without the student's prior consent.

Laundry

The Commons, Gateway and Meyerhoff House are equipped with laundry
rooms that are open 24 hours a day. These facilities can be operated
by coins or your MICARD.

Recreation Equipment

The Commons has basketballs, volleyball equipment, and other
games for residents. See Gatehouse desk staff and leave your student
ID to check equipment out. Students who damage, lose, or fail to
return equipment will be charged replacement costs. If you have
ideas for equipment we do not have, please make the suggestion to
an RA or the RC or ARC. The staff is interested in knowing what
you would like to have.
Athletic activities should be confined to areas designed for
recreational use, such as the volleyball area in the grass courtyard
and the basketball court.
The Office of Student Activities operates a gym and aerobic
facility, located in the basement of Meyerhoff House, which is available
to all MICA students free of charge during the academic semester.
This facility includes cardiovascular and strength equipment, and
also provides space for a wide variety of instructed classes ranging
from dance to aerobics. Hours of operation vary by semester. Check
with Student Activities in the first floor of Meyerhoff House for a
current schedule.

Pets

With the exception of fish in an aquarium (aquarium size limited to
ten gallons), pets are not permitted in college housing. This includes
visiting pets, like friends' dogs or stray cats. Pets found in student
apartments will be removed by Residence Life staff or the appropriate
city agency. Students will be billed for cleaning and will be subject
to disciplinary action. Residents are strongly discouraged from feeding
stray animals.

Bike Racks

Students may lock their bikes to the bike racks that are provided.
Bicycles left in the racks must be locked, and student use of the
racks is at their own risk. Because access to the stairwells, balconies,
hallways, and walkways is important for residents carrying their supplies
and for the necessity of emergency exits, bikes are not permitted on
stairwells, hallways, gates, railings, or walkways. People who lock
their bikes to access areas will be asked to move them. If the bike is
not removed quickly, arrangements will be made to have the bike
removed. A charge will be levied for the labor involved in removing a bicycle. Locks or securing devices will not be replaced, nor will violators
be compensated if bikes are damaged in the removal process.
Additionally, Meyerhoff House is equipped with a bicycle storage
room on the first floor. Check with Residence Life staff for specific
information on access to this space.

Shared Studio Space

Residential studios are available for use by on-campus residents.
These spaces may be signed out through the Studio Manager. The
sign-out process, duration of sign-out, and studio policies are set and
shared with the community by the Studio Manager at the beginning
of each semester.
These spaces are to be shared by the entire residential community
and consequently need to be cleared out at the end of each sign-out
period. In the interests of safety, all expectations and policies for
studio use must be strictly obeyed. Residents will be responsible for
any costs associated with cleaning studio spaces after use.

Storage

Unfortunately, the College has no storage space available. Residents
must store all their belongings in their apartments. Any furniture
provided by the College in your apartment must be present when it
is time to move out. The Office of Residence Life can refer you to
several local storage companies.

Quiet Hours for Everyone

Because residents are living in a community, respect and courtesy
for others is essential in creating a comfortable environment for
everyone. The College expects that at all times residents will respect
each other's needs for calm and quiet living space and will not make
unreasonably loud noise. This means that courtesy hours are in
effect at all times. The College also expects that, if asked, students
will turn down the volume of whatever noise is concerning others.Quiet hours will be in effect in every building from 11 pm to 8 am,
Sunday through Thursday. Quiet hours on Friday night (actually
Saturday morning) and Saturday night and Sunday morning are
1 am to 9 am. Twenty-four-hour quiet hours begin the day before crit
week and continue through final exam week each semester.
"Quiet hours" means that stereos must be turned down to a
level that confines the sound to a student's room. Informal conversations
should be confined to individual apartments. Noise in public
areas should be kept to a minimum. No basketball may be played in
the Commons during quiet hours.
Repeated instances of unreasonable noise during either regular
or quiet hours will be reason for disciplinary action.

Off-Campus Housing

The Residence Life and Off-Campus Housing Office provides
assistance to students interested in living beyond the MICA
campus. The Off-Campus Housing Guide-along with rental listings,
tenant resources, contact information, and search tips-is available
on the off-campus housing pagelet at www.inside.mica.edu/reslife/
offcampus.htm.

MICA: Maryland Institute College of Art