Residence Life Handbook
 
Click on any topic below to view:

Welcome	Laundry Facilities	Door Propping
Living Learning Communities	Mail/Addressing Letters	Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia
Statement on Multiculturalism	Musical Instruments	Electrical Systems
Welcome Home	Night Security/Night Monitors	Escort Policy
Important Dates to Remember	Picnic Tables	Evacuation
What We Are All About	Posting	Eviction or Banning
New Student Programs	Programming	Fire or Bomb Threat
Out-of-Class Experience	Residential College Reception Areas	Fire Arms/Weapons
Tradition of Learning & Caring Campaign	Refrigerators/MicroFridge Units	Fire Equipment
Out-of-Class Experience Planning Map	Repairs (see facilities)	Furniture
Getting Involved	Security	Gambling
Hall Senate	Storage	Hallway Sports/Behaviors
Residence Hall Association	Telephone Services	Hallway Decorations and Storage
National Residence Hall Honorary	My Space/My Room	Holiday Decorations
Athletics	Room Decorating	Lounges
Center for Student Involvement	Temperature Control	Microwaves
Campus Recreation	Room Sizes	Noise Policy
Greek Life	Room Furnishings	Non-compliance
Work Opportunities	What to Bring	Overnight Guests
Vaccination and Meningitis Information	Approved Appliances	Painting
Your Truman ID	What not to Bring	Parking Policy
Meal Plans	Pets	Poster/Publicity Display
Food Flexibility	Roommate Relations	Room Doors
Dining Hall Hours	What is a Roommate Contract?	Screens - Opening/Removal
Community Living	Conflicts & Mediation	Smoking
Community Rights	Consolidation & Room Changes	Solicitation
Creating Neighbors & Friends	Housing Renewal Process	Tack, Tape, and Adhesives
Residence Halls Descriptions	Your Housing Contract	Unauthorized Moves
Amenities	Terms & Conditions	University Identification Cards
Special Accommodations Within the Halls	Housing Appeals or Grievances	Visitation Hours/Escort Policy
Parking	Residence Life Policies	Web Cameras
Renovation and Construction Projects	Expected Conduct	Truman’s Alcohol Policy
Professional Staff	Air Conditioners	University Conduct Process
Hall Services	Alcohol and Alcohol Paraphernalia	Safety
Barbecue Grills	Appliances or Electrical Devices	Earthquakes
Cable Services	Barbecuing	Evacuation/Fire Drills
Cleaning Supplies	Bathrooms	Medical Emergencies
Computer Labs	Bicycles	Tornados
Duty Staff Members	Campaigning	Reasons to Live on Campus
Facilities Management & Repairs	Campus Mail	Important Numbers
Hall Desks	Cigarettes/Open Flames/Incense	.
Hall Offices	Checkout Procedures	.
Housekeeping	Citizenship
Insurance	Combustibles or Dangerous Items
Keys	Damage/Vandalism
Kitchenettes	Decorating

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Back to Page 1 - Professional Staff

Hall Services                                         ↑ Return to Top

Within the University, or Residence Life, there are a variety of services available to you to help make your living experience enjoyable. Some of the services most applicable for students living in University housing are listed below.

* Barbeque Grills: Students are not allowed to bring their own grills, except for in the apartment complexes. Students may not possess grills in the residence halls. Community grills are available for general student use in designated areas around campus near the residential facilities.
* Cable Service: Each residence hall room and apartment will be provided with basic television cable service through Truman State University as part of the room and board rate. At this time, there are no premium upgrades available to students (including DVR service or additional channels).
* Cleaning Supplies: Brooms, vacuum cleaners, mops, and buckets, as well as various cleaning supplies (e.g. glass cleaner, furniture polish, etc.) are available for checkout at the hall desk with your student ID.
* Computer Labs: Computers and printers are available for your use within designated areas in each of the halls. You must use your own computer disks. Laser printing is also available within the computer labs, which are open 24 hours per day. Students can map their own personal computers to the lab printers through the University network. Instructions are available through http://its.truman.edu.
* Duty Staff Members: Professional staff and Student Advisors work rotating duty schedules to be on call for emergencies and to conduct rounds within the residence halls and apartments on a daily basis. They are available to respond to your requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These staff members are trained in crisis management, facilities operations, suicide response, alcohol and drug emergencies, and many other areas. There are also professional counselors from the University Counseling Services on call for emergencies. Because these staff members are either full-time professionals or students, we ask that during the late nighttime hours, you differentiate between an emergency and something that can wait until the morning.
* Facility Repairs: The University Facilities Department will make every attempt to make the necessary repairs to maintain the residence halls or apartment fixtures. If something in your room or bathroom needs repair, or if your window or door screen has become torn or damaged, please call the Fix-It-Line. The Fix-It-Line operates from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday during University business days. The phone number is x4687, or xINTR (I Need This Repaired). Emergency repairs occurring outside these hours should be reported to a hall staff member. Repairs will be completed based on a campus-wide priority system including urgency, type of repair, and date received. Student telephone line repairs should be reported to Telephone Services by dialing 0. University personnel are allowed to enter individual apartment or residence hall rooms starting at 8:00 a.m. to perform maintenance functions.
* Hall Desk: The residence halls and the Campbell Apartment complex have their own Hall Desks. Hall Desks are open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. The Hall Desk serves as an information resource and provides an assortment of supplies for residents within the building. Students may receive small amounts of change, purchase stamps, or have questions answered by desk staff. In addition, most halls have sports equipment, games, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaners, and cooking equipment that can be checked out with your student ID. For Campbell apartments, vacuum cleaners are available through the Hall Desk. For Fair and Randolph Apartments, vacuum cleaners may be checked out through the Dobson, Ryle, or Grim Hall Desk with your student ID.
* Hall Offices: Each residence hall has its own office to assist students with questions regarding their room, processes or procedures, or problems they may have. There is a professional Residence Hall Director and a Community Coordinator, in addition to Student Advisors, available within the building to assist you.
* Housekeeping Services: Housekeepers in your living environment work hard to make your building a comfortable and pleasant place to live. The neat and clean appearance of the halls, lounges, and restrooms is due in large part to their efforts. Housekeepers are not expected to clean unnecessary messes made by residents. Your cooperation in caring for the facilities makes their job easier, creates a pleasant atmosphere, and helps keep room and board costs low. Trash containers are located on each floor for you to empty your personal wastebaskets. Unwanted large items, such as boxes and carpeting, should be taken directly to the dumpster located outside your residence hall. Do not sweep dirt into the hallways or stairwells. Students who have vandalized property, or caused unnecessary messes, may be subject to disciplinary action and damage expenses equivalent to the full replacement value of the item(s).
* Insurance: The University is not responsible for losses caused by theft, vandalism, resident negligence, or natural disaster. To provide protection against lost, stolen, or damaged items, students are strongly encouraged to take out personal property insurance or be sure that your belongings are covered by your parents’ homeowners’ policy. Insurance policies through insurance companies may also be taken out as a source of protection. If losses or damages occur as a result of a University facilities malfunction or staff negligence, students are encouraged to forward their concerns to the Physical Plant office within 30 days of the event.
* Keys: A lost key can result in a serious security problem for the residents of a room/suite. For this reason, each time a student reports a lost key, the University recores the lock and makes new keys for the residents of the room. The student’s account is charged $25 for each replaced room key, which covers the cost of the core, labor, and new key(s). This fee is non- refundable. For halls that issue bathroom and exterior door keys, loss of these keys also will result in a charge of $25 per key. University keys may not be duplicated commercially. Students who lock themselves out of their rooms will be charged a lockout fee after the first week of school, which varies by price according to the time of the lockout.
* Kitchenettes: All living environments, except Fair Apartments, have kitchenettes available for your use. Fair residents may use  Grim Hall’s kitchenette, which is conveniently located next to Fair. A limited amount of cooking equipment is available to students to check out with their student ID at the Hall Desk. Students using community kitchens must clean the area after their use, and not leave food or cooking supplies (including cooking equipment or utensils) in the kitchen. The Housekeeping staff is not responsible for cleaning up unnecessary messes within the residence halls or kitchens. Please refer to the chart in this handbook that lists all approved appliances that students may use within their rooms. Campbell and Randolph apartment residents have their own kitchens, and are expected to keep their kitchen properly cleaned. Students leaving the kitchen unclean may be charged a fee equivalent to an hourly rate and cleaning supplies estimated necessary for cleaning the kitchen.
* Laundry Facilities: All residence halls, and the Campbell/Fair apartment complexes, have laundry facilities. Washers and dryers are operated by coin or debit system that operates from your University Student ID. Residents of Randolph Apartments generally use the laundry facility in Dobson Hall, a short distance away. Clothing items that are left unclaimed in the laundry facility will be donated to a local shelter.
* Mail: Mail to all Residence Life areas is received and distributed to the campus living environments Monday through Saturday, except on national and University holidays or breaks. Outgoing mail is picked up once a day from the hall desk or other designated mail drop slots. The following information should appear on mail sent to you:
        "Your name"
        Room #, Residence Hall or Apartment Name
        Street Address
        Kirksville, MO 63501
All mail delivered in mailboxes must include the name and address of the resident and a return address. A campus mail system operates for all academic and residential buildings, including the campus apartments. According to U.S. Postal regulations, only University business mail may be sent through the campus mail system. (Holiday/Birthday cards or personal mail sent among residents is not considered University business mail.) Personal mail sent through the campus mail system will be returned to the sender, or declared not deliverable if no return address exists. UPS, Federal Express, and Airborne mail is delivered directly to Campus Mail Services. Insured packages may be picked up directly from Campus Mail Services. It is highly recommended that students who will be receiving packages or mail that holds monetary value have these packages insured. The University is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged mail, or mail that is not picked up by the owner. Students are only allowed to pick up their own mail. For your own security, always lock your mailbox, and do not disclose your mailbox combination to any other person.
* Musical Instruments: Most residence halls have pianos available for your use. You are requested to respect the rights of others when using any musical instrument. You are allowed to play handheld instruments at a reasonable level during non-quiet hours, but are not allowed to play scales at any time. Space is available, through the Fine Arts Department, in academic buildings for practicing instruments. Residents must comply with any request, made by other community members or hall staff, to stop playing.
* Night Security/Night Monitors: All residence halls have night monitors to admit residents and escorted guests into the building after it has been secured for the evening at 10:30 p.m. From 10:30-midnight, students who live on campus may present their student ID to gain access to any residential facility. After midnight, you must present your student ID card or official ID (if not a Truman student) to be admitted into the building in which you live. If you have guests, you must sign those guests into the logbook. Identification of your guest will be required. Non-compliance with this process, including falsification of names in the registration log, poses a security risk to the building resulting in a conduct review and denied entrance. In extreme circumstances of security risk, Residence Life reserves the right to lock down the residential facilities.
* Picnic Tables: Residence Life provides numerous picnic area around campus that students can use when studying outdoors, eating meals, or hanging out. Several areas also have barbeque pits.
* Posting: Campus business mail must be properly addressed to the student (name, residence all or apartment, room number), faculty, staff, or campus office, and must have a return address listed on it. Campus organizations who wish to post posters in the residence halls advertising University related events must bring their posters to Residence Life. See http://reslife.truman.edu/services/posting/index.asp  for quantities. In addition, students should refer to the University posting policy, found on the Student Affairs website at http://saffairs.truman.edu/distribution/.
* Programming: Staff members from  Residence Life or the Residential College Program plan opportunities to expose you to knowledge, new ideas, different philosophies, and thought provoking stimuli. Much of a student’s college experience is to learn outside of the classroom setting, so programs, activities, and events are designed to help students experience new things through social and educational interactions. Programming is done in a variety of areas that align with our departmental core values, and are designed to develop the whole person. These areas include: Diversity; Life-long learning; Service; Wellness; Personal Development; Community; and Creativity. Programming areas may include: lip syncs, special interest panels, movie nights, literature discussions, and the like. From learning more about your roommate, to discussing the different types of religions represented on campus, there is something for everyone throughout the year. If you have a topic you would like to see, let your Student Advisor, Hall Director, or Academic Advisor know about it! All efforts for programming and the creation of a quality living-learning community should utilize at least one of the six core values, and the needs assessment or student interest surveys. The core value areas that are defined for our department include:
    1) Community - Creating a place on campus and within the greater Kirksville community where residents have a safe place to call home.
    2) Personal Development - Helping residents grow to become stronger people while exploring and defining their own values, ethics and identity.
    3) Life Learning - Placing an emphasis on being a life-long learner, while striving to create a love for learning and exploration.
    4) Diversity - Understanding and embracing the differences within ourselves and the world around us.
    5) Service - Support the people within our own and surrounding communities through volunteerism and compassion.
    6) Wellness - Intentionally creating an atmosphere in which residents are exposed to information that will enable them to make healthy lifestyle choices.
* RCP Reception Areas: Areas are available in each residence hall where you can make appointments to meet with your Academic Advisors who are available to assist you with academic counseling and course registration.
* Refrigerators/Microfridge Units: Microfridges contain a large refrigerator, freezer, and microwave, and can be rented for $150 per academic year. This fee will be charged to the student’s account who holds the contract for the unit. It is a good idea to submit your request early, because these are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Microfridge is the only microwave permitted in students’ rooms. Many students split the cost of rental between roommates. In the event that you wish to bring your own refrigerator, it must be less than 2’w x 3’h x2’d. Refunds for microfridge units are not given once the academic year begins if the student has already been issued the unit.
* Security: Part of the obligation of community living is to help safeguard the living environment. Thousands of people, both residents and non-residents, have access to the halls. Because of this, you are encouraged to keep your room locked at all times and also report people who seem to be tampering with locks, damaging facilities, harassing students, or having suspicious behavior to a staff member. Do not prop open community bathroom doors or the building’s exterior doors unless there are designated approved times to do so. You are advised to be particularly security-minded at times of check in, vacations, checkout, or when fewer residents are in the halls. The non-emergency telephone number is 665- 5621. The emergency number is x911. There are emergency phones mounted on bright blue or red posts located around campus. Public Safety has fully sanctioned police officers and trained security patrol to monitor and secure the outside of buildings, as well as public areas, and to assist with any emergency within the University.
* Storage: Storage of personal belongings during the summer is very limited. If you are a student living more than 300 miles from Truman over the summer months, you may be allowed to store a limited amount of personal belongings during the summer. You can contact your Residence Hall Director for specific summer storage guidelines and information. A storage fee will be assessed for any items that are stored. The University is not responsible for any items stored by a student.
* Telephone Services: Telephone service is available for a $100 annual fee. You are responsible for supplying your own touch tone telephone (please do not bring 2mHz phones as they interferer with the wireless networks). If there is a problem with your phone service, plug in a phone you know is working prior to reporting service line problems to Telephone Services (dial “0”). The University is not responsible for repairing telephone instruments.
Your phone service has the following special features:
    On-campus Calls: When using a campus phone to call another campus phone number, only dial the last four digits.
    Local Calls: You can access an outside (Kirksville) phone line by dialing “9.” Wait for the dial tone, then dial the local number.
    Long Distance Calling: Students are highly encouraged to bring calling cards or cellular phones to make long distance  phone calls, since this service is no longer provided through the University Telephone Services.
    Credit Card Calling: You may arrange for a telephone credit card with long distance service if you wish to be billed for long distance calls, but you may not charge these calls to your room telephone.
    Debit Card or Toll-Free Calling: If you need to use your phone debit card or wish to call a toll-free number, just dial “9”, wait for a dial tone, then dial the phone number.
    Collect Calls: Do not accept any collect calls. If you do, you will be responsible for all related charges.
    Voice Mail: The University has a voice mail system for all faculty, staff, and students living on campus. This system serves as an answering machine for each resident. You will want to set up your voice mail account as soon as you arrive on campus, and check your messages frequently.

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Your Living Space: Decorating/Sizes/Heat/Furnishings   ↑ Return to Top

Room Decorating
Your room gives you the opportunity to create a new living environment. This is your home away from home, so decorating and personalizing your room is strongly encouraged. Because students will receive room assignments and roommate information in the summer, you will be able to talk to, write to, or email your roommate before you move to campus. Space is limited, so we  encourage you to communicate with your future roommate about what you would like to share to avoid duplicating non-personal items. Any furniture that is in your room when you arrive must stay in your room. Storing residence hall furniture outside of its original room is strictly prohibited and may result in fines. Specific information on room decorations is found in section for Residence Life General Policies, found at the back of this handbook. You may hang posters and pictures from the wall. However, this must be done with non-damaging materials or removable hangers to prevent damages. Special products, such as poster tack or non-damaging hangers, are available, through general retail stores, to hang items on painted walls that do not damage the walls.

Since Truman is a dry campus, we do not allow any alcohol beverage containers (empty or full), boxes, bottles, or cans in the residence hall rooms. Even though an empty champagne bottle may hold sentimental value to you, please leave it at home.

Temperature Control
When decorating your room, please take care to not place any items in ways that they block the ventilation system in your room. If blocked, air cannot circulate through it to heat your room during the cold season. If your room is not heating, check the area around the ventilator first before calling your Student Advisor or the Facilities Fix-It Line. Due to fire safety policies, students are not allowed to have space heaters; however, if the temperature in a student room is less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit as determined by Facilities heat sensor gun, Facilities may temporarily issue one to that student after the student pays a security deposit.

My Room is How Big?

Room Sizes
Room sizes and shapes vary between each residence hall because of the building’s unique design and room types. Because so  many rooms differ in size, Residence Life does not have exact room, window, or closet measurements for each specific room on campus. However, student/parents are allowed to have a “sneak peek” at their assigned room in the halls/apartments weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. during the month of July. Make an appointment with the Residence Life Office to reserve your appointment early. We request a 24-hour advance notice and reservations to ensure a tour guide will be available for you.  (Depending on summer camp schedules, a similar room may be shown if your room is not accessible at the time of your appointment.) Because students’ plans sometimes change, room assignments are not completely final and are still subject to  change until the students move to campus. Therefore, approximate room sizes are listed on the chart and it is highly recommended that you measure  your room after you arrive before you purchase items that require specific dimensions (carpet, curtains, etc.). 

Room Furnishings
The University furnishes most rooms with bunkable/loftable beds, standard twin-sized mattresses (36” x 76”), a dresser or drawers to share between residents, closets or wardrobes, and window miniblinds. All residence hall rooms and apartments have a desk with drawer space for each resident. Each room in our residence halls contains one bed per person, which may be bunked or lofted (extra pieces are included to form a loft, which allows desks and chairs to be placed underneath). The lofts are secure and are provided to each student living in the halls. Homemade lofts are not allowed. Bed rails are also provided. If you are 6’4” or taller, you may request an extra long bed and mattress by calling the Facilities Department at (660) 785-5253. (A limited number are available.) Please bring your own wastebaskets, since they are not provided in any individual rooms on campus. Each hall has large waste and recycling receptacles located in common areas. Recycling bins for students may be available, on a limited basis by calling the Recycling Center at x7672 once students are on campus. Also, students will need to provide their own shower curtains, shower curtain hooks, and toilet paper for rooms with suite-style bathrooms. The cleaning of suite-style or private bathrooms is the responsibility of the residents residing in those rooms.

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What to Bring                                   ↑ Return to Top
If you do not know your roommate(s) before you move to campus, it is a good idea to contact each other before you arrive. Be sure to share what each other is planning to bring, and what can be shared in your room.

You may want to bring a mattress pad or “eggcrate” foam padding, bed linens (rooms contain standard twin beds that measure 36”x76”), pillow, blanket, bedspread, clothes hangers, wastebasket, desk light, a telephone (touch tone), and shower curtain (Apartments, BNB, Grim, Ryle, Centennial, and West Campus Suites). You are encouraged to bring a fan to help circulate cool air during the early Fall and late Spring. You may also bring any approved electrical appliances that fall into our approved appliance categories as listed in this handbook. Students bringing small refrigerators must limit them to 2’w x 3’h x 2’d in size. Residents using extension cords are strongly encouraged to use grounded 3-prong, 15-amp minimum, extension cords and/or surge protectors. All electronics or appliances must be UL approved and in good, working condition.

You may use approved appliances, stereos, lights, and other electrical devices as listed in this handbook. All two-prong  extension cords and halogen lamps are prohibited because of the fire hazard they represent. Residents must report all electrical  problems experienced in their rooms (e.g., tripped circuit breakers) to their Student Advisor, the Hall Director, or the Facilities Fix-It Line.

You may set up various systems of antennas inside your room to increase radio reception as long as no damage to your room occurs. Antennas are  prohibited outside room windows or in the hallways. Basic cable will be provided to all residence hall rooms, so students only need to bring their televisions and coaxial cables.