Residence Hall Contract PLEASE READ, SIGN, and KEEP A COPY OF THE CONTRACT FOR YOUR RECORDS. NOTE: EXECUTION OF THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT SPACE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS. This contract, made and entered into this _____ day of _____, 20 ___ and will end on _____ day of _____, 20 ___. This agreement is made by and between The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia by and on behalf of Darton State College, hereinafter identified as DSC and (Name of resident, please print): Last ________________________________ First ________________________________ Middle Initial _____ hereinafter identified as resident. I.
ELIGIBILITY a.
A person must be admitted, currently enrolled, and must maintain 12 semester hours (6 semester hours during the summer semester) at Darton to be eligible for College housing unless approved by the Director of Housing & Residence Life. b.
A resident must have and maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA to live in the residence hall. c.
Occupancy is specifically limited to those persons who have signed this contract with DSC and violations of this regulation will result in immediate termination of this agreement by DSC. d.
The space may be occupied only by the contracting resident. No transfer, assignment or subletting of the agreement granted by this Contract is permitted. Rooms shall not be occupied at any time by more residents than the room is designed to accommodate. II. PERIOD OF CONTRACT a. This contract financially obligates a resident for an entire academic year (fall and spring semesters). If a resident enters into this contract for the spring or summer semester only, the resident is obligated to the remainder of the contract term. b. A non-‐refundable application fee of $50 and a security deposit of $250, totaling $300 is due at time of application. The application fee covers the processing and administration of documents and the deposit will hold a space for the contract year if space is still available. If the Office of Housing and Residence Life is unable to make an on-‐campus housing assignment only the $250 deposit will be refunded to the resident’s account. c. Continuing residents are not required to pay a new application fee ($50) each time they reapply for campus housing. d. Residents contracting for housing prior to the first day of the term will be held responsible for the entire term’s payment regardless of when they check in. e. Summer is a separate contract period. Residents desiring housing during the summer term must complete an additional contract. III. ASSIGNMENT OF SPACE a. Residents should note that residence hall space is reserved on a first-‐come-‐first served basis. The date on which a completed application, contract, non-‐refundable application fee and deposit is received and all the fees are paid in the Office of Housing & Residence Life will establish priority for room assignment. b. DSC will assign accommodations according to resident preference without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, or national origin, religion, age, disabled status, or status as a disabled veteran. c. DSC does not guarantee assignment in a specific building or with specific roommates. d. Roommate requests are granted when space is available and the request is mutual. Roommate requests must be submitted in writing via the application. e. DSC reserves the right to assign or reassign space (with at least 24 hour notice) for the benefit of an individual resident, living unit, or to accommodate changes in occupancy patterns. f.
If the room occupied is an accessible room and the student is not a student with a disability in need of the accessibility features of the room, the resident agrees to transfer to a non-‐accessible room if the accessible unit is needed for a student with a disability. g. DSC reserves the right to refuse housing to any resident who is delinquent in the payment of bills to DSC, who has demonstrated an unwillingness to abide by the DSC Student Code of Conduct or published Resident Handbook, or who exhibits behavior which is incompatible with the maintenance of order and propriety in the residence halls. These documents should be read prior to signing this contract. h. If a resident is graduating, transferring, or withdrawing at the end of a semester prior to the end of this contract, they must apply to be released from the contract by submitting the Release Contract Request form by the deadline (See Section X). Upon approval, they must move out and properly check out no later than noon on the day after graduation. IV. MEAL PLAN (BOARD) a. All residents are required to complete a contract and purchase a meal plan each semester through Auxiliary Services, located in room C-‐111 of the Student Center building or you can visit the website at: http://www.darton.edu/current/aux-‐serv/meal-‐plan.php b. Changes, cancellation, and/or exemptions are handled through the Auxiliary Services office. Cancellation of this Housing Contract does not automatically cancel the meal plan contract. The resident must contact the Auxiliary Services office to cancel their meal plan, following the meal plan contract guidelines. c. Food service will not be available when the residence halls are closed. d. Residents are not allowed to cook in their room and/or suite except when utilizing Housing & Residence Life approved appliances. Housing & Residence Lifeu2400 Gillionville Road (POB 35)uAlbany, GA 31071uPhone: (229) 317-‐6452uhttp://housing.darton.edu/ Page 1 V. CLOSURES/VACATION PERIODS a. The residence halls are closed during Thanksgiving (November), semester break (December/January), and spring break (March). Specific dates for each of these breaks can be found in the Resident Handbook. Residents do not need to move their belongings out for those periods. However, they are responsible for their own housing during these periods. In addition, DSC cannot supply storage for residents’ personal belongings between spring and summer or summer and fall semester. b. Students must vacate the premises at the end of each term and break within 24 hours of the resident’s last final or by noon of the day after graduation. c. Student are allowed access to the residence halls at the times and dates designated within the Resident Handbook. VI. RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE a. The resident is responsible for the condition of the room and furnishings which are assigned to him/her and shall reimburse DSC for all damage to or loss of these accommodations and furnishings, beyond ordinary wear and tear. Residents of a hall may also be required to share the expense of repair or replacement of any property or cleaning in areas commonly used by the residents. Charges will be assessed against the resident by DSC and must be paid promptly. DSC at its sole discretion shall make determination of the amount of such loss or damage. The College reserves the right to place holds on student records for unpaid fees and damages. b. The student is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of his/her room, and he/she shall reimburse the College for all cleaning costs in excess of normal cleaning costs if staff is required, at the College’s sole discretion, to clean the room. c. In order for the College to remain committed to environmental responsibility, the resident is responsible for disposing of trash in the dumpsters located in the parking lot. Recyclable materials can be disposed of in bins located in common areas on each floor. Recyclable materials are defined as plastics, paper, metals, cardboard, and glass. VII. RIGHT OF ENTRY a. DSC shall at all times during the term of this Contract retain legal ownership and ultimate possession and control of resident’s room and/or DSC property assigned to such room. DSC reserves the right to maintain and preserve the residence halls. b. Resident hereby agrees that housing staff and/or DSC personnel, agents and contractors may enter resident’s room with reasonable notice for safety inspection, maintenance, cleaning, inventories, epidemic or emergency, to claim DSC property, pest control, occupancy verification and/or general repair. The resident is not required to be present at the time of entry. Resident hereby authorizes DSC personnel to allow access to the resident’s room when access is requested by any law enforcement officer possessing a valid search or arrest warrant. c. DSC reserves the right to remove and hold in storage any items deemed hazardous to the building or its occupants (i.e. explosives, firearms, alcohol, chemicals, open flame burning items, hunting bows, pellet or bb guns, paint ball guns, arrows, martial art equipment, etc.). VIII. PAYMENT OF CHARGES a. The resident agrees to pay room and board fees and other properly billed charges at the time scheduled by DSC. Failure to pay will result in the resident’s name being placed in DSC’s debt file, which prohibits further enrollment, issuance of transcripts and other records, and may cause the resident to be withdrawn from DSC and to be immediately removed from College housing. b. Failure to pay may also result in the resident’s name being sent to collections. c. Residents withdrawing from DSC will have their room charges prorated according to the schedule in the current term’s schedule of classes. Program or activity fees will not be prorated or refunded. d. Failure to provide basic utilities shall not be a reason for reduction, abatement, or withholding of rent or other payments legally due. No rent adjustment or other compensation shall be claimed by the resident for inconvenience or discomfort from the making of repairs, improvements to facilities, or temporary service outages, provided such occurrences are remediated within a reasonable amount of time and with minimal inconvenience to the resident. IX. UNIVERSITY LIABILITY Although security precautions are taken, DSC does not assume any liability and/or legal obligation to pay for injury to person (including death) or loss or damage to items of personal property which occurs in the buildings or on the grounds prior to, during, or subsequent in the period of the contract. Residents or their parents are encouraged to carry appropriate rental insurance, or confirm that their family homeowner’s policy will cover such losses. X. TERMINATION BY THE RESIDENT a. Cancellation of this contract does not constitute withdrawal from DSC. Residents who withdraw from DSC must notify the Office of Housing & Residence Life by submitting a Release Contract Request form to be eligible for any return of a portion of rent and/or deposit. b. Should a resident desire to be released from the Contract for any reason other than listed below, the resident should submit a contract release form for review by the Director of Housing. c. In accordance with the schedule outlined in section i and ii below, a student may choose to cancel this agreement and receive a prorated portion of the deposit. The refund schedule is in effect regardless of when the resident pays the deposit. After occupancy, no portion of the deposit will be refunded. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a buyout charge. i. For fall semester: On or before June 1, full refund. From June 2 to July 1, $150.00 refund. July 2 to August 1, $50.00 refund. After August 2 to the day before the halls open, no portion of the deposit will be refunded. From the day the halls open forward, no portion of the deposit will be refunded and a buyout charge will be in effect. ii. For spring semester: On or before November 1, full refund. From November 2 to December 1, a $150.00 refund. From December 2 to December 15, a $50 refund. After December 16, no portion of the deposit will be refunded. From the day the halls open forward, no portion of the deposit will be refunded and a buyout charge will be in effect. d. Should a resident withdraw from DSC, the contract may be cancelled. The contract may be cancelled by the resident in the event of marriage, birth of a child, military obligations, official withdrawal from DSC and other reasons determined in the sole discretion of DSC to justify termination of the contract. If the resident cancels the contract due to reasons indicated above by the deadline – fall: June 1, spring: November 1, the $250 will be refunded if no other financial obligations to DSC exist. If other financial obligations exist, the $250 may be applied towards those obligations. i. A student who must fulfill student internships for DSC academic credit, participants in Cooperative Education program, or clinical(s) whose assignments necessitate residency away from the campus, must comply with the contract during the semesters the resident is on campus. Housing & Residence Lifeu2400 Gillionville Road (POB 35)uAlbany, GA 31071uPhone: (229) 317-‐6452uhttp://housing.darton.edu/ Page 2 XI.
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XII.
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d.
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ii. A resident who forfeits the privilege to live in the residence halls and who is asked to vacate the room as a result of disciplinary action is not eligible for a refund of the contract fees or the deposit. iii. Buy out is mandated when a student terminates their contract past the deadlines outlined above and prior to the first day of classes and continues as a DSC student. The resident is responsible for 50% of the remaining value of the contract and forfeits the $250 deposit. iv. If a resident is graduating, transferring, or fulfilling a DSC accredited internship, participating in a Cooperative Education, or clinical(s) whose assignments necessitate residency away from campus must complete a Release Contract Request form. The form must be submitted by November 15. If the form is submitted after the deadline outlined above, the $250 deposit will be forfeited and a buyout may ensue. v. Upon termination of contract or withdrawal from DSC, the resident has 24 hours to vacate their space. Items left in the room after the 24 hours period will be boxed and stored for 30 days. If the items are not claimed within the 30 day period, the items will be given to charity. The resident will be charged for packing, storing, and transporting the items. Any resident who fails to follow proper check out procedures and/or return DSC issued key(s) will be charged for lost or replacement keys. vi. Any refunds will be calculated based on the date the resident properly checks out of the room. TERMINATION BY DSC DSC reserves the right to terminate this contract, to serve the resident with written notice to vacate immediately, and to take possession of the space at any time for violation of the contract, residence hall policies and procedures, violation of DSC Code of Conduct, and/or noncompliance with rules and regulations of the residence halls. Federal, State and local laws, or DSC policies for health and safety, for false statements or misrepresentation made by the resident in connection with the contract. If the resident exhibits behavior which is incompatible with the maintenance of order and propriety in the residence halls. If on the first day of classes of each semester resident does not occupy the assigned space by 9 a.m. or if notice of delay in arrival is not filed in writing with the Office of Housing & Residence Life by 9 a.m. DSC reserves the right to assign that space to another resident. The right of cancellation in this situation is reserved exclusively by DSC and in no way releases the resident from the obligation to pay for a space in the residence halls. A resident who fails to occupy the room and remains a DSC student, will be subject to the forfeiture of the deposit and the buyout option as stated in Section X. USE OF FACILITIES Upon receipt of a room assignment, this contract guarantees a space (not a particular room) in a residence hall. Room changes may not be made without the approval of the Office of Housing & Residence Life. In the event that the accommodations assigned to the resident are destroyed or otherwise not available and DSC does not furnish other accommodations, the contract shall terminate. The resident agrees to comply with all Federal and State laws, City ordinances, and DSC policies and procedures, including those regarding the possession or use of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs, and agrees that his/her room shall not be used for any purpose contrary to such. Explosives, firearms, ammunition, weapons, hunting bows, pellet or bb guns, paint ball guns, martial art equipment, hazardous chemicals, fireworks and related items are not permitted in the residence halls. The resident will not tamper with any fire equipment, i.e. pull stations, hoses, fire extinguishers, heat sensors, smoke detectors, sprinkler heads, etc. The resident agrees to evacuate the building during a fire alarm, including but not limited to scheduled fire drills. Failure to evacuate during a fire drill could result in disciplinary action. Residents are expected to keep rooms and suites clean. This includes the proper removal of trash from the room/suite. Facilities for trash disposal are provided outside the residence halls. Recyclables are to be disposed of in the proper recycling containers found on each floor of the residence hall. Each resident is issued a key(s) to his/her room. Loss of this key(s) or failure to return the key(s) at the time of check out will result in a charge being assessed for a lost key and/or lock change. DSC reserves the right to charge a lock out fee when residents are locked out of their room/suite. No pets (with the exception of non-‐carnivorous fish) are allowed in the residence halls. Sales and solicitations, in any form, including religious solicitation, are prohibited unless authorized in writing by the Division of Student Affairs. Door to door soliciting, distributing, and/or advertising is prohibited. Residents may not allow outside salesperson to conduct any sales, demonstrations, or presentations of a product in their room or in the residence hall without written permission from the Division of Student Affairs. DSC property, including furnishings, may not be moved from the assigned area within the residence halls without authorization from the Office of Housing & Residence Life. Water filled furniture will not be permitted. DSC reserves the right to determine the amount of the damages and make repairs. DSC has specific policies regarding check in, room change, and check out. Failure to comply with these policies will result in fines being levied against the resident. DSC is tobacco and smoke-‐free. All rooms and common area spaces in DSC residence halls, including hallways, lounges, lobbies, and stairwells are tobacco and smoke-‐free environments. By signing this Residence Hall Contract, you acknowledge that you are responsible for knowing and observing College policies rules, regulations and procedures as set forth in the Darton State College Student Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, and the Resident Handbook. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ STUDENT’S NAME DSC ID # 919 STUDEN’TS PERMANENT ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ STUDENT’S SIGNATURE DATE ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SIGNATURE OF PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR OTHER GUARANTOR IF STUDENT IS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE DATE Housing & Residence Lifeu2400 Gillionville Road (POB 35)uAlbany, GA 31071uPhone: (229) 317-‐6452uhttp://housing.darton.edu/ Page 3 MENINGITIS INFORMATION By statute, Georgia Code Section 31-‐12-‐3.2 requires that all students living in campus housing to be informed of the risks and issues regarding meningococcal disease. Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person’s spinal cord and brain. The two major types are viral and bacterial. In addition to the information stated below, complete information can be found online at: www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html. Meningococcal disease is a contagious, but largely preventable infection of the spinal cord fluid and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Meningococcal disease is a serious disease that can lead to death within only a few hours of onset; one in ten cases is fatal; and one in seven survivors of the disease is left with a severe disability, such as the loss of a limb, developmental disability, paralysis, deafness, or seizures. Scientific evidence suggest that college students living in dormitory facilities are at a moderately increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease; and immunization against meningococcal disease will decrease the risk of the disease. For optimal protection, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends persons living in college dormitories to be vaccinated with quadrivalent conjugate vaccine MCV4 (trade name “Menactra”) within the previous four years. Therefore, do you acknowledge that you have received the information about meningococcal disease and are aware of the issues and concerns about this illness? By signing below, you are indicating that you have either (a) received a meningococcal disease vaccine or (b) reviewed the information provided above and online at www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html. _______________________________________________________________________________________ STUDENT’S NAME DSC ID # 919 STUDEN’TS PERMANENT ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________________________________ STUDENT’S SIGNATURE DATE _______________________________________________________________________________________ SIGNATURE OF PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR OTHER GUARANTOR IF STUDENT IS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE DATE Housing & Residence Lifeu2400 Gillionville Road (POB 35)uAlbany, GA 31071uPhone: (229) 317-‐6452uhttp://housing.darton.edu/ Page 4 Housing Application
Required Fees and Deposits (please include $300 deposit. Make check or money order Payable to: Darton State College)
Non-Refundable Application Fee $50
Refundable Housing Security Deposit $250
Housing Fees (These fees will be part of your total student bill. They are in addition to room rent.)
Residence Life Activity Fee $50 Laundry Fee $50
I am a: *
New Student (First Time Freshmen)
New Student (Transfer)
Readmitted Student
Classification of student at the beginning of the contract term: _______________________________
Current Darton State GPA _____________(4.0 Scale)
STUDENT INFORMATION
Applicant____________________________________________________________Date of Birth __________ Age ______ Sex ______
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
Street Address
City______________________________State____________ Zip________County___________________Country_________________
Home Phone (
)_______________Cell Phone (
)______________Personal Email Address________________________________
Darton Email Address _______________________________________ Darton ID (Required) __________________________________
Roommate Request (include name and Darton ID #) ___________________________________________________________________
DARTON STUDENT HOUSING OPTIONS AND PRICES
While every attempt will be made to honor building preferences and room requests, the
Department of Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to assign and re-assign students to
other rooms, if it is in the best interest of the overall housing program.
ROOM TYPE DESCRIPTION: All units include a private bathroom and bedroom for each student, as well as a kitchenette and
shared living room. The building’s public areas include a spacious common area, full kitchen, study rooms, fitness center, computer
lab, and laundry facilities.
Rates are calculated per semester. Please select first and second choice for room type and building, Darton Commons and/or
Village South. Please note if you need handicap accessible room you must select Standard plan for Village South.
ROOM TYPE
_____ Standard A
_____ Standard B
_____ Embassy
_____ Deluxe
_____ Traditional (2/bedroom)
BUILDING CHOICE
_____ Darton Village South
_____ Darton Commons
SEND DEPOSITS TO: Office of Housing & Residence Life, 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany GA 31707
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
Date Received application _____________
$250 deposit _________________________
$50 non-refundable application fee _______________
Receipt # _____________________________________