Resident Life and Housing Policies

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) Policy

Bicycles

All bicycles must be stored in the designated storage under Robson Hall or on a bicycle rack. In either case, the use of a bicycle lock is recommended. (You must supply your own lock.) Bicycles stored under Robson Hall must be registered with the Student Life Office at the start of every fall semester and for the summer (if applicable).  The assigned registration sticker must be clearly displayed at all times while in storage. The Robson Hall storage location uses a keyless entry system and requires a resident-style ID card for access. (Commuters can upgrade to a keyless entry card for $10.) There is no charge for storing bicycles under Robson Hall. Be aware that bicycles are left at the owner's risk and the University will not be held responsible for locks that must be cut to access bicycles.


Damage Assessment

Trinity Western University reserves the right to perform periodic maintenance and safety checks of all rooms within campus housing as necessary and may assess related fines if damages or violations to policies are discovered. If required, occupants will be billed for damage and/or cleaning costs once assessed. Roommates will bear equal responsibility for damages unless a degree of responsibility can be individually assigned. Students causing excessive or willful damage to University property are subject to eviction.


Excessive Noise

Students are required to be considerate of other students’ need for study time and quality rest, in support of their pursuit of university education. Campus quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, however, an individual’s right to quiet study and sleep time always supersedes another’s right to make unnecessary noise, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Subwoofers are not permitted in TWU residences.  In cases of a dispute between residents that cannot be resolved, Community Life staff will determine a reasonable course of action and residents will be expected to comply or face possible disciplinary action.


Fire Safety

In compliance with municipal fire regulations, no cooking of any kind should take place in dorm rooms or dorm lounges.  Therefore all cooking appliances, with or without exposed heat elements, including toasters, and air fryers, are prohibited in dorm rooms and dorm lounges. In areas with kitchens (Robson, Jacobson and the apartments), use of cooking appliances should be confined to kitchen areas. Students who do have access to kitchen and cooking facilities must do so safely. Students are responsible for ensuring that their cooking techniques are safe and do not cause excessive smoke, damage, or the fire alarm to go off.  

Rooms and hallways must be kept orderly and clean, maintaining clear and unobstructed exit options for all community members. Residents should not overload electrical outlets with power bars and multiplex outlets. Halogen lamps, candles, incense, electric blankets, or open flames of any kind are prohibited in campus housing.  Plug-in decorative string lights may not be hung on walls or from the ceiling in rooms or lounges, and draping banners, flags or similar items on or from the ceiling is prohibited. Natural Christmas trees are also prohibited in all residence buildings.  

Occupants should ensure they are aware of exit plans and fire safety equipment for their building and that nothing comes into contact with fire suppression sprinkler heads or their protective covers in rooms or lounges to prevent accidental discharge with accompanying water damage. Missing or damaged items, including ceiling tiles (which comprise a fire retardant barrier) should be reported to the facilities help desk request immediately. The Residence Life staff will follow up on any Fire Safety guidelines violations.


Guests

As a matter of courtesy and respect, students are expected to seek permission from roommates and their Resident Director prior to hosting overnight guests. An individual guest may only stay on campus for a maximum of three nights per semester. In exceptional circumstances, Resident Directors may grant extensions and a rooming charge may be assessed.

Student hosts are responsible at all times for their guests and their guests’ behaviour and will be held accountable proportionately to the offence in the event that their guest violates the Student Code of Conduct, housing policies, or other University policies.

Consistent with Open Residence Hours, overnight guests of a different sex are not permitted in University housing, to preserve the personal privacy and safety of all students.

See also “Student Code of Conduct, 4.b.v. Sexual impropriety”


Keys

Campus housing keys are distributed at registration. Replacement keys can be obtained at the Student Life office for a charge, which may include re-keying of the door lock. All keys must be returned when students check out of housing (normally at the end of the Spring semester). Fines will be assessed for keys not returned at this time, a portion of which will be refunded if keys are returned at a later date. Unauthorized possession or copying of keys is viewed as a serious offence and is prohibited.


Lock-outs

Security is available to assist students who are locked out of their room by calling ext. 2099. A $10 fee is charged for this service.


Lounges

Common lounges in each building or area are for the exclusive use of residents of the corresponding areas.  The only exception is for approved events in designated lounges.  Please observe posted capacity limits and guidelines that may be updated as required.


Maintenance and Custodial Requests

Service Hub

General maintenance and custodial services are included within annual housing fees. As needed, maintenance will fix toilets, unclog shower drains, and repair broken furniture, windows, sinks and shower taps, appliances, lights, door locks, etc.

To submit a request for maintenance or custodial assistance, contact the Facility Services Helpdesk or call ext. 3515 for emergency maintenance and follow the prompts.

For urgent custodial requests, call Security at ext. 2099.


Musical Instruments

Within campus housing, instrument amplifiers are not permitted and playing instruments is not encouraged. Music practice rooms designed for this purpose are available on campus.  Subwoofers are also prohibited in all TWU residences.  Campus quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, although an individual’s right to quiet study and sleep time always supersedes another’s right to loud expression, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


Off-Campus Conduct

Students are expected to foster a positive educational environment, recognizing their actions have a direct effect on other members of the community. This is not limited to actions that occur on campus. Therefore, students may be held accountable in cases where their off-campus conduct can reasonably be seen to:

  • Adversely affect the security of other community members on campus

  • Adversely affect the ability of other community members to participate in the learning environment

  • Clearly promote activities incongruent with the Student Code of Conduct


Open Residence Hours

To balance the desire for student freedom with the need and reasonable expectation for personal privacy and security in University Housing, Trinity Western has designated open hours for the Room and Board housing areas (dorms).  During the hours of noon to 9 p.m. daily, students with an invitation may visit housing areas designated for a different sex than that of their assigned housing area. Outside of these hours, students may only visit dorms designated for students of the same sex, i.e. the same sex as their own assigned living space. This applies to all students and guests when visiting Douglas Hall, Fraser Hall dorms, Skidmore Hall dorms, Devries dorms, and Robson Hall.

For propriety with respect to the Student Code of Conduct, bedroom doors are to remain propped open when a guest with whom the host is engaging in a romantic relationship is present within.


Posters, Notices and Decorations

In compliance with municipal fire regulations, room walls and ceilings in campus housing may have a maximum coverage of 20%, including bookcases, closets, posters, papers, and pictures. Use staples or pins to hang posters and pictures. Tape and Plasti-Tak are not permitted. Posters or decorations deemed offensive, objectionable, or excessive will be removed.

Posters, notices, and decorations are prohibited in all lounges, exit corridors, and stairways.


Pranks

Pranks can cause inconvenience, conflict, costly physical damage, and loss of personal dignity. Often starting as harmless pranks, situations can escalate so that subsequent pranks become progressively more destructive. Activities that harm or have reasonable potential to harm individuals physically or emotionally, and activities that damage or have reasonable potential to damage personal or University property are prohibited.

See Student Code of Conduct, Sections 4.b through 4.e.


Refunds for Vending and Laundry Machines

Students who lose money in one of the beverage or laundry machines on campus should report it to the Student Life office for a refund. If an issue arises with one of the snack vending machines, please report it to a Sodexo employee.


Rollerblades and Skateboards

Sports activities, including skateboarding, rollerblading, hockey, etc., are not permitted in any parking areas or automobile roadways, in order to maintain a safe campus community. Failure to comply with these conditions may expose individuals to severe injury and property damage claims.


Room Assignments

Room assignments are done based on several factors, including roommate requests, housing availability at the time of the application, natal sex and the student's age or degree program (undergraduate v. graduate). This process is managed by Student Life staff, who aim to maximize housing access while fostering communities that will promote the mission and vision of TWU. This may include making temporary arrangements, changing room assignments, reassigning roommates or consolidating vacancies as needed.   

Whenever possible, roommates are assigned based on compatibility from information provided on housing applications. Specific roommate requests are part of the housing application and when received well in advance of the start of the semester, can usually be accommodated.  

Students requesting placement in dorms, suites or shared apartments on the TWU Langley campus can expect to be placed with students of the same natal sex. Before a housing offer or room assignment is confirmed, any student who indicated they are Non-binary or Transgender on their housing application is contacted by the Student Housing office so together they can review residence options, answer any outstanding questions, and help ensure a positive residence experience.


Room Furnishings

You are responsible for the cleanliness of your own room and must maintain a minimum standard for health and safety reasons.

You will be provided with a single bed, mattress, desk, desk chair, dresser or drawers, bookshelf, and wastebasket. These furnishings are the property of the University and may not be remodeled, removed, or stored outside the room. Unless provided for by the University, sofas of any size are not permitted in individual rooms. If you are missing any of the standard furniture, contact the Student Life office.

Microwaves, hot plates, coffee makers, and other small electrical appliances are considered a fire hazard and are not allowed in rooms.

If you wish to bring a mini fridge, you must request permission from your Resident Director. Only a limited number of these requests can be granted due to electrical load requirements.

Replacement light bulbs for rooms in housing are available at no charge from the Student Life office.


Room Inspections

The University reserves the right to have authorized personnel enter any unit or room for inspection, repairs, or other official business. Authorized personnel may also enter rooms for investigation when they have reasonable grounds to believe that the occupants’ well-being or safety is in jeopardy or a serious violation of University policy has occurred.

During vacation periods, University personnel may make safety inspections. Unsafe conditions will be corrected at the occupant’s expense. Prohibited items found will be removed and disposed of, and occupants may be subject to disciplinary action for items or conditions discovered that are in violation of university policy.


Room Modifications

Rooms must not be modified in any way that will cause permanent damage or create any obstruction to exit, including alterations to the existing walls, floor, ceiling, or furniture. Beds are bunked in some areas and not in others, and they must stay in the same condition in which they are found. Students may not modify beds nor will maintenance staff be available to do so. If modifications take place that are prohibited or deemed unsafe, students will be billed for returning rooms to their original condition.


Room or Roommate Changes

While resolving conflicts is preferred to avoiding them, sometimes extenuating circumstances may necessitate a room or roommate change. Room change requests must be presented to your Resident Director, and all room changes must be approved by an RD prior to moving. Unreported moves are prohibited. Room change requests will not be approved during the first two weeks of each semester.


Self Care

Students must agree to care for themselves and behave in ways that will not cause problems for themselves or negatively impact the welfare, safety, and success of other community members. Examples include caring adequately for your physical and emotional health, dealing appropriately with life challenges, making adequate academic progress, and not causing or threatening harm to yourself. Students are expected to seek out and accept professional assistance for any situations they are unable to resolve on their own.

If these self-care expectations are not met, students will be held accountable for their behaviour and its negative impact on the community. Accountability may include being asked to move out of campus housing and/or withdrawal or suspension from the University.

Students needing accommodation due to a documented disability or significant, ongoing medical condition must contact the Director, Equity of Access and Learning Resources, to discuss accessibility issues.

See Student Code of Conduct, Section 4.b.ii.


Storage

Campus housing occupants can temporarily store personal items on a limited basis. Access to the storage rooms is through the Student Life Office or the student leader for your living area (RA or RD). All items are stored at your own risk and must be in boxes, bags, or suitcases clearly labelled with your name and the date of storage. Furniture storage is not permitted anywhere on campus. Unclaimed, unmarked, or unapproved items will be removed and sent to a local charity.


Vacuums

Vacuums are available in a designated location in each housing area for student use.   Vacuums must be signed out and returned as soon as possible.​