The students of Hillsdale College are bound by friendship resulting from their pursuit of a common goal: the College’s historic mission. This friendship is characterized by esteem, affection, good will, and profound respect, all of which are embraced willingly by those who choose to take up the purposes of the College and affiliate themselves with it. Students cultivate this friendship both inside and outside of the classroom throughout their time together.
Life in the residence halls plays a prominent role in a student’s time at Hillsdale College, helping students to deepen their friendships, form their characters, and to balance properly the opposing claims of individual freedom and the rights of others.
The College separates its residence halls by sex, limiting the time the sexes may spend in each other’s rooms, and requiring forthright, respectful, and honorable conduct between the sexes at all times. The College is a place of high learning for young men and women, given to friendship, zealous and restrained for their own and each other’s good.
Abroad in our culture, there is deep disagreement about sex, sexual activity, and identity. Hillsdale College, however, understands sex in light of the principles of its founding, principles concerning human nature and sexuality that continue to inform its identity to this day. In this light, both reason and the immemorial teachings of the Christian faith recognize sex as naturally ordered to procreation and the intimate friendship best suited to raising children—the natural result of this union. Sexual activity, then, is understood as belonging between the sexes and in marriage. The College has always organized its structure and activities—as it has the right and duty to do—with this understanding in place. Of course, as the sexes are naturally drawn to each other, the College duly recognizes and facilitates this mutual interest. The fullest expression of this interest, however, remains proper to marriage. These understandings have ever been built into the fabric of Hillsdale College, including the practices and policies within the residence halls.
Residence Policies
Disregard of the following standards, as well as other rules, may subject individuals or sections of residence halls to disciplinary action. In addition to the following rules, the Regulations for Proper Student Conduct govern the students in residence halls. Violation of the Residence Policies will be addressed according to the provisions of the Procedure for Student Discipline.
Failure to uphold the Hillsdale College Honor Code and the policies, procedures, regulations, and guidelines set forth by the College may result in disciplinary action ranging from a minimum of a warning to a maximum of expulsion. Many times, the severity of the consequence will be at a level between the minimum and maximum, and the deans reserve the right to issue fines, community service, counseling, social probation, etc., as deemed appropriate. In all cases, an incident report will be filed in the Deans’ Offices.
Care for the Physical Condition of Rooms and Common Areas
- Residents will be required to complete and sign a Room Condition Form prior to occupying their assigned room and upon the end of occupancy.
- Residents are responsible for all damage found in their rooms at the end of the year/semester, unless the damage was noted on the Room Condition Form.
- Pictures are not to be pasted or glued to the wall. All items attached to the wall must be attached with a type of hook or putty that does not permanently adhere to the wall. This material can be found in the College Bookstore. No nails, tacks, or other types of metals are to be nailed to the wall. Residents of Whitley, Niedfeldt and Benzing Residences and The Suites should see house directors for information on picture-hanging materials. Repair fees will be assessed for any infractions. Please see posted directives in the residences.
- Residents should not paint the room or furnishings. Do not mar or deface the furniture or other facilities within the residence hall. Do not use contact paper or hot glue on any surface. These acts are considered damage to the room, and repair fees will be assessed.
- Room furnishings must be restored to their original positions, with the room left reasonably clean when the student is permanently leaving the room and/or at the end of the semesters. This includes removing all perishable contents from refrigerators and removing trash from rooms before breaks and between semesters.
- Residents are not to remove window screens.
- Residents may not construct lofts in any residence unless the furniture design allows for multiple configurations. Residents of some halls may move their furniture with the house director’s approval.
- Residents share a collective responsibility for maintaining the common areas of the residence hall. The administration reserves the right to hold a residence hall, floor, or student responsible if there is damage or excessive trash inside or outside the residence hall.
Keys and Access to Residence Halls
- Each student will receive a room key and an outside door key (where applicable) when he/she first arrives.
- It is important that these keys are not lost. There is a replacement fee of $50 for a lost outside door key and $50 for a lost room key.
- All outside doors are locked at 12:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and at 1:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; after these times, the outside door key will be required for re-entrance, except for The Suites.
- All students must vacate their rooms during certain vacation periods. The times for vacating all College residences, including Greek houses, are announced by the Deans of Men and Women well in advance of the upcoming vacation. A $50 per night fine will be given to any student staying beyond or returning earlier than the prescribed times. Exemptions may be granted by the deans’ offices and must be secured a reasonable time prior to the vacation period. Extended Stay/Early Return forms can be obtained from your residence hall director or the deans’ offices. There is a $25 charge for each night of additional stay permitted by the deans.
Visitors
Students who wish to bring off-campus visitors into their residences need the permission of their house director. House directors may require the resident to complete a visitor form which would include the visitor’s contact information, the duration of the visit, and the roommate’s approval. Opposite sex visitors must also comply with the Opposite Sex Visitation Hours (see below).
Students are to be respectful of their roommates when they invite visitors into their room, even when the visitors are fellow students. Roommates are to communicate openly with each other about their expectations regarding visitors. If unresolved conflict should arise between roommates regarding visitors, the roommates are encouraged to seek the counsel of their resident advisor or house director.
Opposite Sex Visitation Hours in Residence Halls
Opposite sex visitation in students’ rooms is permitted during the times listed below.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. in all residences
Tuesday: 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. in women’s residences only
Wednesday: 7:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. in men’s residences only
Friday: 7:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. in all residences
Saturday: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. in all residences
Lobby visitation is permitted in all housing during the following times:
Sunday – Thursday: 12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Friday and Saturday: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Visitation at windows is not allowed, nor is exiting or entering through windows at any time.
Moving In
New students may move in between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 19, 2023. The Orientation schedule allows ample time for move-in, registration, and first-day activities before the formal program begins with Convocation on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Returning students may begin moving into their rooms at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2023. Classes begin Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
Dean of Women: (517) 607-2233
Dean of Men: (517) 607-2331
Vacation Hours
College housing is closed during certain vacation periods; therefore, students are required to vacate their rooms during these periods. The times for vacating college residences are listed below. It is important that students and parents are aware of these times and make necessary arrangements well in advance. A $50 per night charge will be added to the student’s bill if he or she stays beyond or returns earlier than the prescribed times without permission. Exemptions are granted for extenuating circumstances only. Students seeking permission to remain in an on-campus residence, including Greek houses, one additional night or to return one day early during a college break (e.g. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring, or Summer) due to extenuating circumstances must obtain an Extended-Stay Request Form and submit it to the appropriate dean’s office no later than two weeks before the break. The Extended-Stay Request Form can be obtained from the residence hall director and must be signed by both the residence hall director and the appropriate dean. A $25 fee will be charged to the student’s account for each night of extended stay.
Dates and times students must vacate residence halls:
Thanksgiving: November 21 by 5:30 p.m. (residence halls re-open at noon Sunday, November 26, 2023)
Christmas Break: December 9 by 5:30 p.m. (residence halls re-open at noon Sunday, January 14, 2024)
Spring Break: March 8 by 5:30 p.m. (residence halls re-open at noon Sunday, March 17, 2024)
Graduation/Final Exams: New students entering in August 2023 or January 2024 must vacate within 24 hours of last exam, or if last exam is on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, then by noon on Thursday, May 9. Special permission from the Dean’s Office (not house director or coach) is needed to stay past noon on Thursday, May 9. Food services end with lunch on Wednesday.
Checking In and Checking Out
Room condition checks will be conducted twice per academic year, one in the beginning and one at the end of the year. All rooms must be cleared of personal belongings, and all furniture is to be returned to its original position at time of departure. Students will incur a penalty if the room is not returned to its original condition.
Freshmen:
Room condition forms will be completed by the house director and/or resident assistant when the student checks out, which must be no later than noon the Thursday following the last day of finals, unless otherwise granted by the house director and deans.
Upperclassmen:
Room condition forms will be completed by the house director or resident assistant at the time of departure. For residents remaining on campus for graduation, room condition forms will be completed between 2:00–4:00 p.m. and 7:00–9:00 p.m. on the Thursday following finals. All belongings not needed for the remainder of the stay must be packed and neatly stacked in the hall, unless otherwise indicated by the house director.
Alcohol
- The possession and/or consumption of alcohol in college residences is strictly forbidden. This includes the storage of alcoholic beverages or empty containers of alcoholic beverages. Hillsdale College recognizes that some national Greek fraternities do permit the possession, consumption, or storage of alcoholic beverages in chapter houses and does permit them to abide by the rules from their national fraternity under most circumstances.
- No beer, wine or other liquor signs may be displayed in windows, doors, or hung from ceilings.
Marijuana
- Use, possession, distribution or being in the presence of any amount of marijuana, THC, or other cannabinoid products in college residences is strictly forbidden and is a serious violation of the Regulations for Proper Student Conduct. The possession of drug paraphernalia, such as pipes, bongs, vape pens, or e-cigarettes, are strictly forbidden.
- No marijuana, THC, cannabinoid products, vape pen, or e-cigarette signs may be displayed in windows, doors, or hung from ceilings.
Forbidden Items
Firearms, knives, explosives, fireworks, dangerous chemicals, drugs, drug paraphernalia (including hookahs), vaping equipment, e-cigarettes, and weapons (this includes items such as pellet guns, BB guns, paint guns, tasers, airsoft guns, bows and arrows, metal tipped darts, etc.) are not allowed in students’ rooms. The College reserves the right to confiscate forbidden items until alternate arrangements can be made.
- Road signs, street markers, or other articles from a municipality are not allowed. Fines will be assessed for possession of any municipal property.
- Couches are not to be kept in students’ rooms. One, one-seat chair is allowed per room, in addition to the two desk chairs already in the room.
- Candles or incense of any type (including new and/or unopened) are not allowed in students’ rooms.
- Pets or animals are not allowed in College facilities. This includes aquariums, fish tanks, reptiles, ant farms, etc.
- All electrical appliances are prohibited in students’ rooms except for popcorn poppers, small hot pots, and small coffee makers. All residences have microwave ovens and toasters in the common area for residents to use.
- Halogen lights, space heaters, window or portable air conditioners, or lava lamps are not permitted in the residences.
- Bicycles or motorized bikes may not be kept in residences. They must be parked in racks located near each residence or within storage areas if designated by house directors.
- Obscene, lewd, pornographic, or indecent displays are inappropriate in all College housing.
- Liquid bleach is not permitted in any residence hall.
- Live Christmas trees.
General Rules
- Fire drills and tornado procedures are held periodically in all housing units.
- For safety and cleanliness, mattresses must remain on beds.
- If a student becomes ill, he/she is to report to the house director who, in turn, will report said illness to the appropriate dean’s office. The deans’ offices do not provide excused absences but allow the student’s professors to determine the validity of the excuse. The student is responsible for contacting his/her professors during the illness. The house directors will bring or arrange to bring ill students a food tray from the dining hall.
- Students accommodating guests must follow the [above] policies regarding visitors.
- Students are to be aware of their use of language, avoiding profanity and obscenity.
- All persons using the residence hall lobbies, classrooms, or other College facilities shall be in appropriate attire at all times.
- There are to be no unofficial room or roommate changes. All requests must be handled through the house director and the appropriate dean’s office.
- Students are not permitted to smoke within any residence halls, including common areas. This includes e-cigarettes, vapor pens, etc.
Housekeeping
Specific requests can be made in writing and left on the housekeeping door.
Appliances Available for Student Use
Each residence hall has at least one microwave and toaster available for common use. Washers and dryers are also available for student use in each residence hall.
Liability for Personal Items
Students’ personal property is not covered by College insurance, and the College assumes no responsibility for the property’s damage or loss. All students are reminded to be certain of their insurance coverage under their parents’ home owners’ policy (or a comparable policy) before enrolling in Hillsdale College.