Housing Policies

Students residing in non-air-conditioned facilities are not permitted to bring their own air-conditioner unit to campus. However, students with a documented medical condition or disability may be approved for air conditioning by submitting documentation from the student’s family doctor to the Bailey Health Center. Once approved, the student will be directed to Facilities Operations to complete the process.  Only Facilities Operations Staff is permitted to install AC units in college-owned properties.

Students who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older are permitted to possess and consume single-serving alcoholic beverages in the privacy of their residence hall rooms (and suite/apartment common areas, if all occupants are over 21).  Regardless of age, open containers of alcohol are not permitted in building lounges or other common areas or outside on College property unless advance permission is granted through the Events with Alcohol policy (Student Handbook). Lafayette College supports all laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Students who violate these laws are also subject to citation by campus or Easton police officers in addition to College sanctions.

You are welcome to bring a bike to campus.  Bicycles may only be stored in individual student rooms or on the outdoor bike racks provided at various locations around campus.  Bicycles left in other locations are subject to removal and being discarded.

Your Pard Card (student ID) and room key is issued specifically to you for access to approved buildings and your assigned room.  For the safety and security of the campus community, these items must not be loaned out nor should access be granted to non-residents.

Lost  keys must be immediately reported to Office of Public Safety.  There is a lock change charge for key replacement. Failure to return a key at move-out will result in a $100 fine in addition to the lock change fee.  Complete description of the Lock and Key Policy appears on the Facilities Operations website.

Lost Pard cards should be immediately reported and there is a charge for relacement.  For additional details, see the Pard Card website.

Community Standards are behavioral expectations for living in our residential, academic community.   These standards, which include expectations regarding cleanliness, common spaces usage, and noise, support a clean and respectful living environment in which all students are able to flourish.  In order for these to be successful, it is important for residents to take responsibility for their own behavior and to hold each other accountable to these expectations.

Within your room, you may not use appliances that have open heating elements (e.g. toaster, sandwich grill, coffee pot) or a microwave, with the exception of a Microfridge unit.  Microfridge units may be rented or purchased.

All buildings have at least one kitchen or common cooking area.  These spaces commonly include a sink, microwave, stove top, or stove/oven.  For safety reasons, you must never leave cooking food unattended.  As a courtesy to other residents, when you finish preparing your food, you are expected to clean and remove all personal cooking items (dishes, pots, etc.) and discard waste.

When hallways, bathrooms, lounges, lounge furniture, and other public facilities in a residence hall receive undue abuse, the residents of that area are expected to assist in identifying the responsible individual(s). When those responsible cannot be identified, all residents may be required to pay a prorated share toward repairing such damages.

Students may file an anonymous report to assist in identifying those who are responsible for community damage.

Regardless of cause, damage or loss to personal items in your room, storage closets, or other areas in College housing are not covered under the college’s insurance policy.

For coverage, consult your family homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy or consider purchasing personal property insurance.

Opening and closing dates are determined according to the academic calendar and published in advance.  During the fall and spring semesters, college housing opens two days before the first day of classes, remains open during all breaks, and closes the last day of final exams (or commencement for graduating seniors).  Groups may be approved for an earlier move-in to allow for participation in programs or activities.  Individual early arrival and extended stay requests are by application and subject to approval and fees.  Fines for improper move-in/move-out will be assessed to students who do not adhere to their approved arrival and departure dates.  Please consult the housing calendar for details.

Items may not be affixed to or hung from sprinkler system hardware or taped over any fire safety device. Fire extinguishers mounted in common areas should remain untouched unless needed in an emergency. Anyone identified as tampering with a fire apparatus is subject to fines and disciplinary action.

Each time the fire alarm sounds, you must evacuate the residence halls and move to a location away from the building. After the alarm is silenced, permission to re-enter the building will be given by the fire department or Public Safety officials. In addition, all hallways, stairwells, and entryways must be kept clear of personal belongings, furniture, etc. to permit safe egress.

All furniture provided by the College must remain within your residence.  It cannot be stored elsewhere or brought outside.  You are responsible for any damage beyond the normal wear and tear.  You may bring in your own furniture with the understanding that it must be removed upon your departure. Personal furniture may not be left in your residence for a future resident. The College is not responsible for items/furniture left in the residences after move-out.

You are permitted to have overnight guests in College housing with advance permission from your roommates. Even if you live in a single bedroom, you must register your overnight guests with the Public Safety Office if your guest is not a currently enrolled Lafayette College student.  Regardless of whether guests are non-Lafayette students or other currently enrolled students, the host student is responsible for the conduct of their guests, including damages caused by them.  Overnight guests must be at least 16 years old.

If you get locked out of your room and your keys/PARD card are inside, contact the Office of Public Safety for re-entry. There is a fee for this service.

The College requires all students to enroll in a College meal plan. Options vary based on student class year and housing assignment.  See Finance website for details.

You may have pet fish in no larger than a 10 gallon aquarium.  Any other animals are not permitted in College housing (even to visit) with the exception of those approved through the office of accessibility services and service animals.

Each residential community includes a public posting area where students or college recognized organizations may post flyers and ads.  Postings must use approved fasteners (3M products or poster putty on walls, staples or push pins on bulletin boards.  No duct tape) and must adhere to the College’s Policy on Distribution of Literature (Appendix VII).  The flyer must include the name of the sponsoring organization and the date of the event or deadline. Posting is not permitted on the exterior doors or any other surface or area.  Improperly posted and expired flyers will be removed. The office of residence life has the right to refuse or remove any advertising within the residence halls that does not support the goals and objectives of the department or the College.

For fire safety reasons, there are several types of items not permitted in the residence halls.  Please do not bring wax burners or candles – even for decoration. Also prohibited are microwaves (unless part of a Microfridge unit) and any appliance with an opening heating element (e.g. toaster, traditional coffee maker).  For full description of items that you should not bring to campus, please see the Housing Contract and the Student Handbook.

In order to support communal sleeping/studying environments, universal residence hall quiet hours are in effect 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays and midnight to 10 a.m. on weekends. Courtesy hours are in effect at all times which means noise can addressed at any time of day if it is disruptive to the daily activities of residents. No sound equipment may be placed in or near open windows.  During final exam period, 24-hour quiet hours are in effect.

During each year of their enrollment, all students are required to live in College housing unless they apply and are approved to 1) commute from their parents/guardians’ home or 2) reside in a private off-campus house or apartment (seniors only by approval).

Students are not permitted to access roofs, ledges, basements, attics, mechanical closets, or other restricted areas.  Windows may not be used as non-emergency means to exit or enter a room or building.  All attics and basements of college-owned residences are locked and are not available or permitted for storage or student use.

Facilities Operations is responsible for the upkeep and repair of the residence halls.  Students are expected to  maintain the condition of their room and College-supplied furnishings and promptly report facilities concerns at move-in and throughout occupancy.  More details can be found on the Facilities Operations website.

To insure students’ safety and privacy, the College has strict guidelines governing promotions or sales on campus. Door-to-door solicitation from either external or internal entities is prohibited and should be reported immediately. This prohibition includes fundraising by College organizations.

All residence halls and off-campus houses are smoke-free; including e-cigarettes. If you wish to smoke, you must go outside and stand away from building entrances and ground-floor windows.  Cigarette butts should be discarded in designated smoker stations.