Residence Procedures

Admission/Readmission

Readmission to residence is based on a random lottery. Information on residence draws (including how they operate and when they are held) will be posted in each Residence. Those who are successful in the initial draws, and those who wish to remain eligible for waiting list offers, must hand in their applications by a well-advertised deadline date. Offers of admission will then be made up to the number of places available to fill the returning component in each building. A waiting list will be established from the draw results and will be used throughout the summer and the academic year.

If the demand for residence rooms exceeds available spaces, students will be accepted into each residence as follows:

Bernardine Hall: 40% returning residents; 60% new first-year students
Blanchard Hall: 60% returning residents; 30% residents from Bernardine 10% new mature students
Andrew Hall: 60% returning students; 40% new first-year students

Residence Services reserves the right to: (1) balance upper-year/first-year populations and male/female ratios in residence buildings and on residence floors; (2) allocate rooms independent of this process under special circumstances (i.e., physically disabled students); (3) deny applications for readmittance to the Residence Life Program.

Room/Apartment Occupancy

To maintain the consistency of the terms outlined in the Residence Life Agreement and the student’s rights within residence community,

Only individuals who have been accepted into the Residence Life Program, signed this agreement, paid the designated fees and checked into Residence shall occupy Residence spaces. (Section 19; Residence Life Agreement)

Guests (i.e., family or friends) of a residence student are not permitted to occupy a residence space unless as stated within the guidelines of the residence Guest policy. Failure to comply with this policy may result in the evaluating of the residence student’s living arrangement by UPEI Residence Management. This evaluation could result in requesting the student to leave residence within a scheduled time period (financial obligations will be discussed on a case-by-case basis).

Procedures for Community Standards Violations

Students are responsible for their own behaviour and conduct, as well as that of their guests. In order to assist all residents of Bernardine Hall, Blanchard Hall, and Andrew Hall to be successful in community living, the following protocols have been established:

1. All residents are expected to read and understand the On-line Residence Life Handbook;

2. Prior to moving into Residence, all residents are required to sign a Residence Life Agreement indicating that they have read and understood the Residence Life Handbook;

3. All residents are required to participate in a floor meeting at the beginning of the first semester where the essential community norms, guidelines, and rules are explained and discussed by Resident Life Advisors;

4. RLAs will make personal contact with each resident during the first week on campus. During this time, the RLA will review policies and procedures and ascertain that the resident fully understands the expectations for behaviour within the community.

Residence Life Behaviour Policy

This policy is in effect for all UPEI residents and exists for the benefit of all students. This policy applies in all UPEI residence facilities and covers the behaviour of residents and their guests while in any Residence Life facility.

The On-line Residence Life Handbook 2010-2011 clearly describes the various policies and behavioural code of conduct that apply to students living in residence. Each resident is responsible for learning and following these policies. Questions about the various policies and guidelines should be addressed to Residence Life staff. While Residence Life provides written guidelines and policies to each resident, it is possible that during the course of the year a student may forget the various policies, or for some other reason behave in a way that is not in compliance with the stated policies. When this happens, the following procedures will be followed:

1. On first offense, a Resident Life Advisor (RLA) will discuss the situation with the student, and document it in the RLA service report for that day. The RLA discusses the specific rule/policy that the student is violating and checks that the student understands. The RLA also ensures that the offensive behaviour is corrected (i.e., noise turned down, glass bottles removed from the hall, garbage or debris removed from the hall). Any individual discussion with an RLA related to violation of a particular rule should be understood as a verbal warning to the resident, and the resident should adjust his/her behaviour accordingly in the future.

2. On the second offense, the student is issued a written warning by the RLA. The written warning indicates the specific rule/policy that the student has violated. In addition, a behaviour bond for $100 is placed on the student’s account, indicating that if the student violates the same (or a related) rule or policy again (i.e., a noise policy or an alcohol-related policy), the bond will be executed and the $100 will be charged directly to the student’s account.This written warning and behaviour bond is signed by the student, the RLA, and the Residence Life Coordinator.

3. On the third offense, the behaviour bond is executed and the student’s account is charged $100. A meeting is held among the student, the Residence Life Coordinator, and at least two RLAs from the building (preferably all of the RLAs in the building will be in attendance). At the meeting, the nature of the offense(s) is discussed, and the student signs a behavioural contract, stipulating that if he or she violates ANY other University or Residence Life policy in any of the Residence Life facilities, he or she will be evicted from Residence Life. All RLAs in the residence are notified of this in writing.

4. If a student under a behavioural contract violates any other Residence Life policy in any of the Residence Facilities, he or she will be evicted from Residence Life.

The above procedure serves as an overlay to all other Residence Life policies and procedures. For example, if a student causes physical damage to University property, his/her account is charged the appropriate amount to repair the damage and the appropriate disciplinary step is taken. If a student behaves in a way that may cause harm to self or others, the appropriate safety measures are taken (medical assistance or security is summoned), and the appropriate disciplinary action is taken. In extreme cases (or those that involve violation of criminal law), the Residence Office may waive the steps outlined in this policy and move to evict the student. Possible consequences for serious offenses include behavioural contracts, educational sanctions, and/or eviction from residence without refund.

The ultimate goal of Residence Life is to provide an environment in which students are able to pursue academic success, engage in fun and social activities that promote the development of lasting relationships, and explore opportunities for personal growth. This procedure is in keeping with this goal and provides an opportunity for student leaders and students alike to participate in the development of a self-governing community.