Residence Life Policies

The Campus Housing and Residence Life program seeks to enhance the aims of Trinity’s educational program by providing a living environment that is conducive to academic progress, personal growth and development. Living on campus is a privilege and carries with it responsibility to respect the rights of those who live within the resident community. The Residence Life staff includes Resident Coordinators and Resident Directors who have overall responsibility for their floor and building, including maintenance, discipline, and the overall well-being of residents. The Resident Life staff work with the Director of Campus Housing and the Vice President for Student Affairs to create programs and provide for the overall management of the residents and their needs.

All students in all programs at Trinity are expected to uphold a way of life that embraces personal integrity and responsibility, the foundation of the Honor System. The Honor System reflects the core of Trinity’s values as an institution concerned with moral as well as intellectual education. The Honor System has been part of Trinity since 1913, and is the foundation of Trinity’s moral life in community. The Honor System reflects a personal commitment on the part of all members of the community to individual integrity and shared trust; hence it also reflects a community commitment to abide by University policies, rules, and regulations. Upon joining the Trinity community, each student agrees to adhere to the following:

“I realize the responsibility involved in membership in the Trinity Washington University community. I agree to abide by the rules and regulations of this community. I also affirm my intention to live according to the standards of honor, to which lying, stealing, and cheating are opposed. I will help others to maintain this responsibility in all matters essential to the common good of the community.”

The policies cited below demonstrate our effort to help all students understand and learn to live within the expectations of the Honor System.

Room Selection and Housing Agreement

All students who live in residence must sign a Housing Agreement, which specifies the essential contractual obligations of Trinity and the resident. A student who does not wish to sign the housing agreement may not live on campus.

Each Spring, students who wish to live in residence for the following year participate in a Room Lottery to select rooms for the coming academic year.  Students must be registered for the Fall and be in good academic and disciplinary standing to participate in the lottery.

Furnishings

Each student room is equipped with two single beds, mattress and box spring or spring frame, or single bed in a single room; clothes dressers, desks and chairs, and book shelves. Students may bring lamps, computer tables/desks, and other small tables for workspace. Students may not bring their own beds, dressers, or other furniture, nor may they remove or exchange furniture. A Room Condition form, filled out by every Resident at the beginning of each academic year, lists all room items and provides the Resident with the opportunity to describe the condition of the room and its contents. Upon check-out, appropriate charges for any damages will be assessed.

Appliances and other major items

Students may have small refrigerators no larger than three cubic feet, but only one refrigerator to a room. The electrical capacity of all student residence halls at the University is limited because of the high volume of users and concerns for fire safety. Students may bring typical electrical items such as lamps (but not halogen lamps), fans, hair dryers and curling irons, clocks, radios, television, stereo equipment and computer equipment. Microwave ovens, halogen lamps and electronic exercise equipment, such as Treadmills, etc., are strictly prohibited. See the Housing Agreement for a complete list of prohibited items and review suggestions on what to bring and not to bring to campus here.

Public Spaces/Lounges

Each Residence is equipped with a lounge considered to be public space. Furnishings in these public spaces may not be removed for any reason; removal is considered a conduct infraction.

Guests and Visitation Policy

Unlike a private apartment or home, a Trinity student’s room is part of an educational institution that includes many other individuals in residence, and Trinity has an obligation to protect the safety and privacy of all, while also ensuring that the living environment is conducive to the student’s primary purpose at Trinity, which is to study and learn.  As a women’s college, Trinity is particularly concerned to be sure that the women who choose to live on campus are able to enjoy their privacy without intrusion.

Every student has a right to privacy and the enjoyment of her room, and guests of her roommate or other students may not infringe this right.  The resident’s right prevails in any case, in which a guest infringes on student privacy and enjoyment of the residence hall.  Because Trinity is an educational institution that expects all resident students to have a primary commitment to studying and learning, Trinity restricts visitation hours in all residence halls, and reserves the right to suspend visitation privileges entirely as necessary.

Until October 1, FIRST YEAR students residing in Cuvilly Hall may not entertain outside guests in their room or in the Residence Hall.  After October 1, Trinity may grant limited visiting privileges to first year residents based upon an assessment of their readiness to accept this responsibility.

Beginning on the first day of CAS classes each semester, Upperclass residents in all buildings may entertain outside guests in their rooms during posted visiting hours or in open public spaces at other times.

Residents must sign-in all guests, male and female, at the security desks, and residents must escort their guests at all times.  Guests who are not signed in, or who are left alone in the Residence Halls, will be asked to vacate the premises.  A guest is defined as any student who does not have a current signed housing agreement with Trinity Washington University.  Residents are responsible for the conduct of their guests, and guests are expected to follow all the rules and regulations of the Trinity.  Any violation of these may result in a guest being banned from the campus and the Resident will be subject to disciplinary action.

Please note:  Resident students may not have more than one guest at a time, and no minor children are permitted in student rooms.  Visitation hours and procedures for guests are available at: https://discover.trinitydc.edu/campus-housing/visitation-protocols/ 

Quiet Hours

There are 24-hour courtesy hour always in effect. Quiet hours are enforced from 10:00pm – 10:00am daily. During finals week, quiet hours are maintained 24 hours per day.

Students who continuously fail to maintain appropriate quiet hours or disrupt community living will be documented for disciplinary action.

Security

Safety is a primary concern for the entire University community. Trinity employs 24-hour-security personnel who make regular rounds throughout the campus. In any emergency, resident students should first notify their Residence Coordinator and/or Residence Coordinator on duty. Resident students should not place calls directly to the police or fire department. All students may dial 9111 on any campus phone to reach Public Safety. All emergencies, either medical or safety, should be reported to the Residence Coordinator.

Campus safety, and safety in the residence halls, is in large measure the responsibility of each Resident. Signing in guests, escorting guests at all times, and making sure that others are following this simple rule will assure some measure of safety. Residents are encouraged to practice “Residence Watch” in the same spirit of “Neighborhood Watch,” by reporting any strange persons or behavior, by making sure doors that should be closed and locked are, and by reporting any needed repairs or other things that might breach security.

Keys, Lock-outs and Fines

Each Resident receives a key for her individual room and for the front door of the building in which she resides. Students are expected to keep their keys with them at all times and are encouraged to lock their room doors at all times.

Lost keys must be reported to the Office of Campus Housing immediately. If a Resident loses her keys, the student will be charged for replacement. In the event that the student is locked out of their room due to a lost or misplaced key, or because her key is locked in the room, the resident must contact the Campus Housing Staff person on duty for assistance.

Meal Plan

All residents must participate in the meal plan. Meal plans are available for 285, 210, or 150 meals per-week. All first-year students are required to take one of the 285-meal-plan for the first year of residency. Students are not permitted to take cafeteria utensils (plates, cups, glasses, etc.) to their rooms. Students who need a meal brought to them because of illness should check with the Director of Health and Wellness so that arrangements can be made. There is a Food Service Committee formed for the purpose of helping to maintain a high quality of food service. Students interested in serving on the Food Service Committee should check with the Director of Campus Housing for information on meeting times and days. The Meal Plan does NOT include for meals during breaks (e.g. Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring Break).

Requests for exceptions must be submitted in writing to the Director of Health and Wellness (medical reasons) and The Dean of Student Services (religious reasons) with proper documentation.  No changes to meal plans are permitted after the University’s Add/Drop deadline (see academic Academic Calendar).

Alcohol and Drug Policy:

Alcohol is not permitted in any residence hall or student room. Students may not drink in lounges, their cars or on the parking lots or anywhere else on campus. Trinity does not serve alcohol at student functions, and no student organization may serve alcohol at any party or meeting on campus. Guests may not bring alcohol onto Trinity’s campus and students are responsible to make sure that their guests abide by Trinity’s policies.

Fire Safety

All residents must know and abide by the rules of fire safety, including participating in all fire drills and following fire safety directions.

The following items are strictly prohibited from student rooms:

A. Candles, oil lamps or open flame of any kind;
B. Halogen lamps;
C. Air Conditioners (except those provided by Trinity);
D. Alcohol, turpentine, paint thinner, or other flammable materials;
E. Fireworks and sparklers;
F. Incense;
G. Hot Plates, Coils, or cooking equipment of any kind;

Smoking is prohibited in all buildings on campus.

Violation of the fire safety rules will result in immediate dismissal from residence.

Prohibited Activities

In addition to the fire safety prohibitions, the following activities are prohibited in all residence halls and generally on campus:

A. Possessing guns, gun paraphernalia, weapons of any kind;
B. Possessing explosive devices or components;
C. Having pets or animals of any kind;
D. Alcohol possession or consumption;
E. Engaging in any form of drug-related activity;
F. Engaging in any kind of illegal activity;
G. Gambling;
H. Selling goods or services;
I. Political or religious proselytizing;

Violation of these rules may result in immediate dismissal from residence, and possibly from enrollment at Trinity Washington University.

Judicial Policies and Governance in the Residence Halls

In addition to rules and regulations listed in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, residents are also bound to those policies established by the Housing Agreement. The Residence Coordinators will handle minor infractions of Residence Life policies. For more serious infractions, students will be referred to the Director of Campus Housing and/or the Dean of Students.

Trinity Washington University may take a range of disciplinary actions including, but not limited to, dismissal from residence, in any case in which the student violates the terms and conditions of the Housing Agreement. Trinity can require counseling and proof of successful medical treatment as a condition for readmission to residence, and such counseling or treatment may be a condition of continued residence. Among the obligations the Housing Agreement imposes on students is that of ensuring that the safety and security of the Residence Hall and the students therein are not jeopardized by an action or omission of a resident or a resident’s guest.