Residence Hall Policies

Decorating your room, suite or apartment is a personal preference and can have an impact on your living experience while at Kutztown University. Please keep in mind how decorations can affect you, your roommate, guests and other members of the community you live in.

Click here to view the Decoration Policy.

Your safety, as well as the safety of all residents and property, is of paramount importance. All of the residence halls at Kutztown University conform to fire and safety standards as established by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The actions of the occupants are equally important in maintaining the fire safety of the building.

Click here to view the Fire Safety Policy.

Behavior that would reasonably be considered inappropriate conduct for a residence hall community and not addressed in other specific policies is prohibited. Horseplay, pranks, the making of messes, or any other action which damages property or disturbs others will be considered inappropriate for the residence hall environment and surrounding area.

At hall closing times, all residents are required to follow the written procedures for check-outs that are made available by the hall staff. Those who fail to check out in accordance with these guidelines will receive a formal housing violation.

Each resident is responsible for their assigned keys and/or pin codes. Any resident who improperly uses and/or abuses these items will be subject to disciplinary action through the Kutztown University Student Conduct Services and/or PA State law. Resident will be charged a monetary fee for the replacement of keys and/or pin codes if necessary.

Individuals within the campus community are allergic to latex. Latex balloons are not permitted indoors on campus. Latex balloons placed outdoors can also cause allergies because the latex can be spread by wind. Therefore, please use good judgment in the quantity of balloons used outdoors.

The only pets permitted in the residence halls and apartments are goldfish or tropical fish. They must be kept in self-sustaining fish bowls or aquariums, with a maximum of 10 gallons of water for habitation. Piranhas are not permitted. When the residence halls and apartments are closed for periods of more than four days, fish must be taken home. If you bring your fish to live with you on campus, you must inform your Resident Director.

Any student organization that wishes to post signs or publicity in a residential building must gain permission from Residence Life and Housing & Dining Services Offices. Distribution of approved items will be handled centrally from the main office in Old Main 106.

The major ingredient for any successful group living arrangement is consideration. Consideration for others prevents many problems, especially in the area of excessive noise. Since residence halls and apartments must be quiet enough to allow students to study and sleep, quiet hours are in effect 24 hours a day.

In order to maintain quiet in the halls and apartments, quiet hours are strongly enforced Sunday through Friday, 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Consideration of others should also be observed Friday and Saturday, especially during the morning hours. Enforcement of quiet hours extends to outside of the halls and apartments, including any hall patio area, front entrance way, Bonner Hall, University Place and Dixon courtyards, Golden Bear Villages, and Honors Building breezeways and mailbox areas.

Student rooms may not be used for any commercial activity. The Residence Life and Housing & Dining Services Offices may permit some exceptions to this policy. If you would like further information about these exceptions, please contact the main office at Old Main 106.

In order to prevent prohibited items from being brought into the residence halls and apartments, the Residence Life and Housing & Dining Services staff may ask permission to search bags, trunks, suitcases, boxes, garbage cans, etc. If you refuse to show the contents, the staff may request that you leave the building. If you refuse to show the contents and refuse to leave, Public Safety will be contacted.

All Kutztown University buildings, including the residence halls, are designated as smoke free. The use of smoking devices or equipment that includes, but is not limited to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), vaporizers, hookahs, and pipes are strictly prohibited within the residence halls. Each building will have one entrance designated as an outdoor smoking area. Smoking is not permitted within twenty-five feet of any window or main entrance to a residence hall or apartment. Violators of this policy may jeopardize their on-campus status within the residence system.

The Office of Residence Life, Housing, and Dining Services at Kutztown University promotes a safe environment, which encourages responsible decision making by members of the community. Recognizing student rights and responsibilities, as well as the role of the department in fostering student development, the Visitation Policy of the Residence Life, Housing, and Dining Services Office at Kutztown University consists of gradual levels of student responsibility based on class rank, education and individual preferences. Students can have a visitor pass created for their visitor by visiting the front desk of their residence hall. Non-KU visitors must complete the New Visitor Registration form before coming to campus (more details in the Visitation Policy).

Click here to view the Visitation Policy.