WELLESLEY COLLEGE HOUSING AGREEMENT
SUMMER AND ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-2025
This Housing Agreement (“Agreement”) provides for the occupancy of an assigned accommodation in campus operated housing and is a binding agreement between you, the Student, and Wellesley College (“College”), and governs your occupancy for the terms specified above. Students may not take up residence prior to the opening dates in either fall or spring terms. All personal belongings must be removed from College property by noon following the last day of final exams.
RESIDENTIAL STUDENT: As a residential student, new to or returning to College housing, you understand that this Agreement is for the fall and/or spring terms.
ROOM CHARGES: Unless otherwise specified, this Agreement covers the fall and/or spring terms and applies to the term(s) in which you are assigned residential housing. By signing this Agreement, you agree to pay the housing rate as published by the College.
ROOM ASSIGNMENTS: The Office of Residential Life and Housing has the sole right to make room assignments in campus housing, determine the occupancy of any room, fill any vacancies, consolidate room assignments and approve room changes. ORLH may change a student’s room assignment at any time if the College feels it is in its own best interest or in the best interest of the student. Each Fall and Spring semester, ORLH will identify spaces that require consolidation and determine a plan to increase room availability. The consolidation process is likely to require student relocation. Student residents are required to comply with relocation, within an agreed upon time frame, when deemed necessary by ORLH. A person who has not been assigned a room by the College is not permitted to reside in campus housing. Reassignment of housing, at the request of the student or the College, does not constitute a termination of the Housing Agreement.
RULES AND REGULATIONS; AGREEMENT: You agree to abide by all rules and regulations established by ORLH, the Division of Student Life, and the individual living units relating to your assigned accommodation. All housing policies are available through the College’s website and in hard copy upon request. This Agreement goes into effect when your signed Agreement is received by ORLH.
By affixing your electronic or written signature to this Agreement, you acknowledge and agree that you have read and understand the terms and conditions specified in this Agreement (including the terms and conditions specified on page two) and agree to them.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. GENERAL: The college grants to the Student the personal right, license and privilege to occupy and use an assigned accommodation in college housing together with at least a bed, desk, dresser and chair situated therein on the date the Student takes possession of the accommodation, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (including those terms and conditions specified on page one of this Agreement).
2. IMMUNIZATION STANDARDS: The college requires all students entering to show proof of immunization. A failure to meet immunization requirements may prevent the Student from checking in and/or being asked to vacate housing.
3. SMOKE-FREE LIVING POLICY: By policy, the residential areas within the campus housing system are smoke-free living environments. The smoking or vaping of tobacco or any other substance in residential areas by the residents is prohibited. Residents are responsible for ensuring that any violation of this policy is reported to the proper college authorities. It is Massachusetts state law to be beyond 20 feet from a building to smoke.
4. KEYS: All keys issued to the Student by ORLH and are the property of the college and cannot be exchanged with or given to another person. If the Student departs prior to the end of the term of this Agreement, the Student must return all keys, including Student ID card access, to Housing within 24 hours of vacating their assigned space or a fee (as published by ORLH) will be assessed to cover costs of a lock change and key replacements. Students may not duplicate residential keys under any circumstances. Students are charged for lock-outs at rates as published on the ORLH website.
5. CUSTODIAL: The college will provide regular bathroom cleaning for all communal bathroom facilities and public areas of the residence halls. Students residing in apartments or accommodations with private bathrooms are responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms.
6. MEAL PLANS: As a residential student at Wellesley, you are required to hold a meal plan through campus dining unless determined exempt by Accessibility & Disability Resources.
7. ACCESSIBILITY AND DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION: Medical or disability needs to alter this Agreement will be evaluated by the Housing Accommodations Review Committee to be convened by the Office of Accessibility and Disability Resources.
8. PROHIBITED USES AND ACTIVITIES: None of the following are permitted in student accommodations: water beds, refrigerators larger than 4.3 cubic feet, unauthorized air conditioners, unauthorized home-constructed loft units, unauthorized animals, exterior radio/television aerials, controlled substances, ammunition or other explosives, firearms or other weapons, and highly combustible substances. Students interested in seeking exceptions to this policy may contact ORLH. Tampering with a smoke detector will result in a charge for the cost of repair or replacement
9. RIGHT OF ENTRY: Whenever a clear and present danger exists or whenever there is a breach of the College’s policies, rules or regulations, The College reserves the right for authorized representatives of the College to enter an accommodation to plan or perform necessary work. Only in response to an urgent/emergent need, entrance may occur without advanced notice. Every effort will be made to notify residents of entry in a timely manner. Wellesley maintenance will knock loudly and announce themselves, waiting for a response before entering a room. Should a room appear to be unoccupied and a prior maintenance work has been requested or identified as urgent, Wellesley maintenance staff will enter and lock the door upon the completion of their work in the space.
10. FURNITURE: College provided furniture, window screens, and other college furnishings are not to be removed from their assigned locations. Non-college furnishings must be removed from the accommodation at the close of term or when the Student leaves the college or campus housing. The College will not be responsible for furniture or other personal property left in an accommodation (see PERSONAL PROPERTY below).
11. RESIDENCE HALL DAMAGE: The Student is responsible for all damage in the assigned Residence Hall or loss of furniture or equipment therein caused directly or indirectly by the Student’s negligent or intentional acts or omissions and will be charged for the cost of any resulting repairs and/or replacements and/or custodial services not normally provided. The Student is also responsible for leaving the assigned area in reasonably clean condition (broom or vacuum swept with no articles of any kind left remaining in the accommodation) at the conclusion of occupancy. The College reserves the right to charge the Student a fee for custodial services not normally provided in the event that the assigned area is not left in a reasonably clean condition, free of articles. Further, unless responsible individual(s) are held accountable, each Student in the Residence Hall is jointly responsible for and will be charged a share of the cost of any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the Student’s negligent or intentional acts or omissions to the public and semi-public areas of their Residence Hall. This excludes ordinary wear and tear, and deferred maintenance accrued in buildings. Such damages are not the responsibility of the student.
12. PERSONAL PROPERTY: The Student is responsible and liable for, and shall hold the College harmless from, any and all injury and damage to persons or property caused, directly or indirectly, by the Student’s negligent or intentional acts or omissions (including injury or damage caused by Student’s defective property). The Student is responsible and liable for insuring the Student’s own personal property, including for losses due to fire, smoke, water and theft. The College is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage to the Student’s personal property and does not provide any property or liability insurance coverage for Student’s benefit. In the event that student belongings are damaged due to building infrastructure failure at no fault of the student (for example, water damage due to building leaks) the College will put forward a good faith effort to work with the student towards a solution for damages accrued. The College reserves the right to store at no liability for a limited period of time (for a period not to exceed 30 days), discard or donate personal property or any other belongings remaining in an accommodation after the accommodation has been assigned to another student or has not been vacated by a prescribed time. The college reserves the right to charge the Student a fee for any storage of personal property or other belongings provided by it.
13. RULES AND REGULATIONS: The Student must comply with the rules and regulations of the Residence Hall in which they reside and the College, which are now or hereafter in effect. These rules and regulations are specifically made part of this Agreement by reference. The right, license and privilege granted in this Agreement is subject to such additional rules and regulations governing the conduct of occupants of specific Residence Hall areas which are promulgated by the college and/or college-recognized student government groups. Violation of such rules and regulations or the terms of this Agreement may result in whatever disciplinary and punitive action the College believes is reasonable and warranted, including immediate cancellation of this Agreement, an Honor Code sanction, and removal of the Student from campus housing.
14. STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE: The College does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, the college does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders.