Residence Hall Policies
Prior to your arrival our staff has inspected your room to verify that the items in the room are in what we consider “excellent” or “good” condition. Throughout the year it is your responsibility to maintain your room and furniture to the level it was when you moved in. It is also your responsibility to be knowledgeable about the policies of the residence halls, what is permitted, and what is not permitted. Below you will find more information about policies for all residential spaces on campus.
All students are also encouraged to review the information provided on the Fire Safety page.
Capitalized terms used in this document shall have the meaning as defined in the Housing and Dining Services Contract. The policies listed below, and referenced in this document, are incorporated by reference into the Housing and Dining Services Contract.
- Quiet Hours: Within the residence halls, each roommate has equal rights to inhabit the space and to have reasonable privacy and peace in that space. To this end, quiet hours are established during which excessive noise and disturbances are prohibited.
- Quiet hours are to be observed at the following times: Sunday through Thursday 11:00 pm – 8:00 am, Friday and Saturday 1:00 am -9:00 am. A period of 24-hour quiet time will be in effect during the last week of each term. This will begin the final Sunday of the term at 5:00pm and continue through the remainder of the term.
- Courtesy quiet hours are in effect at all times and are defined as times during which students are to consider the impact of their music, noise, etc. on other members of the community.
- Alcohol: If you are under the age of twenty-one (21), you cannot possess empty alcohol bottles or cans as decoration. You shall not, regardless of age, display alcohol or empty bottles/cans in residence hall windows. If you are over the age of twenty-one (21), you may possess up to one (1) 12-pack of beer, or one (1) liter of wine, or one (1) liter of liquor (80 proof maximum) in your room or apartment at any given time.
- Lockouts: Should you find you are locked out of your space during WPI business hours, Monday-Friday between 8am-5pm (not a designated holiday or other days that WPI is closed), you should come to the Housing & Residential Experience Center in East Hall and sign out a loaner key. After WPI business hours, you will need to call Campus Police in order to be let into your space. For each lockout responded to by Campus Police, your account will be billed $15.
- Snow & Ice Removal: In Graduate Housing, you are required to remove snow and ice from exterior stairwells, walkways, and sidewalks, including city sidewalks, around the house in the event of a snowstorm. Ice melt has been provided for students to utilize to de-ice sidewalks, walkways, porches, and stairwells.
At the discretion of a WPI official, you may be required to remove items in your space including but not limited to the items below.
- The following is prohibited in any residence hall and will be confiscated whether or not they are in use:
- Kerosene, gasoline, or other flammable liquids.
- Flammable covers, paper shades, and decorations on the light fixtures.
- Space heaters and halogen lamps.
- Incense and/or candles (whether lit or unlit), scented lamps, and open flame devices of any kind, except for cigarette lighters and matches.
- Extension cords that do not have a built in surge protector.
- Any lights used for decorative purposes must be UL listed, interior lights, may not be used as extension cords, or multiple strands connected to one another.
- Grills (unless arranged through Dining Services) and fire pits of any kind.
- 3D Printers.
- Refrigerators larger than 4.3 cubic feet and/ or use more than 120 volts (2 amps) of electricity.
- Toaster ovens, hot plates, hot pots, George Foreman style grills, electric skillets or any other appliance without a thermostat/automatic shut off.
- Hover-boards
- Live trees, bushes and similar plant life.
- Pets: Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and Service Animals are the only animals permitted in residence halls if they have been approved and documented by the Office of Accessibility Services
- The following is not permitted in any residence hall facility:
- Painting of walls in or outside of residence halls.
- Removing screens and windows. Throwing or hanging any items out of windows.
- Stereo equipment or speakers directed out of windows.
- Being on the roof of any residence hall.
- Sports or similar activities in the lounges, residential corridors, stairwells, or any public area of the residence hall facility.
- Antennas attached or hung from any residence hall.
- Bicycles, mopeds or motorcycles stored in common areas or stairwells. Bicycles may be stored in your space with the permission of all roommates.
- Personal furniture, including bringing your own bed into a residence hall without authorization from the Housing & Residential Experience Center and Office of Accessibility Services.
- Personal air conditioners
- Storage of personal belongings in common areas.
- Any commercial purpose or activities.
- Hanging anything from the ceiling, fire equipment, or pipes in the space on fire safety equipment or light fixtures.
- Bed lofts are not permitted. Beds that are lofted by the university are not permitted to be de-lofted, unless approved by the Housing & Residential Experience Center.
- Furniture set up in a way that creates an increased risk to fire safety, this includes blocking egresses, unsafe stacking/placement.
- Temporary or permanent structures that are affixed to University issued furniture are strictly prohibited.
- Adding your own personal room locking device or tampering with existing room locking devices.
- Using your room as a lab/academic work space with tools that could cause harm if used incorrectly.