* This Contract is Binding for One Full Academic Year (unless a student goes on an approved leave of absence, is on study abroad, or graduates)*
THIS AGREEMENT made between Pitzer College, Claremont, California, hereafter called the “College” and the residential student identified immediately below, hereafter called “the Student”, and collectively called “the parties”
WHEREAS, the Student has been admitted to the College, and is now applying for on-campus room and board in College Housing (defined as the College’s on-campus residential buildings and the Claremont Collegiate Apartments); and
WHEREAS, the College will assign and bill housing to the Student in the College Housing system for the full academic year (August to May).
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and obligations herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
- General Housing Policy. Contingent upon available rooms in College Housing, the College’s Residence Life Office agrees to provide space to the Student in College Housing for the academic year (Fall and Spring). This contract is binding upon the parties hereto for the full academic year, or remaining portion thereof. Failure of the Student to complete the contract for any reason, unless released due to study abroad, leave of absence or off-campus housing approval, may result in a charge for the room for the entire year.
- Registered Students. Students must be actively enrolled (full or part-time) in the College currently and/or for the semester they are applying for housing in order to be assigned a space or participate in Housing Selection. Students returning from leave must declare an intent to return with the Registrar’s Office. If a student has selected a space, but is identified as an unregistered student, they will not be allowed to move into College Housing. Incoming students must pay their commitment deposit by May 1.
- Student Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct. Student agrees to follow all practices outlined within the student code of conduct, in particular, as it relates to residence life
- Universal Room Rate. All double and single occupancy assignments in Campus Housing will be charged equally. Single rooms on Main Campus are traditionally available to Seniors, Juniors, and students with approved accommodations. Single rooms at Claremont Collegiate Apartments (CCA) are available to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.
- Reservations and Assignments. Housing assignments for new students are made after receiving the College Deposit and all properly completed forms. Generally, room assignments for new students will be emailed to the Student’s College email address in late July. Returning students in good standing choose their room during Housing Selection. Returning students may also be assigned by Residential Life as necessary.
- Student’s License of Occupancy. This license is extended to the Student as a privilege, not a right. This license begins when this contract is signed or the Student checks in and ends when the Student checks out. When the Student fails to enroll, violates this contract, or violates College rules and regulations, the Student shall vacate the housing within 24 hours of notification by the Director of Residential Life or their designee. The obligation of this contract continues, however, for the remainder of the current semester. Violations of College rules and regulations are determined by procedures set forth in The Student Handbook and Code of Student Conduct. Student may be required to vacate housing if they have a health condition that makes continued residence potentially harmful to themselves or to other residents. Student may also be required to vacate housing if they caused damage of a serious or malicious nature or failed to maintain reasonable standards of cleanliness and sanitation. The right of occupancy cannot be assigned to another person by the Student at any time. The Student agrees to follow proper procedures to check in and out of College housing as established by the Residence Life Office (see Student Handbook).
- Restrictions on Occupancy. College Housing is closed during winter break period; (exception: Claremont Collegiate Apartments residents are permitted to stay for winter break, provided they are assigned to the room for the following spring semester.) Please review extended stay and break housing policies.
- Late Arrival Occupancy. If Student plans to arrive for occupation of their designated College Housing after the opening of the residence halls, Student must notify the Residence Life Office in writing prior to the assigned arrival date. The Residence Life Office will seek to contact students that have not formally checked in throughout opening to verify location and arrival plans. Student’s College Housing assignment will not be held later than the first day of classes, unless the Student has notified the office of the late arrival and this notice has been acknowledged by a staff member. Late arrival to housing will not result in any proration of fees (housing and/or meal plan). Failure to do so may result in a loss of the room and forfeiture of applicable deposits.
- Re-Assignment of Housing Location. The College expressly reserves the right for the Director of Residential Life or their designee to reassign the Student to other College Housing when it is determined to be necessary for maximum utilization of the College’s housing facilities and for situations which are in the best interest of the residential community. Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure that the affected student(s) is/are given adequate notice, options, and/or support to facilitate the reassignment. The College will make reasonable effort to consult with Student Senate leaders for re-assignments that would affect more than 20 students.
- Consolidation. When the number of vacancies in any residential area reaches a pre-determined level, the Office of Residential Life may implement its consolidation policy. Student may be asked to move out of a given area or may be required to move to a different assignment within that area. If the Student does not comply with the consolidation policy, they may face action through the Student Code of Conduct.
- Administrative Moves. When it is deemed necessary by the Student Code of Conduct process, Title IX process, or due to concerns related to student safety, student well-being and/or facilities, the Director or their designee may direct a Student to move to another College Housing assignment. Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure that the Student is given adequate time for the move, but establishing the time frame for such moves is the sole responsibility of the Residential Life administrator involved in the situation. Failure to comply with such requests may result in action through the Student Conduct process or other appropriate means.
- Vacant Space. All vacant space can be assigned by the Office Residence Life at any point in the school year. When able, Residence Life will notify the roommate/suitemate of the vacant space assignment at least 24 hours prior to the move.
- Room Changes. Students who desire a room change must follow the procedures outlined by the Residence Life Office. Any Student involved in an unauthorized room change may be subject to action through the Student Code of Conduct. Students are permitted only one approved room change per academic year.
- Mid Semester Moves: Outside of an immediate need (as determined by an Office of Student Affairs Administrator), students seeking to change rooms must have a completed room/suitemate agreement on file and meet with their RA and/or Residence Director before the move will be approved.
- Fees. The Student will pay the College those prevailing charges for housing assignments as prescribed by the College. Failure to maintain good financial standing regarding the Student’s College account may result in the College’s cancellation of this contract and the Student will not be permitted to re-occupy the room until the debts are satisfied. Students who are removed from housing, are approved to move off-campus mid semester, or take an approved leave of absence may be prorated for the cost of their room and meal plan for their dates of occupancy. All fees (including those incurred as part of Pitzer@CCA) will be posted through Pitzer student accounts.
- Property Loss or Damage. The College is not liable for the loss of money, or other valuables, nor for any loss of or damage to property belonging to the Student, nor any personal goods in rooms in College Housing, unless the damage is caused by a malfunction of College facilities. The College does not provide insurance for personal property. Students are strongly advised not to bring to campus any items of extraordinary value. Students are urged to inventory all personal belongings, to keep their doors locked, to not prop open doors to College Housing, to maintain a record of serial numbers whenever possible, and to make arrangements through their personal insurance agents for adequate coverage. The Student is liable for any damage to College property (naturally occurring damages or reasonable wear and tear excepted) and agrees to pay for the restoration of the property to its original condition or replacement costs if restoration is not possible. When a student has caused serious or repeated damage to College Housing facilities, the student may be removed from College Housing per the Student Code of Conduct process.
- Meal Plans. Students must purchase a meal plan each semester for the period of their housing contract, outside of extenuating circumstances. Meal plans will cover food service during Fall, Thanksgiving, and Spring Breaks. Dining halls will not be available for use during Winter break or throughout Summer semester/break. Students will designate their desired meal plan size during Housing Selection, however, sizes can be changed throughout the first week of the academic semester, afterwards, meal plans can only be increased.
- Keys and ID Access. Student is issued an identification card that is coded to allow access to their room/suite and/or building at the time of check in. Returning students must have their ID card re-encoded at check-in. Students living in Mead Hall and CCA are issued a set of physical keys. It is mandatory that the key(s) be returned to the Residence Life Office when the Student checks out. Keys shall not be duplicated, nor shall they be transferred or given to other persons. Lost keys should be reported immediately to a staff member of Residential Life. Students will be charged appropriately for any lock change(s) necessary as a result of the lost key(s). Broken Keys must be reported to the Residence Life office immediately for replacement. All Claremont Collegiate Apartment key management will be conducted by the student and the CCA Office staff.
- Commercial Enterprises, Solicitations, Unapproved Activities. It is understood that residential facilities and the campus in general are for the use of faculty, staff, registered students, and College guests only. Any other use, including commercial enterprises, unapproved activities, and solicitations by external agents, is prohibited.
- Room Entry. The College endeavors to ensure that the residents of on-campus residence hall rooms and apartment units receive reasonable notice prior to entry by College staff or Campus Safety personnel for purposes of verifying occupancy, cleaning, maintenance, repair, inventory, construction, or inspection; however, College staff and Campus Safety personnel may enter an on-campus residence hall room or apartment unit without notice in any of the following circumstances:
- To investigate or respond to a perceived emergency;
- To investigate or respond to a perceived threat to health, safety or property;
- To confirm evacuation during fire alarms;
- To perform any housekeeping or maintenance services;
- To confirm that a room or apartment is unoccupied during periods when the College is not in session or after a resident’s right to occupy a particular room or apartment has terminated; and
- With the authorization from the Dean of Students or designee, to investigate a reasonable suspicion that a violation of College rules or regulations or of any federal, state or local laws has occurred or is occurring inside a particular room or apartment.
- Under any of the foregoing circumstances, it is not necessary that any room or apartment resident be notified or present, and no refusal by a room or apartment resident shall prevent an entry or inspection.
- The College will endeavor to inform any residents of a room or apartment, who were not present at the time of such entry, that an entry has occurred. Pursuant to the above, College staff and Campus Safety personnel may enter any portion of the room or apartment and search any personal property or area thereof.
- The College cannot prevent or prohibit the search of students’ rooms or College premises by law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duty. It is expected, however, that the ordinary requirements for lawful search will be followed.
- Confiscation of Items or Substances. College staff or Campus Safety may confiscate and not return any item or substance found anywhere on campus, including in a locker, vehicle, residence hall room or apartment unit, if College staff or Campus Safety reasonably determine that such item or substance is associated with or evidences a violation of any College rule or regulation or any federal, state or local law. The College may take any action that it deems reasonably necessary to assure the health and safety of students, staff, faculty, or visitors, or to preserve evidence of any violation of any College rule or regulation or any federal, state or local law, including securing and preventing access to any item, substance or area on campus (including rooms, apartments or vehicles).
- California Law. In interpreting this contract, California law shall apply.
- Right to Modify. The College reserves the right to modify the charges for housing, facilities, and food services and to make regulations as may be required by unforeseen circumstances such as labor disorders, medical emergencies, war, naturally occurring events, or other dire emergencies, or by any governmental authority imposing restrictions and/or regulations or other unusual or unanticipated conditions.
Terms
- New Students. Housing is assigned for full academic year. While the College guarantees housing to all first year students, in the event demand for housing exceeds capacity, applicants submitting deposit after College housing is filled to capacity will be placed in order of deposits received. If residence halls are filled, the College reserves the right to place students temporarily in overflow housing until regular space is available. If the Student should decide to withdraw their housing application, the Student must notify the Admission Office by May 1. After the May 1 cancellation deadline, no deposits will be refunded unless unforeseen circumstances make it necessary for the College to initiate withdrawal from contract.
- Returning Students. Housing is assigned for the full academic year. If the Student decides to withdraw from this housing contract, the Student must notify Residential Life in writing by July 1.
- Claremont Collegiate Apartments (CCA). In partnership with PeakMade Real Estate, CCA rooms and apartments will be provided to Pitzer College to utilize as Pitzer Residential occupancy purposes during the Fall and Spring academic periods, referred to as Pitzer@CCA. Pitzer College students will not be permitted to lease at CCA during the Fall and Spring academic periods outside of the Pitzer Residence Life program. All related feeds (housing, damages, etc.) will be charged directly via Pitzer student accounts.
- Main Campus Housing. Represents Pitzer, Atherton, East and North Sanborn, East, West, Skandera, and Mead Residence Halls.
I understand and agree to the terms above as well as the information outlined in the Pitzer Student Handbook and Code of Conduct. I understand that the College Housing Contract is binding for a full academic year. I also agree to make timely payments according to the rates set forth in the Pitzer College Billing Statement.
