Residential Life: Health and Safety: Crookston

All residence hall students are governed by the University Student Conduct Code. The regulations and the judicial process by which a case is heard and settled are described in the code itself. The following policies pertain specifically to residence hall living, whenever students are on the grounds or within the residence hall system. Policy violations will be handled by Residential Life professional staff.

Any student offense not covered by residence hall regulations which would endanger the safety or wellbeing of other residents or the residence hall system (e.g., tampering with mechanical or fire alarm/safety systems, disorderly conduct, weapons) could result in interim suspension from the residence hall or relocation to another residence hall.

Alcohol Possession and Consumption

See campus Alcohol Policy.

Controlled Substances

The possession and/or use of any controlled substance or drug paraphernalia is strictly prohibited on campus. Controlled substances are defined as any substance deemed illegal to possess and/or distribute. Controlled substances include but are not limited to the categories of: stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, narcotics and intoxicants. Under this policy a student may lose their privilege to reside on campus, will be referred to the Director of Counseling, and the Crookston Police Department may be contacted.

Students may also be found in violation of the controlled substances policy when intangible evidence such as odor is discovered. Under this policy a student may be placed on conduct probation with subsequent violations resulting in removal from the residence halls, referral to the Director of Counseling, and the Crookston Police Department may be notified.

Explosive Materials

Residents are prohibited from possessing or exploding firecrackers, fireworks, or any other explosive material that may create a safety or fire hazard.

Fire Regulations and Fire Alarms

Individuals are prohibited from tampering with any fire alarm mechanism or fire extinguisher, sign and designation of the overall fire alarm system in the building. Items must not be hung from sprinkler pipes or fixtures. Smoke detectors must not be covered. Candles and incense are prohibited and will be confiscated. Halogen lights, candle warmers, lava lamps, or other devices that impose a fire hazard warning are not allowed. No live Christmas trees may have lights displayed upon them.

Residential Life or Security Services must be notified immediately of any possible faulty smoke detectors.

Every student is required to evacuate the building if a fire alarm sounds. Staff may have to enter rooms to ensure evacuation. Students cannot re-enter a building until permitted by hall staff.

Hazardous Appliances

Residents are prohibited from having hazardous electrical appliances with open heating elements, cooking appliances or open flames to include, but not limited to, toaster ovens, certain coffee pots, and certain space heaters. Large appliances are not permitted in individual rooms, including air conditioners, freezers and full sized fridges not provided by the University. Extension cords are allowed but are not allowed to run under floor mats.

Missing Person

This policy applies to students who reside in University owned housing facilities.

A student may be considered a “missing person” if the person’s absence is suspiciously different from their usual pattern of behavior and/or unusual circumstances may have caused the absence.

Procedures for Student Designation of Emergency Contact Information

Students age 18 and above and emancipated minors – Student residents will be given the opportunity to designate an individual or individuals to be contacted by the University no more than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing in accordance with the procedures set forth below. The designation will remain in effect until changed or revoked by the student or at the time the student is no longer a resident of University housing (or under the age of 18).

Students under the age of 18 – Student residents under the age of 18 who are not emancipated are required to provide contact information for a custodial parent. The University is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian no more than 24 hours after a student is determined to be missing in accordance with the procedures set forth below. The custodial parent or guardian contact information will remain in effect until the student reaches the age of 18 or is no longer a resident of University housing.

This contact information will be registered confidentially, and will be accessible only to authorized campus officials. This information will not be disclosed, except to law enforcement personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation.

To Report a Missing Student

In the case of a missing student, individuals should notify University Public Safety or Residential Life staff members.

Official Notification Procedures for Missing Persons

Any individual on campus who has information that a University housing student may be a missing person must notify University Public Safety as soon as possible.

If a report of a possible missing person is made to a Residential Life staff member, the staff member will:

• Conduct a life safety/wellness check on the resident;
• Attempt to make contact via phone, email, or other means;
• Contact other students who may be aware of the missing person’s whereabouts (e.g., roommate, friends, classmates).

If the missing person cannot be found within 24 hours, University staff will contact Crookston Police Department to report a possible missing person.

University Public Safety will gather all essential information about the University housing student from the reporting person(s) and from the student’s acquaintances (description, clothes last worn, where student might be, who student might be with, vehicle description, information about the physical/mental well-being of the student, an up-to-date photograph, class schedule, card access logs, dining records, video surveillance, etc.). Appropriate campus staff may be notified to aid in the search for the student.

No later than 24 hours after determining that a University housing student is missing, the Director of Residential Education or designee will notify the emergency contact (for students 18 and over) or the parent/guardian (for students under the age of 18) that the student is believed to be missing.

Parental Notification

The Director of Residential Life or designee may notify the parents or legal guardians of students when the health and wellbeing of a student is determined to be at risk. This includes:

• suicide situations or when students are doing harm to themselves:
• when students are missing and their whereabouts are unknown;
• when students are hospitalized; or,
• when students are incapacitated requiring EMTs to be called to the scene.

The University reserves the right not to notify parents or legal guardians.

Possession of Weapons

Student residents are prohibited from possessing guns, ammunition, making bullets for any kind of weapons or weapons including but not limited to paint, air-soft, pellet guns, darts, squirt guns, bows & arrows, toy guns, taser guns, large knives and swords in the student rooms or anywhere on residence hall premises with the exception of Security Storage lockers in Centennial Hall 1110, 2900 University Avenue when checking in/out a gun, bow & arrows or other weapons.

Residents must check in and store their weapons with the Residential Life Office in Centennial Hall. Weapons must be unloaded and have a trigger lock mechanism installed when transporting a weapon to and from vehicle. (Complete guidelines are available from the CA or Residential Life Office.) See below for the check-in and checkout procedures.

Requests for Identification

Authorized residence hall officials have the authority to request identification from individuals in residence halls. Individuals who refuse to identify themselves or falsely identify themselves, are in violation of this policy.

Smudging

Smudging is the use of smoke (general from an organic source such as sage, sweet-grass, cedar, or amber) in spiritual, religious, prayer, or faith practices. Smudging is practiced in many cultures around the world and UMN Crookston welcomes cultural expression.

• Prior to smudging for the first time: Please locate the nearest fire pull station, smoke detectors, and fire extinguisher. If you do not have a fire extinguisher in your room, please contact Residential Life to check out a fire extinguisher during smudging.
• Communicate with roommates and notify Community Adviser, Residential Life staff, and Facilities of the time and location of smudging. Be sure to make contact with staff either in person or on the phone (do not move forward without a conversation, this does not include leaving a voicemail).
• Students are expected to follow traditional cultural practices which provide a safe environment. This includes containing embers and ashes in a ceramic bowl, abalone shell, or similar item. After smudging extinguish all embers and/or smudge stick appropriately and dispose of them to eliminate risk of fire.

For additional information please contact your community elders.

Tampering with Mechanical or Electrical Units

Residents are prohibited from tampering with any mechanical or electrical units within the residence hall.