01.01 We at Texas State are committed to recruiting and retaining a heterogeneous and qualified student body, and providing services which enhance their personal development and contribute to the fulfillment of their goals. The following procedure contributes to the implementation of this policy.
01.02 The purpose of this UPPS is to provide guidance for decisions that effect the student housing program. These procedures affect the Division of Student Affairs (SA) and the Division of Finance and Support Services (FSS).
02.01 Students Eligible for Housing
In recognizing the value of campus life to the academic success of most students, all unmarried students under twenty-one (21) years of age who have completed fewer than fifty-six (56) credit hours must reside in the university residence halls. Exceptions may be granted if a student lives at home with a parent or is married.
02.02 Students' Contractual Obligations
a. Students are required to sign a room and board contract that is binding for the full academic year or both summer terms.
b. When the student signs the On-Campus Reservation and Contract, he/she agrees to be enrolled during the contract period and to rent from the University, a space for residential purposes only in a university-owned residence hall for the contract period.
c. The contract period begins when the residence halls open for student residence according to the housing schedule published in the SWTexan and Residence Life Handbook, and ending twenty-four (24) hours after the student's last final examination or their graduation ceremony. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis in the Residence Life Office.
d. All residence halls will be closed and may not be occupied during Thanksgiving, winter and spring vacations, according to the times published in the SWTexan and Residence Life Handbook. In most cases, residents may make arrangements with Residence Life for "Break Housing" at an additional cost.
e. Occupants are required to vacate the space if not enrolled at the University.
Residence Life has the primary responsibility for the overall management of the residence halls. Facilities and Auxiliary Services provide services to ensure that students have a quality living environment and to assist with the overall success of the residence hall system.
03.01 Residence Life's Primary Department Responsibilities are to:
a. develop and maintain a strategic plan which includes the following departmental goals and supporting objectives:
I. Meeting Student and Staff Physical needs
a. improve physical facilities
b. increase resources
c. optimize departmental processes
d. evaluate contracted services
II. Enhancing Social Awareness
a. improve student involvement
b. improve study atmosphere in residence halls
c. increase civic responsibility
III. Promoting Self-esteem and Identity Development
a. improve opportunities for staff development
b. improve opportunities for student growth
c. anticipate trends and advances in student housing
b. develop and maintain an assessment plan;
c. ensure the reservations and contract process is current and effective;
d. provide students with the best value for their housing dollar;
e. seek adequate funding to accomplish departmental goals and initiatives;
f. collaborate with Technology Resources to provide computer support to students and staff;
g. work collaboratively with Continuing Education to provide a high quality Summer Conference Program;
h. ensure that the budget is effectively managed;
i. provide behavioral expectations and judicial processes to students and hall staff;
j. effectively evaluate food service, maintenance and custodial services;
k. provide well-managed, clean and safe facilities;
l. ensure that facilities exist to meet disabled students' needs;
m. ensure that adequate fire and life safety procedures exist and are disseminated to residence hall staff, students, and support staff;
n. lobby for safe and convenient parking for resident students;
o. maintain a Facilities Master Plan in conjunction with Facilities to ensure the best possible maintenance and care for residence hall facilities; and
p. create and maintain an environment that supports the diversity of staff and students.
03.02 Auxiliary Services' responsibilities to the housing system are to:
a. maintain the total financial integrity of the department which includes retiring bond debt according to schedule and maintaining an escrow account for utilities;
b. identify funds for the maintenance, repair and rehabilitation in all residence halls and apartments;
c. maintain all departmental accounts; and
d. administer the food service contract.
03.03 Facilities Operations’ responsibilities to the housing system are to:
a. supervise maintenance personnel who work primarily in the residence halls and apartments (shop 24); and
b. manage or conduct all repairs that are beyond the scope of shop 24 in all Residence Halls.
03.04 Facilities Planning, Design and Construction's Responsibilities to the housing system are to:
a. on new construction or major repair projects in excess of $300,000, coordinate the selection of architectural firms to be presented to the Board of Regents for appointment;
b. act as the liaison between Residence Life and architect appointed by the Board of Regents to design a project;
c. act as liaison between Residence Life and contractors appointed by the Board of Regents to construct a new facility or make major repairs to a facility.
03.05 The President of the University will make the final determination of room and board rates with input from the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), the Vice President for Finance and Support Services (VPFSS), and their staff.
04.01 Residence Life reports to the Dean of Students and the Vice President for Student Affairs. Facilities, Campus Construction, and Auxiliary Services report to the Vice President for Finance and Support Services. Residence Life works closely with appropriate offices in Finance and Support Services.
05.01 The Finance and Support Services division retains primary responsibility for determining those resources that are available for residence hall renovation and rehabilitation. The Student Affairs division is primarily responsible for managing the residence halls and determining individual hall operating budgets.
05.02 Upon recommendation to the VPSA and the VPFSS, a residence hall reserve account was established and will be maintained from the auxiliary reserves to provide a fund for maintaining the residence hall system.
06.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:
Position Date Dr. Kurt Czupryn, Director, Residence Life
January 1 E3Y Mr. John Root , Director, Auxiliary Services January 1 E3Y Mr. Pat Fogarty, Assoc. Vice President for Facilities January 1 E3Y
This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities, and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this until superseded.
Dr. Kurt Czupryn, Director of Residence Life; senior reviewer of this UPPS
Dr. John Garrison, Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. James D. Studer, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Jerome Supple, President