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Student Handbook

Residence Life & Housing

The residence hall environment provides students with opportunities to learn from one another and about themselves. Living in a residence hall helps students realize the impact of their actions on those around them, develop sensitivity, and enhance skills in interpersonal relationships.

While structure has been provided in the form of residence life and housing regulations, policies, and procedures, responsibility for a productive experience rests with the residents. The actions of individuals within the community can make the experience a positive force in the development of each resident.

Housing is available and guaranteed to all full-time undergraduate students, unless otherwise determined by the Office of Housing. Full-time undergraduate students whose permanent address is more than 50 miles from the University are required to live on campus. The University also offers housing to graduate students.

Residents are required to participate in a University meal plan. Exceptions to the meal plan requirement may be granted for extenuating reasons. Additional information is available on the Residence Life & Housing website.

The Residence Life student staff is composed of Senior Resident Advisors (SRAs), Community Advisors (CAs), Head Residents (HRs), and Resident Advisors (RAs). The student staff is supported by a team of professional staff members within Student Life. Additional information is available on the Residence Life & Housing website.

Housing options vary from traditional residence halls to group living spaces including suites, apartments, townhouses, fraternity and sorority houses, and overflow houses. First-year students and upperclass students reside on both Main Street (North) Campus and Priscilla Payne Hurd (South) Campus. A variety of unique housing opportunities are available based on student interest, including organizational housing, fraternity and sorority housingsingle-gender, and gender-inclusive housing.

Commuter students must reside at their permanent address, registered with the University, with a parent or a legal guardian within a 50-mile radius of the University.

A change from resident to commuter status is only considered during a specified time period prior to the Housing Selection process early in the spring semester for the subsequent academic year. Exceptions may be granted under extenuating circumstances.

A change from commuter to resident status will be considered as residential space permits. Additional information is available on the Residence Life & Housing website.

Proper security within the residence halls is the responsibility of each resident. Room doors should be double-locked whenever possible. Exterior doors must never be propped open.

  • Moravian University restricts residence hall access to residents, their visitors, and appropriate University staff. For safety and protection, video cameras may be in operation in common spaces.
  • Campus Police officers routinely walk through campus residence hall common spaces as a matter of safety and security. Common spaces are generally defined as areas for group use. Examples of common space include living areas, lounges, hallways, stairs, laundry rooms, and kitchens. Personal space is generally defined as space designated for individual use, such as bedrooms.
  • Group spaces such as fraternity and sorority houses, apartments, townhouses, and suite-style units are not subject to routine campus police walkthroughs. However, Campus Police reserves the right to enter areas within these properties for due cause, as described below.
  • Campus Police officers reserve the right to enter any space at any time when there is imminent risk of harm or reasonable cause to believe that a violation of law has occurred or is about to occur.
  • The University is not responsible for personal property that is lost, stolen, or damaged. Large sums of money or other valuables should not be kept in individual rooms. All items of value should be removed during break periods. All losses should be reported to Campus Police. Personal belongings that a student brings into the residence halls are not covered under the University's insurance policy. In some instances, a family's homeowner insurance may cover possessions of students at college. Students and their families are encouraged to check coverage options under their homeowner's insurance.
  • Unauthorized entry by anyone into a space not their own may result in conduct action and/or criminal sanctions as provided under Pennsylvania State law. Residence Life staff are authorized to use master keys to allow residents into their assigned room, respond to an emergency situation, or inspect the space prior to a break period.
  • It is a violation of institutional policy to possess, use, or duplicate a University-issued student ID card or residence hall key belonging to another, or allowing another to use, possess, or duplicate your University-issued student ID card or residence hall key. It is also a violation to leave a University-issued student ID Card or key unattended in a public place accessible for other individuals to use to gain entry into a residence hall or bedroom.
  • The presence of any suspicious individual should be immediately reported to Campus Police. Solicitation within residential areas is permitted only for institutional groups approved by the Office of Residence Life. Unauthorized solicitors should be immediately reported to Campus Police.
  • Interference with or harassment in any form directed at any member of the Residence Life Staff, Campus Police and/or law enforcement officials, including, but not limited to EMS and fire personnel, will be referred to Student Development.
  • In ground-level rooms equipped with special security screens, opening of the screen or removal of the plastic seal is permitted only in the event of an emergency.
  • Tampering with safety equipment, including but not limited to window seals or screens, electrical boxes, fire extinguishers and life-safety detectors, may result in repair charges, a fine for violation of a safety policy, and may be referred to Student Development.
  • The Campus Fire Marshal strives to conduct, at minimum, six fire inspections in each building over an eight-month period. Inspection includes checking fire extinguishers and looking for fire violations. Fire inspections occur Monday through Friday after 10 am in the residential areas.