Authority - Chapter X
South Dakota Board of Regents

POLICIES AND GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT HOUSING

09:01 RESIDENCE HALLS AND FOOD SERVICE

University residence halls and food services provide for physical and educational needs for approximately one-third of the undergraduate students.

Residence halls are located around dining facility areas and are entirely self supporting. Hall rents and food service charges pay the construction loans, interest and all operating expenses.

A student's living environment is a vital part of the University experience. In this environment the student should find pleasant, and safe conditions, learn to adjust to new circumstances, and achieve maximum development intellectually, socially, culturally, and personally.

The Department of Residential Life provides professional staff who aid students and other hall staff in the development of such a living environment. The staff in each hall includes a Residence Hall Director (RHD) and 8-12 student Resident Assistants (RAs). Staff members are employed as teachers of responsible group living patterns. They help hall governments and hall residents to confront issues and to act in a manner which will strengthen responsible self-direction.

Staff members are also obligated to directly confront irresponsible conduct and, when necessary, will act as witness in situations where hall residents and/or governments have failed to exercise their self-government obligations to the University or civil authorities. Staff are also expected to provide programs which put students in contact with a variety of topics, lifestyles, and ideas thereby challenging the student to think, to grow, and to develop a set of personal values that can be claimed as that student's very own. Staff are expected to provide some of these programs on their own initiative and to provide others in cooperation with the house and hall governments.

Each house is considered a separate community whose residents are expected to develop a sense of responsibility for that community. Elected student representatives’ guide the community by participating in self-government and by initiating, planning, and participating in a wide-range of activities.

Currently, all unmarried students who have not completed four semesters of full-time enrollment at an institution of post high school education, or who are not two or more years beyond high school graduation, are expected to live in the residence halls.

After a student has been admitted to the University, he or she will receive a Residence Hall Information, Application and Contract booklet from the Department of Residential Life. The student must return the completed application for housing, Residence Hall and Food Service contract, and an Advance Housing Payment to the Residential Life Office to be guaranteed a space in the Residence Halls. Rooms are assigned on a first come-first serve basis. Actual hall, room and roommate assignments are mailed in June. All Residence Hall and Food Service Contracts are for the full academic year. Housing assignments are open to all students without regard to race, creed, color, sex, handicap or national origin.

A residence hall room provides each student with a closet, bed, mattress, desk chair, study desk, and dresser with mirror. Each student must arrange for linens (sheets, pillow cases), towels, pillow, blankets, study lamp and drapes. Coin operated laundry facilities are available in each building.

09:01:01 Residence Hall Security Signage

09:01:01:01 Signs will be installed that read, "South Dakota State University Student Residence - Private Property - No Trespassing - No Soliciting - Access to and presence in this building is limited to residents, their designated guests and other authorized persons. Violators may be prosecuted in accordance with South Dakota Law SDCL 22-35-5 and SDCL 22-35-6". This door will be locked from midnight to 8 am daily. Use security keys to gain entrance.

09:01:01:02 Decal type signs will be posted at eye level on every external door on each building. No other signs will be permitted on these doors.

09:01:02 Individual Residence Hall Room Security

09:01:02:01 Exclusive locks to individual rooms shall be maintained and the security of these rooms shall be enhanced through the Rights of Privacy specified in the Student Code and current solicitation, lock core replacement, and room key check out policies.

09:01:02:02 Resident Assistants shall be in the building a minimum of four (4) nights per week. There are currently from 8-12 Resident Assistants per building.

09:01:02;03 One(1) Resident Assistant shall be on duty between 7:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. and shall make rounds through the building at least twice between 7:00 P.M. and the end of visitation.

09:01:03 Residence Hall Public and Semi-public Area Definition and Control.

09:01:03:01 Private areas will be for the exclusive use of residents and their guests. Guests of the opposite sex are allowed as per 01:10:21:01 Visitation (a). Semi public areas will be readily accessible during hours of visitation. Private and semi public areas will be secured with external house doors locked at midnight. Internal house doors are locked as follows:

Monday: Midnight to 10:30am Tuesday
Tuesday: Midnight to 10:30am Wednesday
Wednesday: Midnight to 10:30am Thursday
Thursday: Midnight to 10:30am Friday
Friday: 10:00pm to 10:30am Saturday
Saturday: 10:00pm to 10:30am Sunday
Sunday: Midnight to 10:30am Monday

09:01:03:02 House security keys will be issued to fit both internal and external house doors.

09:01:03:03 The central entrance doors will be monitored for 24 hours each day by one of three staff persons: Office Assistants, RAs, or Night Assistants.

09:01:03:04 Alarms will be used for fire protection only.

NOTE: For further information concerning residence halls please review the Residence Hall Handbook, available with this Student Policies Manual, or contact the personnel of the Department of Residential Life; Wecota 115; 688-5148.

09:02 HOUSING FOR STUDENT FAMILIES

South Dakota State University operates two Family Student Housing Apartment Complexes, State Court and State Village. State Court was completed 1958, and consists of 48 one-bedroom units. State Village was completed in September, 1971, and consists of 32 one-bedroom and 8 two-bedroom units. A stove and refrigerator are included in all units. The rent includes television channels 5,8,11, and 13, and all utilities except telephone. Extended cable television service is available through individual tenant contract with the local cable company.

These apartments are available to any married student or any student who has legal dependants and, when occupancy allows, any full-time single graduate student. All undergraduate students must be enrolled for no less than 12 credit hours, and graduate students must carry no less than nine credit hours of graduate work (seven credit hours if on a doctoral program), or be proceeding on a regular planned program with the Graduate School. During summer sessions, residents do not have to be enrolled in classes, but must be pre-registered for fall classes.

Management and implementation of University policy is the responsibility of Residential Life personnel, and all questions concerning on-campus family student housing should be directed to them or to the student Resident Manager who lives in State Village.

Prior to check-in, the student must sign a contract and pay the first month's prorated rent, plus a minimum of $50.00 toward the security deposit. Each month thereafter in addition to the rent the student must pay $10.00 toward the security deposit until the security deposit on file equals one month's rent.

Additional information is available at the Department of Residential Life, 115 Wecota Hall,
688-5148.

BERG/BAILEY APARTMENTS

South Dakota State University operates two apartment buildings, Berg and Bailey. The apartments were completed in 1994 and consist of 40 four-bedroom apartment units in both Berg and Bailey. Two of the apartment units in each building are handicapped equipped. Each apartment has a living room, kitchen, bathroom with separate vanity area and four single bedrooms.

The apartments feature air conditioning, security entrances, elevators for convenient access, built-in dishwasher, refrigerator and full-size range, on-site coin-operated laundry facilities, carpeting and mini-blind window coverings. Some apartments have the bedrooms furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, and desk chair. The monthly rent includes all utilities except telephone and cable TV. Both academic and twelve month contract terms are available.

The Berg/Bailey apartments are for upperclass students that are not required to live in the residence halls and are taking at least six undergraduate or four graduate credit hours per semester.

At the time the Berg/Bailey contract is signed, the student must pay the security deposit, which is $100.00. The first month's rent is due when the student checks into the apartment.

Additional information is available at the Department of Residential Life, 115 Wecota Hall, 688-5148.


09:03 FRATERNITY/SORORITY HOUSING

Social fraternities and sororities are recognized at South Dakota State University as having a special type of relationship to the University, but not as part of the University. Therefore, while it is recognized that individual students may choose to develop their leadership, interpersonal, social, and academic skills through fraternity/sorority house living, it must also be recognized that such houses are not considered part of the University housing system. There are currently five (5) fraternities and three (3) sororities, which manage housing facilities. They represent housing alternatives, which may be available to an individual student depending on the current residency requirements and any fraternity/sorority release agreements currently in place as a part of the residence hall contract. Further information regarding fraternities/sororities is available through the Student Activities Office.

09:03:01 See attached Release Agreement.

09:04 Off-Campus Housing.

The Off-Campus Housing Office, which is affiliated with the Students' Association, is located on the main floor of the Student Union, room 101. The purpose of the office is to compile, maintain and disseminate information regarding rental housing in Brookings. The office also provides information to familiarize students and new residents with Brookings and services available within the community.

The office acts as a clearinghouse for landlords and prospective tenants, maintaining as many as 1500 rental listings annually. The listings include apartments, rooms, houses and mobile homes, all of which are privately owned, as well as "roommates wanted" listings. The University does not own any off-campus housing. Information can also be provided with regard to low income/subsidized housing and alternative housing arrangements, such as shared housing with elderly persons. Assistance includes information regarding state and local housing laws, mediation and inspection services and off-campus housing cost estimates. Referrals can also be made for legal advice regarding housing disputes.

Off-campus housing is available to all married students and those with families, to single students who have completed at least four semesters of full-time enrollment at an institution of post high school education, and to single students who are two or more years beyond high school graduation. A student who would normally be required to live on campus may reside in off-campus housing if the student is released from his/her residence hall contract by the Student Housing Office. Students who plan to live off-campus are responsible for finding and securing their own housing. The University cannot make off-campus reservations.

The Off-campus Housing Director works closely with the City Planning,
Zoning and Housing Administrator, numerous local Realtors and most of the rental property owners/managers in the city. Ongoing efforts are made to enhance and facilitate strong, positive working relationships between the campus and the community, as well as between tenants and landlords.

If we can be of assistance or provide additional information, please contact the office by calling 688-5916.



Revised: August 1999