Residential Living Handbook

• The right to sleep during the night undisturbed.
• The right to sleep in one’s room free of noise and distractions during quiet hours.
• The right of access to one’s room and facilities at all times.
• The right to feel secure against physical or emotional harm.
• The right to a clean room and clean common areas.
• The right to have one’s belongings respected.
• The right to have guests in the room when they will not disturb your roommate’s right to sleep or study.
• The right to privacy.
• The right to redress grievances.

Each semester on the first day of class, mandatory meetings are held in each living area (typically in the evening). Attendance at these meetings is mandatory because information concerning safety and security, as well as other important information related to living in the community, is distributed. Residents are responsible for all of the information distributed at these meetings; therefore attendance is crucial.

The lobbies in each hall are for the use of residents and their guests. Appropriate public behavior and dress are expected in the lobby areas and individuals may be asked to leave the lobby should they not meet this requirement.

Residential Living staff members and the Residence Hall Association may reserve a lobby for programs. Recognized student organizations may request use of residence hall lobbies. The Office of Residential Living and/or Residence Hall Directors may grant permission for this use or may require that the hall council approve the request. The Office of Residential Living reserves the right to approve or deny any request.

Students may submit a room/hall change request form online once the semester begins. After the first class day, Residential Living will send out information via WTAMU email regarding the opening of and deadline for such requests. IF space is available, requests will be approved and the student notified via email; the requests will be approved by date of completed housing application and where space is available.

To be eligible to live on campus, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of nine undergraduate and/or six graduate hours. Exceptions may be requested by students enrolled in an internship, student teaching, co-op or other similar situation. Prior to dropping below the required number of hours, a student should request in writing for approval, from the Director of Residential Living, to continue to live in the residence halls. To do so, send an email to housing@wtamu.edu with your name, Buff ID number, and explain your situation, including how many hours you will be enrolled in after dropping.

The Office of Residential Living strongly encourages roommates to work together in resolving any conflict. Roommates are encouraged to communicate and compromise with one another by establishing mutually-agreed upon rules for their living space at the beginning of the year. Discuss and resolve any potential personality and lifestyle conflicts. If needed, assistance can be given by the residence hall staff.

Generally, it is the responsibility of the student, if conflicts cannot be resolved between roommates, to contact a staff member to issue a formal complaint for additional staff follow-up and intervention to occur. In situations where roommates are unable or unwilling to resolve conflicts, it is the discretion of the Residence Hall Director to relocate one or both residents to other available residence hall spaces. This alternative is considered only after residents have tried to resolve the conflict themselves.

You Are Your Roommate's Roommate
In the event that you have a problem with your roommate or a guest during your time as a resident, please follow the procedures as outlined below to resolve your concern:

• Step 1 – Address your concern directly with the individual(s) involved. Be specific about what you want to happen or change as a result of your concern and your expectations for the future.
• Step 2 – If you do not get the results you want or the change that you desire, take your concern to your RA. Explain the steps you have taken to resolve your concern. Be specific about what action you want your RA to take. Please know that RAs have a variety of tools at their disposal to help you.
• Step 3 – If you are still not satisfied, take your concern to your hall coordinator. Be specific about what action you want your Coordinator to take.