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Policies
Eligibility
To be eligible to live in the residence halls at the Medical
College of Georgia (MCG), an applicant must be a full-time student
making normal progress toward a degree. MCG does not require any
student to live in the residence halls except as a student agrees to
do so.
Any student who withdraws or is involuntarily
removed from school is no longer eligible to live in the residence
halls and must vacate within twenty-four hours after withdrawal.
Students that withdraw from school may submit a written request to
the Director of Residence Life to temporarily remain in their
housing assignment for a two-week period. If the request is
approved, the student is permitted to remain in housing, sign a Non
Student Housing Agreement and pay a pro-rated housing fee. Students
are not permitted to pay the housing fee with financial aid awards
after their withdrawal.
Housing Agreement
Students desiring to live in the residence halls are required to
sign a housing agreement. The housing agreement is a legal binding
document between the student and the Board of Regents, with Residence Life acting as the agent of the board. Once
signed, the student is obligated to meet the conditions of the
housing agreement, including the payment of all rent stipulated.
There are two types of housing agreements used
at MCG. There is an academic year housing agreement (fall and spring
semesters) and a summer semester housing agreement. It is important
to note that the dates in each agreement may not correspond exactly
with each school’s academic calendar.
Students are advised to carefully read the
housing agreements before signing. By signing an agreement, students
acknowledge that they have read and agree to the terms and
conditions of the agreement. A student who vacates their residence
hall assignment before the end of the housing agreement period is
obligated to pay all rent due unless released under the terms of the
agreement.
Married students (not the spouse and/or
dependents) assigned to Residences 5 and 6 must interface directly
with the Residence Life on all housing related matters.
Termination of the Agreement
MCG may terminate a housing agreement upon giving written notice
to a student if:
- Student ceases to be
enrolled at MCG.
- MCG considers a
student to pose a threat to the health, safety, or well being of
another person.
- Student violates any
of the provisions of the housing agreement.
- Student violates any
MCG policies as stated in the Student Handbook.
In such cases, MCG has the right to cancel the
housing agreement and retain any prepaid rent.
Refunds
Students who withdraw from school before completing 60% of the
semester are entitled to a refund or a portion of the housing
charges. The refund amount is based on a pro rata percentage.
Refunds to students receiving student financial
aid will be coordinated with the return of Title IV Funds
regulations of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended, state
scholarships and grant regulations and regulations of the individual
private scholarships and loans, as appropriate.
Students, who complete their graduation
requirements early before completing 60% of the rental agreement
payment period, may request a pro rated refund.
Students, who leave school in order to
participate in a clinical rotation in a location other than Augusta,
GA before completing 60% of the rental agreement payment period, may
request a pro rated refund.
Students who marry and desire to vacate their
single occupancy rooms in Residence 4 and the Alumni Center before
completing 60% of the rental agreement payment period, may request a
pro rated refund.
Assignments
Apartment and room assignments are processed by Residence Life based upon information submitted by the student and
the availability of space. Currently enrolled students may select
an apartment or room during the established selection period that is
held during the spring semester for the upcoming summer agreement
period and/or the academic year agreement period. New students may
receive their assignments (based on the availability of space)
beginning in April.
Students may be required to vacate their
apartment or room at any time during the agreement period, upon
reasonable notice by MCG, for the purposes of renovation, repairs or
other maintenance. MCG reserves the right to change housing
assignments or to change roommates, when necessary and upon
reasonable notice to the student. This includes the right to
require single occupants of rooms, who have not been assigned their
room on a single room rate to consolidate when necessary to (1)
reduce utility costs, (2) facilitate cleaning, (3) provide housing
for special groups, (4) comply with federal, state or non-
discrimination requirements, or (5) provide space to be rented at
the single room rate in accordance with the single room policy.
Occupancy
Students may be assigned to Residences 4, 5, 6 and the Alumni
Center. Rooms in the Alumni Center are assigned for single
occupancy.
Rooms in Residence 4 may be assigned for
double or single occupancy during the fall and spring semesters at
the discretion of Residence Life. Residence 4 is
designated as a nine month residence hall (fall/spring semesters).
During the summer semester, the facility is used to accommodate
special academic programs.
One and two bedroom apartments in Residences 5 and 6 may only be assigned to one student. Married students and
their dependent children are permitted to live in Residences 5 and
6. Married students must, upon assignment, present a copy of their
marriage certificate. Not more than three individuals may occupy a
one bedroom apartment and not more than four individuals may occupy
a two bedroom apartment.
Rates
Students in each residence hall pay housing rent on a semester
basis as stated in the academic year housing agreement and the
summer semester housing agreement. Rent is paid along with tuition
and other fees at registration. Failure to pay rent may result in
the termination of the housing agreement.
Utilities
Utilities are included in the housing rates in all residence
halls except Residence 6. Students living in Residence 6 are
required to pay utilities in addition to rent. Utilities are
contracted between the student and the utility companies. MCG is
not responsible for utility services or for utility bills not paid
by a student. Before a student can check into Residence6I,
confirmation from the Georgia Power Company must be presented to Residence Life verifying that the electrical charges have
been put in the student’s name. Students may contact the Georgia
Power Company (Augusta office) at 888-660-5890. Students living in
Residence 6 are responsible for gas and telephone service.
Apartments 1016, 1017, 1018, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are total electric.
Subleasing
Students are not permitted to assign, transfer or sublet a room
or apartment. The space shall not be used to give accommodation to
boarders or lodgers or for any purpose other than what is specified
in the housing agreement.
Pets
For health reasons and property protection, pets are not
permitted in the residence halls or adjacent grounds with the
exception of aquatic fish in aquariums of 10 gallons or less.
Solicitation
Door-to door solicitation is prohibited in all residence halls.
Student groups wishing to solicit in the residence halls must obtain
permission from Residence Life. Apartments and rooms
may not be used by students and/or student groups as places of
business.
Firearms
The storage of firearms (and other lethal weapons) is not
permitted in the residence halls.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in the residence halls.
Furnishings
Rooms in Residence 4 and the Alumni Center are fully
furnished. Each room is furnished with a bed, chest, wardrobe
closet, desk and desk chair. Furnishings may not be removed from
the rooms at any time. Charges will be assessed to students for any
furnishings that are missing or damaged.
Apartments in Residences 5 and 6 are rented
unfurnished. Each apartment unit is furnished with a refrigerator
and stove. All carpets and floor coverings must be fire rated and
labeled Class I or II. All draperies/curtains must be fire
resistive materials. Personal furnishings that do not meet these
standards are not acceptable for use in the residence halls.
Window blinds are provided in all residence
hall facilities. Knotting cords of horizontal blinds will cause
cords to become twisted in the mechanisms. Staff will inspect and
test the operation of the blinds when students vacate the residence
halls. If cords are knotted or twisted causing poor operation, the
student may be billed for a replacement blind.
Apartments in Residences 5 and 6 are not
structurally designed to accommodate washing machines and dryers.
Portable washing machines that connect to a sink are not permitted
due to the potential for flooding.
Prohibited Appliances
Due to fire safety regulations, hot plates or similar devices
are prohibited in the residence halls. Candles (including unlit
decorative candles) and open flames are not permitted in any area.
Extension cords are not permitted. UL tested surge protector
devices may be utilized on electrical equipment provided they are
installed and used properly. Devices may not be on the floor but
must be permanently affixed 8 inches from the floor. Students shall
not use or store in the residence halls the following items:
- Electrical items
other than clocks, radios, stereo equipment, televisions,
computers, or other low wattage appliance. Microwave ovens must
use less than 10 amps of power. Mini-refrigerators must be 4.5
cubic feet or smaller.
- Outside television or
radio antennas or satellite dishes.
- Waterbeds or water
filled furniture.
- Motorcycles of any
type.
- Neon signs.
- Open flame burning or
coiled hot plates.
- Halogen-torchiere
lamps.
- Air conditioning
units.
- Portable heaters.
- Heat lamps.
Fire Safety Equipment
Tampering with or the misuse of fire safety equipment is
prohibited. This includes removing or disabling the smoke
detector. If a smoke detector needs to be replaced, students should
contact Residence Life at (706) 721-3471. Fire Safety
equipment includes, but is not limited to fire alarms, smoke
detectors, fire extinguishers and unit door closures. Anyone
apprehended for vandalizing or using fire safety equipment for any
purpose other than safety will be reported to MCG Public Safety.
Additional fire safety information may be obtained from
Environmental Health and Safety Division web site at www.mcg.edu/Services/EHS/firesafe/Firesafe.htm
Health and Safety
For the health and safety of the residence hall community, each
student is required to maintain a clean and sanitary apartment or
room that will not draw infestation, bacterial growth or mold.
Problems with mold not resulting from the lack of cleaning, such as
with the air handler or exterior water incursion, should be reported
to Residence Life so corrective measures may be taken.
Fire codes and safety standards prohibit
construction of lofts, platforms, or other bulking structures.
These codes and standards prohibit hanging anything from windows,
balconies or building exteriors (e.g. birdfeeders, banners, etc.).
Keys
Maximum security keys are issued to students by the Public
Safety Division prior to checking into the residence halls. If a
key is lost or stolen, students should contact Public Safety
immediately at (706) 721-2911 so that the locks may be changed.
Students are responsible for the total cost of changing the locks.
The key replacement fee is $50.00 per key. Keys may not be
duplicated by students.
Students who find themselves inadvertently
locked out of their residence hall may contact Public Safety at
(706) 721-2911 in order to have a door unlocked. In the unlikely
event that a student is locked out of their residence hall after
hours and absolutely cannot wait until the following business day,
Public Safety may be contacted to unlock a door. There is a $15.00
service fee and a wait of up to an hour for Public Safety (depending
on officer availability) to provide the service.
Students assigned to apartments in Residence 5
and 6 are assigned mailbox keys. Students that lose a mailbox key
will be charged a $25.00 key replacement charge. Mailboxes and keys
are property of the United States Postal Service.
Grounds
Students are prohibited from planting gardens, flowerbeds, or
any type of shrubbery on the grounds in the residence halls.
Clothes, rugs, or any type of outdoor
clothesline may not be placed on fencing, trees, shrubbery on the
grounds. These items are subject to removal by Public Safety.
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages are permitted in the residence halls
provided students and any visitors who consume or possess alcoholic
beverages are of legal age. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted
in public areas of the residence halls. All alcohol consumption
must conform with MCG and Board of Regents policies, as well as
state and local laws.
Visitation
Residence hall visitation is a privilege in all residence halls
in order to create a more desirable living experience for students.
Guests are permitted to stay in the residence halls for a period of
up to 3 consecutive nights, with a maximum of ten nights per
semester, provided all of the following conditions are met.
- Space in the
residence hall must be available.
- Student extending the
invitation must be present during the guest’s stay.
- Overnight guest is
acceptable to all roommates, since a student’s right to occupy
his/her room without the presence of an overnight guest shall
take precedence over the right to a roommate to host an
overnight guest.
- The student assumes
responsibility for all the guest’s actions, damages and
violations of rules.
- Guest must adhere to
all federal, state, and local laws and MCG housing policies.
- Student notifies the
Director of Residence Life of overnight guest.
- Overnight
cohabitation is prohibited.
- Guests will be
subject to immediate eviction if their behavior is deemed in
appropriate.
Apartment and Room Entry
MCG reserves the right to enter student apartments and rooms for
the right of inventory, fire protection, sanitation, safety,
maintenance, rule enforcement, inspection, improvement or repairs,
to evaluate conditions that could affect the health and safety of
residents, or to control the units in the event of an epidemic or
emergency or for any other purpose in accordance with University
policy. Students are not required to be present at the time of
inspections or other entries described above.
Maintenance
Students are required to give Residence Life
prompt notice of any damage or defects in their residence hall
apartment/room (to include water leaks, running toilets and dripping
faucets) and MCG shall make the necessary repairs at it’s own
expense, except where students are deemed responsible for damages.
Damages caused by students and/or their guests shall be charged to
the students.
Space Personalization
Creating a “home” while living in the residence halls makes the
apartment or room more pleasant and comfortable. When planning to
decorate, it is important to keep in mind that no permanent changes
may be made to a room or apartment. Students are not permitted to
make repairs or alterations to their apartment or room without the
written permission from the Director of Residence Life. This
includes, but is not limited to ceiling fans, light fixtures,
shelves, partitions, lofts, window coverings, wallpaper, painting,
plumbing and heating.
Renter’s Insurance
MCG is not responsible for any personal property damaged or
destroyed while the student is living in the residence halls except
where MCG is found negligent. Students are urged to consider
purchasing renter’s insurance.
Crime Statistics
Students may obtain campus crime statistics by contacting the
Division of Public Safety at (706) 721-2911.
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