Eligibility for On-Campus Housing

Divinity School residential life is available for all full-time degree students. Students registered on a part-time basis are also eligible for housing.

Types of Residential Living

The Divinity School currently has the housing available in Saunders Hall. One and two bedroom apartment units are available to students. Apartments are unfurnished except for stove and refrigerator. Common kitchen, social area, and coin-operated laundry areas are located in the basement. A wheelchair handicapped-accessible housing unit is available. Telephone and internet service may be arranged through Frontier Telephone or Time-Warner Cable.

Assignment of Housing

Students have an opportunity to indicate a preference for housing. The request will be accommodated whenever possible, but cannot be guaranteed. The School makes housing assignments based upon a combination of the following:

• Housing needs (i.e., family size, relocation difficulty, resources, etc.).
• Existing occupancy.
• Student status (full-time, part-time, non-matriculated).

When all other needs are equal, the full-time student with the earliest completed housing application will be given priority.

Application Procedures

1. Applications for on-campus housing are mailed out to new students after remittance of deposit following acceptance. Completed applications should be returned, along with a check for $100.00, to the Housing Director as soon as possible.

2. All current students who expect to return for the fall semester should submit
applications to the Housing Director by May 1.

3. Requests for a housing change should be addressed to the Housing Director.

4. There is an initial, non-refundable housing application fee for apartments. The housing application fee will be refunded if the request is withdrawn before July 1.

Applications for on-campus housing are available from the Housing Director. Call 585-340-9637.

Residential Life Term Length

Housing assignments are made for a term defined in the lease. Apartment assignments are made annually from August 15 of the current year to July 1 of the following year. Leases will be signed in person with the Housing Director.

Security Deposit

Residents are required to place an initial security deposit equivalent to one month’s rent. The security deposit should be remitted with the initial executed lease to the Business Office.

The deposit will be held by the Divinity School for the period of tenancy and will be returned, following inspection, less any damage fees, charges, etc. incurred by the resident. The security deposit will be deposited into a bank account and will accrue interest at the rate(s) applicable to that account during the deposit period.

Rental Charges

The monthly rental period will run from the first day of the month to the last day of the month, or portions of the month as applicable. Housing charges are billed by semester during the academic year and on a monthly basis during the summer months and January term. Arrangements may be made for a monthly payment schedule of apartment rent by a written agreement with the Business Office. Commuter housing is billed by semester.

Students should advise the Business Office if some or all of their rental payments will be paid by a grant or scholarship from an outside source. The Business Office will advise students when loan checks are received, so that the student can endorse them and the refund process can begin. It takes a week to ten days for the refund check to be issued.

In addition, grades and transcripts are not released, credit granted for completed course work, and/or degrees granted until all of a student’s financial obligations to the divinity school are fulfilled. It should be noted that granting of a degree is required for graduation, and parties whose degrees are withheld will not be able to participate in commencement exercises.
Students unable to make their rental payments must contact the office of the Chief Financial Officer in writing prior to the due date to attempt to arrange an extension of payment. The Vice President in consultation with the Housing Director will review the request and approve or disapprove the request prior to the due date. The decision of the Chief Financial Officer on extension requests will be final.

Rent may be prorated for students not leaving on the 1st of the month.

Damage Charges

It is expected that each student will take reasonable care of the occupied facility and furnishings provided. It is the responsibility of the occupant(s) to broom sweep the apartment, thoroughly clean appliances and bathroom in the apartment, and return keys. At the end of the academic year, the inventory will be checked and any damage, missing furnishings, and/or cleaning costs will be deducted from the security deposit. If keys are not returned, the resident will be charged $10.00 per key for the rekeying of the residence.
The portion of the security deposit remaining after deducting charges for damages, missing furnishings, and/or cleaning will generally be refunded with accrued interest ten days after the room or apartment has been vacated and inspected.

Summer Housing

Rent is due on the first of each month during the summer months. Summer housing is provided based on the need and the availability of the space. At times, renovations may necessitate closing buildings and no summer space will be provided. Contact the Housing Director for details.

Commuter Housing

Commuter Housing is available on a limited basis. It is designed for students who need to be on campus 1-2 nights a week for a semester or during the January/June intensives. The cost is $1200/semester for the fall and spring semesters and $175/week during the January and June intensives. These one bedroom apartments have some furnishings with kitchen and bath. They are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact the Housing Director to reserve an apartment.

Subletting

Apartments may not be loaned or sublet.

Pets

The school has a no-pet policy for residents in all campus housing.

Quiet Hours

In an attempt to live communally, quiet hours are as follows:

• Sunday-Thursday – 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.
• Friday and Saturday – 12:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Repeated failure of residents or their guests to respect community quiet hours may result in a tenant eviction or non-renewal of the lease.

Keys

Keys are provided only after a lease has been signed and a security deposit made to the Business Office. There is a $10.00 replacement fee (per key) for lost keys.

General Maintenance Information

Apartments are rented on the condition that the occupant keeps them clean, orderly, and without damage to property or furnishings. Needed repairs to apartments should be reported to the Central Office for dispatching. All work in campus buildings must be undertaken by the Facilities Department.
There are coin-operated washing machines and dryers in the basement areas of the apartments. If breakdown occurs, please call the number posted on the washers and dryers.

Housekeeping and Maintenance

The Facilities Department is responsible for the care of grounds and the maintenance, repair, and housekeeping care of all campus buildings. Requests for service should be made to the Facilities Department via e-mail or in person at the Central Office. Urgent maintenance requests after hours should be directed to campus security at 746-7000.

Campus Security

The administrative responsibility for coordinating the school’s campus security program is assigned to the Director of Facilities (ext. 501). The Director is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After hours, a uniformed security guard is on duty patrolling the campus. For on-campus security response please dial 711 from a campus phone or 746-7000.
In cases of emergency please dial 911 first, and then follow up with a call to Campus Security at 711 or 746-7000.