UF Department of Housing & Residence Education

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Housing Contract Terms & Conditions 2012-2013

The purpose of the Terms and Conditions of the University of Florida (herein referred to as "University") Department of Housing and Residence Education (herein referred to as "Housing") Residence Hall Contract (herein referred to as "Contract") is to establish the Contract between the student and the University with regard to living in single student University housing. Under this Contract, the student is entitled to the use of an assigned space and facilities of a residence hall. The terms, conditions, and responsibilities are stated below:

SECTION A — Financial Obligations

1) Students are required to pay a housing advance rent payment. The balance payment (the difference between the amount of advance payment and the total rent) is due, in advance, as follows:

1. Fall Semester: on or before August 1
2. Spring Semester: on or before November 28
3. Summer A: on or before April 17
4. Summer B: on or before May 29

Payments made in person or received after the above noted dates may result in the assessment of a $100 late charge. The Housing Appeals Committee may waive the late charge upon documentation of severe medical or financial hardship that prevented the payment of the charges by the due date.

2) This Contract is effective from the date of the University's acceptance of this Contract until the official end of the specified semester(s) of the Contract period noted on the Contract. It shall be a part of the Contract that in order to be eligible for on-campus housing, a student must be enrolled in the University.

3) If the student is denied admission or suspended from the University for academic reasons, the student will receive a refund provided that he/she cancels the Contract through the Area Office or Housing Office. In these instances, if the student is in residence, prorated charges will be assessed through the date the student checks out of their room through their Area Office. If the suspended student is not in residence (has not checked in or has checked out prior to the first day of check-in for the next semester), a refund will be processed for the student, less a $200.00 cancellation charge. A student's Contract may be cancelled if the student's admission to the University of Florida has been cancelled for at least two weeks.

4) If the student cancels the Contract prior to occupancy because of non-attendance at the University, the charge schedule will be as follows:

• Prior to the start of the term for the applicable semester a $200 cancellation fee will be imposed.

• After the start of the term a $200 cancellation fee plus pro-rated rent charges based on the date of notification of non-attendance.
• Full rent (no refund) from the 6th day of classes or any day thereafter. Exceptions are considered by the Housing Appeals Committee for documented medical withdrawals involving severe extenuating circumstances.

Cancellations must be submitted via the Housing Portal or must be received in writing with signature and filed with an Area Office or Housing.

5) If the student cancels or withdraws because of non-attendance at the University after the dates listed above (Section A, item 4), the student is subject to the charges listed below. All cancellations or withdrawals must be submitted via the Housing Portal or in writing with signature and filed with an Area Office or Housing.

6) A student who has completed a Fall/Spring Contract and elects to cancel his/her Contract, for any reason, while being enrolled for Fall Semester is subject to a $200.00 cancellation fee if he/she cancels on or before May 1. Beginning May 2, any student who wishes to be enrolled in classes but wishes to cancel his/her Residence Hall Contract can only be released by prior written authorization of the Housing Appeals Committee (herein referred to as "Committee"). Those students released by the Committee will be subject to charges determined by the Committee. Release for all other semester(s) for a student's Contract will be through the appeal process ONLY. If a Contract has been initiated for other than the Fall Semester, the same process shall be followed with respect to the dates listed in Section A, item 4, for students who decide not to be enrolled in classes. Students who have completed a Contract for Spring Semester, Summer A, B and/or C Semester(s) and wish to be released from the Residence Hall Contract must first appeal and receive written approval. The grounds for appealing for release are as follows:

1. Administrative Release - The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs may authorize administrative releases when occupancy is above 100%.
2. Financial Hardship Release - Students who can document financial hardship beyond their control, since entering into the terms and conditions of the contract, and who can secure off campus residences that are less expensive than available campus housing may appeal for release.
3. Medical Hardship Release - Students who can document medical hardship requiring specialized living arrangements or accommodations not available on campus may appeal for release.

*Contract appeals are subject to review and release must be approved by the Department of Housing and Residence Education Appeals Committee. Submitting a contract release request does not guarantee an approved release from your contract or release you of your financial obligation.

7) If a student is suspended from the University for disciplinary reasons and/or is removed from University housing during any Contract period for disciplinary reasons, he/she may not receive a refund for that particular semester he/she is suspended from classes or removed from housing.

8) Students assigned to the Keys Residential Complex and Lakeside Residential Complex will be subject to additional electricity charges if they exceed the seasonally adjusted monthly electricity usage ceiling. Excess utility charges will be billed at the end of each semester.

SECTION B — Terms for Reassignment

1) The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs or his designee reserves the right to require changes in room assignments in order to maintain an educational environment conducive to intellectual and personal growth after due notice to assignee. Professional staff will notify the student(s) whose assignment(s) might be affected prior to taking such action when appropriate and practical.

2) The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs or his designee reserves the right to require changes in room assignments, i.e. consolidation, in order to insure maximum utilization of space and resources. For example, if during any semester, a number of vacancies occur within a given floor, section or hall, the student(s) may be required to move to a new room and/or residence hall assignment.

SECTION C — Conditions of Withdrawal

1) This Contract will be canceled immediately upon the student's withdrawal from University classes and notification in writing to the student's Area Office of such withdrawal. The student is required to vacate the assigned space within three days of such withdrawal. The student's failure to provide written notification to the Area Office of withdrawal from the University will result in the student's continued responsibility to pay housing charges hereunder, despite his/her having vacated the premises, until official written notification of withdrawal is received by Housing or until the Contract is canceled by the Housing Office.

2) If the student withdraws from classes during the Contract period, but fails to notify the Area Office, he/she may be subject to denial of any future University housing.

3) If the student withdraws from classes during the Contract period and then re-enrolls during the same semester he/she withdrew, the Contract shall remain valid. If, however, the student withdraws from the University during the Contract period and then re-enrolls during a subsequent Contract period, his/her Contract shall be null and void.

4) This Contract may not be canceled by the student for the purpose of residing in a fraternity or sorority house at any time during the Contract period, unless a special release policy is invoked by the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. The Special Release Period, if invoked, usually begins on the 5th day of Fall Semester classes. Requests for releases to Greek houses based on financial and/or medical hardship are not viable requests. The Housing Appeals Committee will not review appeals for release to Greek houses.

5) This Contract may not be canceled without approval of Housing. In the event of cancellation without approval, the obligation to pay rent will continue up to the full duration of the Contract period.

6) Notice of withdrawal from the University as well as changes to address, UFID numbers, etc. must be made in writing directly to the student's Area Office or Housing Office. Notices made to the Registrar's Office, Admissions Office, or other University offices do not constitute official notice to Housing.

SECTION D — Conditions of Contract

1) The University's acceptance of this Contract does not guarantee assignment to a particular type of accommodation (hall or room) nor does it determine final admission to the University. The preferences indicated in this Contract are only preferences and facility requests cannot be guaranteed. Assignment and/or continued residence are contingent upon final acceptance of admission and timely payment of all charges. If the rental rate varies from the payment made, an additional charge or refund will be made to the student.

NOTE: Completing a Contract contractually obligates the student to pay for space assigned by Housing regardless of indicated living preferences, locations, and/or options.

2) Correspondence including rent bills, notices of other charges, refunds, and housing information flyers are emailed to students at his/her official University of Florida email account. Room rent for a semester covers residence from the date designated for official opening of the residence halls until the date designated for official closing of the residence halls. Room rent does not cover residence during the period between Fall and Spring Semester or between Summer B and Fall Semester.

3) Occupancy shall begin when the student signs for the keys to his/her assigned accommodation and shall terminate when written authorization is completed and the above-noted key(s) are returned to the respective Area Office.

4) In accordance with the University of Florida's educational philosophy of total integration of all facilities and in accordance with the laws of the United States, race, creed, color, religion, and national origin are not considered criteria in the placement of students in residence halls or in room assignments. Gender is considered a criterion in room assignment; however, housing assignments to male and female students are proportionate in quantity and comparable in quality in compliance with Title IX mandates. Housing receives applications on a 'first come, first served' basis without regards to gender quotas. Past statistics show that this policy results in acceptable gender proportions. (Fall 2011: 57% female population, and 43% male population.)

5) The University is not liable for loss or damage of personal property; or for interruption or failure of utilities such as heating, air conditioning, water, electricity, CATV, DHNet, etc.; or for injury or inconvenience to persons (except of the extent set forth in Florida Statutes, sec. 768.28 (1991)). The University reserves the right to assess additional charges and/or rent during the Contract period to offset increased utility and/or other operational costs, provided the University gives written notification to the student at least 30 days prior to any increase in rent or charges.

6) Authorized University housing personnel may enter student rooms without the resident's permission for maintenance/housekeeping purposes and fire/safety inspections. When authorized personnel have reasonable belief that a violation of a University regulation, local ordinance, state or federal statute is in progress, and/or for other emergency purposes, they may enter student rooms without notice.

7) This Contract may be canceled by Housing or room assignments may be changed in the interest of order, discipline, health, safety, security, maximum utilization of facilities, or for failure to pay charges in a timely manner.

8) Rooms may be inhabited ONLY by students to whom they are assigned. Rooms may not be sublet to another person(s). Room transfers may be made only AFTER written approval from the respective Area Office. Appropriate monetary charges will be assessed and/or disciplinary action will be taken against violators of the provisions in this paragraph.

9) Rooms are to be kept clean and orderly. Charges may be made for damage to, or unauthorized use of, or alterations to rooms, furnishings, appliances, equipment, locks or buildings and for special cleaning necessitated by improper care of rooms, furnishings, appliances, or equipment on the floor or in the section of the building where their assigned rooms are located.

10) Triple rooms will be converted to double rooms at the time that one of the current residents moves out of the room. Rent will be adjusted on a prorated weekly basis.

11) Students are responsible for knowing and adhering to University regulations and procedures; and the Department of Housing and Residence Education Community Standards.

12) Interpretation of policies outlined in this Contract shall be decided by the University of Florida Campus Student Housing Committee.

SECTION E — Residency Requirement

1) The University of Florida does not have an on-campus residency requirement for any student.

SECTION F — Disabled Student Information

1) Documentation from the student's treating physician and/or medical professional will be used in an attempt to select the most suitable available housing accommodation, given the individual student"s condition/disability. Access to this information is restricted to the use of selected Housing staff who have legitimate "need-to-know" for housing assignment purposes. Any student who has additional questions regarding this information is welcome to contact Housing Undergraduate Assignments.

2) Upon request, for individuals with documented print- related disabilities, this publication is available in alternate format. Contact Housing Undergraduate Assignments for more information.

3) The University of Florida does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs, and activities, as specified by federal laws and regulations.