Residence Hall Safety and Security

All three residence halls are monitored by an alarm system. This system enhances the security of the halls by limiting access to only the residents and their guests.

Check-Out Procedures
The Residence Life staff expect the following guidelines to be followed when you are checking out of your residence area:

• Your room must be cleaned before you leave. Students who leave without cleaning their rooms will be charged.
• Students not continuing in residency at any time during the academic year should contact the Director of Residence Life. The Resident Assistant for that area should also be contacted so that the student may sign out on their room inventory form. All keys and cards must be turned in at the time of departure or a lock change fee will be levied.
• Resident students are required to vacate their rooms no later than 5:00 p.m. the day of their last class or examination at the end of the semester or academic year. No student may stay past the scheduled closing date without the written consent of the Director of Residence Life.
• Any student who fails to officially check out with an RA when moving out of his/her room will not have the right to dispute damages.
• Any student who leaves personal belongings, including furniture, in his/her room will be fined and the items left become the property of NHTI.

Emergency Equipment
No student is to exit through an emergency exit in a non-emergency situation. Any student who violates this policy or is apprehended for tampering with fire safety equipment will be fined $50.00 and could face suspension or dismissal from the residence hall.

The residence halls are equipped with panic devices located near the exit doors in each hallway. In case of emergency push the panic alarm and Campus Safety will respond immediately. Tampering with panic switches will result in a $50.00 fine to the individual responsible or the hall. These devices are to be used in emergency situations only.

Lockouts
Residents are expected to carry their keys with them at all times. Residents requiring the assistance of a staff member to open their door will be charged $1.00 per incident. No charge will be assessed if the door lock has malfunctioned.

Maintenance
The Residence Life staff will conduct periodic room checks to ensure the safety and upkeep of the physical facilities of the residence halls. Damages to the residence hall will result in an assessment to the individual or group responsible, based on the actual cost to repair or replace the item or structure affected. Windows should not be forced open and window ledges should not be used as storage areas. Removal of a window or screen will result in a fine of $10.00 per student. Any maintenance or safety violation found in any room will result in a fine. Any excessive mess in the common areas will result in a fine to the hall, group, or individual responsible.

Moving In/Checking Out
Students will be notified as to the appropriate move-in dates for the beginning of the academic year, after semester break and vacation periods. Notification will be in writing each semester. The dates and times are inflexible due to the fact that the residence halls close and there is no staff coverage during these times. Residents may not arrive earlier or leave later than the designated times.

People to Know

Director of Residence Life
The Director of Residence Life is responsible for the total operation of the residence halls and Residence Life Staff at NHTI. The Director may be reached in the Residence Life Office in the Student Center or by telephone at (603) 271-6984.

Residence Director (RD)
All residence halls on campus are staffed with a Residence Director, who maintains close contact with the students in the building and serves as an administrator of the facility. Residence Directors may be reached through their hall offices.

Resident Assistants (RA)
RAs are members of the Residence Life Staff and are responsible for a section or floor of residents in a particular hall. Your RA will be able to assist you by answering questions about the campus, explaining NHTI policy and regulations, promoting order in the area, acting in emergency situations, sponsoring programs, and in general being as helpful as possible. Please contact your RA when you need assistance of any kind.

Residence Hall Councils
The Residence Hall Councils act as liaisons between students and staff. Each residence hall council is responsible for planning and encouraging social and educational activities. Students are encouraged to run for office as the success of each council depends on the participation of its members.

Personal Property
Resident students are responsible for their personal belongings. NHTI does not assume responsibility for loss of, or damage to, personal articles from any cause whatsoever. Students will not be allowed to store belongings in the residence halls at any time. NHTI suggests that students consider purchasing renter’s insurance to cover loss or to extend parents’ insurance for this purpose.

Policy of Entry into Student Rooms
Authorized NHTI personnel, defined as Resident Assistants, Residence Directors, Director of Residence Life, Maintenance Staff and Campus Safety Officers have the right of entry into resident students’ rooms for the purpose of maintenance, assessment of damages, inventory of NHTI property, determination of suspected violations of law, public health and sanitary regulations, NHTI rules, regulations and policies, or in emergencies when danger to life, safety, health, or property is reasonably suspected (see Search and Seizure).

Renters Insurance

NHTI assumes no responsibility for the loss of or damage to a resident's personal property. The Institute suggests that students consider purchasing renter's insurance for this purpose.

Room Changes
A student wishing to change rooms must submit his/her request to the Director of Residence Life. A room change request must be approved by the Director before a student moves. NHTI reserves the right to consolidate roommates, i.e., if resident(s) vacate a room, the remaining resident must be willing to accept another roommate or move to another room when requested by NHTI to do so. There is a room change period at the beginning of each semester.

Room Keys and Key Cards
All doors to the residence halls will be locked at all times. To ensure the safety and welfare of students and the protection of personal property, security must be maintained regarding the use of all entrances by nonresidents. Each student will be issued a room key. Any student losing his/her key will be charged $5.00 for its replacement. Residents of North Hall will be issued a mailbox key. Loss of a mailbox key will also result in a $5.00 charge for replacement. All residents are required to have a valid student photo ID card. The ID card will permit access to the residence hall. Residents only have access to their Hall. All students are responsible to advise Campus Safety immediately if they believe their card is lost or stolen.

Sporting Activities
Sporting activities of all types are prohibited inside the residence halls. This includes but is not limited to golfing, basketball, hockey, football, soccer, lacrosse, etc. Due to the danger of personal injury and/or damage to property, water fights, shaving cream fights, powder fights, etc. within the residence halls are prohibited.

Use and Treatment of Premise
No objects may be dropped or thrown from windows. Residents may not enter upon, cross, or use rooftops. Tampering with locks and altering or duplicating NHTI keys is prohibited. Lounge furniture may not be moved from the lounge in which it is located. Removing window screens and/or sitting on window sills is prohibited. Entering or exiting a building through a window is prohibited. All residents are expected to have consideration and respect for fellow residents, as well as for the physical property of the residence halls. Residents are held accountable for any incidents that occur in their assigned rooms, whether or not they are present at the time.

Visitation and Guests
NHTI has established maximum hours during which visitation hours may be scheduled. Visitation will be within the following hours:

Daily: Mon-Thurs 10 a.m. - midnight
Weekend: Fri-Sun 10 a.m. Fri - midnight Sun.

Each resident is allowed to have three guests in his/her room at any one time. The resident must sign the guest(s) in at the front desk between 7 p.m. and midnight. Visitors must leave the student rooms at the end of visitation hours. NHTI does not extend visitation rights or guest rights to minors. For clarification of this policy, please see the Residence Director in your building.

Residents must notify the RA on duty by 10 p.m. of any guest staying with them overnight and obtain permission from the appropriate Residence Director. Non-registered guests will be asked to leave the building. Each guest is limited to 6 overnight stays per month. Each resident is allowed to have overnight guests 8 evenings per month. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests and must be with them at all times.

Our purpose is to maintain a safe environment on campus. Campus Safety Officers are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Campus Safety is available to provide escorts for students around campus, between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., Sunday-Saturday. Escorts provided can be by foot or by vehicle. If you have a medical problem, you can request this service at any time. Contact Campus Safety by dialing the emergency number, 224-3287 or by using the Code Blue Phones. Tell the officer who you are, where you are located, and where you need to go. The officer will give you an estimated time of arrival to your location. Remember that the officer has many other responsibilities to attend during his or her shift and may not be able to respond immediately to your request. For more information regarding Campus Safety please call (603) 271-6310.

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Revised: 16 Aug 2010