Guide To University Living

• Our Values
• The Bearcat Experience
• Just Community
• Bearcat Bond
• Compliance with Local, State, and Federal Law
  • The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
  • Missing Residents in On-Campus Housing Facilities
  • Campus Security Authorities and Mandatory Reporting Requirements

• Roommate & Suitemate Relationships
• The Roommate Bill of Rights & Responsibilities
• Hall Security
• Room Entry
• Insurance
• Health Information
• Break Housing
• Staff Members
• Hall Offices
• Leased Facilities
• Mail
  • Bearcats Package Center
  • Who Should Use the Package Center
  • How it Works
• Laundry Facilities
• Personalizing and Decorating Your Room
• Posting on Residential Floors
• Storage
• Additional Facilities
• Problem-Solving in Residence Halls
• Where to Make a Report or Get Assistance

• MainStreet
• Campus Shuttle and Metro Bus Services
• Office of University Housing
• University Dining Services
• Basic Safety Tips
• Bearcat Guardian
• Bicycle Registration
• Cell Phone Safety Tips
• Crime & Public Safety
  • Emergency Alert System and Campus Safety Network
  • Fire
  • Medical Care & Emergencies
  • Registered Sex Offender Information
  • Severe Weather/Tornadoes
  • Sexual Assualt Response Services
  • Shelter-in-Place Warning

• Introduction
• Student Code of Conduct
• Residence Hall Rules & Regulations
• Reporting Options
• Student Conduct Process

Resident Education and Development has high expectations for students in their time living on campus, which is codified as The Bearcat Experience. The Bearcat Experience describes what students will gain because of living on campus. To aid in this effort, we look to four core values that align with and uphold the University’s emphasis on a Just Community and the Bearcat Bond. 

Learning does not take place solely in the classroom. As a member of a residential community, students will have the opportunity to develop life skills including learning, leadership, inclusion, and community. Resident Education & Development’s (RED) program is designed to ensure that students become engaged citizens and experienced-based learners.

Students living in our communities will have the opportunity to engage with others while developing their identity as a Bearcat. Our residential communities promote a space for students to explore, engage, and grow through a variety of intentional opportunities. RED staff are devoted to ensuring the experience as an on-campus student at UC is enjoyable, safe, and creates lifelong memories. 

The University of Cincinnati is a public comprehensive system of learning and research that serves a diverse student body with a broad range of interests and goals.

The faculty of the university produces world-renowned scholarship and nurtures innovation in and out of the classroom. As well, the faculty, staff and administration support an educational setting of excellence, opportunity and service.

In embracing our roles within this learning community, we subscribe to the defining purposes, traditions and diversity of the University of Cincinnati. Through our actions, we will strive to make the University of Cincinnati a more caring and just community.  As members of this community, we will:

• Accept Responsibility by striving to build a learning community committed to these common values and principles.
• Celebrate the Uniqueness of Each Individual by respecting individual differences and promoting common interests.
• Embrace Freedom and Openness by working to create an environment that is safe and affirming, one that nurtures independent thinking and the free and open expression of ideas.
• Practice Civility by extending to those we meet the same respect, cooperation and caring that we expect from others.
• Promote Justice by working to build a learning environment that offers everyone an equal opportunity to grow, flourish and contribute.
• Pursue Learning and Scholarship by building on successes, learning from mistakes and pursuing quality in teaching, research and creative endeavors.
• Seek Integrity by aspiring to the highest moral and ethical standards.
• Strive for Excellence by aspiring to achieve our fullest potential in our educational and personal pursuits.

"As a member of the University of Cincinnati, I will uphold the principles for a Just Community and the values of respect, responsibility, and inclusiveness. I will promote the highest levels of personal and academic honesty and aspire continuously to better myself, the Bearcat community, and the world."

The University of Cincinnati complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. As such, staff will maintain the privacy of student information.  Staff will not disclose student information (even to parents and guardians) without written authorization from the student except where such disclosure are permitted by law.

A student living in an on-campus housing facility has the right to identify a confidential contact person(s) (“CCP”) who will be contacted not later than 24 hours after the time a student is determined missing. The University will not assume that the CCP is the same individual(s) identified as the student’s general emergency contact. A CCP is only contacted for missing person purposes. A student may register or change their CCP at any time. To register or modify a CCP, a student may visit their housing application anytime or contact UC Housing at (513) 556-6461.

If a missing student is under 18 years of age, and not an emancipated individual, the University is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian no later than 24 hours after the time the student is determined missing.

Learn more about the Missing Residents on Campus policy.

Resident Education & Development and University Housing Staff are campus security authorities and mandatory reporters as defined by the Clery Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 respectively.  These staff are required to report suspected crimes, crimes, and incidents of sexual misconduct disclosed to them in their capacity as staff members to Public Safety and/or the Office of Gender, Equity, and Inclusion as required by law.

The Department of Public Safety maintains records of criminal activity on and near campus. Information related to Clery Act compliance can be found online through the Public Safety website.   

Roommates and suitemates can be a great advantage to one’s adjustment to residence hall living and a source of support. Many people find these relationships to be rewarding. There can be challenges in learning to live with others. Conflict must be managed constructively. To help each set of roommates and suitemates avoid unnecessary conflict and enhance communication, each room/suite is required to develop a Roommate Agreement with the assistance of an RA. This agreement may be re-negotiated at any time. A new agreement must be developed fully whenever a new resident moves into the room or suite.

The following strategies may be helpful in building and maintaining a successful room or suite relationship:

• Have realistic expectations. It isn’t necessary to be best friends to have a comfortable roommate relationship.
• Keep an open mind. Approach sharing a room and building a roommate relationship with an open mind.
• Don’t let annoyances accumulate. When something bothers you, speak up to your roommate(s) about it calmly and privately. 
• “Check in” occasionally. To see how the relationship is going from your roommate’s perspective, ask what you can do to be a better roommate.
• Develop a weekly ritual.  Plan to spend time together each week by doing an activity together such as getting coffee, sharing a meal, or watching a favorite show.
• Don’t make assumptions. Don’t assume that you and your roommate were raised with similar expectations or habits. Be prepared for residence hall life to be a little different.
• Listen. Listen openly and carefully to your roommate.
• Negotiate. Be willing to compromise.
• Respect. Demonstrate courtesy toward your roommates (and their guests) consistently.
• Use available resources. If you need help in managing a disagreement, bring in your RA instead of neighbors, friends and family members, which may escalate the situation unnecessarily.
• Be patient. Acknowledge that conflict management is an on-going process. Like any other relationship, roommate relationships require continuing care, attention, and effort on everyone’s part.

Residents have certain rights and responsibilities in their roles as a roommate or suitemate. The Roommate Bill of Rights and Responsibilities communicates what is expected of everyone who lives in residence halls.

• The right to read, study, and sleep free from undue disturbance by roommates and guests, and the responsibility to afford the same courtesy to one’s roommates.
• The right to expect that one’s personal property will be respected and that reasonable security of one’s room will be maintained, and the responsibility to afford such respect and security to one’s roommates.
• The right to a reasonably clean environment and the responsibility to do one’s fair share in maintaining such an environment.
• The right to free access to one’s room and the responsibility to afford the same courtesy to one’s roommates.
• The right to a reasonable level of personal privacy and the responsibility to respect roommates’ privacy.
• The right to host guests in accordance with residence hall rules and regulations and the responsibility to ensure that one’s guests and oneself demonstrate respect and courtesy for roommates.
• The right to expect that residence hall rules and regulations will be followed in the room such that no person is put at risk of harm and the responsibilities to follow rules oneself and report violations appropriately.
• The right to be free from pressures, intimidation, physical or emotional harm, and behavior that demeans or disrespects one’s identity and the responsibility not to engage in any such behavior toward others.
• The right to address grievances and needs constructively, privately or with the assistance of hall staff, and the responsibility to communicate one’s concerns appropriately and to participate in norm-setting or conflict resolution measures whenever necessary.
• The right to expect compromise in the negotiation of standards and the settling of conflicts and the responsibility to demonstrate compromise.
• The right to timely, respectful communication of any concerns and the responsibility to respond in an open, approachable manner.
• The right to experience and to appropriately articulate one’s feelings when desired and the responsibility to respect others’ feelings.
• The right to make mistakes and the responsibilities to be honest about those mistakes and to work to learn from them.

• Residence hall security policies help protect everyone’s personal safety.
• Residence hall entrances are locked 24 hours a day. Only residents, their escorted guests, and authorized persons are permitted to enter the halls.
• Carry your University ID (Bearcat Card) at all times. You must show your Bearcat Card upon request.
• Misrepresentation or dishonesty associated with entry or guest escort will result in disciplinary action.
• All guests must be escorted at all times. Please apprise all potential guests, including family members, of this policy in advance. University Housing and Resident Education and Development reserves the right to institute guest check-in procedures as needed. When in effect, guest check-in may require both host and guest(s) to surrender IDs while checking into a UC hall. 

For full details on residence hall visitation policies, see the Guests section of this Guide.

Staff of University Housing or Facilities Management have the right to enter student rooms—after knocking, announcing their job role, and allowing time for a response—for the following reasons:

• To make repairs.
• To turn off unattended music, televisions, alarms or other noise sources.
• Upon reasonable suspicion of danger or health risk to residents, guests, and/or University property.
• To perform emergency procedures, confirm evacuation (e.g., fire alarm room checks), or verify compliance with safety standards (e.g., room checks at breaks).
• Room searches may be conducted by residence hall staff in conjunction with Public Safety officers.
• When University employees enter student rooms for authorized purposes, any materials or behavior in plain view that violate law, University Student Code of Conduct or residence hall policy may be subject to disciplinary and/ or criminal action.

The University and its offices do not assume responsibility to residents or other persons for the loss of money or valuables, damage to property, or injuries on the premises including but not limited to damage from electrical overload, water, fire, or smoke. If you are not covered under your parents’ or guardians’ homeowners’/tenants’ insurance, we strongly recommend that you arrange insurance and protection against such losses.

Residence halls have a high number of students concentrated in close quarters. The following tips help everyone to promote good health:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water.
• When soap and water are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer product.
• Cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow rather than the palm of your hand.
• Limit your contact with others when you are ill. Stay home from class or work if you can.
• Protect your immunity with sensible nutrition, rest, and exercise.
• Have health supplies (e.g., sanitizer, thermometer, prescription and non-prescription medicines, tissues) on hand.
• If you become ill and need assistance, notify your RA or the front desk of your hall or complex so that they can help you get in contact with appropriate resources.

Residents are provided use of the facilities in University Housing and dining halls during times classes and final exams are held, in accordance with the established University calendar. During break periods (winter break and spring break) housing and dining services are not provided. Additionally, meals are not provided during the Thanksgiving break. By request, room accommodations may be provided during the break periods at an additional nightly rate. Residents of apartment-style facilities (Morgens, Scioto, UPA, and all block lease locations) are provided break housing as part of their contract at no additional charge.

The following residence hall staff members are available to assist you:

Resident Advisor: The Resident Advisor (RA) is your first resource. Each residence hall floor or living unit has a peer leader known as the RA. Carefully selected and trained, RAs help students with personal concerns, interpersonal conflicts, academics, and personal adjustments; enforce policies; and provide leadership and guidance. RAs provide programming that supports the development of a positive community. RAs receive a room and board scholarship and a bi-weekly stipend (salary). RAs are supervised by the Community Coordinator in each hall.

Community Coordinator: All of our halls have a Community Coordinator (CC) who is a full-time professional who lives in the hall. The CC is responsible for the general management of the hall or complex. CCs supervise the Resident Advisors and advise the hall government. CCs report to the Area Coordinator.

Area Coordinator: Residence Halls are paired into specific “neighborhoods” that Area Coordinators oversee. ACs supervise the Community Coordinators of their designated neighborhood.

Desk Assistant Staff: Each residence hall service center functions 24 hours a day 7 days a week at the discretion of the hall staff. Desk Assistant staff answer questions, monitor safety and security, and assist residents as necessary. They may conduct guest check-ins when needed, and they enforce University and residence hall policies. Desk Assistant staff are supervised by a Neighborhood Operations Coordinator (NOC).

Neighborhood Operations Coordinators: NOCs are responsible for managing and supervising Desk Assistants as they provide customer support to residents.  Additionally, they provide administrative support to the hall (i.e. packages, lockouts, room changes).

Facilities Management Staff: Members of the Maintenance and Operations staff in Facilities Management, residence hall custodians, maintenance staff, and tradespeople keep residence halls in clean, safe, working condition. They perform routine maintenance and daily cleaning. Students share the responsibility to take good care of the facilities and equipment in residence halls.

Central Office Staff: Located in Marian Spencer Hall on the first floor, the Office of Resident Education & Development, the Housing Office and the Food Services Office are staffed by a variety of employees who oversee the University Housing system. Area Coordinators from the halls report to Assistant Directors (ADs) of Resident Education & Development; those ADs report to the Associate Director of Resident Education & Development (513-556-6476). Staff members in Housing and Food Services report to the directors of those units (513-556-6461).

During periods when classes are in session, Residence Hall service centers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During break periods or when the university is closed due to inclement weather, service center coverage may be consolidated to a limited number of desks. Whenever desk service is unavailable at a Residence Hall, the names and contact information for on-call staff will be posted at the service center.

In the Dabney-CRC Complex, office operations are managed only at Dabney Hall; there will be no desk operation in CRC Hall except as posted for package pick-up.  

When needed, University Housing may lease blocks of rooms with non-UC facilities in the area and make those spaces available under the Terms and Conditions of the Housing Agreement. Residents in such circumstances are provided with similar services to that of all halls and are subject to all relevant policies in this publication unless apprised otherwise in writing by the office of Resident Education & Development. 

The Bearcats Package Center is located in Tangeman University Center, and provides a fast and worry-free package retrieval for on-campus residential students.  It offers centralized processing for all incoming packages for on-campus residential student packages, and features over 400 self-serve package lockers. 

Located on 200 Level, TUC, next to the food court, just past Cincy Grill.

Lockers will be available for package retrieval any time TUC is open. The Service Desk will have reduced hours.  

Hours subject to change as announced by university officials. Building is closed for all university holidays, unless otherwise indicated. See FAQs for more directions, information and more. 

Students in the following residence halls should use the Package Center Address:

• Bellevue Gardens
• Calhoun Hall
• Campus Recreation Center Hall
• Dabney Hall
• Daniels Hall
• Marian Spencer Hall
• Morgens Hall
• Schneider Hall
• Scioto Hall
• Siddall Hall
• Turner Hall
• Stratford Heights
• University Park Apartments

Please visit Adresses by Residence to find the correct address for you. 

Carriers such as UPS, FedEx and Amazon WILL NOT deliver packages addressed to these residence halls' physical addresses.

Delivery services such as Instacart, Kroger Delivery, WalMart+, DoorDash, Grubhub etc., should use the residential hall address. 

Step 1. On-campus residential students should have all packages sent to the Bearcats Package Center at the following address:

[Your First Name  Your Last Name], [Your UC Central Login (also called your 6+2)]*
Bearcats Package Center - TUC DOCK
2715 Bearcat Way
Cincinnati, OH  45219-3539

• If there is an area to include special instructions, please communicate that package should be delivered to the Tangeman University Center loading dock at 2715 Bearcat Way, Cincinnati OH 45219.   
• *To ensure efficient processing of your package, use your full name with middle inital as registered in Catalyst AND include your UC Central Login (also called your 6+2), which are the
  the letters/numbers preceding "@" in your UC email address.
  

Step 2: When the package arrives at the Package Center, you will receive an email with a code and the locker bay name when your package has been delivered and processed at  the center.

Step 3: You will then come to the Package Center, and scan the barcode in the email notification to retrieve the package(s) at the indicated locker bay.

Step 4: The locker containing your package will open for you to retrieve your package.

Oversized packages and those needing refrigeration can be picked up from the Service Desk.  

Each residence hall has at least one laundry room. The washers and dryers in these spaces operate by Bearcat Card (BCC). The facilities are for use by residents only. Residents may remove unattended loads whose cycles are complete if no other machines are available as long as they do so in a respectful, courteous manner. Residents are asked to demonstrate courtesy by not monopolizing all machines and by not leaving completed loads in the machines. Please report any problems with laundry facilities to the front desk of the residence hall. 

Residents are encouraged to personalize their room space to the extent reasonably possible. The following items are prohibited in the decorating of student rooms:

• Double-stick tape, duct tape, or any adhesive that leaves residue or damages the surface finish;
• Nails, screws, bolts, tacks, and anything that makes holes in the surface;
• Adhesive-mounted items on the ceilings, such as glow-in-the-dark stars;
• Hanging items from or near light fixtures and safety equipment (i.e., sprinklers, smoke detectors, etc.);
• Any item or activity that damages University property, violates policies, or poses undue safety risks.

The following options may help to enhance room appearance and minimize or prevent damage:

• Mattress pads
• Slipcovers for University couches and chairs
• “Sticky-tac” or “poster putty” for posters
• Carpeting or area rugs
• Ironing boards (please do not iron on tables, desks, counters, floors)
• Regular cleaning and trash removal

Only Resident Advisors are eligible to post information on residential floors. In order to have the Resident Advisors post material advertising programs, courses, campus performances, etc., on their floors, the item to be posted must be approved by the Resident Education and Development office. Please bring a copy of the item to be posted to the RED Office Suite, located in Marian Spencer Hall, and drop it off. Include your phone number so we can contact you with an approval. If the item is approved for distribution, you will need to supply enough copies for each floor. Currently, we would need 200 copies. Please submit your materials approximately 15 workdays prior to the event to allow sufficient time to get your material approved, distributed, and posted. Please note that we do not post sales or solicitation material. 

Due to space limitations in the residence facilities, the Offices of Residence Education and Development (RED) and Housing are unable to provide storage facilities for students, either during the year or over break periods. This includes storage for personal items as well as storage for furniture that is currently in the rooms. Therefore, it is important that students only bring items to campus that can fit into their room along with the existing furniture.

Residence halls offer varying amenities including but not limited to study lounges, classrooms, social lounges, pool tables, ping-pong tables, TVs, pianos, ice machines, and vending machines. Consult a staff member or the front desk of the residence hall for more information.

Problem-solving is a skill to be mastered like any other—playing a sport or instrument, learning material in a class, or speaking another language.  It requires practice and patience.

An approach to problem-solving with examples

1. Stay as calm as you can; take a deep breath; think.
2. Identify the problem as clearly and specifically as you can.
3. Assess the situation for its seriousness.
   1. Emergency: There is a current risk of serious harm to person(s) or a threat to the community. Report emergencies to 911 or 6-1111.
   2. Urgent: There is a risk of harm to property, a disruption in basic service such as heat or water, or a situation that is getting worse very quickly. Report it to an RA face-to-face or to the front desk.
   3. Important: There is not a need for immediate action, but the situation should be discussed promptly— the next business day or within a few days. Consult an RA or the front desk for guidance, or make an appointment at the front desk to meet with your CC or AC.
   4. Routine: A dripping faucet, clogged sink, light bulb out, etc. Report these to the front desk.
4. Take action. If the problem is not resolved satisfactorily, seek the next resource “upward.”
5. After the problem is resolved, reflect on your choices, what you learned, or what you can take away from the experience for future benefit 

Always begin as close to the origin of the problem as possible. For example, if you have a concern about your roommate, talk to your roommate first before seeking staff help. If you have a concern about a situation on your floor, speak with your RA.  If you are unsure of where to begin, the best starting points are your own floor’s RA, any other RA, your hall’s NOC, CC or AC, or the front desk of the hall. Ample help is available in each hall. If you have a concern with a university employee, speak with that person’s supervisor.

As a student, you have the right to address concerns or complaints wherever you like. However, the quickest solution is usually found by working “up” the staff chain. Contrary to popular belief, “Going straight to the top” usually involves both more time and less convenience for you as officials gather information or delegate the situation to the person closest to the situation.

The chain of authority for help in residence hall is generally RA, duty RA, front desk, NOC, CC, AC, central office RED staff, Dean of Students.

Life-threatening or seriously dangerous situations can always be reported to UCPD at 911 or 513-556-1111. Below are some situations that you might encounter and where you can begin seeking help as needed.

• UCPD at 911 or 513-556-1111
• Front Desk
• Your floor RA, or the On-Call RAs for your building
• Your Community Coordinator or Area Coordinator

Beginning at University Pavilion and extending to the Jefferson Complex’s Turner and Schneider Halls, MainStreet is the corridor through the heart of campus—the hub of activity and campus life. From the comprehensive service delivery of OneStop to the programs, organizations, and retail options in Tangeman University Center (TUC) and Steger Student Life Center (SSLC) to the state-of-the-art facilities of the Campus Recreation Center—MainStreet is the center of 24-hour activity for the community.

MainStreet includes but is not limited to:

Steger Student Life Center

• Ethnic Programs and Services
• Experienced-Based Learning & Career Education
• LGBTQ Center
• Meyers Gallery
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
• Office of Student Life/Dean of Students
• Student Activities and Leadership Development
• Student Wellness Center
• Women’s Center

Tangeman University Center

• Bookstore
• Catskeller Dining Center
• Food Court
• MainStreet Cinema
• MainStreet Connection Center
• MainStreet ExpressMart
• Bearcats Café
• PNC Bank

Campus Recreation Center

• Aquatics
• Climbing Wall
• Group Fitness Classes
• Personal Training and Nutrition Coaching
• Market on Main
• CenterCourt Dining Center

Two shuttle systems provide services on or near campus. Campus Transit System (CTS) operates shuttles on campus; these are available to all students, staff, and faculty. Bearcats Transportation System (BTS) operates shuttles on off-campus routes, exclusively for use by UC students. UC Shuttle Tracker displays real-time route and shuttle data to a mobile phone or PC browser. Transportation Services may be reached at 513-556-4424. The shuttle tracker is available online or via the DoubleMap (iOS) (Android) app.

The office of University Housing is located in Marian Spencer Hall on the first floor and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff can answer questions regarding your Housing Agreement, meal plans, room and board fees, and room reservations. Information on the Terms and Conditions of the Housing Agreement can be found online or at the offices of University Housing and Food Services (513-556-6461).

There are numerous on-campus dining options for students and their guests. CenterCourt and Stadium View at the Campus Recreation Center, MarketPointe at Siddall, and On the Green at Marian Spencer Hall serve those with meal plans while also offering a retail option. Please visit the Food Services website for hours of operation and menu information. All locations welcome the Bearcat Card. Retail facilities on campus include our campus cafes and the many eateries along MainStreet.

Meal plans offer a block of meals for use over the semester. Students with a meal plan can also use swipes for meal exchange items at DAAP Café, Catskeller, and Bleecker Street Café at UC Blue Ash once per meal period (e.g., breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Bearcat Card (BCC) dollars can be added to any of the meal plans.

Residence hall students who are required to have a meal plan (e.g., first-year students) may review meal plan information online.

Additional BCC dollars are always available for purchase separately. Campus Dining Passes, serving the needs of upper-class students and other members of the university community are also available. Please visit our website for further details.

Safety is a shared responsibility among all UC community members and their guests. While safety is never a guarantee, you can enhance your personal safety and security in various ways, including the following:

• Keep your room locked whenever you are gone—no matter how briefly—or sleeping.
• Always keep your keys and Bearcat Card with you.
• Report lost or stolen keys or access cards to the service center of your hall immediately.
• If you lose your Bearcat Card cancel your account immediately via this link or by calling Bearcat Card Customer Service at 513-556-2000.
• Record serial numbers and manufacturer of valuables.
• Record credit card and bank account numbers, company names, and phone numbers so you can promptly cancel any lost or stolen cards.
• Mark textbooks with your name or other distinct information in a consistent and hard-to-see place to increase the chances of recovering them at buyback.
• Keep money, checkbook, credit cards, and other valuables in a secure location. In almost every room, some lockable space is available for each resident. Bring a combination or key lock to use it.
• Avoid carrying or keeping large amounts of cash.
• Be alert for unescorted persons in the residence halls; report instances to the hall staff.
• Avoid walking alone and using ATMs at night.
• When you leave for evenings or weekends, tell a roommate or friend where you are going and when you plan to return.
• If you receive harassing/obscene calls, keep track of this activity, notify a staff member who can help you write an incident report, and report the activity to UCPD at 513-556-1111.
• Remember the UCPD anonymous tip line, 513-556-COPS (556-2677).
• If you observe suspicious activity or experience/witness a crime, call UCPD and notify a staff member.

Bearcat Guardian is a state-of-the-art safety app that allows you to turn your cell phone into a safety device. It works on any mobile phone running on any US-based mobile carrier network. Please visit the Bearcat Guardian webpage for more information.

All students, staff and faculty at the University of Cincinnati are asked to register their bicycle with the Department of Public Safety. Information collected during the registration process is entered into a database and used to identify the bicycle in case of theft. Please visit the Bicycle Registration webpage for more information. 

When using any cell phone on campus, please remember these tips:

• Contact UCPD for non-emergency situations at 513-556-1111. 
• For emergencies, call 911. Your call will be directed to Cincinnati police, so clearly state you are on the UC campus and need UCPD.
• Give your exact location—including building, floor and room. When outdoors, be as specific as possible when describing your location.
• In your room, know where your phone is (especially when going to sleep) and keep it charged.
• In the event of a major emergency in the area, cell phone systems may be overwhelmed. Plan for a secondary notification system in advance (e.g., email or Web communication) to let family and friends know you are safe.
• In the residence hall, there is a campus phone on each floor. In Stratford houses, there may be lobby phones instead. From those phones, you can reach UC’s Public Safety by dialing 911 or 6-1111.

The Uptown west campus proper is one of the safest areas in the city, though precautions are always appropriate. No area is 100% safe or risk-free. If you experience a crime on campus, notify UC Police Department at 911 (emergencies) or 513-556-1111 (non-emergencies). You can report crimes anonymously at 513-556-COPS (513-556- 2677). In some cases, UCPD jurisdiction may extend to off-campus locations due to a mutual aid agreement with the city.

For more information on subscribing/registering for text and email services that are used for communication during emergencies, see UC Public Safety's Emergency Management website. 

Familiarize yourself with fire evacuation routes and the locations of emergency devices such as pull stations and fire extinguishers. Residents and their guests are responsible for complying with the following fire safety rules and procedures:

• Avoid fire risks associated with other policy violations by observing rules about candles, incense, cooking, and extension cords.
• Tampering with or misusing any life-safety equipment—including but not limited to extinguishers, detectors, and sprinkler heads—is prohibited. Remember that nothing may be hung from any of these items at any time.
• If you are present where a fire starts and it cannot be quickly extinguished with available equipment, leave the room—closing the door behind you. Activate the nearest pull station immediately and evacuate the building. Call 911 first to report the fire, then you may attempt to contact your RA or CC.
• To prevent the spread of smoke in any fire, keep fire doors closed at all times.
• In a fire alarm, quickly put on shoes and weather-appropriate clothing, bring keys, and ID, and immediately evacuate the building.
• Evacuation during fire alarms is required by law. Failure to evacuate can result in criminal action and disciplinary action through the University.
• If you need evacuation assistance because of a permanent or temporary disability, remain in your room with the door closed and call 911. In the Campus Recreation Center Hall only, there are designated areas of rescue assistance in the stairwells.
• Once you have evacuated a room or hall, residents may only re-enter after the fire department instructs you to do so.

The University Health Services (UHS) is in The Lindner Athletic Center (Main Campus). Call 513-556-2564 or visit the UHS website for more information, including available services, appointment scheduling, walk-in services, and non-hospital urgent care centers that accept UC Student Health Insurance.

If you are involved in a medical emergency in which hall staff respond, they may call for an ambulance even if you have not requested one. Residence hall staff members are not allowed to transport a student to or from the hospital under any circumstances. Upon release from the hospital, students are responsible for their own transportation back to the residence hall, so students are encouraged to retain emergency funds for this transportation. While hall staff members cannot transport students, they may be able to help students identify alternate means of return. Students are strongly discouraged from walking back from any hospital. 

Information regarding registered sex offenders is available on the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office website or by calling 513-946-6222. All University of Cincinnati residence halls are within 1,000 feet of local schools. Registered sex offenders must comply with relevant laws.

In a weather emergency, follow the instructions communicated via the public address system or those given to you by hall staff or safety personnel. In the event of a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning, weather sirens and automated messages sound in most halls. Stay indoors and move to a designated severe weather shelter area. In most halls, shelter areas are found at the lowest levels of the halls or in interior stairwells. Avoid windows and remain in the designated area until you are instructed to do otherwise.

The university understands how traumatic experiencing sexual assault can be and seeks to provide a variety of resources to assist you. If you experienced sexual assault, you are encouraged to report the crime to UC Police at 911 or 513-556-1111 and to seek medical care. Reporting the crime to the police does not require that you pursue prosecution. However, if you are seeking confidential support, on-campus resources are available on the Title IX website.

University employees (including Resident Advisors—RAs) are required by law to report alleged felonies, including sexual assault. RAs are trained to inform/remind people of their status as a mandatory reporter if/when they believe a reportable incident may be shared. This is to ensure you are aware of their obligations and is in no way intended to discourage you from sharing information or reporting crimes to your RA. The university investigates all allegations of sexual assault. The university’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at 513-556-3349.

“Shelter-in-place” usually refers to an emergency situation in which potentially hazardous materials have been released into the outdoor air. If a shelter-in-place warning is issued, an announcement will be made over your hall’s public address system, or you will be informed by staff. You will be instructed to close all windows and exterior doors, and you may be instructed to turn off air conditioning or heating fans in your room. Remain indoors and follow the instructions given over the emergency announcement system and by your hall’s staff members. Unless informed otherwise, it is safe to continue all other normal indoor activities as usual during a shelter-in-place warning. In the event of a building evacuation (fire alarm) during a shelter-in-place situation, residence hall staff and Public Safety officials will direct you to an alternate indoor location in another building.

In some campus or neighborhood emergency situations, such as a shooting, you may be advised to remain in your residence hall, and you may be further advised to stay in your room or suite behind a locked door. In most cases like this, a long, steady alarm tone is followed by an announcement with instructions.

Stratford Heights and some block lease housing locations do not have the same alarm system as other UC halls. Contact your hall staff for more information.

All University of Cincinnati students are expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as abide by the rules and regulations of the University. The University and Resident Education & Development have established policies and regulations to help you understand the standards and expectations for student behavior within the residence hall community. They are based on respect for the rights of others and a commitment to an environment that reflects the University’s mission and educational goals. This document contains the University rules and policies administered under the authority of the Board of Trustees with direct significance for student behavior. The complete rules of the University are available at the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the complete Student Code of Conduct is available from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. If you have questions about policies or your responsibilities, consult your Resident Advisor (RA), Community Coordinator (CC), or Area Coordinator (AC).

The Student Code of Conduct identifies behavior considered unacceptable and not permitted for all students of UC. The complete Student Code of Conduct is available online from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. It is the responsibility of each student to know the Student Code of Conduct and other University policies that are applicable to their behavior.

Residence halls exist to promote the educational mission of the University and to foster the development of students. By living in community, students learn more about themselves and others and work toward common goals, including but not limited to their academic success. All residence hall rules and regulations have rationales and purposes. Rationales fall into the following categories:

• Comfort: As a home, the residence hall should be reasonably comfortable for those who live there and those who help to maintain the facility.
• Community: A strong, positive sense of community enhances living and learning.
• Consideration for others: Living in a community setting requires that members show respect for one another and for employees performing University functions.
• Respect for people and property: Respect is an element of civility, a core University principle.
• Cost management and conservation of resources: Responsible management of financial and physical resources is in the best interest of current and future students.
• Education: Residence halls exist to support the academic mission of the University.
• Law: Students and the University are responsible for obeying laws.
• Health: Promotion of good health is in the best interests of self and others.
• Privacy: A reasonable level of privacy enhances the quality of life.
• Safety and security: Safety and security are basic human needs and support higher functions such as learning and personal development.
• Student development: Residence halls foster the cognitive, psychosocial, and moral development of students; promote students’ development of their adult identity; and help prepare students for independent living and civic participation.
• Welfare of self or others: Residents are responsible for themselves and responsible to all other members of the hall community.  Community members are interdependent.

Resident Education & Development and Housing Services established the following regulations for the residence halls, presented in alphabetical order, in support of an education and safe residential community. These rules and regulations (as well as the Housing Agreement and other published residence hall information) are incorporated in the UC Student Code of Conduct. Violations will result in disciplinary action. The following definitions apply to all UC residence hall rules and regulations:

• Resident: The student who has a Housing Agreement with University Housing and has been assigned to a specific space within a residence hall. Persons living in the residence halls who violate residence hall or university policies while not a student as defined by the Student Code of Conduct may be subject to immediate removal from the hall and criminal prosecution for those violations.
• Guest: Anyone visiting or signed in by a resident in his/her residence hall, whether in that resident’s room, another resident’s room in the hall, or a semi-public area. Residents from other halls and parents are considered guests.
• Host: A resident who has a guest(s) in the hall.
• Public Areas: Areas in the residence hall for the use of all hall residents and their guests, unless otherwise designated. (Some hall lounges may be reserved for the use of residents only.) There are no true “public” areas in any residence hall since residence halls are not open to the general public, only to hall residents and their guests.
• Semi-public Area: Areas in the residence hall that have been reserved. Additionally, individual suites or rooms with doors open constitute semi-public areas.

Students are encouraged to report incidents that violate University policy, and those that may involve illegal, unethical, or inappropriate behavior. Resident Education Staff are trained to document situations. The best person to report such incidents to is your floor RA or the RA On-Call for your community. However, if you’re not comfortable making a report to your RA, there are several other reporting options available to you.  These include the following:

• Speak with the Community Coordinator of your building or another RED professional staff member
• Speak with a coach, professor, or academic advisor,
• File a report using UC’s public Incident Report Form
• Make a report to EthicsPoint.  EthicsPoint is an anonymous reporting hotline available to the university community. Call EthicsPoint toll-free at 1-800-889-1547 or visit the reporting website.

Resident Education and Development follows the same Student Conduct Process outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Alleged violation(s) of University policies and these Residence Hall Rules and Regulations may be adjudicated by Resident Education and Development staff and/or staff from the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards. Residents who have been documented for an alleged violation should monitor their university e-mail account for communication from the hearing officer assigned to their case.