"Can I get out of my housing contract?"

Release from the Agreement
Your Residence Halls/Dining Services Agreement is for the entire academic year and cannot be cancelled by you. Releases will be approved solely at Resident Life’s discretion. A resident submitting our Petition for Release form (available in Annapolis Hall and at www.resnet.umd.edu) should also document his/her basis for requesting release, such as:

• failure to register for classes after check-in*
• transfer to another university or college after Fall semester*
• academic dismissal after Fall semester*
• Study Abroad, student teaching placement, or Cooperative Education assignment arranged by a UM department and beginning Spring semester*
• call from a fraternity or sorority “wait list” that had been received by Assignments by September 20 to fill an available vacancy in a chapter house (new pledges not eligible)
• election as approved officer with live-in requirement in a fraternity or sorority: President, Vice President, Pledge Chair, Social Chair, House Manager, or Secretary (no more than four such officers per chapter)
• sudden and unexpected hardship, or sudden and unexpected medical condition or physical or emotional disorder, that prevents participation in the Agreement and cannot be accommodated within residence halls
• unexpected and unpreventible loss of financial assistance (excluding loans) awarded by the campus that prevents continued participation in the Agreement and cannot be accommodated within residence halls
• completion of or withdrawal from the Maryland English Institute or Institute of Applied Agriculture*

*without subsequent reenrollment at UM, and subject to Assignments’ immediate and post-opening verification

Detailed information is in the Procedures for Petition for Release from the Residence Halls/Dining Services Agreement available at www.resnet.umd.edu.

Mid-Year Releases

If a release is desired for the end of Fall/start of Spring semester, your Petition must be submitted to Assignments by 4:30pm November 29, 2006. Petitions received November 30 - December 13, if approved, will be assessed a $156.15 “release” fee. Petitions received December 14-27, if approved, will be assessed a $312.31 “release” fee. Petitions received December 28 - January 10, 2007, if approved, will be assessed a $468.47 “release” fee. Petitions received after January 10, 2007, if approved, will be assessed a $624.63 “release” fee. No petitions will be accepted or approved, except for reasons of disenrollment, after the first day of Spring classes.

When Your Release is Approved...

• Move-out and return of keys/check-out may not occur until your release has been approved.
• Your space will be assigned to another student.
• You forfeit all priority for room selection earned during your entire stay in residence halls.

When Your Release Cannot be Approved...

• Resident Life staff will work with you to resolve any difficulties that led you to seek a release. Options include room changes and workships and other forms of financial assistance.
• You will be held financially responsible for the remainder of the Agreement (if you remain enrolled), even if you do not physically occupy your assignment.

Part-Time Status, Withdrawals and Dismissals

Part-Time Student Status
You are expected to maintain full-time student status (12 credit hours or more) each semester. If you drop below 12 credits after Schedule Adjustment ends, you normally may remain in residence halls that semester, although Resident Life reserves the right to have you move out if your reduced credit load would pose issues with roommates or create other problems within your living environment.

Withdrawal From All Classes
If you withdraw from all classes at any time during a semester, you are expected to meet immediately with Resident Life staff in Annapolis Hall to process a release from your housing and meals agreement (or submit such a request online at www.resnet.umd.edu). Your move-out should occur within 48 hours after your withdrawal is processed. Pro rata credits for the unused portion of the semester’s housing and meals are made through the 14th week of the semester. If you withdraw in the last few weeks of a semester with the intention of being enrolled for the next semester, you normally must reapply for housing without priority and wait to be reassigned from any housing waiting list.

Academic Dismissal
If you are dismissed, your housing assignment will be held until your involvement in the University’s reinstatement process has been completed. If you are readmitted after a semester or more of non-enrollment, you must reapply for housing without priority and wait to be reassigned from any housing waiting list.

When You’re Checking Out...

Out of courtesy to your roommate and those who follow you into your room...

• Wait until your room change, release from Agreement, etc., has been officially approved.
• Carry all trash and unwanted items to the outside dumpsters.
• Make sure walls, doors, windows, etc., are clean and without damages.
• Clean, broom-sweep or mop the floor, and restore the room to its “move-in day” condition, including repositioning all furniture.
• Return all keys and access cards to your Service Desk, and sign and keep a copy of your Room Condition Report (traditional halls).
• Reset your VoiceMail password to 1-2-3-4-5 and delete your personalized greeting and any messages.
• Contact Dining Services at (31) 48068 to determine your actual charges/credits for point plan services during the rest of the semester/year.

Breaks in North Campus

All North Campus halls are closed and locked for the three University closings — at Thanksgiving, between semesters and during Spring Break in March.

During these times, North Campus residents must plan in advance to be away from campus and to stay out of their buildings and rooms:

• 7pm Wednesday before Thanksgiving to 10am the next Sunday
• 7pm the last day of final exams in December through 10am on reopening day in January
• 7pm Friday before Spring Break starts through 10am two Sundays later.

As you pack to leave for each Break:

• Take with you valuables such as money, jewelry, computer, etc. and clothing, medications, tickets, etc. you will need during the Break
• Unplug all electrical appliances and move belongings off the floor as precautions against fire, flood, etc.
• Clean your refrigerator. Get rid of food that could spoil.
• Check your mail and your VoiceMail.

Breaks in South Campus

All South Campus halls (North Hill, South Hill, and Leonardtown Communities) remain open during the Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks. During Thanksgiving and Spring Break, South Campus residents can come and go as they please and there is no additional fee to stay in their rooms during these times.

For the month-long Winter Break, South Campus residents have the option to register to stay in their rooms for a fee (Deadline: two days before the Break starts), in which case they must pay an additional fee equal to one-half the normal rate for the extra month’s worth of housing services.

South Campus Commons remains open all year. Residents must vacate at the end of the lease period per instructions provided by Capstone Properties management staff.

Safety Inspections at Breaks

Since North Campus halls close for each break period, residence hall staff conduct visual safety inspections inside all student rooms prior to each break. On South Campus, given low-occupancy and the length of the winter break, residence hall staff conduct visual safety inspections inside all student rooms at the end of the fall semester prior to the start of the winter break period. Staff will visually inspect every room regardless of whether or not students register to stay in their rooms over the winter break.

During these visual inspections, staff are instructed to watch for observable violations of the Residence Hall Rules (see pages 11-14). Staff are expected to report those violations including presence or evidence of pets, weapons, fire crackers, illegal substances, lounge furnishings, fuel, unauthorized lofts or other prohibited items.

Administrative action, billing, and/or judicial referral can result if unauthorized items or unsafe or unclean conditions are found. University, State, and private property which is not authorized for student rooms may be removed. If damages, missing furnishings, deficiencies requiring maintenance or housekeeping attention are found, the room’s residents may be billed the costs of corrective action.

During visual inspections, staff are instructed not to open drawers or closets or search through personal belongings and will observe only those things which are in plain sight in the room.

Work Performed Inside Student Rooms

When Residential Facilities staff respond to work requests or emergencies or conduct inspections, they will knock and announce themselves by name and department. They should be admitted to your room; they will honor a short delay. Most work requested by residents and staff is performed weekdays 8am to 4pm. If students would prefer to schedule a time for the work to be performed, they can request this service when they report the work to Residential Facilities at x4WORK. Residents will need to be available during a block of time for the schedule, due to unplanned requirements that normally occur daily.

Sometimes the work to be performed in a resident’s room involves space around, behind or under the resident’s belongings. Repairs to closets, dressers, desks, etc., may call for staff to open or enter these spaces and to move aside the resident’s belongings. Residents should move their belongings away from work areas when they know work is to be done in their rooms.