Housing Facilities

Your Housing License Agreement
Gettysburg College provides each student with housing during its provision of education to the student. All housing managed by the College shall be in the nature of a LICENSE, and not a lease, and therefore, student residents are not entitled to the protection of the Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, as amended. In addition, the housing license agreement that you will enter into with the College shall be terminable at the will of the College.

By virtue of your application for a license for housing, the College and the student agrees to services, policies, rules, and procedures that are, or may be, established concerning the operation of the residence halls and apartments. The student is responsible for being familiar with policies, rules, and procedures as stated in the housing license agreement, the Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities, the Guidebook for Residents or other information published by the Dean of the College's Office. In addition, residents are expected to attend scheduled floor/hall meetings conducted by members of the Residence Life Staff. Failure or inability to attend such meetings does not release a student from his/her responsibility to know and/or adhere to any information that is shared. Residents must be aware that violators of housing policies will be subject to College disciplinary hearings, which may result in loss of campus housing privileges (without refund), monetary assessment for damages caused by violations, and/or possible suspension from the College.

All residence hall housing license agreements are valid for the full academic year. As a residential college, Gettysburg requires all students to live on campus in a residence hall room or apartment. (Exceptions are granted only to a percentage of Seniors through the Office of Residence Life.) All students returning from off campus study or from a leave of absence during which they were officially withdrawn from Gettysburg, are required to occupy vacancies in college residence halls. All students are required to live on campus unless granted permission by the Office of Residence Life to live elsewhere. Off campus approval occurs during the spring housing selection process for rising seniors only.

The college reserves the right to invalidate a housing license agreement for any student who selects a room for a period during which she/he will be enrolled in a College approved program of off -campus study such as an internship, study abroad or study at another institution.

The Borough of Gettysburg has adopted an Ordinance that affects certain College housing. Any student licensing a Regulated Rental Unit as defined in the Ordinance must comply with the Addendum to Housing License Agreement. The Ordinance is not applicable to College housing within the institutional zone as defined by the Borough; this zone includes all housing on the core campus of the College.

Refunds and Rebates
Room and board refunds are calculated based on the date the student officially checks out with the Finance and Administration Office, not the date the student withdraws from classes. A more comprehensive description of the refund policy can be found in the College Catalog.

2008-2009 Housing Rates

Plan 1= $6,110 per year or $3,055 per semester
This includes ALL single rooms on campus, regardless of the building.

Plan 2 = $6,110 per year or $3,055 per semester
This includes all non-single rooms in the following facilities:
25 Railroad Street, 33 W. Middle Street (Apts. 201, 202, 203), 43 W. Middle Street, 100 Chambersburg Street, Albaugh House, Apple, Appleford Carriage House, College Apartments, Constitution Aptartments, Eagle Apartments, Ice House, Tudor, Van Horn House, and Wolf House

Plan 3 = $5,580 per year or $2,790 per semester
This includes all non-single rooms in the following facilities:
25 S. Washington St., 33 W. Middle Street (Apts. 301, 302), 129 N. Washington St., 131 N. Washington St., 133 N. Washington St., 209 N. Washington St., 215 N. Washington St., 240 Carlisle St. (R.I.S.E.), Appleford Inn, Bregenzer House, Carlisle House, Colonial, Corner Cottage, Hutchison House, Lahm Hall, Lamp Post, Lau House, Paxton, Quarry Complex (double rooms), and Smyser Hall

Plan 4 = $4,880 per year or $2.440 per semester
This includes all non-single rooms in the following facilities:
Hanson, Huber, Musselman, Patrick, Paul, Rice, Stevens, Stine, and 339 Carlisle Street

Residence Hall Room Options
Gettysburg College is a "residential college" and therefore places a high value on the opportunity for students to live with other students and to share their experiences. As such, all students are REQUIRED to live on campus. Fortunately, Gettysburg College also offers a wide range of housing options for our students which ranges from traditional "dorm" style housing to small houses to suites to apartments. First-year students are assigned to housing based on their first-year seminar or English composition class. After the first year, students select their own housing through a lottery selection process during the Spring semester.

While it is important to have an opportunity to select your own roommate for your sophomore, junior, and senior years, it is also important to keep in mind that all students are members of the Gettysburg College community. Should a space become available prior to the academic year, or during the academic year, that space will be available for assignment. Where possible, the Office of Residence Life will work with students to make an appropriate assignment. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of each roommate to communicate their changing plans to the other roommates. For more information, please see the Consolidation Policy (below) and information on room changes.

Off-Campus
A limited number of seniors are given permission to live off campus in the borough of Gettysburg each year. Off campus approvals are granted in the Spring for the following year as part of the housing selection process. Students who live off campus are expected to do so for the entire year.

Fraternity Housing
Fraternity Houses are considered on-campus housing. Members of fraternities are obligated to work with their Alumni Corporation to fill all spaces in their house. Once a student joins a Fraternity, he can expect to reside in the Chapter house during his junior and senior year. Fraternity members will be assigned to housing space in the chapter consistent with the policies of their Fraternity. Members must have permission from their Alumni Corporation in order to live outside of the Fraternity house. Fraternity members who wish to live off-campus must be approved by the College (not by the Alumni Corporation) in addition to receiving permission to reside outside the Chapter house; otherwise they are still obligated to live in College-owned housing.

Sophomores may move in to the Chapter house for the Spring semester if they earn a 2.7 cumulative GPA and there is space available. Each fraternity's officers serve as the house's residence staff and are responsible for the enforcement of College policies.

Theme Housing 
Gettysburg strives to help students create environments which complement their academic development as well as their personal and intellectual growth.  If students wish to explore a particular interest, academic subject, talent or activity, they may petition to live together in a Theme House.  Theme Houses in the past have included Blue Note Jazz, Civil War, Diaspora, El Centro, Funk, Gettysburg Pride, Green, Greys, HAPI, Hillel, Honors, Humor, Imagination, Japan, Life, Owl and Nightingale Players, Peace, Red, Religious Tolerance, Special Olympics, Sports History, Wellness, Wiffle Ball, Writing and World Music.  As upperclass students, there are many opportunities to join an existing house or apply as a new group.  This process occurs early in the spring semester for the following Academic Year.

Residence Life Consolidation Policy
Gettysburg College is a residential college, and guarantees/requires housing for all full-time students.  Therefore, the Office of Residence Life must efficiently and effectively utilize all available spaces in its college-owned housing.  To accommodate the needs of all students, the Office of Residence Life reserves the right to utilize the following consolidation policy, as needed.

Prior to the fall academic semester, at semester break, and in emergency situations, the Office of Residence Life reserves the right to consolidate students residing alone in multiple occupancy rooms.  This means that a student, upon notification, will need to vacate her/his room and move into another space on campus.  This is an effort to use each room to its capacity.  This policy is an effort to accommodate as many roommate requests as possible.  By combining students who are without roommates, we make spaces for students who have specific roommate requests.  While the Office of Residence Life understands that this may cause an inconvenience, we will work with all students to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Residence Life Vacancy Policy 
The Office of Residence Life reserves the right to use any available space to house any of our students. Residents pay only for a portion of the room in which they live and do not have exclusive rights to the entire room in which they reside. The College also reserves the right to use any vacant space as temporary housing for other Gettysburg College students during break periods.  If at any time, a resident's roommate should move out, the remaining resident has two (2) days to find another roommate and begin the necessary paperwork (as described in the Room Change Process section on page 20), or move to another vacancy on campus.  If the remaining resident does not find another roommate within this timeframe, then the space becomes available to other residents on campus as part of our room consolidation process (see above). 

With regards to room consolidation, when possible, we encourage people who are requesting a room change to talk with a potential new roommate in order to increase the likelihood of a good match between the students involved. However, students are not required to meet with prospective roommates and, after the two day waiting period, the space is available for immediate occupancy. The Office of Residence Life will make an attempt to notify the occupant(s) of the room/apartment that a new roommate is planning to move into the vacancy.  However, under some circumstances (such as emergency moves or late admits) this notification may not be possible. 

Students with a vacancy should expect to receive a roommate at any time after the two day waiting period. Students should keep the following two important notes in mind:

• Any residence hall room with a vacancy must be maintained in such a way that a person can move in immediately and live comfortably with the closet, bed, desk, shelf and dresser space available for use.
• Any attempt on a student's part to discourage, refuse, or intimidate a potential or newly assigned roommate is a violation of the Housing Policy. If any Residence Life Staff member receives information that a student is discouraging prospective roommates, that student will be contacted by a member of the Residence Life staff. By violating this policy the student risks disciplinary sanctioning, including the loss of future housing lottery privileges which includes losing his/her housing lottery number.

Early Arrival/Late Departure Policy
Gettysburg College establishes dates and times for the opening and closing of the residential facilities.  This information can be found on our website: 
http://www.gettysburg.edu/about/offices/college_life/reslife/calendar.dot.  

We make this information available so that students are able to make plans for travel well in advance.  If a student has extenuating circumstances, they should contact our office to arrange for a late departure or early arrival request.  We will review the request and determine whether we are able to grant an extension or exception.   

Early Arrival Requests:
All students who wish to move in before the designated check-in dates must have their requests approved by the Office of Residence Life. 

• Group Requests
  Students participating in campus organizations or athletic teams that require their early arrival are granted permission to move in early.  These students are typically required to return early for practices, planning meetings, training, and rehearsals.  If you fall under this category, your group coordinator will arrange for your early arrival and submit your name on the group's roster for early arrival.  There is no early arrival fee for group early arrivals as long as students do not arrive prior to their scheduled date.
  
• Individual Requests
  Individual upperclass students may also request permission to move in early.  Individuals will only be granted permission to move in early if they have special circumstances that require them to move in before their designated check-in days.  These students must complete an early arrival application by the deadline (15 days prior to the official check-in date) via our website:

 (http://www.gettysburg.edu/about/offices/college_life/reslife/early_arrivals.dot).

Please note that emails or phone calls to the office will not be accepted in place of this application.  The Assistant Director of Residence Life for Housing will review individual requests and determine whether students will be granted permission to move in early.  Once approved, the student will be billed a $50 early arrival fee.  Decisions will then be communicated to each applicant via email within one week of receiving an application. 

Early arrival requests submitted after the deadline will be subject to a $100 early arrival fee.  In addition, students who arrive on campus early without prior permission or approval will be assessed a $100 early arrival fee.  Please note that dropping off personal belongings prior to the official check-in date will constitute an early arrival and the above listed deadlines and fees will apply.

Late Departure Requests:
Students who do not depart the residence halls by closing time and do not have approved extensions are subject to fines for late departure.   Students who wish to request an extension for a late departure must do by submitting a written request directly to the Office of Residence Life at least 5 days prior to hall closing.  The Assistant Director of Residence Life for Housing will review all requests and determine whether students will be granted permission for a late departure. 

Graduating seniors who remain on campus through commencement must vacate their residence hall by 10:00 p.m. the day of commencement.  All graduating seniors must complete the form that they receive in April regarding their departure plans after commencement.  Graduating seniors may request an extension for this deadline by submitting a written request to the Assistant Director of Residence Life for Housing.  Extensions will not be granted past 10:00 a.m. the Monday after commencement.  

ALL students who do not request prior approval for a late departure are subject to a $50 fine for each hour they are late in departing.

Vacation Breaks
The College officially closes for Thanksgiving break, Winter break, and Spring break. Residence halls usually close at 10:00 a.m. the day after the last day of class or exams during these periods and reopen at noon on the day before the first regularly scheduled class. Notices of specific times and dates are publicized in the College's Academic Calendar and before each break. Students are reminded to make travel arrangements accordingly.

All students must vacate the residence halls during the breaks.  Certain buildings will be designated as "Break Housing" for international students and those students who cannot return home over breaks.  Buildings that are designated "Break Housing" will be noted on hall closing notices posted within each residence hall. Should a student need to have housing accommodations during ANY portion of a break, he/she must complete and submit the online break housing request form.  The online request form may be found by logging into CNAV, choosing "My Housing" on the first drop-down menu, and then clicking on "Break Housing" on the left-hand side of the page.  The dates in which students are able to request break housing through "My Housing" will be announced approximately one month prior to the beginning of each break.

Residents may leave personal items in their room during all breaks, except for the summer.  However, due to the "unoccupied" status of the campus during breaks, it is suggested that students take valuable items home with them to insure their safety.  When the residence halls close for breaks, students are expected to secure their room, take out trash and perishable food, unplug items in the room, turn out the lights, and shut and lock the windows.  Bedroom doors in the Quarry Suites need to be closed and locked.  A list of complete closing procedures will be distributed about two weeks prior to each break closing.  Residence Life and Public Safety staff check all rooms for security issues, health issues and prohibited items. Any infractions will be noted and the student will be notified and/or charged accordingly.  Inspections may be conducted at other times by College officials for reasons of safety, security or possible policy violations.

Any student requesting access to his/her residence hall and/or respective residence hall room during College break periods when the College is officially closed shall present themselves to the Department of Public Safety communications officer at the Department of Public Safety building and request permission for access.  Public Safety will authorize a student access to his/her respective room for legitimate reasons only.  Public Safety officers authorize full discretion in determining a student's legitimacy to enter the closed residence hall based on the information given.  For example, access should be limited to medical needs and necessities and similar related urgent requests.  Once the legitimacy of the request is established, access requests will be managed as follows:

1. Student's identity, resident status, and room assignment will be verified.

2. Public Safety will escort the student to his/her room, allow drop-off or retrieval of the item(s) in question, and then escort the student from the building.

Semester Closings
Fall Semester: 
At the end of the fall semester, all students must vacate their rooms within 24 hours following the completion of their last exam or by the designated closing time.  Students who are not returning for the spring semester must remove their belongings and return their room key(s) to the Office of Residence Life prior to departure.  A fee may be assessed if appropriate action and/or paperwork is not completed.  If a non-returning student leaves campus without returning his/her key, his/her lock will be changed and he/she will be billed $100 for the lock change.  Students returning to their same room for the Spring Semester may leave personal items in their room at the end of the Fall Semester during Winter Break.  However, due to the "unoccupied" status of the campus during Winter Break, it is suggested that students take valuable items home with them to ensure their safety.

Spring Semester: 
At the end of the Spring Semester, all students are required to vacate their residence hall rooms and remove all belongings within 24 hours following the completion of their last exam or by the designated closing time.  Students who do not depart the residence halls by closing time and do not have approved extensions are subject to fines for late departure.   Students who wish to request an extension for a late departure must do by submitting a written request directly to the Office of Residence Life at least 5 days prior to hall closing.  The Assistant Director of Residence Life for Housing will review all requests and determine whether students will be granted permission for a late departure.  ALL students who do not request prior approval for a late departure are subject to a $50 fine for each hour they are late in departing.

At the end of the academic year, keys should be returned to the specially designated key boxes.  It is the student's responsibility to return his/her room key by the published deadline to avoid a $100 charge for a lock change.  If a student leaves campus without returning his/her key, his/her lock will be changed and he/she will be billed $100 for the lock change.  Any keys reported lost on or after May 1, 2009, will also be billed $100 for a lock change.

Additionally, before departing campus for the summer, students must clean their entire room and/or apartment and remove all non-college furniture and trash.  All furniture that was dismantled MUST be reassembled. 

Senior Week Housing
During the week prior to graduation, certain residence halls will be designated for "Senior Week Housing."  These accommodations are exclusively for graduating seniors.  The Office of Residence Life reserves the right to consolidate students and move students to different housing to ensure safety for all students. 

In April, all graduating seniors will be required to fill out a form informing the Office of Residence Life whether they plan to vacate their room by 10:00 p.m. the day of commencement or by 10:00 a.m. the Monday after commencement. 

Students who inform the office that they are leaving the Monday after graduation must be completely moved out of their housing by 10:00 a.m. that Monday.  Students who vacate later than Monday at 10:00 a.m. will be subject to a $50 fine for each hour they are late in departing. 

As a reminder, students must return their room key(s) when they depart campus to avoid a missing key charge of $100.

Summer Housing
Gettysburg College offers limited housing to students who agree to stay on campus over the summer for research, academic work, or Gettysburg College office support. Students interested in summer housing will need to apply for housing during April of each academic year. Students are assigned to housing based on a random lottery draw of all applicants.

Access to College Property by College Officials
As a private educational institution, Gettysburg College reserves the right to enter and inspect all college residence hall rooms or other areas that are used for student residential living in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of any or all students, enforce college policies and regulations, and/or to protect and preserve college property and the educational process. Furnishings provided by the college within college residence hall rooms or other areas that are used for student residential living remain the property of Gettysburg College are subject to inspection under this policy. This means that when it is necessary to enforce this policy, the College may enter a residence hall room or other areas used for student residential living without prior notice to the occupants and conduct an inspection of the room or area and any College property within it, including closets, desks, dressers, Microfridges, and refrigerators.

The College shall try to give the student(s) involved prior notice of the need for entry and the opportunity to be present during any entry into his or her residence hall room or other area used for residential living unless there is an immediate risk of harm to the health, safety or welfare of any student, including violations of college policies and regulations.

Where federal, state, or local law enforcement officers are involved in an investigation of a possible violation of any applicable law, any search of a student residence hall room or other areas used for student residential living shall be conducted in accordance with legal standards applicable to police searches of private residences.