Residence Hall Community Rules and Guidelines

Common Areas

Common areas are all areas within the residence hall other than residential rooms. Sleeping in common areas, whether intentional or not, denies residents the use of the space. Therefore, sleeping in common areas is prohibited. No furniture or other CMC property is to be removed from common areas without permission from the Office of Residence Life. When furniture is lost from common areas, residents of that wing, floor, or hall may be charged for replacement costs if responsibility cannot be determined.

No personal items, including shoes or rugs, may be left in the hallway or other common area at any time.

Damages and Vandalism

When common area damages occur, such as in a floor lounge, hallway, or laundry room, Residence Life staff will attempt to determine the individual or individuals responsible for the damage. Residents should identify individuals and report damage and vandalism to the Residence Life staff immediately to avoid community damage charges. If the individual or individuals responsible for the damage cannot be identified, everyone on the floor, wing, or building will share in the cost of repair or replacement.

Residents may request a written notice each semester, including a summary of community damage charges that have been assessed to their account.

Vandalism of any type will not be tolerated. This includes damaging, destroying, or defacing the property of another, as well as college buildings and contents. Individuals are responsible for their actions regardless of their intent and will be subject to strict disciplinary action, including but not limited to repair and replacement costs. The Office of Residence Life strives to hold only the responsible parties accountable. If we cannot identify the individuals responsible, the damages will be divided among the community as a whole.

Relocating Campus Furniture

All CMC, residential, and campus furniture is intended for use by the entire residential and campus community. Removing furniture from any public area is not permitted under any circumstances.

Resident room furniture must also remain in the room to which it has been assigned. Residents found removing or possessing campus furniture may be subject to conduct action and fines of $50 per item and will be considered theft. They will also be responsible for the damage, repair or replacement costs of such furniture. Residents are held accountable for keeping track of the specific pieces of furniture they were issued at check-in.

Posting of Public Information and Solicitation 

Posting of public information, such as posters, advertisements, announcements, etc., must be approved by Residence Life staff before posting and may only be posted in designated areas. With the exception of “door decs” hung by Residence Life Staff, the exterior of room doors should remain free of any posted items, including dry-erase boards. Placing information under resident doors is restricted to official college activities and business and must be approved.

Unauthorized canvassing or solicitation on college property, including textbook buyback programs not sponsored by the college and product sales, such as cosmetics or household goods, is not allowed.

Online solicitation is also prohibited; please see the Technology Guidelines & Responsibilities / Online Solicitation section.

Vehicles, Parking, and Snow Removal

Residents are welcome to bring one passenger vehicle to campus. Parking is free on campus. Colorado law requires that vehicles carry liability insurance. We recommend you carry additional coverage if operating a vehicle on campus.

All students are expected to register their vehicles (plated and unplated) as necessary at their respective campuses and park in the appropriate/designated lot. Students are responsible for obeying posted parking and traffic signs on campus. Violations for improper parking are processed through the CMC Adjudication procedures and may include warnings, fines posted to the student account, or towing of the vehicle.

Snow removal from parking lots necessitates strict enforcement of parking regulations. When possible, a 24-hour warning will be provided when snow is to be removed from the parking lots. Due to unexpected weather patterns or emergency plowing, this may not always be possible. Signs will be posted at the entrance of the residence hall, and an email will be sent to permit holders via your CMC email account.

To keep vehicles from being towed at the owner’s expense, please observe the following:

1. All vehicles must be registered with the Office of Residence Life, and those that are not are subject to being towed and/or fined.
2. Park in designated parking spaces and obey all signs and traffic laws
3. Do not park in front of dumpsters or dumpster encasements.
4. Do not park in front of fire hydrants or in the fire lane in front, behind, and at the sides of the building.
5. Do not park in reserved staff parking
6. Do not park in ADA-accessible parking without a qualifying permit.
7. Drive on established roadways. Driving on sidewalks, grass, trails, etc., is prohibited.
8. Snowmobiles, unlicensed motorcycles, trailers, and recreational vehicles without approval are not permitted on campus.
9. Licensed motorcycles must be stored outdoors in designated areas.
10. To the extent allowed by applicable law, the College shall not be liable for any damages or loss to personal property, motor vehicles, or the contents of motor vehicles of residents, invitees, guests, or other persons while on college premises.
11. CMC prohibits vehicle repairs, including oil changes and other maintenance, on campus. Inoperable or abandoned vehicles will be towed and/or fined at the owner’s and/or resident’s expense.
12. Overnight parking from November 1 through May 1 is restricted to limited areas of the parking lots for snow removal. Leaving a vehicle overnight in a non-designated area will result in that vehicle being towed and/or fined at the owner’s and/or resident’s expense.
13. Do not tow anyone behind or allow anyone to be on the outside of a vehicle in any manner.
14. Playing sports of any kind in parking lots carries an inherent risk of damaging vehicles and, therefore, is not allowed.

Failure of residents, guests, invitees, or other persons to follow these guidelines and/or posted signs relating to parking and operation of vehicles will result in towing and/or fines of the offending vehicle at the cost of the vehicle owner and/or resident.

General Residence Hall Rules and Guidelines 

Animals

Emotional Support Animals

The use of an emotional support animal (ESA) is determined by the Access Coordinator at your campus. Because this process can take up to 30 business days, please begin the process as soon as possible. An ESA is required to be approved and registered in advance with the Access, Inclusion, and Disability Office and the Office of Residence Life. The animal should not be brought to campus until written approval for the animal has been received.

If the animal is creating a disturbance or any other emergency situation appears to exist with respect to that animal, staff will attempt to contact the resident to remedy the situation. The Office of Residence Life will be in touch with the Access Coordinator to determine next steps. If the animal has been left alone and is causing a disturbance, a staff member may enter the resident’s room and make necessary arrangements for the animal’s care, including removing the animal and placing it in a temporary home, such as a boarding kennel. Any costs incurred will be the animal owner’s responsibility and will be due upon receipt.

The resident is responsible for any necessary cleaning above and beyond a standard cleaning. Repairs and/or any pest control required will be done at the expense of the resident.

Pets

Residents cannot keep pets other than freshwater fish in a 10-gallon tank or less. Please contact the Office of Residence Life for additional guidelines.

A resident having a pet or unapproved animal in or around the residence hall will be asked to remove it immediately. If the pet is seen again, it will be turned over to the nearest animal control facility. The resident will also be financially responsible for any damages done by the animal.

Service Animals

Individuals with service animals who are applying to the residence halls are encouraged to contact the Access Coordinator at the campus they plan to attend to facilitate a smooth transition to living on campus.

Appropriate Attire and Obscenity

Public areas of our community are meant for the use of all residents. Individuals have varying comfort levels with the manner of dress, conduct, and display of affection that may be greater or lesser than your own. We encourage residents to discuss manner of dress or behavior they find uncomfortable with the residents involved openly. Residence Life staff are willing to assist in facilitating these conversations. To maintain a community level of decorum and respect, obscene or indecent behaviors are prohibited. This includes but is not limited to public nudity, indecent affection, public sexual activity, stripping, mooning, flashing, streaking or public urination.

Check Out, Winter Break and Spring Break

The residence hall will remain open for the fall and spring semesters, including Thanksgiving and spring breaks; however, Dining Services will be closed during those break periods.

Near the end of the fall semester, the Residence Life staff will provide guidelines on how to prepare your room for winter break. If you are planning to return for the spring semester, you do not need to move your belongings from your room; however, you do need to leave your room in a safe and sanitary condition. The Residence Life staff will conduct safety checks and enter each room over winter break.

At the end of the spring semester or fall semester (if you are not returning for the spring semester), or if the contract is terminated, residents are required to follow check-out procedures provided by the Residence Life staff. Residents are responsible for cleaning their rooms and bathrooms before check-out. After check-out, fees will be assessed for failure to adhere to procedures, damages not noted on the Room Condition Form, or failure to return keys.

Residents must vacate their room no more than 24 hours after their last exam or by the closing day/time of finals week, whichever comes first. Please contact your specific campus for specific dates and times.

Courtesy and Quiet Hours

CMC is committed to providing an environment within the residence hall that is conducive to academic achievement. The right to sleep and study supersedes the privilege to entertain oneself or others at all times.

Quiet hours are effective from 10pm to 8am Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 10am on Fridays and Saturdays. During quiet hours, noise from any resident room emanating into any public area and noise in public areas emanating into any resident room is prohibited. Noise from the areas immediately adjacent to the building is expected to be minimized.

During all those times when quiet hours are not in effect, “courtesy hours” will be in effect. Courtesy hours mean any resident has the right to ask someone to quiet down. The right to sleep and study will always take precedence. Residents are expected to comply with all requests from fellow residents and Residence Life staff to minimize noise and maximize the academic environment in the hall.

Quiet Hours are in effect for 22 hours a day during the last week of classes, “finals week,” each semester, or other specific times with 48 hours notice. This policy is necessary to support residents completing academic projects or preparing for final exams. Policy violations during finals week may result in you being asked to vacate the residence hall immediately.

Dining Services

All residents are required to be on a meal plan. Flex points are included in the meal plan and can be used in the coffee shop or dining hall. Flex points are transferable and expire at the end of each semester. Weekly meal plans are non-transferable, but the block meal plan is transferable. Residents will use their CMC ID to enter the Dining Hall.

While attending meals, residents are required to attire themselves in a manner that adheres to the health code, which includes wearing a shirt and shoes.

Do not take dining hall service items, including, but not limited to, dishes or silverware from the dining hall. Misplaced dishes and silverware are expensive to replace; therefore, a fine will be assessed for their removal.

Food may be removed from the cafeteria only under the guidelines provided by Dining Services and the Office of Residence Life. Dining Services and the College are not responsible for food quality or safety after it leaves the Dining Hall.

Guests

Guests are a privilege. Residents must inform their guests of CMC policies and procedures; guests are expected to comply. Residents are responsible for the conduct of their guests and must be with them at all times. Residents will be held accountable for any policy violations, inappropriate behavior, or damages by the guest. Guests will be asked to leave the residence hall should they be involved in a violation of residence hall or college policy. A resident’s right to privacy and quiet prevails over a resident’s right to guests.

1. Guests are permitted on campus between 8am and midnight Sunday through Wednesday.
2. All guests in the residence hall after 10pm or overnight guests must register at the front desk.
3. Up to two overnight guests per room are permitted on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights. Overnight guests are limited to three consecutive nights per visit, with a maximum of 12 nights per semester.
4. Overnight guests under 18 may be permitted with prior approval from the Office of Residence Life.
5. A resident may only host an overnight guest with the prior consent of their roommate.
6. Overnight guests are not allowed in the building during New Student Registration, New Student Orientation, finals week, and winter break.
7. Students who have been suspended or non-residents who have been restricted from campus are not allowed in the residence hall.

Instruments and Speakers

Amplified instruments, excessively loud speakers, subwoofers, and drums of any kind may not be played in the residence hall at any time. Playing acoustic instruments will require prior arrangements with the Office of Residence Life. We reserve the right to prohibit the use of an instrument should it become necessary.

Stereo speakers may never be positioned so music is directed outside the room. Local community and neighborhood ordinances should also be respected. Repeated violations will result in the removal of sound system equipment. 

Sports and Recreational Equipment

Recreational sports equipment such as bicycles, skis, snowboards, skateboards, roller skates/blades, and all other recreational equipment is to be kept clear of hallways, lounges, laundry rooms, and access areas.

Recreational equipment should not be used or ridden inside any campus building or near vehicles. Repairs, tuning, or maintenance to bikes, snowboards, or skis are not permitted except in designated areas.

Sports (such as hacky-sac, soccer, skateboarding, biking, skiing, snowboarding, running, etc.) are not allowed in the residence hall. These types of activities have the potential to cause damage to rooms, hallways, stairwells, and common areas, as well as create potential harm to individuals and excessive noise. 

Non-Electric Bicycles

Non-electric bicycles on campus must be locked in the designated area and in operable condition. If you choose to bring your bicycle to your room, contact the Office of Residence Life for proper bicycle storage within your room.

Bicycles in an inoperable condition and/or abandoned for a period of longer than 48 hours may be impounded for a period of five days. Bicycles not picked up after impound will be destroyed. Locks cut or damaged during impoundment will not be refunded or replaced.

At the end of the spring semester, bicycles need to be temporarily cleared from outdoor racks to do routine maintenance to the bicycle racks and surrounding areas. If you are not going to be on campus using your bicycle during the summer, please remove it.

At the Spring Valley Campus and Steamboat Campus, bicycles operated/possessed on campus must also have a valid tag affixed. To register your bicycle, you must have the brand name, color, and type of bicycle. Please bring this information to the Office of Residence Life to register your bicycle. There is no cost for a tag. 

Electric-Powered Transportation Devices

Small, electric-powered transportation devices, including electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes), electric scooters (e-scooters), self-balancing scooters, hoverboards, and similar devices, are prohibited from use, possession, charging, or storage inside all buildings. 

Resident Rooms

Cleaning, Trash, and Recycling

The resident assumes responsibility for the care and cleaning of their room at a level acceptable to the College. Residents are responsible for providing their trash bags and cleaning supplies.

Do not allow trash and recycling to accumulate in your room. Residents are responsible for disposing of their personal trash and recycling in the trash dumpster and recycling container outside the residence hall. Do not dispose of your trash/recycling bags in receptacles located inside the building.

The following items cannot be placed in the dumpsters or left on campus: furniture, paint, motor and hydraulic oil, tires, batteries, gasoline, antifreeze, pesticides, contaminated soils, untreated medical waste, cans or drums that once held hazardous or flammable materials, explosives, chlorine, appliances containing freon or asbestos, microwaves, electronics, TVs, and refrigerators.

Due to our mountain location, the lids of dumpsters must remain closed.

Entering Resident Rooms

In addition to routine health and safety inspections, it is occasionally necessary for college staff to enter a resident’s room for maintenance or personal safety reasons. Whenever possible, CMC will do so with advance notice and in the presence of the occupants. However, CMC reserves the right to enter a resident’s room to inspect the premises when an authorized agent of CMC has reasonable cause to believe, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

1. The occupant of the room may be harmed or endangered, or a welfare check is needed.
2. Damage is being done to college property.
3. There is sufficient reason to believe that a violation of a college policy, as stated in CMC handbooks, the Academic Catalog, or policies and procedures, is occurring or has occurred, or there is sufficient reason to believe a public law is being violated.
4. Maintenance or repair is necessary.

Health and Safety Inspections

Residence Life staff will enter your room to conduct regularly scheduled routine maintenance, safety, and health checks. The staff members will look for things that might contribute to maintenance, safety, or health problems. They will not search the rooms for violations but are obligated to report. A search may occur if any violations of the residence hall regulations or guidelines are observed during their inspection. The Residence Life staff will inspect each room and bathroom for cleanliness and sanitation. Dates and times for room checks will be posted in the hall at least 48 hours prior so that residents can rearrange their schedule to be present should they wish to do so. Residence Life staff will only inspect a room in the presence of the resident or another Residence Life staff member.

Offensive Odors

Some odors you find appealing can be offensive and harmful to others - perfumes, scented sprays, patchouli, and strong body odor may be unappealing to others. Please keep these odors in check by limiting their use and maintaining personal hygiene.

Possession of Public Signs

Street signs, road signs, construction signs, property, business advertising, and other public signs taken/stolen/acquired illegally are prohibited and subject to confiscation. Theft and display of public signs reflect poorly on the College and the character of CMC residents. Residents in possession of legally obtained signs must have the purchase receipt attached to the backside of each sign.

Room Consolidation

CMC reserves the right to change room assignments or consolidate vacancies at any time in the interest of health, discipline, occupancy, sustainability, or the general welfare of the resident(s).

A resident who is asked to consolidate may request permission from the Office of Residence Life to keep their current double room as a single room. If such approval is granted, the resident will pay a higher fee for the semester balance based on occupancy availability.

Room Damages

Residents are financially responsible for damages to their rooms. Residents are encouraged to participate in reviewing the condition of their room during the check-in and check-out process and to immediately report any breakage or damage that occurs throughout the semester. Each resident is expected to take responsibility for any damages they cause beyond normal wear. If neither roommate takes responsibility for the damage, the cost is split equally. Costs of repairing damages are determined by the Director of Student Life and Housing and charged to the student’s account. All repair work is based on an hourly labor rate and associated costs set by CMC’s Facilities Services Department.

Search and Seizure

The right of individuals to be secure in their persons, living quarters, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizure is guaranteed. However, authorized college staff may enter a resident’s room or vehicle and conduct an administrative search when there is sufficient reason to believe that violations of CMC or civil regulations are being committed. A delay of an administrative search may endanger the health and safety of the residents or result in the probable destruction of the evidence of the violations. “Sufficient reason” means having reasonable grounds for suspicion supported by facts and circumstances sufficiently strong to justify a cautious person’s belief that a party is violating or has violated a regulation. Items may be confiscated by college staff when these items are associated with possible illegal activity, violation of CMC regulations or fire safety regulations. Items confiscated may include but are not limited to alcohol, drugs, false identification, pipes, drug paraphernalia, illegal plants, incense, candles, weapons, fireworks or other suspect items. Items may be discarded or turned over to authorities for further investigation.

Safety

Doors, Locks, Keys, Cards and Lockouts

Residents are issued a CMC ID card, which provides them access to the residence hall and their room. The CMC ID is the property of Colorado Mountain College and must be relinquished upon request. You are required to carry your CMC ID with you at all times. Leaving your ID card unattended or loaning it to a friend jeopardizes the safety and security of you and your roommate, your room and your personal belongings, and those in the community. You may not give your CMC ID or lock-out card to anyone else, including your roommate, another resident, student, staff, guest, and/or family member. A mailbox key will be issued to each resident. Residents must report lost ID cards or mail keys to Residence Life staff immediately to ensure the safety and security of the building. Charges are accessed for lockouts and replacement of CMC ID and/or brass keys.

CMC strongly recommends that all residents securely lock their doors and windows when they leave their rooms and sleep. Any action that prevents any door from locking/latching is prohibited. The level of safety and security of individuals and personal property is primarily determined by the attentiveness of you, your roommate, and your fellow residents.

Elevators and Restricted Areas

Residents are prohibited from entering any restricted area that is not open to public access. Elevator access may be restricted to residents who require it due to physical limitations. Other areas that have restricted access include but are not limited to, behind the residence hall front desk, elevator service areas, janitorial/maintenance areas, storage, mechanical rooms, and any crawl space.

In addition, residents attempting to enter or found in unauthorized areas after business hours, such as offices, classrooms, campus stores, dining facilities, and closed/locked areas, will be asked to leave immediately, resulting in judicial action.

It is strictly forbidden for any resident to climb on roofs, ledges, windowsills, or any interior/exterior walls of any CMC building.

Evacuation and Clearing Rooms

All residents should immediately evacuate to areas designated by staff during a fire alarm, emergency, drill, or extenuating circumstances.

When a fire alarm sounds, all occupants must evacuate the building and report to the assigned emergency assembly point. During a fire alarm, residents must not leave campus until a headcount is completed and they are released by Residence Life staff.

The Alertus system is used to communicate an active threat on campus. Residents are required to comply with directions provided by college staff.

Residence Life staff have the authority to clear a room upon discovering any policy violation.

Fire Hazards

Draperies, tapestries, blankets, or posters displayed on walls, ceilings, and doors that facilitate ignition, block entrances or exits, fire detection units, or present overhead fire hazards are prohibited.

In addition, the following are not allowed due to the potential threat to fire safety:

1. Electrical appliances that are not UL (Underwriter Laboratories, Inc.) approved.
2. All electrical appliances with open coils, including but not limited to air fryers, toasters, hot plates, toaster ovens, coiled cup heaters, space heaters, etc.
3. Any lamp that uses a halogen bulb.
4. Appliances that use excessive electricity, for example, microwaves (1000-watt max), refrigerators (4.0 cubic feet max), etc. 
5. Barbecue grills; camp stoves; charcoal or starter fluid; propane; lighter fluid; other flammable liquids, gasses or chemicals, etc. - even when stored or assigned for a CMC course.
6. Candles with wicks, sage, scented wax warmers, incense, etc., are forbidden for use or décor due to their high fire potential and the smoke or odor they may create.
7. Vaporizers, e-cigarettes, hookahs, cigarettes, cigars, or any other incendiary device.
8. Electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes), electric scooters (e-scooters), self-balancing scooters, hoverboards, and other similar electric-powered devices.
9. Fireworks, firecrackers, etc.
10. Other hazardous or combustible materials.
11. Unapproved room and common area decorations, such as holiday decorations and live Christmas trees.
12. Obstruction of/blocking a clear path out of the room.
13. Obstruction of/blocking fire exits, hallways, stairwells, or other common areas with bicycles, chairs, etc.
14. Extension cords of any type or outlet multipliers (surge protectors with long-reach cords are an allowed substitution).
15. Starting fires of any kind on any college property.

Prohibited items will be confiscated and will not be returned to the resident.

Hall Access and Exterior Doors

For safety and security reasons, exterior doors are locked. Please report suspicious individuals or activities to the Residence Life staff. The propping of exterior doors is not tolerated. Doors that cannot be opened by key or card swipe are not to be used by residents, including if opened from the inside by another party. This includes doors that have time-restricted access. Propping doors or allowing/gaining access through a locked door is considered tampering with a security device.

Personal Safety and Security

Crimes occur on all college campuses. You are encouraged to report any occurrence immediately. Colorado Mountain College’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report for all locations is available on the Your Right to Know page. 

Video and Audio Surveillance

Colorado Mountain College residence halls employ video/electronic surveillance to include moving and still images and audio in common areas of the buildings. These systems are maintained to assist in ensuring the safety and property of the college community and its members and serve as a deterrent to crime. These systems may be viewed live or archived and accessed when needed to address Code of Conduct issues, residence hall violations, criminal investigations, or property management. Residents may not tamper, disable, or destroy any device or function related to video/electronic surveillance systems.

Window Screens and Windows

Residents are prohibited from removing window screens and hanging, throwing, or dumping items or fluids out of their windows. Entering or exiting a room through the window is strictly prohibited. Removal or damage will result in a fine of $80 in addition to any repair or replacement cost.