Residence Life and Housing

The Residence Life and Housing program at New England College is designed to meet the needs of both the residents and the college.  The Office believes that learning occurs both in and out of the classroom.  Living on campus is an important part of the educational experience at New England College and provides our students with a unique opportunity to learn and grow. The residential life program at NEC is designed to support, complement, and expand a student's total education by providing a variety of services, activities, programs, facilities, and living/learning environments. On-campus residences accommodate approximately 700 full-time graduate and undergraduate students in a variety of living options. Facilities include traditional residence halls, suites, apartments, and small houses with cooperative living programs. All residence halls are smoke-free and some areas offer substance-free and/or theme-living options. Each residence area is staffed by a full-time, live-in professional Area Coordinator.  Undergraduate students serve as Resident Advisors who support students on their floors or living areas. Staff members from each area work together to respond to the physical, emotional, and developmental needs of their residents.

Mission

The Office of Residence Life and Housing (RLH) strives to create a community living and learning environment that supports and stimulates the intellectual, personal, spiritual and social growth of all residents thereby encouraging student success.

Beliefs

We believe in the educational potential of the residence halls.  We believe that through thoughtful and educationally rich programs, residence hall living becomes a more integral part of the overall educational experience.  Research shows that one of the key factors impacting a college student’s success is his/her living arrangements. Recent studies regarding the impact of students living on-campus have shown that, compared to those who commute, on-campus students:

-      Are more likely to return to college the following year

-      Are more likely to persist at college until they graduate

-      Have a higher degree of satisfaction with their college experience

-      Participate in more extracurricular activities on campus

-      Have more interpersonal, informal interaction with faculty and peers

-      Show stronger development in other areas of psychosocial development

The structure of the Office of Residence Life and Housing is made up of the Director of Residence Life, full time, live-in Area Coordinators (ACs), Graduate Hall Directors (GHDs) and upper-class Resident Advisors (RAs). ACs supervise and support the RA staff and both are available as resources and referral agents to all students.  RAs assist the professional staff in the halls and provide counseling, advising and programs and events to the students.

The Office of Residence Life and Housing offers a variety of living accommodations available to full-time students. Facilities are assigned to returning students through the spring room selection/room draw lottery process. For new students, priority for assignments is given according to the date that the housing deposit and contract are received. Additional information regarding residence hall facilities, services, application procedures, regulations, and so forth, is contained in the Housing Contract.

Student Responsibilities

Residential community is based on students being involved, respecting and caring for each other, coming to understand and accept the diversity of the individuals, complying with behavioral expectations, policies and procedures of the college, local, state and federal laws, respecting the property of others and the property, equipment, facilities and programs of the college, and refraining from actions that endanger the health, welfare or safety of any member of the community.

Students have a right to expect an environment that is conducive to study, rest, and recreation without unwarranted interference from others.

Roommate Relationships

Most first- and second-year students will be assigned or will choose roommates. Living with a roommate can be rewarding as well as challenging. Some guidelines for living with someone successfully are:

1. be willing to listen and to speak openly
2. try to understand each other rather than judge each other
3. be open to different life-styles and values
4. respect your roommate as a person and be willing to make compromises
5. be considerate of your roommate and others
6. spend time together getting acquainted.

If you and your roommate are having problems, the first step to resolving the problems is to talk with each other but, if the problems continue, the second step is to talk to your RA.

Operations/Policies/Procedures Information and Guidelines

Operational policies, procedures and guidelines have been established within the residence halls to maintain quality community standards and to foster development and mutual respect among students. The following policies and procedures are essential to positive community living. It is each student's responsibility to acquaint themselves with this information.

Contract, Contract Release and/or Exemption from Housing Requirements:

Living in a community of people with diverse backgrounds is an integral part of the educational process. For that reason, New England College requires all students with fewer than 45 earned credits (e.g. earned by the December preceding Room Selection) to live in College-owned-and-managed residence facilities. Exceptions to this policy are made on an individual basis through the Contract Release and/or Housing Requirement Exception process.  Please note, students who are 21 years of age or older may be exempt from the housing requirements.  Please contact the Housing Office for more information.

All housing contracts are binding agreements made for the entire academic year. Students are subject to meal plan requirements based on their residence location.

Releases and/or exemptions will only be considered for the following reasons:

1. Non-admission, withdrawal, transfer, or dismissal from the College.
2. Extreme, unanticipated change in financial circumstances (proper documentation is required).
3. Serious medical or health problems directly related to residence hall living (proper documentation is required).
4. Marriage during the contract terms.
5. Affiliation with New England College programs that are away from the campus (beyond a 30-mile radius), e.g., internships, cooperative education, student teaching, and so forth.
6. Graduation.
7. Study Abroad.

Documentation for all of these releases and/or exemptions will be reviewed by the Director of Residence Life and Housing or his/her designee. Reducing course load from full-time to part-time does not constitute grounds for release from the contract.

Refunds for Contract Release Requests:

Students who participate in Room Selection will have until May 30 to opt out of their Housing Contract WITHOUT penalty, HOWEVER, any students who choose to live in a “community living environment” (suites or apartments) will NOT be eligible for voluntary contract release at any point after Room Selection

Between June 1 and July 31, any student wishing to opt out of their Housing Contract must submit a request in writing to the Housing Office.  They will be released and charged $1,500 Contract Release fee.

After July 31, the students are financially responsible for the charges associated with the Housing Contract for the entire academic year.

Damages

Damages to student rooms are the responsibility of the assigned occupants. In order to prevent misinterpretation, it is strongly recommended that students inspect their rooms thoroughly with their Resident Advisor before signing the room inventory form (RIF) upon check-in. This task should be accomplished responsibly and in detail.

Any student moving from and/or leaving their assigned room must follow all appropriate checkout procedures. This includes reviewing the condition of the room prior to departure with the hall staff member using the RIF form and signing the form. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the right to appeal assessed room damage charges. 

Any appeals to the assessment of the residence hall damage should be made in writing to the Residence Life and Housing Office within 30 days upon receipt of the bill. The cost of damage to common areas (halls, bathrooms, lounges, TV rooms, and so forth) and false fire alarms are the shared responsibility of each resident. If the responsible individual(s) cannot be determined, the entire community will share the cost of the damage, whether that be the section, floor, or the entire building.  As such, these charges are NOT subject to appeal.

In many cases, common area charges are minimal because the communities have been successful in establishing an environment characterized by respect for each other and the facility.  In fact, on college campuses across the nation, damages are reduced considerably when such a community environment exists. However, there may be times when in spite of the efforts of our staff, residents will choose to not address unacceptable behaviors in their community. As a result, those floor and hall damages which cannot be attributed to an individual are assessed at the end of each semester and charged to all members of the residence hall as common area damages. 

In addition to billing, the Residence Life and Housing staff will (please refer to the Community Restoration Protocol on file in the Residence Life and Housing office for more details):

-      Inform residents within 24 hours of common area damages and approximate associated costs

-      Give the residents a reasonable amount of time (usually 1 week) to take individual responsibility for the common area damage, so as to avoid all residents sharing the bill

-      Facilitate meetings with the residents to prevent, deter and correct behaviors damaging to the facility

-      Send letters home to parents and/or legal guardians when deemed appropriate

-      Relocate residents from a residential area to help restore a functional community when all other efforts at community restoration have failed

A complete list of approximate charges, including labor estimates, is available in the Campus Operations Office.

Discipline

All residence students are expected to be fully aware of, and abide by all College rules, regulations, policies and procedures which are found in the Academic Catalog, The Compass, and on additional forms requiring signatures such as the Housing Contract.  Any violation of these rules, regulations, policies and procedures will be considered a breach of the contract and may lead to disciplinary action and/or removal from the halls and/or the College.

Doors

Doors to the residence halls are locked at all times and may not be propped open. Anyone found propping a door is subject to a fine and/or disciplinary action. The student ID card allows entrance to a student’s individually assigned residence hall. It is the resident’s responsibility to carry their ID card at all times.

Health and Safety Inspections

Residents can anticipate health and safety inspections by a team of at least two College representatives who will be reviewing the following items:

-      Safety Issues- electrical overloads, prohibited items as defined by The Compass, absence of window screens, clear entrance and egress, etc.

-      Health Issues- accumulation of trash/garbage/recycling, under bed storage, presence of unhealthy living conditions, condition of refrigerators and contents, contaminated foods and cooking utensils, prohibited appliances, pets, etc.

-      Damage Issues-holes in the walls, ceiling tiles, broken/missing blinds or furniture, etc.

If a health and safety violation is discovered, it must be corrected immediately. Sanctions may be imposed as outlined in The Compass.

Holiday Decorations

The following items must be adhered to regarding holiday decorations:

1. Cut trees and wreaths are not allowed in the residence halls
2. Candles and any other kinds of open flame are not allowed in the residence halls
3. Any decorations in the hallways must be fireproof and approved by the Office of Residence Life and Housing
4. All holiday decorations without exception must be taken down prior to any break period

Keys, Locks and Building/Room Lockouts

Keys, locks, combinations and doors are essential components for the safety and security of students and their belongings. External and internal doors in all residence facilities should never be propped or tampered with. Safety and security is the responsibility of all students. Please refer to The Compass for further elaboration of the College policies regarding misuse of or tampering with keys and locks.

The following provisions have been established to encourage and promote the safety and security of our residential facilities:

1. When a room key is reported as lost, stolen, or duplicated, the lock will be changed, and the student responsible will be charged for the cost of the change and/or new keys
2. Residents who are locked out of their rooms three or more times per year will be subject to fines and disciplinary action
3. Students are not permitted to give their combination or loan their keys to others, as this creates a potential security problem.  If a student requests a change in his/her combination lock, the student(s) will be billed for a combination change
4. When a student changes rooms, the combinations to each room involved in the move will be changed as standard procedure by the College and will be free of charge to the residents
5. All residence hall keys and ID cards are the sole property of New England College and may not be duplicated except by the College

Laundry

Each residence hall is equipped with Smart Card operated washers and dryers for the use of hall residents (except in Rowe where coin operated machines are available). The machines are accessible 24-hours per day. Please report any problems or repair needs to your Resident Advisor, Area Coordinator or the Residence Life and Housing Office.

Loss of Student Property

The College does not assume any liability for loss, damage, or injury resulting from theft, explosion, fire, mechanical failure of either gas or water lines, loss of electricity, defective wiring, or negligence of any occupant of the building. It is strongly urged that students purchase appropriate insurance policies to protect themselves from loss or damage to personal possessions.

Occupancy

Assigned rooms may be occupied by returning students the day before the first day of scheduled classes for each semester and new students may arrive according to the established Orientation schedule.  Special arrangements for the early arrival of any student must be approved in advance by the Director of Residence Life and Housing or his/her designee.

Living accommodations in the residence halls are not available during time when the College is not in session (e.g., Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, and the period from the end of spring semester final exams to Commencement, except as special arrangements may be made for graduates, student teachers and athletes).

Students are expected to comply with all closing instructions that will be provided to them before each of the hall closings listed above. Failure to comply with these instructions will be addressed through the College’s judicial system.

Rooms paid for and not occupied within one day after the established add/drop period, may be declared vacant by the Director of Residence Life and Housing, unless the individual having the assignment makes a written request to the Residence Life and Housing  Office to hold the room until a later date.

The Residence Life and Housing Office reserves the right to:

1. Change room assignments at any time with a specific rationale provided to the resident(s) involved
2. Consolidate vacancies
3. Use rooms over holiday periods, provided prior notice is given to each resident involved
4. Control the rooms in event of an epidemic
5. Change the gender designation of a hall, house, or floor, and provide space to accommodate the needs of special interest program groups
6. Change room assignments for health, safety, or repair service, for disciplinary reasons caused by the residents, for ongoing community concerns, or for incompatibility of roommates.

Rates and Refunds for Rooms and Meals

A bill for the room and board charges will be sent to the student; charges will be payable prior to the beginning of each semester. Room assignments may be canceled by the College if the charge is not paid by the stipulated due date, or alternate arrangements for payment of bill have not been approved by the Director of Student Financial Services.

All housing contracts are binding agreements made for the entire academic year.

All meal contracts are binding agreements made for the entire academic year.  Any changes or adjustments to meal plans must be made through the Office of Residence Life and Housing prior to the completion of the scheduled add/drop period in the fall semester.  Students are subject to meal plan requirements based on their residence location:

Swipe & Save Meals

A simple swipe saves you time, money and the headache of losing your parking space.  Swipe & Save meals are accepted in Gilmore Dining Hall.  Flex Cash is accepted in Gilmore Dining Hall and the Simon Café.  With each swipe of your card, a meal is deducted from your total meal balance and flex cash declines per items purchased. 

Swipe & Save meals ensure discounted pricing with every meal.  If you don’t want to dine alone, invite a friend!  There are no restrictions on who can dine with your Swipe & Save plan.

As specified in the Academic Catalog:

Refunds for Withdrawal, Suspension or Dismissal
If a student withdraws or is dismissed from school during the academic year a refund or credit for tuition and board will be issued according to the following schedule:

-      During the first week of the semester: 75%

-      During the second week of the semester: 65%

-      During the third week of the semester: 55%

-      During the fourth week of the semester: 40%

-      After the fourth week of the semester: 0%

All other charges are non-refundable for any semester from which a student withdraws.

For summer term and January term programs the refund or credit will be issued according to the following schedule:

-      As of the first day of the first week: 80%

-      As of the first day of the second week: 50%

-      After the second week: 0%

All other charges are non-refundable.

Repairs/Maintenance

Please report all maintenance or repair needs to your Resident Advisor. Emergency needs should be immediately reported to Campus Safety (ext. 2323) or the Residence Life and Housing Office (ext 2242).  Only qualified College personnel may perform repairs/maintenance.

Room Changes

Requests for room changes will not be honored during the first two weeks of a semester, except under rare and extenuating circumstances. All room changes must be discussed with the Resident Advisor and the Area Coordinator. Students cannot change rooms without the advanced approval of the Housing Coordinator and the Area Coordinator(s) of the hall(s) involved.

The following outlines the Room Change Process:

-      Students should attempt to resolve the conflict with their roommate before requesting a change

-      If the conflict cannot be resolved, ask the RA to assist

-      If the RA believes a room change is appropriate, they will forward the information within 24 hours to their direct supervisor (an AC) who will meet with the student requesting a change

-      An Application for Room Change Form should be completed by the student(s) wishing to change rooms and turned in to the Residence Life and Housing Office

-      The AC will make a recommendation to the Housing Coordinator who will subsequently place the student requesting a room change in a different room and complete other administrative tasks associated with a room change

Note: Unauthorized moves will result in a fine and disciplinary action.

Room Entry

While the College recognizes and respects the need for privacy and freedom from the undue intrusion into living spaces, the College reserves the right of its employees and contractors to enter student rooms and living areas without prior notice under certain circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to:

-      The College believes there is an imminent threat to persons or property or that a violation of College policy is in progress,

-      To perform maintenance or repairs,

-      To remove or replace College property or remove contraband items, or

-      To perform health and safety inspections

The College will also cooperate fully with governmental agencies seeking to exercise appropriately issued warrants in residence halls.

Rules and Regulations for Residence Halls/Areas

Living in a residence hall is a community living experience where all members have certain rights and responsibilities. New England College students should be aware that the College adheres to a philosophy that students are responsible for all events and/or behaviors that take place in their room at the time that the incident occurs. If the resident is uncomfortable with what is taking place in their room (e.g., drinking, noise, guest policy, and so forth), they have the obligation to leave, get a Resident Advisor and/or call Campus Safety. We have an expectation that the student would challenge their roommates and/or individuals that they are with to follow College policies, to have a discussion, and together set expectations that are mutually acceptable, and uphold the expectations of the College.

The following standards of behavior are designed to maximize the positive aspects of residence halls by stating behavioral expectations of all residents:

1. The following items are prohibited in the resident’s room:
1. Various electrical appliances, such as halogen lamps, extension cords, hot plates, heating coils, toaster ovens, air conditioners, space heaters, octopus plugs, etc.
2. Exterior antennae or satellite dishes that are placed outside the room window.
3. Waterbeds/water-filled furniture.
4. Additional furnishings (which may be a concern related to fire safety) not authorized by the Director of Residence Life and Housing and the Director of Campus Operations.
5. Pets or animals of any kind (with the exception of fish kept in an aquarium of 10 gallons or smaller).
2. Refrigerators may be used in student rooms provided they do not exceed 2.5 amps and have a capacity of 5 cubic feet or less.
3. All state laws and College regulations pertaining to alcohol apply in the residence halls. The possession or use of alcoholic beverages is restricted to those persons age 21 or over and can only be consumed in the resident’s room. Where no residents of the room are of legal age to consume alcoholic beverages, alcohol is not permitted to be brought into the room by any outside visitors/guests/students. No alcohol is to be consumed in public areas (e.g., outside, hallways, bathrooms, lounges, and so forth).
4. The College does not permit possession, sale, or use of drugs which are illegal (including alcohol for minors) and which may involve physiological or psychological hazards, or lead to interference with the rights and privileges of others. Students who violate College and Residence Life policies and procedures while under the influence of drugs will be subject to disciplinary action.
5. The term “Courtesy Hours” means that an atmosphere conducive to normal living, sleep and study must be maintained 24 hours a day in the residence halls. Residents are prohibited from causing loud or disturbing sounds which may interfere with the rights of other students or members of the surrounding community including, but not limited to, the right to rest, study, and be free of unnecessary or unwarranted distractions. Residents are expected to be courteous and, upon request or complaint, to lower the noise level of activities.
1. Quiet hours are in effect from 11 p.m. until 8 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, 1 a.m. through 8 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Residents responsible for violation of quiet hours will be subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, residents may be required to remove stereos or musical instruments from their rooms. Stereo speakers may never be placed in windows so as to be heard outside the room and building.
2. Strict quiet hours are in effect in all residence halls 24 hours a day, commencing at 9 p.m. on the last day of classes and continuing through the semester close of the residence halls. Students violating strict quiet hours or causing any disruption will be directed to leave the residence hall immediately and not be permitted to return until the close of final examinations. Courtesy hours are in effect at all other times.
6. To help provide for the safety of residents, periodic fire drills are scheduled and students are required to vacate the building. The fire fighting equipment, the fire alarm system, and appropriate procedures are provided for the protection of life and property of students. Tampering with, or misuse of fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and/or failure to comply with related procedures is a serious infraction of College policy. This includes attaching any items to the sprinkler pipes in the residence halls.
7. Space permitting, bicycles may be stored in designated areas of the residence halls but may not be parked or stored in stairways, hallways, or near exits because of the potential danger to pedestrians.
8. To avoid fire hazards, possession of incense or any type of candle (unless the wick is cut off) is not permitted in the residence halls.
9. Residents are not permitted on residence hall roofs, window ledges or balconies at any time.
10. Wrestling, the playing of hockey, rollerblading, Frisbee or other sports in residence halls is prohibited.
11. Window screens are not to be loosened or removed under any condition. Due to the danger to lives and property, dropping, throwing, or in any other manner allowing objects (liquid or solid) to be ejected into or out of the residence halls is prohibited. Residents of a room are considered responsible for any object ejected into or out of their room windows.
12. Tape, adhesives, nails, screws, and so forth, may be used only on bulletin boards and not on walls, ceilings, doors, and so forth, as these items often scratch or deface facilities. Also for reasons of fire safety, tapestries and other room decorations may not be affixed to or suspended from the ceiling, exits, sprinkler heads, or pipes. All types of room decorations must be hung flat to the walls.
13. In accordance with New Hampshire state law, all spaces within residence halls are smoke free. Smoking is prohibited within approximately 20 feet of the exterior of every residential building. Area Coordinators will designate appropriate smoking areas around residential facilities and distribute the information at the start of each academic year.
14. In all residential facilities, community restrooms have biological sex designations and their use is limited to persons of that biological sex only.
15. Residents are expected to provide identification upon the request of a College staff member acting in the performance of his/her duties.
16. Residents may not alter the existing wiring of the telephone and/or cable TV systems.  Basic cable and local telephone service with a voice mailbox is provided in each room. Students must provide their own phone and TV to access service. Answering machines are not needed. Misuse of telephones (harassing calls, extra lines, and so forth) are considered serious violations and will be dealt with through campus judicial and/or civil action. Comcast, our local cable company, is on site at the start of the Fall semester to contract directly with students wishing to add services beyond that which the College provides.
17. Solicitations and sales by outside agencies are forbidden in the residence halls, unless approved by the Director of Residence Life and Housing or his/her designee.
18. Students/organizations seeking to have materials (flyers, advertisements, and so forth) posted in the residence halls must get approval from the Residence Life and Housing Office.

Termination of Agreement

The College may terminate this agreement and take possession of the room at any time for violation of the terms and conditions of the Housing Contract, for health reasons, for failure of the student to contract for or continue on the board plan without authorization, for failure to pay room and board costs, or for violations of published College rules.

Residents may request termination of their housing and/or meal contract.  Please refer to the procedures outlined above in the section titled, “Contract, Contract Release and/or Exemption from Housing Requirements” for further information.

At the close of the academic year, or upon withdrawal or dismissal from the College, the student must remove all personal belongings from the College, return his/her keys, sign the check out and room condition forms, and check out with the appropriate residence hall staff within 24 hours after his/her last exam, or 24 hours after the date of his/her discontinuance with the College, whichever is applicable, unless specific arrangements have been made with the Residence Life and Housing Office.

Use of Room

Each student is responsible for the daily care and cleaning of his/her room and is expected to preserve order in it. Nothing is to be nailed, screwed, pinned, taped, or pasted to the walls of the room. Photographs, banners, and so forth, may be suspended from the molding or attached to tack boards provided by the College.

Screens are not to be removed from the frames. Personal draperies may not be substituted where they are already provided by the College. Wiring or repairs will be made only by authorized College personnel. Occupants will not paint, engage in carpentry, or otherwise alter equipment or room structure, unless authorized by the Director of Residence Life and Housing. Fire regulations prohibit the suspension of flammable materials from the ceiling in the residence halls, as well as the construction or use of lofts, other than College-issued ones.

Visitation

New England College attempts to provide an environment whereby all members can be intellectually and socially successful. Within the residence areas, the visitation program is designed to afford opportunities for student growth and social development. While New England College does not restrict the hours during which residents may have guests/visitors in their rooms, the College has the responsibility to provide policies which allow for the safety of its community and ensure consideration for individual resident student rights. As such, the College reserves the right to modify, restrict, or revoke the privilege of the visitation program at any time.

1. Definitions :

A)   A guest is defined as any student or non-student living outside of the host’s/hostess’s residence hall. Guests must be invited into the residence hall by a member of that community and must be escorted at all times while in the residence hall.

B)   A visitor is defined as any student residing in a given residence hall, who is in a student room other than the room to which he/she has been assigned by the Office of Residence Life and Housing.

C)   A host/hostess is defined as a member of a residence facility that invites a guest into his/her room or residence hall.

2. Responsibility:

A)   By inviting a guest or visitor into his/her room or residence hall, the host/hostess accepts full responsibility for the actions of the guest or visitor. Therefore, the host/hostess is responsible for ensuring that his/ her guest(s) or visitor(s) are informed of and adhere to all College policies. Damage and/or policy violations resulting from the behavior of guests or visitors is the responsibility of the guest or visitor as well as that of the host/hostess.

B)   The host/hostess is responsible for ensuring that his/her guests or visitors do not impose any inconveniences on others (including the host/hostess’s roommates) or other guests or visitors of other community members.

C)   The host/hostess must escort all guests to and from the front entrances and at all times while the guest is present in the residence area. Any unescorted guests in a residence hall will be considered in violation of the Visitation policy. Such violations could result in guests’ removal from the residence hall and judicial action for the guests and their host/hostess.

D)   No guest or visitor is permitted to be in a student room without a resident of the room present.

3. Overnight Guests or Visitors:

A)   Visitors may stay overnight in another resident’s room. While they do not need an overnight guest pass, prior permission from all residents of the room is required.  Please note letter E below for frequency limitations.

B)   Overnight guests are not permitted in residence hall rooms, suites, or apartments without advance permission of all residents of that room and the Area Coordinator (or his/her designee).

C)   All students hosting overnight guests must complete and have the Area Coordinator (or his/her designee) authorize an Overnight Guest Pass prior to the guest’s arrival. Failure to obtain an authorized guest pass can result in the removal of the guest(s) and subject the host/hostess to judicial action.

D)   The overnight guest must carry the guest pass at all times and present it to any College official when requested to do so. The guest pass may also be requested to obtain a temporary parking pass through the Department of Campus Safety.

E)    Overnight guests or visitors may not stay in a residence hall room for more than two consecutive nights and no more than four nights during any given month without the permission of the Area Coordinator.

4. Maxim um Numbers of Guests:

A)   A resident is allowed no more than a total of three guests or visitors at any one time.

B)   Total numbers of PERSONS in a room at any given time may be restricted further based on the existing local, state, and federal fire regulations.

Conduct Violations

As members of the College community, students and their organizations have an obligation to know and obey the published rules, regulations, policies and procedures as outlined in the Academic Catalog and The Compass. Through its published rules, regulations, policies and procedures, the College has made an effort to outline the behavioral expectations it holds. In general, the College expects that the common sense of a mature and responsible individual will determine if the behavior is one that should be avoided and can be adjudicated. Accordingly, the following list is intended to serve as examples of behaviors that are considered unacceptable for students enrolled at New England College. College policies are described in detail in The Compass. This list is intended, therefore, to be illustrative and not exhaustive.

Dining Services

Resident students are required to select one of the available meal plans: a 19-meal plan, a 15-meal plan, a 10-meal plan or a 7-meal plan. Availability of the meal plans is dependent upon your housing assignment and your number of completed credits.  A Flex option is available for each meal plan. The Flex option allows students to use their ID card as a debit card for purchases at the Simon Café.

Please note the following about Flex plans:

-      Initial deposit has the following restrictions: Unused balances are nonrefundable, cannot be turned into cash, and roll over from fall to spring semester, but are not transferred or refunded at the end of the academic year.

Students who live on campus choose their meal plan for the entire academic year. Changes to the meal plan must be submitted in writing to the Residence Life and Housing Office between the conclusion of the housing selection process and the first two weeks of the Fall semester. A current New England College ID card must be presented at each meal to gain admittance. The ID cards are not transferable.

The Dining Hall serves meals to students on the meal plan beginning with dinner on the day the residence halls open and ending with brunch on the day residence halls close. Meals are not provided during College break periods and vacation.

Hours of Operation for the Dining Hall:

-      Monday – Friday

• Breakfast 7:30am – 9:00am
• Continental Breakfast 9:00am – 9:30am
• Lunch 11:30am – 1:00pm
• Dinner 5:00pm – 6:30pm
• Friday Dinner 5:00pm – 6:00pm

-      Saturday and Sunday

Hours of Operation for the Simon Center Café

-      Monday – Friday 8:00am – 11:00pm

-      Saturday – Sunday 6:00pm – 11:00pm

Hours of Operation for Tortington Arms West (The Pub)

-      Monday – Friday 11:00am – midnight

-      Alcohol is served from 8:00pm – midnight

Behavior

Students are required to comply with all reasonable directives of the Dining Hall personnel. Students engaging in behavior that is disruptive, endangers the safety of the diners or employees, or in other ways violates standing College policies while in the Dining Hall, will be referred to the Associate Dean of Students for disciplinary action. In particular, food fights or throwing of food is prohibited and will result in serious disciplinary action.

Students must present themselves for meals suitably dressed. The Dining Services staff may refuse to serve students who are not wearing clothes and shoes that comply with health codes or who otherwise are in possible violation of health standards. All questions regarding the Dining Hall should be referred to the General Manager of the Dining Hall.

Expectations in Gilmore Dining Hall and Sodexho Food Services

1. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited
2. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times
3. No pets are allowed (excluding service animals as permitted through ADA regulations)
4. Students must return trays, dishes, utensils and glasses to the dish area
5. After dining, table areas should be left clean in consideration of others
6. Smoking is not permitted inside or on the exterior deck
7. No disruptive activities are permitted in the dining hall, such as noisy or antagonistic behavior
8. Food and beverages in the dining hall may not be taken out for consumption at a later time (an ice cream cone or one piece of fruit are the exceptions)

Those with dining privileges who fail to comply with expectations and guidelines are subject to disciplinary action, fines, temporary suspension of dining privileges, and/or revocation of meal cards.

Food Service Guests

Guests in the Dining Hall must abide by the rules and regulations of New England College. Guests must pay on a cash basis for meals attended.

Terms and Conditions of Meal Contract

1. The meal plan is contracted by residential students for one academic year. Changes are not permitted after the add/drop period of the Fall semester.
2. The College will provide meals on the posted schedule in the Dining Hall
3. Three meals per day are available Monday through Friday. Brunch and dinner are served on Saturday and Sunday, and on days when there are no classes. Students may select either the 19-meal plan (all meals), the 15-meal plan (any 15 of the 19 meals may be taken), the 10-meal plan (any 10 of the 19 meals), or the 7-meal plan (any 7 of the 19 meals). A Flex version is available for each plan.
4. New England College will not be liable for missed meals or for the failure to provide meals due to unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances.
5. The student must present a valid meal plan ID card at each meal and may not loan his or her ID card to anyone else.
6. Failure to comply with all rules and regulations may result in cancellation of the agreement with loss of any refund, as well as college disciplinary action.
7. Food may not be taken from the Dining Hall except with the advance permission of a Dining Hall supervisor.
8. Throwing of food, disruptive behavior, or theft of utensils or College/Dining Hall property will result in disciplinary action.
9. Unused meals cannot be transferred to anyone else and no refunds are available for students who do not take advantage of the maximum number available.
10. Students found loaning ID cards to others for the purpose of permitting them access to the Food Service will be referred to the campus judicial system for disciplinary action.
11. Students falsely presenting an ID card to gain access to the Food Service, sneaking in, or otherwise fraudulently participating in the Food Service will be referred to the campus judicial system for further action.