Safety »

Each residence hall room and apartment has a sprinkler(s) head and one or more hard-wired smoke detector. The hallways and common areas are equipped in a similar fashion. Monthly fire drills are conducted as required by state law. A fire safety training program will be conducted by the University Police in the beginning of the semester.

Candles, incense, cooking devices (i.e. hot plates, etc) are not permitted for safety reasons. It's important that all students review what is and is not allowed in the residence hall as most of these decisions are made for safety reasons. University Safety and Police are responsible for conducting fire safety training.

Staffing does vary depending on the size and layout of the building. In general, residence halls have a minimum of two community assistants (CA) per floor. Apartments are staffed in a similar fashion - one community assistant per building. Additionally, each building has a Graduate Hall Director (GHD). All community assistants and the graduate hall directors are full time students, BU students. They are trained in a variety of areas and can assist with any issue or challeng you may have.

If your CA is not available you should seek out the CA on the opposite wing or come to the lobby area for assistance. The staff's primary role is to assist students with their college experience; this could include answering questions, mediating a roommate problem, confronting a policy violation, listening to problems and serving as a general resource. Staff are on call every evening and weekends.

In addition to the CA and GHD staff, each building is supervised as part of a larger "area." This person supervising this area is the Area Coordinator (AC). For example, Lycoming and Columbia are considered an area. The AC for this and all areas is ultimately responsible for the staff and students within the area's buildings.

Identification cards are issued to all University students, staff and faculty and are intended to be used as the primary source of identification on University property and to provide a more secure University community.

Access to the residence halls is granted with your BU ID. As you enter the building, hold your ID up to the black strip located on the brick wall (you'll see it when you arrive). You don't need to 'swipe' your card; rather, it works off a proximity chip - so as long as your ID is near the strip it will unlock the front door. Some students leave their ID in the outer pocket of their backpack and hold up the backpack to the strip. Still works! NOTE: Hold on to your ID! Lots of things are granted through your ID: Rec center admission, meals, library books, laundry, vending etc.

As the primary source of identification, students are expected to carry their ID card with them at all times and to present it to the University police or other University officials whenever requested in order to maintain the security of the University and in the abidance of University policy. It is illegal to manufacture false ID cards or to deface, alter or knowingly use altered or false ID cards. It is also a violation of University policy to misrepresent yourself in order to ascertain a false ID card. Violators will be dealt with under the University's Code of Conduct.

ID cards are valid as long as student is matriculating, in good conduct standing and associated with the University. ID cards must be surrendered to the Student Life Office, when a student withdraws or otherwise leaves the University due to academic or disciplinary action. All changes or additions to this policy will be made available to all University students and personnel.

A replacement ID is $20.