Housing and Residence Life

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Resident Housing

On-campus housing accommodates approximately 1 300 students and offers the convenience of living close to classes and campus resources. Residents also enjoy access to hall programs, support from Resident Assistant staff, and campus dining services.

Health & Safety Inspections

The Residence Life staff enters the individual units periodically and inspects the facility for Health and Safety hazards and / or policy violations. Staff will post signs and/or send electronic communication stating the date and time of these inspections at least 24 hours in advance of the inspection. Additionally, residences are inspected prior to break closings, as well as, for emotional support animal compliance, and may be inspected at other times if needed. Personal items should be stored in a clean and orderly manner to promote proper hygiene and lessen the risk of pest infestation and fire hazards due to furniture or personal items blocking safe exit, excessive trash, grease in stove area, papers and other combustibles on the floor. Students found in violation of the policies outlined in the Student Handbook during Health and Safety Inspections may be subject to a conduct hearing.

Fire Drills

When a fire alarm sounds in campus housing units, it is mandatory for all students to evacuate the building according to the prescribed fire emergency procedures:

  1. Dress quickly and appropriately for exiting the building.
  2. Feel the door for heat – if it is hot, do not open it! Remain in the room. Place a towel in the airspace under the door. Go to the window and wave an article of clothing until a fire fighter reaches the student. If the door is not hot, lock the door, and move quickly to the nearest fire exit.
  3. If smoke is present, he / she should wrap a towel over their nose and mouth and remain close to the floor.
  4. As the student exits, move away from the building and to the location assigned by the Resident Assistant(RA).
  5. Do not re-enter the building under any circumstances until directed to do so by the Residence Life staff or a Public Safety Officer.

Insurance Information for Residents

Ringling College is not liable for damage to or loss of student property, including items stored inside and outside the facilities, failure or interruption of utilities, or for injury or inconvenience to persons. Students are required to provide their own health insurance and encouraged to provide personal property loss insurance, and / or consult their homeowner’s policy to be sure personal property is covered.

Damages, Repairs, and Billing Procedures

Damage to housing facilities and individual residence hall rooms should be reported to Residence Life.

  1. After final check-out, students are responsible for locking their doors to ensure there are no thefts/ vandalism in their rooms after they leave.
  2. Students will be financially responsible for any and all furnishings missing or damages in their rooms after they move out.
  3. If damages are found in a student room, the amount will be placed on the student(s) account and split between roommates (where applicable).

Students are responsible for care of assigned rooms and furnishings. Charges may be assessed for damages to, unauthorized use of, or alterations to rooms, furnishings or buildings and special cleaning necessitated by improper care of rooms or furnishings.

Students are responsible for care of public areas and furnishings. Public areas are defined as hallways, stairwells, lounges, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. "Common-Billing" charges may be made to residents of a section, wing, floor, or entire building (as appropriate) for damages and/or vandalism, to public areas of a residence hall. Common damage charges will be divided equally amongst residents of a particular area. Information on damages and vandalism in a residence hall should be given to a member of the Residence Life staff.

Students are prohibited from having stolen property, including but not limited to shopping carts, street signs, etc. Billing for room damages will posted to student’s accounts within three (3) weeks of the end of each semester (last day students permitted on-campus).

Invasion of Privacy

Invasion of privacy is defined as transmitting, recording or photographing the image or voice of another person without their knowledge or consent while in an environment considered private or where there is an expectation of privacy, such as a residence, bathroom, locker room or office.

Keys/ Student IDs

Students are expected to carry their keys and student IDs at all times. Keys and IDs are not to be loaned or exchanged under any circumstances and may not be reproduced. Students who find themselves locked out during office hours should report to the Office of Residence Life, or the Office of Public Safety after hours, to gain entrance to their room. For security reasons, students who have lost their keys will be required to have a lock-core change. The students will be billed for lock changes or replacement keys/ Student IDs. Replacement costs may be put on a student’s billing account or deducted from the damage deposit.

Laundry Facilities

Laundry facilities are available for resident students 24-hours a day in all residence halls, on each floor of the Bayou Village Apartments, first floor of Bridge Apartments, in the near- campus houses, the Cove, the Roy and Susan Palmer Quadrangle, Ann and Alfred Goldstein Hall, Greensboro Hall, and Ulla Searing Student Center. Laundry machines are provided for residents' use at no additional charge. Report mechanical problems by submitting an Assset Essentials maintenance request.

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

In 1992 Congress passed the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (known as Title X), which directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to require disclosure of lead-based paint and lead paint before the sale or leasing of housing built before 1978. 3002 North Tamiami Trail (Bayhaven).

Housing built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Lead from paint, paint chips and dust can pose health hazards if not managed properly. Lead exposure is especially harmful to young children and pregnant women. Before renting pre-1978 housing, lessors must disclose the presence of known lead- based paint and / or lead-based paint hazards in the dwelling. Lessees must also receive a federally approved pamphlet on lead poisoning prevention.

The following housing areas were built prior to 1978:

Cove Keating

Family Housing Palmer Quadrangle

1245 North Riverside Drive

2714 South Riverside Drive 301 5, 2340 Bradenton Road

3035, 3047 East Tamiami Circle

1107, 1123, 1133, 1143, 1159 Greensboro Lane

2914, 2919, 3007, 3014, 3022/3024 East Tamiami Circle

1160, 1142, 1158, 1132, 1131 , 1161 Guilford Lane

1107/1113, 1147/1155, 1100, 1123 Guilford Lane

1136, 1172/1174, 1176/1178 Patterson Drive 1230, 1216 31st Street 1151 /1153 32nd Street

In compliance with this act this is to inform you:

Ringling College of Art and Design Housing has no knowledge of the presence of lead-based paint or lead- based hazards in the above residences.

Ringling College of Art and Design Housing has no reports or records pertaining to lead-based paint and / or lead-based paint hazards in the above residences.

Upon request, students will be supplied with a booklet entitled Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home (http://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-lead-your-home-english) published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Since the aforementioned residences were built before 1978 there may be lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards. Especially if a student is pregnant, they are encouraged to follow the precautions suggested in the booklet referenced above.

Water Response and Mold Prevention Program

It is the College’s goal to maintain the highest quality living environment for student residents. In the interest of achieving this goal, student should take a moment to read the following information regarding simple measures that they can take to avoid, and if necessary to address, mold and mildew problems in their student housing.

Molds and mildews are microscopic organisms found virtually everywhere in environment, both indoors and outdoors, which spread through airborne spores. When excess moisture is present inside a building, mold and mildew can accumulate and grow. If not addressed, accumulations of mold and mildew can lead to adverse health effects, such as allergy symptoms or respiratory problems.

The best way to avoid problems with mold and mildew is to prevent excessive moisture build-up. Excess moisture can collect from a wide variety of sources including plumbing leaks or other sources of water infiltration: large fish tanks, showering, laundering, cooking or even watering plants. Other factors, such as poor air circulation, extreme differences in indoor and outdoor temperatures or failure to quickly clean up spills, can contribute to excessive moisture. In order to minimize opportunities for mold growth, it is essential to limit these sources of moisture build-up.

  1. There are several measures that a student can take to reduce moisture in their student housing and to discourage the growth of mold and mildew: Make sure their student housing is properly ventilated by operating their HVAC system and / or by opening windows and doors. Make sure that the Air

    Conditioning unit in your room or apartment is set on the “Auto” function. Proper air circulation will help prevent excess moisture build-up in more humid areas.

  2. Promptly call Ringling College’s Facilities Service Response at 941.309.4208 or place a maintenance request on the student portal to report any signs of water leaks or infiltration or any signs of excessive mold or mildew growth.
  3. Use the preinstalled fans in their bathrooms to minimize moisture build-up.
  4. Wipe down visible moisture accumulation on windows, walls, ceilings, or other surfaces as soon as possible. Clean kitchens and bathrooms regularly.
  5. Following these simple steps will dramatically reduce the likelihood of mold and mildew problems in a student’s housing and will allow the College to respond promptly should a problem develop. If students have any questions regarding this information, please contact the Residence Life reslife@ringling.edu.

Lockout Policy

Students are responsible for carrying their own keys at all times. In the event of a lockout, please contact:

  • Office of Residence Life 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.
  • Resident Assistant on duty 7:00p.m. - 12a.m.
  • Office of Public Safety 4:30p.m. – 8:30a.m. and all Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Students must present their valid Student ID when requesting to be let into their room. Every lockout will be logged. On the second occurrence, the student will be charged $10 to be let in and $10 each time after that.

 

Lofting of Beds

Lofting of beds is not permitted.

 

On-Campus Residence Street Addresses

To order services or in the case of an emergency, the following street addresses must be used:

Ulla Searing Student Center*

1130 Greensboro Lane Sarasota, FL 34234

Ann & Alfred Goldstein Hall*

2745 Old Bradenton Road Sarasota, FL 34234

Bayou Village Apartments*

2736 Old Bradenton Road

Building______ Apt. #______

Sarasota, FL 34234

Old Bradenton Road Apartments*

2919 Old Bradenton Road Apt. #

Sarasota, FL 34234

Keating Hall*

2621 Old Bradenton Road Room #

Sarasota, FL 34234

Greensboro Hall

1130 Greensboro Lane Room # 

Sarasota, FL 34234

Roy & Susan Palmer Quadrangle*
2405, 2409, or 2415 Old Bradenton Road Apt. #
Sarasota, FL 34234

Family Housing*

2390 Old Bradenton Road Apt. #

Sarasota, FL 34234

Cove*
2210 N. Tamiami Trail Apt. #
Sarasota, FL 34234

Bridge Apartments*

2715 S. Riverside Drive Apt. #

Sarasota, FL 34234

*These addresses are to be used for service delivery to each specific unit (pizza delivery, cable hook-up, etc.). THESE ARE NOT MAILING ADDRESSES. Students living Ulla Searing Student Center use 1130 Greensboro Lane for both street and mailing address.

Parking

All students who bring a vehicle to campus are required to register it with the Office of Public Safety. Parking on Ringling College property requires a valid parking permit, and vehicles must be parked only in designated parking areas.

Pets

Pets and unauthorized animals are prohibited in all residence halls and campus housing facilities. Service animals and approved Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are permitted in accordance with applicable laws and institutional disability accommodation procedures.

Unauthorized animals found in campus housing may result in conduct action and/or a $100 fine assessed at the time of discovery. An additional $25 daily fine may be assessed for each day the unauthorized animal remains in the residence hall room or unit. Students may also be responsible for any costs associated with damages, cleaning, or repairs resulting from the unauthorized animal.

Violations of the College’s pet policy may be considered as part of the review process for current or future requests to have an assistance animal in campus housing. Students are expected to follow all College policies while an accommodation request is being reviewed and after an accommodation has been approved.

Quiet Hours

Consideration of others and mutual respect are among the most important ingredients for successful residence hall living. Noise levels which negatively affect study, sleep, or other activities will not be tolerated regardless of the time of day. It is the responsibility of all residents to be considerate of fellow students living in close quarters so that an environment conducive to academic success and personal happiness is maintained.

Minimum Quiet Hours have been established between 11:00 PM – 10:00 AM Sunday – Thursday, and 12:00 AM – 10:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. Consideration Hours are in effect during the periods not designated as Quiet Hours. In conjunction with the residence hall staff, resident groups may decide to impose more restrictive Quiet Hours as the need/interest arises. 24-hour Quiet Hours are in effect during final exam periods.

Musical instruments (electric guitars, drums, etc.) are not to be played in residence hall rooms at any time.

Speakers are not to be placed in and played through open windows. After notification from the Office of Residence Life, repeat offenders may have their housing privileges revoked immediately for further violation of the noise policy.

Meal Plans

Students living in designated campus housing are required to select a meal plan based on their assigned residential area. Meal plans provide students with weekly meal swipes and, depending on the selected plan, Dining Dollars and meal exchange options. Meal plan changes are only permitted through the completion of the drop/add week at the beginning of the semester. Additional details about the Meal Plans can be found in Campus Dining.

Room Assignment

Attempts are made to honor mutual roommate requests and hall preferences; however, in accordance with the residence hall housing terms, housing staff reserve the right to change room assignments when necessary. Students have opportunities to select their roommate groups and rooms, based on availability through the online housing system.

Room Consolidation

All residential spaces are assigned based on their designated occupancy. Residence Life does not offer shared-occupancy spaces as single occupancy spaces or provide room buyout options.

When a vacancy occurs, Residence Life may assign a resident to the available space or reassign existing residents as needed based on housing needs, available inventory, operational needs, and approved housing accommodations.

Room Changes / Room Freeze

At Ringling College, part of the College’s educational mission is to assist students in developing the skills necessary to build positive and healthy relationships with others. Students experiencing challenges with a roommate or living assignment are expected to make a good-faith effort to communicate and work toward a resolution.

Resident Assistants (RAs) are trained to support students through roommate concerns, facilitate conversations, and assist with conflict resolution. Students experiencing roommate difficulties should begin by connecting with their RA for support and guidance.

Room changes require prior written approval from the Office of Residence Life and are not guaranteed. Students must complete the roommate conflict resolution process, including a Roommate Agreement when applicable, before a room change request will be considered.

A room freeze period will be in effect during the first two weeks of each semester to provide students an opportunity to adjust to living with their roommates and establish shared expectations. Exceptional circumstances arising during the room freeze period will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by professional staff in Residence Life.

Students may be assigned to a different room as the result of a conduct sanction, administrative action, housing accommodation, or operational need.

Room Decorations

Students are encouraged to personalize their living space and make their room feel like home while living on campus. However, students may not alter, modify, or damage their room, suite, apartment, or any College-owned property. This includes, but is not limited to, painting, removing or replacing College furniture, removing carpet or flooring, installing window air-conditioning units, ceiling fans, dimmer switches, door locks, video cameras, video doorbells, or other security, surveillance, or access-control devices.

Students are responsible for using approved methods when decorating their space. Adhesive products that may damage walls, doors, or other College property, including Command Strip-style products, are not permitted. Students should use non-damaging alternatives, such as sticky tack, for hanging permitted decorations. Any damage resulting from room modifications or decorations may result in charges to the responsible student(s).

Room Entry and Inspection The College reserves the right to enter student rooms, suites, apartments, and other campus housing spaces for reasons including, but not limited to:

  • Maintenance, repairs, or facility inspections;
  • Health and safety inspections;
  • Residence hall opening, closing, or vacation procedures;
  • Responding to emergencies or situations where the health or safety of a resident or others may be at risk;
  • Investigating suspected violations of College policy or applicable law;
  • Addressing behavior or conditions that require immediate staff intervention.

The College also reserves the right to search a residential space when there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of College policy or applicable law has occurred.

Any prohibited or illegal items discovered during an entry, inspection, or search may be confiscated or impounded by College staff. Such items may be retained as evidence, turned over to the Office of Public Safety or law enforcement when appropriate, or otherwise disposed of in accordance with College policy and applicable law. Unauthorized animals found in campus housing will be handled in accordance with the College's pet policy.

If violations of College policy are identified, the student(s) may be subject to disciplinary action through the student conduct process.

Room Repairs

If repairs or maintenance are needed, students should submit a work order through the College's online maintenance request system, Asset Essentials. Students should not attempt to repair or modify College property. Maintenance concerns and damages should be reported promptly to help prevent minor issues from becoming more significant and costly repairs.

Signs and Displays

Windows, balconies, patios, porches, exterior doors, and other exterior areas of College housing are visible to the campus and surrounding community. To maintain the appearance of College housing and promote a welcoming residential environment, students may not display, hang, affix, or place signs, posters, flags, banners, wall hangings, decorations, lighting, or other items in exterior-facing windows or on the exterior of any College residence, including balconies, patios, porches, exterior doors, railings, fences, or other outdoor areas.

Exterior-facing windows and outdoor areas may not be used for advertising, messaging, decoration, or storage.

The Office of Residence Life reserves the right to require the removal of any display or item that violates this policy, creates a safety concern, damages College property, or otherwise interferes with the operation of the residential community.

Housing for Next Academic Year

During the Spring semester, all enrolled students will be notified through their campus e-mail account of the dates and procedures for reserving space in campus housing for the following academic year.

Visitation Policy

All guests in housing must be escorted by the resident. Overnight guests need to be registered and approved at the Housing and Residence Life Office on eRezLife. Overnight guests may not stay more than three nights.

Guests are not permitted during times when the College is deemed not in session, such as Fall Workshop Week, extended holidays, winter and spring breaks, and summer.

The student host must accompany their guest to all areas on campus. Guests are not permitted to remain in any residence in the absence of their host.

Residents are responsible for all actions of their guest.

Withdrawing from the College

Students who voluntarily withdraw from the College or are academically withdrawn or dismissed before the end of the semester must complete the residence hall checkout process with a professional Residence Life staff member.

Students must vacate campus housing within 24 hours of the effective date of withdrawal or notification of dismissal, unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Office of Residence Life.