The Essentials

• Residence Community Living Standards – NOTL
• Residence Community Living Standards – Welland

Residence Security

The Residence offers great security from the moment you pass through the controlled main entrance until you slide your card into your suite door to let yourself in. We believe the safety and security of our students and staff are paramount. To that end, we require that all visitors in the building be registered before entry and provide a valid piece of photo identification. All of the common areas are monitored through CCTV and we have staff on duty 24 hours a day.

Safety and security is also the responsibility of every resident. All the safeguards and rules put in place by the Residence management and the Institution are for your safety and protection. Circumventing rules by lending key cards or letting in visitors without permission can only lead to problems. Lock your suite door at all times and do not leave your valuables unattended as neither the Residence nor the Institution is responsible for missing items. Do not leave your suite door open at any time. This would include having your door “propped open”.

Fire

If there is a fire in your suite:

1. Advise all-suite occupants to leave
2. Close all doors behind you
3. Pull the fire alarm on your floor and yell “FIRE”
4. Leave the building using the nearest stairwell
5. Contact the fire department
6. Meet the firefighters at the front entrance and tell them where the fire is located

If you Hear the Fire Alarm:

Check the door to your suite. If smoke is entering from around the door, do not open it. Protect yourself from smoke inside your suite as described under the Alarms/Smoke Detectors section. If there is no smoke, brace yourself, and open the door a little. If you see smoke or feel heat, close the door quickly and protect yourself. If the corridor is clear, take your keycard, close your door behind you and leave the building using the nearest exit.

DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR!

Check the nearest stairwell door for heat and smoke, if not hot to touch, open the door carefully, and use the stairwell to leave the building. If there is smoke or the door is hot, do not enter. Close the door and try other stairways. If there are no other stairways, return to your suite and protect yourself from the smoke. Never go to the roof. Smoke usually rises to the top of the stairway. Doors leading to the roof are locked and you could be trapped. Remember, if there is smoke stay low and crawl under it.

If you Remain in Your Suite:

You must protect yourself from smoke by staying low. Stay in your suite until you are rescued or until you are told to leave. This may take time. Do not try to leave your suite a long time after the alarm has sounded because there is greater the risk that heavy smoke has spread into the hallways. To keep smoke from entering your suite, use duct tape to seal the cracks around the door, air vents and ducts, and place wet towels at the bottom. If smoke enters your suite, phone the fire department and tell them where you are. If there is no smoke coming in from outside, open the window for fresh air. Show your rescuers where you are by hanging a sheet from the window.

DO NOT RETURN UNTIL IT IS DECLARED SAFE DO TO SO BY A FIRE OFFICIAL.

Residents With Disabilities

For residents with mobility impairments, please contact the Residence management upon move-in to discuss evacuation procedures.

Alarms/Smoke Detectors

Residence suites are equipped with two types of fire alarms, both an audible smoke detector and a heat detector. The smoke detector is activated by minor smoke within the suite. Once the smoke detector has been triggered, only the alarm within the suite will be activated. Do not open the door to the hallway. Open your windows and turn on the bathroom fan to clear the smoke from the room. If the smoke is serious, exit the room and inform the Front Desk. The heat detector is set off by excessive heat within the suite. Once the heat detector has been triggered, it will set off the main building alarm.

The Residence hallways are equipped with a smoke detector/heat sensor. Minor smoke or excessive heat will activate the building alarm. Everyone must evacuate the Residence immediately. If someone activates the building alarm; under the Provincial Fire Code, a fine could be applied.

The Fire Department has a zero-tolerance regarding smoke alarms that are tampered with. Please note the Residence staff will be testing the smoke detector bi-weekly in your suite. Testing the smoke detector ensures that it has not been intentionally disabled. Any occurrence could result in disciplinary sanctions from Management and/or a charge under the Fire Protection and Preventions Act with a maximum fine of $25,000.00.

The Residence is a “designated Residence” for property tax and rent purposes, meaning that Residence fees cannot be claimed on income tax returns. The only claim that is allowed is $25.00 for the year (with no receipt necessary), as directed by the Ontario government: 5006-TG, T1 General 2012 – ON-BEN Application for the 2017 Ontario Trillium Benefit and the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant. For this reason, the Residence does not issue tax receipts for Residence fees.

You can print a copy of your account statement by logging into your My Housing Portal and clicking on the “Accounts” tab. Residence Front Desk staff can also print this statement for you.

Moving into Residence is an exciting time for everyone, and there are many different people to meet! The most important person you are going to meet will be your roommate. In most cases, you will not have met your roommate before this day! You will have many questions about who they are, what they are about, how they spend their time, and will you get along for the next eight (8) months? Many residents come to college with great expectations about their roommates. Hopefully, these impressions will be true, but stress levels tend to increase during certain times of the year (e.g. Exams, Holidays, etc.). It is important to be aware and appreciate these stressful times as you and your roommate may experience some rough spots. It is very important that you communicate about things early so you can begin to understand each other.

Communication Tips

Communication is key to any relationship and it is no different when getting to know your roommate. Remember that communication is an ongoing process and that leaving those “small” things alone will eventually catch up with you. Make sure you discuss the challenges as they arise and deal with them maturely and responsibly. Remember it is up to you on how much you wish to share and how you choose to share it. A common rule of thumb is being upfront and honest and letting your roommate know what you are about and what limits you have. It is important to know your roommate and develop trust with them.

Things to Remember

1. Keep communication open and be honest about how you feel and what you are thinking
2. Be willing to make compromises
3. Give your roommate the respect, consideration, and understanding you want in return
4. Discuss problems as they arise with your roommate and not others.
5. If things change, be sure to let your roommate know. It is normal for your ideas, feelings, and even habits to change throughout the year. Situations change too!
6. If you run into challenges speak to your Resident Advisor – they are there to help
7. Ask your RA for help if you need it.

Roommate Conflict

If you have problems with your roommate we recommend that you speak to your RA, they may be able to help mediate the conflict. If this step is unsuccessful please feel free to come to the Residence Life Office and speak with your Residence Life Coordinator. Roommate changes are the last step in the roommate conflict mediation process and are subject to the availability of rooms. Roommate changes are put on hold for the month of September.

Click here for our Tips for Parents & Guarantors page.

Please visit our Sustainability Page

Please see our COVID-19 FAQ’s as our guests and visitor services have been affected by COVID-19 (click here to be redirected).

All students are expected to leave the residence 24 hours after their final exam/project OR by 11 am on the last Saturday of the semester, whichever comes first. Specific move out dates and instructions will be communicated to residents well in advance of the residents move out days.

Students that require accommodations past the last Saturday of the semester and would like to request an extended stay must complete a Move Out Late Form, available at the residence front desk. Please be advised that all requests are not guaranteed and must be approved by Management and are subject to an additional fee.

After Move Out, all suites will be inspected for damages and cleanliness before the security deposit in the student’s account is returned to them. Please see the Move-Out Checklist for details on how to ensure your full deposit is returned.

If a resident re-applies for residence before Move Out day, their security deposit will transfer to the following term and another deposit is not required. If the deposit needs to be replenished due to damage or cleanliness charges after leaving their old suite, the student will be notified.

If a resident is not planning to return to residence, their security deposit, less any charges for damages, will be returned to their home address in the form of a cheque address to the student within 6-8 weeks of their move out date.

Being part of the Residence Life Team can be a positive life-changing experience. Skills and experiences gained from various positions will prepare student leaders for their future careers. Getting involved lets you make your living experience your own and help others get more from their residence experience too! Whether you become an RA, a member of Residence Council, do room tours, or just take part in Residence Life events, these opportunities allow students to connect with their community, enrich their post-secondary experiences, make friends and network. 

Residence Council

Residence Council is an elected group of residents who advocate on behalf of the Residence community. Residence Council members contribute to the community through programming, participating as committee members, and through meetings with the students. Residence Council consists of the elected executive members; vice president and president and general representatives; all students are welcome to apply to be a Residence Council member.

Tour Rooms

Becoming a tour room ambassador is simple! This in-house opportunity allows enthusiastic residents who love their residence space a chance to showcase their living space to potential future students. Residents who apply to become a tour room are given the chance to share their anecdotal experiences, enjoy increased housekeeping, suspended lockout key charges, and are encouraged to add this opportunity to their resumes.

Visit our Become a Member of our Team section TODAY!

• Appeal Request Form – NOTL
• Appeal Request Form – Welland

Acknowledgement of Policies & Procedures Form (PDF download)

Bed Bug Proactive Monitoring Program – Acknowledgement Form (PDF download)

Residents can apply at the front desk to stay during the Winter Break. You must submit your application prior to December 1st, 2021 if you plan on staying for either part of or the entire break. There is an additional charge of $300.00 to stay over during this time. The Residence will re-open on January 8th, 2022.

WINTER BREAK – Academic Year 2021/2022

Start: December 18, 2021
End: January 8, 2022
Winter Break Fee: $300.00 (double occupancy suite)

Students must complete and submit a WINTER BREAK EXTENSION FORM (click here for PDF download) and return to front desk.