Resident Handbook
Academic Year 2023–2024
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 2
Table of Contents
Welcome to CU Denver Housing & Dining .............................................................................. 5
• Mission .......................................................................................................................................... 5
• Vision ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Lynx Community Living ............................................................................................................................. 6
• Philosophy ..................................................................................................................................... 6
• Lynx Living Outcomes .................................................................................................................... 6
• Living With Others......................................................................................................................... 6
Navigating Your On-Campus Home .......................................................................................................... 8
• What’s In Your Room/Suite .......................................................................................................... 8
• Other Spaces in the Residence Hall .............................................................................................. 9
• Front Desk ................................................................................................................................... 10
• Laundry Services ......................................................................................................................... 12
• Lynx Dining .................................................................................................................................. 12
• Meal Plans ................................................................................................................................... 14
• Parking ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Navigating Your Contract ........................................................................................................................ 17
• Top 5 Contract Items to Note ..................................................................................................... 17
• Important Dates for Your Calendar ............................................................................................. 19
General Housing & Dining Procedures .................................................................................................... 20
• Move-In & Move-Out Procedures ............................................................................................... 20
• Communication ........................................................................................................................... 21
• Confiscated Items........................................................................................................................ 22
• Damages & Related Charges ....................................................................................................... 22
• Inspections & Entry into Room ................................................................................................... 22
• Residence Hall, Suite, & Room Access ........................................................................................ 23
• Roommate Agreements .............................................................................................................. 24
• Room Changes ............................................................................................................................ 24
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Policies & Procedures ............................................................................................................................. 26
• Access, Keys, & Locks .................................................................................................................. 26
• Alcohol ........................................................................................................................................ 27
• Appliances ................................................................................................................................... 28
• Assault, Abuse, & Harassment .................................................................................................... 28
• Animals in the Residence Halls ................................................................................................... 28
• Bicycles, Hover Boards & Skateboards ....................................................................................... 30
• Commercial Ventures, Gambling, & Solicitation ......................................................................... 30
• Compliance with Personnel ........................................................................................................ 30
• Disruptive Behavior ..................................................................................................................... 31
• Elevators ..................................................................................................................................... 31
• Fire & Life Safety ......................................................................................................................... 31
• Guests ......................................................................................................................................... 32
• Hammocks ................................................................................................................................... 34
• Health, Cleanliness, & Trash Removal ......................................................................................... 34
• Identification & Visible Badging .................................................................................................. 35
• Marijuana & Other Drugs ............................................................................................................ 35
• Noise & Quiet Hours ................................................................................................................... 36
• Personal Responsibility ............................................................................................................... 37
• Prohibited Items .......................................................................................................................... 38
• Public Posting .............................................................................................................................. 38
• Responsibility to Assigned Suite/Room ...................................................................................... 39
• Responsibility to Common Areas ................................................................................................ 40
• Responsibility to Report .............................................................................................................. 41
• Smoking ....................................................................................................................................... 41
• Sports & Physical Activities ......................................................................................................... 41
• Vandalism .................................................................................................................................... 42
• Weapons ..................................................................................................................................... 42
• Windows ..................................................................................................................................... 42
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 4
Safety & Emergency Procedures ............................................................................................................. 43
• Fire Log Access ............................................................................................................................ 43
• Evacuation ................................................................................................................................... 43
• Missing Persons........................................................................................................................... 44
• Personal Property Insurance ....................................................................................................... 44
• Personal Safety ............................................................................................................................ 45
• Preventing Auto Crime ................................................................................................................ 46
• Security Cameras ........................................................................................................................ 47
• Tornados ..................................................................................................................................... 47
• Winter Storm .............................................................................................................................. 47
Paying for Housing & Dining ................................................................................................................... 48
• University of Colorado Denver & Metropolitan State University of Denver .............................. 48
• Community College of Denver .................................................................................................... 49
• Early Contract Termination ......................................................................................................... 49
Appendix A: Charge Sheets ..................................................................................................................... 50
Appendix B: Room Change FAQ .............................................................................................................. 52
5 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Welcome to CU Denver Housing & Dining
CU Denver Housing & Dining is dedicated to serving students attending all institutions on
the Auraria Campus. CU Denver Housing & Dining currently offers two on-campus living
options: City Heights Residence Hall (reserved for first-year CU Denver students) and
Lynx Crossing Residence Hall (reserved for all other residential students). In addition,
Housing & Dining runs four on-campus Lynx Dining options: City Heights Dining Hall, Eat
Food Market at Lynx Crossing, Einstein’s Bagels, and QDOBA.
By focusing on the holistic student experience, life through Housing & Dining enhances
each student's academic pursuits and develops students’ meaningful connections,
leadership development, cultural competency, and community responsibility. Living on-
campus allows students to participate in a wide variety of activities, programs, and living
learning initiatives designed enhance students’ personal development throughout their
college experience. The procedures, policies, and other information available in this
handbook serve to both describe how Housing & Dining staff intend to structure this
experience and introduce students to the expected behaviors in supporting holistic
development for themselves and all other students living on-campus.
CU Denver Housing & Dining is also committed to promoting a safe and secure on-
campus living environment. Student and professional staff are available or on-call 24
hours a day to respond to emergency situations, and our staff maintains active
partnerships with campus and local emergency services.
Housing & Dining staff believe in regular evaluation of administrative and programmatic
efforts. To that end, there may be changes throughout the year to the policies and
procedures listed in this Handbook. Any such changes will be at minimum communicated
with all students living on-campus via e-mail messages.
Mission
CU Denver Housing & Dining provides a home away from home where students
can be a part of a safe and inclusive community in an urban environment that
fosters student engagement, academic achievement, leadership, and personal
development.
Vision
To create an innovative housing experience that prepares students for their
academic and career endeavors while fostering social development.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 6
Lynx Community Living
Philosophy
The CU Denver Office of Housing & Dining (“Housing & Dining”) strives to provide
a home away from home where students can be a part of a safe and inclusive
community in an urban environment that fosters student engagement, academic
achievement, leadership, and personal development. Part of each student
resident’s developmental journey includes learning to live with others and
contribute to a community’s development. It is Housing & Dining’s belief that
residents have the capacity and desire to be self-directed and responsible
members of their community. Residents have the right to influence their community
and environment in ways that support their student experience, coupled with the
responsibility to keep the community and environment supportive of others.
Lynx Living Outcomes
As part of Student Affairs, Housing & Dining aims to work alongside many other
offices to create experiences where students develop meaningful connections,
leadership, intercultural competency & humility, life skills, and career readiness.
Lynx Living provides opportunities for residents to engage in connectedness,
community responsibility, cultural competency, and leadership development.
Living With Others
Living with others requires respect for others, communication, openness to
understanding, and patience. No matter how similar two residents may be, their life
experiences, values, identities, and personalities may provide differences in their
expectations of how individuals can or should live together. These include different
expectations of how people interact, show respect, and overall share living and
learning environments. These and other differences also contribute to the vibrant
diversity Housing & Dining hopes to promote in the Lynx Living experience.
Such differences can also create conflict, and Housing & Dining staff believe
working through such conflicts can serve to be a positive learning opportunity for
people living together. Not working through conflict both eliminates this
opportunity and can create a negative, even intolerable, atmosphere within the
hall. Residents and the attitude that they take in engaging with their roommates,
suitemates, and neighbors can determine whether the entire community’s experience
7 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
is positive or negative. Housing & Dining staff are committed to facilitating
communication between and among residents living together.
TIPS FOR POSITIVE COMMUNITY LIVING
• Treat your peers as equals.
o Seek to understand others’ perspectives to determine if what you
are doing (or not doing) is reasonable.
o Do not give orders, make unreasonable demands, or expect favors.
o Expect the best from your peers. Expect that others are willing and
able to work through conflict, as you hopefully expect of yourself.
• Respect others’ right to privacy. Do not pry into private affairs or expect to
share in their activities unless invited.
• Avoid trying to "reform" or correct your peers. Do not expect them to
conform to your standards or accept your beliefs. If you have any
concerns regarding the behavior of your roommate(s)/suitemate(s) or any
other resident, please reach out to your Resident Assistant (RA) or other
Housing & Dining staff.
• Work out mutually agreeable divisions of responsibility with
roommates/suitemates, writing an agreement when asked by your RA. Do
not wait for your roommate to take care of things for the space.
• Show respect to roommates, suitemates, and neighbors. Accept routine
inconvenience is common when sharing space, but make sure to
communicate respectfully with those that commonly cause those
inconveniences.
o If the inconveniences are significant, talk to the other person in a
timely and private manner, and not to anyone else. Speaking or
posting publicly, including on social media, does not show the other
person respect and will likely worsen the conflict. Consider their
feelings and how this behavior would make you feel. Do not
complain publicly or to others about neighbors or
roommates/suitemates who bother or annoy you.
o If you have a disagreement with a peer, talk about it as soon as
possible. Do not let your anger or frustration build up. Housing &
Dining staff, especially your RA, are available to support and
mediate if necessary, but are not able to solve your conflict for you.
• Proactively have discussions about and agree to others’ boundaries.
These can relate to items, space, privacy, relationships, academics, and
more.
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Navigating Your On-Campus Home
What’s In Your Room/Suite
• All residents’ bedrooms include one bed, one desk, one desk chair, one
closet or wardrobe, and 2-4 dresser drawers per bedspace in the room.
Single-occupancy rooms in Lynx Crossing have beds with full-size XL
mattresses, while double-occupancy rooms in Lynx Crossing and all
rooms in City Heights have beds with twin-size XL mattress.
• Lynx Crossing Studio suites come with a dinette set in addition to their
bedroom furniture; all other suites come with a sofa, chair, end table,
coffee table, dining table, and dining chairs. All Lynx Crossing Residence
Hall suites come with the following full-size kitchen appliances:
refrigerator, microwave, and sink. Residents living in certain Lynx
Crossing suites may also be provided a dishwasher, oven, and cooktop.
The upkeep and cleaning of all kitchen appliances is the responsibility of
all residents sharing the suite. All damage and/or improperly functioning
elements of any appliance owned by Housing & Dining should be reported
through a maintenance request, available through the housing portal.
• Residents living in City Heights are not provided any kitchen appliances
within their room. However, each resident has access to community
lounge spaces within City Heights that include microwaves on every other
floor. In Lynx Crossing, microwaves can be found in both common
kitchens and suite kitchens.
DISHWASHERS (LYNX CROSSING SUITES)
All single-occupancy suites in Lynx Crossing are equipped with a dishwasher. To
reduce maintenance problems, the following guidelines should be used: Scrub
dishes first, especially if it will be a few days before you run the load. Use only
dishwasher detergent. Be sure the product is advertised as an automatic
dishwasher detergent, not one for hand-washing dishes. Once a month, pour a cup
of distilled vinegar in the dishwasher and run it empty 2-3 times.
HEATING & COOLING UNITS
Efficiency of your heating & cooling unit is dependent upon complete air circulation.
It is important to keep all vents in every room open. In addition, please ensure that
return air vents are left unobstructed. Housing & Dining recommends that residents
9 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
keep the temperature of their room in between 70 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit with
the fan function set to “Auto”. To prolong the life of your heating and cooling unit,
do not run the heating/cooling fan while the windows are open, as this could
damage the furnace filter and HVAC system. If you wish to request a new furnace
filter, please submit a maintenance request by contacting the Front Desk or
through your resident portal. If unsure of how to operate your heating & cooling
unit, please ask your Resident Assistant or stop by the Front Desk.
SMOKE DETECTORS & FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Please note that the smoke detectors in your bedroom/suite are very sensitive.
When taking a shower, close the bathroom door to ensure the steam does not
affect the detector. When cooking, be sure to use the fan on your microwave; this
could also help prevent a grease fire. If your smoke detector makes a
beeping/chirping sound, it means the battery is low. Complete a maintenance
request as soon as possible to have the battery replaced. Any time a smoke
detector sounds an alarm, you should respond to it as an emergency and proceed
in a safe manner.
Fire extinguishers are intended for use in emergency situations only. In any event
that a fire extinguisher is discharged, it should be reported to Housing & Dining
staff so that a replacement extinguisher can be installed.
Other Spaces in the Residence Hall
Housing & Dining offers a variety of amenities for residents to use, including
access to free laundry services. Depending on the building, residents may also
access multipurpose rooms, common lounges and kitchens, game rooms, study
rooms, bathrooms, and a fitness center (Lynx Crossing residents only, closed for
renovations Fall 2023). The maintenance and care of these facilities is every
resident’s responsibility, and misuse of facilities may result in their closing.
Furniture and equipment located in all amenity spaces must stay in their
designated areas so that all residents may enjoy their use.
BATHROOMS
Lynx Crossing and City Heights each have two gender-specific bathrooms on the
first floor available to residents, staff, diners, and registered guests. City Heights
also has one all-gender, ADA-accessible bathroom. The bathrooms in City Heights
are in the dining hall and only available during dining hall hours.
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Bathrooms located in the residential wings of residence halls are only open to
residents, staff, and registered guests. Each residential floor in City Heights has 4-
6 all-gender bathrooms shared amongst all residents on the floor. Each bathroom
has communal sinks, mirrors, and paper towel dispensers along one wall and four
“rooms” with floor-to-ceiling doors along the opposite wall: 1 shower room, 1 toilet
room, 1 combined toilet/shower room, and 1 accessible & combined toilet/shower
room with a sink. No dying of hair, fabric or other materials is ever permitted in the
residential wing bathrooms due to the staining of surfaces.
Residential bathrooms in Lynx Crossing are located in the suites; consequently,
residents will discuss and determine how they and their guests share and use
these facilities in their Roommate Agreements.
Do not flush paper towels; they do not break down. Never flush hygiene products,
regardless of what the packaging states. Residents living in suites with their own
bathroom are required to plunge their own toilet prior to calling in maintenance
(plungers are not provided). Residents will be responsible for any toilet
damages/overflows that are the result of improperly disposed items.
LYNX CROSSING FITNESS CENTER (CLOSED FOR
RENOVATIONS FALL 2023)
Use of the Lynx Crossing Fitness Center is at residents’ own risk. Residents must
report maintenance problems to front desk staff immediately and not attempt to
repair equipment themselves. Anyone beginning an exercise program should
consult a physician prior to using the fitness center. For the safety of all residents,
residents must use the equipment provided in the fitness center in the manner for
which it is intended. Proper athletic attire including a shirt and shoes must be always
worn while in the fitness center. No food is allowed in the fitness center, and
beverages are limited to water only.
Front Desk
The Housing & Dining Operations Team oversees the Front Desk in each
residence hall. The most common staff at the Front Desk are student Desk
Assistants, who provide customer service to all who live in or visit the residence
halls. The Front Desk is open at published hours to provide the services below.
AMENTITY CHECK OUT & RESERVATION
Each front desk has a variety of items for residents to check out free of charge,
including, but not limited to, pool & ping pong equipment, board games, and
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cleaning supplies. All amenities should be returned in the time-frame allotted by
the Front Desk. All amenities are Housing & Dining property, and as such residents
may incur charges for not returning items or returning them in a condition different
than the condition in which they were given out.
MAIL
Mail and packages are processed by front desk staff daily. Packages will be
logged, and an email notification will be sent to residents when their package is
ready for pick up. If residents receive a perishable package, they may be contacted
by phone in addition to the package notification email. Residents must bring a
photo ID to sign for and receive packages. During high-volume times, mail pick-up
may be unavailable at the discretion of the Front Desk to allow for focused mail-
processing time.
Mail and packages are accepted by the Front Desk for current residents (checked
into a room on-campus) only. As soon as a resident moves-out of on-campus
housing, any mail will be Returned to Sender. Current Residents have 5 business
days to retrieve any mail or packages before it is Returned to Sender, with the
exception of food or potentially perishable items—perishable items will be
discarded 4 hours after delivery, and non-perishable food items will be discarded
after 48 hours. These policies enable Front Desk staff to keep the amount of mail
in the respective Mail Rooms manageable for the entire community.
All mail and packages must be mailed to the resident’s name on file—packages
mailed to nicknames or aliases will be Returned to Sender. If you want or need to
update your name in our system:
• CU Denver Students – Please visit this website:
https://www.ucdenver.edu/registrar/student-resources/identity
• Non-CU Denver Students – E-mail [email protected] to request
Residents’ must be addressed using the following format to ensure proper
reception and delivery:
Resident First & Last Name
Residence Hall [City Heights or Lynx Crossing]
318 Walnut St.
Denver, CO 80204
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LOST & FOUND
Lost and found items will be cataloged at each front desk. Residents who have lost
their personal belongings can provide a description of the item to their front desk
and the front desk staff will return the item to the resident if found. Housing & Dining
does not assume responsibility for any lost or stolen personal property—all
potential theft should be reported to Auraria Campus PD.
Laundry Services
Free laundry facilities are provided for resident use in each residence hall. In City
Heights, laundry facilities are located on the second, fourth, and sixth floor. In Lynx
Crossing, laundry facilities are located on the first floor in the southwest corner of
the building. Each resident must provide their own detergent, fabric softener and
dryer sheets.
Laundry facilities are checked by housekeeping staff every morning. Any laundry
left in the laundry room overnight and unattended will be removed, bagged, and
stored for 30 days. Any items left unclaimed after 30 days will be discarded. If you
think your laundry has been removed by staff, please see your residence hall’s
Front Desk for assistance.
All laundry appliances should only be used in the manner for which they were
intended (e.g., only filling the machine to the appropriate level as indicated on lid
of the machine if indicated). No dying of fabric or other materials is ever permitted
in the laundry machines. Residents found responsible for improperly using or
damaging a machine will be assessed a damage charge. Any malfunctioning laundry
appliances should be reported immediately through Maintenance Request.
Lynx Dining
Housing & Dining provides a variety of food options to meet the needs of our on-
campus students. First-year students living on-campus are required to have a meal
plan as part of their housing contract. Any non-first-year student is encouraged,
but not required, to have a meal plan to access our on-campus dining facilities at
an affordable rate. Additionally, non-residential CU Denver students, faculty, or
staff may choose from various meal plans to fit their needs. Hours of operation,
meal plan, Flex Cash, and Lynx Dining staff contact information can be found at
https://lynxdining.sodexomyway.com/
In addition to the procedures below, the following guidelines will also help promote
a courteous and welcoming atmosphere in the dining space:
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• All residents, guests, and other patrons must be fully dressed, including a
shirt and shoes, to enter.
• All residents, guests, and other patrons who utilize dining spaces should
refrain from using their cell phones while ordering or purchasing food and
should also be courteous with the audio levels on any electronic device.
• Meal plans are intended for the use of the resident who pays for the meal
plan; sharing of meal plans is not permitted. Meal plan holders may pay
for a guest with flex cash, credit card, or cash.
CITY HEIGHTS DINING HALL
City Heights Dining Hall is an all-you-care-to-eat facility; this means that diners pay
for entry using a “meal” on their meal plan or card/cash at the entry rate, then eat
what they care to while they are in the dining hall. Diners may only remove food
from the dining hall if they are utilizing an established carry-out program (see the
front register for more information). When dining at City Heights Dining Hall,
diners are required to clean up after themselves, which includes removing dishes
to the dish return area. Diners may not re-enter the dining hall once they have
exited without paying for another entry. No individual may enter the dining hall
without payment.
EAT FOOD MARKET @ LYNX CROSSING
The Eat Market @ Lynx Crossing is a retail location where diners may purchase
items with cash, credit card, and flex cash; the facility also offers meal swipe
exchange combos. This is not an all-you-care-to-eat facility, but does offer a
Starbucks coffee bar, a Natural! Smoothie/juice bar, deli, and rotating à la carte
food options. Eat Market @ Lynx Crossing offers both dine-in or carry-out options.
ADDITIONAL LYNX DINING FOOD OPTIONS
Lynx Dining oversees additional food options on campus that are open to the public
and accept payment through meal plan and Flex cash. These restaurants currently
include Qdoba Mexican Eats and Einstein Bros Bagels. See the Lynx Dining
website at https://lynxdining.sodexomyway.com/ for more information.
SWIPE OUT HUNGER PROGRAM & FOOD ASSISTANCE
If any student is experiencing food insecurity, they can request meal swipes to be
loaded to their ID card from Lynx Dining. Visit this site for information and the
Request Form: https://lynxdining.sodexomyway.com/explore/swipe_out_hunger
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In addition, visit this site for information on the Lynx Food Pantry and the CU
Denver Mobile Food Pantry: https://www.ucdenver.edu/wellness/services/basic-
needs/food-assistance
Meal Plans
Meal plans are loaded onto each individual resident’s CU Denver/school ID card.
ID cards can be obtained through the Auraria Campus ID Station located in the
Tivoli Student Union. ID cards must be in working order, have the swipe function
working, and have a clear student photo displayed for meal swipes to be utilized.
Damaged or lost ID cards must be obtained directly through the ID Station. The
Office of Housing & Dining will not be able to replace any ID cards.
Meal plans may only be used by the resident holding the meal plan. Residents may
not use their meal swipes to pay for guests to eat in any Lynx Dining location.
Residents may also not give their ID card to anyone else to use on their behalf.
Residents may swipe up to four meals per day and no more than twice in the same
meal period. Most meal plans have a weekly-swipe limit that resets every Sunday
at midnight. Unused meal swipes will be forfeited Sunday at midnight and will not
roll over to the following week. Residents may submit a request to Housing &
Dining at [email protected] to obtain a usage history and credit balance
report for their meal plan.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS (“FLEX CASH”)
Flexible spending accounts consist of flexible spending “dollars” or “flex cash,”
which residents can use like cash to purchase items in any Lynx Dining facility.
Like a debit card, each purchase made using flexible spending dollars is deducted
from the resident’s flexible spending account.
Flex dollars will roll from week to week and month to month. However, if there is
an unused credit or balance at the end of the contract, change in meal plan, or
time of move-out, these credits will be forfeited and not refunded to the resident.
Flex cash credits are uploaded on a monthly basis and meal swipes on a weekly
basis. Students may not spend more than their monthly flex deposit in a single day,
and exceptions to this policy will not be made during the Move-Out period in May.
MEAL PLAN DURATION
Meal plans are only active when Lynx Dining is open. Residents who cancel their
meal plan will lose all meals and flex cash balances at the time of the cancellation.
Residents who renew their housing contract and elect to buy a meal plan will start
15 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
their renewal contract with a new meal plan. Any unused meal swipes or flexible
spending dollars from their previous housing contract will not roll over to the
renewal or new housing contract.
MEAL PLAN CHANGES
Residents may request a change to their meal plan up to the semester census
date. Changes to any student’s housing contract, including those related to parking
and meal plans, will not be allowed after the census date for the term:
https://www.ucdenver.edu/student/calendars/academic
MEAL PLAN SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION
Resident meal card services may be suspended or terminated if a resident is in
default of their housing contract, has a delinquent account balance, fails to pay any
damages or property fines, violates any of the Housing & Dining Resident
Handbook policies, housing contract policies, Student Code of Conduct, or local,
city, state, or federal law. Services may be restored once CU Denver Housing &
Dining acknowledges the account/behavior change. Any meal swipes and/or
flexible spending dollars not used due to a meal plan suspension will not be
refunded and the meal plan swipes and/or flexible spending dollars will be forfeited.
Parking
Housing & Dining oversees a single parking lot adjacent to Lynx Crossing
Residence Hall, and parking is only reserved (on a limited basis) for residents who
have paid for parking. Housing & Dining parking permits only allow for parking in
the Lynx Crossing lot; they do not allow for parking at any other Auraria campus
parking lots or garages. Each resident with a permit is permitted to park one vehicle
at Lynx Crossing. Residents may not use their permit for any vehicle other than the
one registered and may not use their parking access to let visitors into the lot.
Only residents who have parking on their housing contract prior to the CU Denver
census date will be granted parking access. Changes to any student’s contract,
including those related to parking and meal plans, will not be allowed after the
census date for the term: https://www.ucdenver.edu/student/calendars/academic
REGISTRATION
All vehicles must be registered with Housing & Dining. Every vehicle will be
registered to a specific parking permit number. Residents who have paid for
parking access will receive one permit to be displayed on the bottom, left-hand
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 16
corner of the front windshield. This permit is only for the car belonging to the
resident. If a permit is missing or not clearly visible in the front windshield of the
vehicle, the vehicle could be subject to warning stickers and/or towing at the
owner’s expense. The deadline for displaying permits is the first day of classes
each semester. Residents will be charged a replacement fee for any lost, stolen, or
damaged parking permits.
In the event that your vehicle registration changes after the census date, you must
contact the Housing & Dining at hous[email protected] to make Housing staff
aware of any and all changes prior to parking the new or updated vehicle in the
Lynx Crossing parking lot. Failure to provide advanced notice may result in your
vehicle being ticketed and/or towed.
Vehicle covers are not permitted as they obscure staff’s ability to verify permits.
TOWING
Any vehicle parked in a Tow Zone, Loading Zone, Reserved/Renewal designated
space, or Handicapped space without an appropriate Handicapped decal will be
towed. All non-permitted vehicles parked on the property will also be towed.
GUEST PARKING
Guests are not permitted to park in the Lynx Crossing parking lot, but they may
park in surrounding parking lots and spaces, which require payment. There are a
limited number of guest parking spots on the east side of Lynx Crossing. Guests
parking in these spots are required to display a guest parking pass, checked out
from the Lynx Crossing front desk. City Heights does not have designated guest
parking. Please see the Auraria Higher Education Center Parking & Transportation
Services webpage for more information on visitor parking.
PARKING & ACCESS CONSIDERATIONS
Lynx Crossing Residence Hall is located in the heart of downtown Denver, in close
proximity to Mile High Stadium, Ball Arena, and other local attractions. Because of
its urban location, Lynx Crossing will experience increases in foot and vehicle
traffic during special event days occurring at these attractions (e.g., football game
days, concerts, etc.). While Housing & Dining works closely with campus and local
law enforcement to maintain the safety and security of the residence hall during
these event days, residents should be mindful of access restrictions that can occur
because of increased traffic, including delays in accessing or leaving the Lynx
Crossing parking lot. Residents should not allow any individual to enter the parking
lot for any reason, particularly on event days.
17 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Navigating Your Contract
Top 5 Contract Items to Note
YOU NEED TO STAY ENROLLED IN 6 OR MORE CREDITS
(
SECTION 3: ELIGIBILITY
)
Living on-campus is only available to Auraria Campus students enrolled in 6 or
more credits. We do regular registration checks with all schools to ensure that
students living on campus are meeting the credit requirement. Students who do
not or are unable to register due to holds will have their contract terminated, be
required to move out, and be charged fees per the contract. So, make sure you
are paying your student bill, and before you withdraw from any classes, don’t forget
to make sure you are still meeting this eligibility requirement if you intend to
continue living on-campus!
THE LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT IS FOR THE ENTIRE
ACADEMIC YEAR (
SECTION 4: LENGTH OF CONTRACT &
SECTION 18: TERMINATION
)
Your signing the contract means you agreed to pay all room & board fees for the
entire academic year. This means that even if you move-out, do not use your meal
plan, withdraw from classes, or choose not to live on campus, you are still
responsible for fulfilling the terms and payments associated with the contract
through the end of the contract. It also means you have a bed on-campus and (as
applicable) access to Lynx Dining locations for that whole time, as long as your
contract is active! If you are withdrawing from school or have a reason outside your
control that makes you unable to fulfil the contract, you must submit a petition to
have the contract terminated.
YOUR CONTRACT COVERS FALL & SPRING BREAKS, BUT
YOU NEED TO SIGN-UP FOR WINTER BREAK HOUSING
(
SECTION 8: BREAK PERIODS
)
All residence halls stay open during Fall Break and Spring Break – you can stay in
your room and come and go from the halls as usual during those times. If you want
to stay on-campus for Winter Break, though, you need to sign-up with Housing &
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2
3
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 18
Dining by December 1
st
, pay a Winter Break Fee, and—if you live in City Heights—
move to a space in Lynx Crossing at the end of the Fall and back to your City
Heights room before the start of Spring. Otherwise, students who do not sign-up
for Winter Housing will need to leave by the Saturday morning after final exams in
the Fall, and they may return the Friday morning before classes in the Spring. You
can leave any belongings you don’t need for the Winter Break!
YOUR CONTRACT IS FOR A SINGLE BEDSPACE, DEPENDING
ON AVAILABILITY (
SECTION 10: ASSIGNMENT OF
ACCOMMODATIONS
)
While we will always do our best to make sure you are living in a safe and
comfortable environment, we do not guarantee any specific room type, location, or
roommate. We will also do our best to keep you in the same room throughout the
academic year, but we cannot guarantee that and reserve the right to change your
room assignment. Finally, even if your roommate or suitemate moves out or never
moves in, that empty space needs to remain ready for any roommate or suitemate
at any time.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDITION OF YOUR
ASSIGNED SPACE, AND YOU MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR DAMAGES TO SHARED OR COMMON SPACES (
SECTION
17.I: RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE
)
When you move in, you will check your space’s condition against our inspection
and make comments with any additional issues you see. When you move out, we
will inspect again, and any additional damage or cleaning needed beyond the initial
inspection and your comments may result in additional fees. Also, as a member of
the community, we may charge you repair or cleaning fees for shared or common
spaces if we cannot determine individual responsibility.
These are just a few we want to remind you about! There are many other important
items to note in your Housing & Dining contract, and we encourage you to review it
(again) in full when you have a moment. Just search for it in your e-mail inbox or find it
in your Housing & Dining Resident Portal!
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19 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Important Dates for Your Calendar
WINTER BREAK SIGN-UP PERIOD
• November 1-November 30, 2023
• Students living in City Heights may sign-up to stay, but will acknowledge
that they will be moving to Lynx Crossing (if space is available) and will
lose all access to City Heights
• All approved Winter break residents will be subjected to a fee of $500.00
MOVE-OUT FOR STUDENTS NOT APPROVED TO STAY FOR
WINTER BREAK*
• Saturday, December 16, 2023, by 10:00am, or 48 hours after your last
exam; whichever should come first
• *Students do not have to remove all their belongings during this break but
should remove any personal items as they will not be allowed to return
without a fee regardless of the length.
HALLS RE-OPEN TO STUDENTS AFTER WINTER BREAK
• Friday, January 12, 2024, at 12:00pm (noon)
SPRING SEMESTER ENDS AND RESIDENCE HALLS CLOSE
• Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 10:00am or 24 hours after your last exam;
whichever comes first
• Students can request an extension/late checkout starting April 1, 2023
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 20
General Housing & Dining Procedures
Move-In & Move-Out Procedures
MOVE-IN
All residents must have their school ID physically on them when moving-in to their
assigned residence hall space. Upon moving into a space, residents’ school ID will
be coded to provide access to their main suite/bedroom door. Lynx Crossing
residents will also be issued a separate bedroom key upon moving into Lynx
Crossing. Residents will not be provided access to their suite/bedroom or issued
a bedroom key until they have checked in with a Housing & Dining staff member
and completed all necessary paperwork.
Each resident will also be provided access to an electronic Inventory Inspection on
the day they move in which details the condition of the suite/bedroom. Residents
are responsible for ensuring the Inventory Inspection accurately lists the condition
of their suite/bedroom, as this will protect the resident from being charged for any
damages which may have occurred before taking occupancy of the space.
Instructions for inputting comments and accepting or not accepting pre-inspected
conditions will be provided electronically upon move-in. Residents’ comments on
Inventory Inspections are due within two weeks of moving into a space; after this
point, Housing & Dining staff will assume that the resident agrees with staff’s
inspection of the spaces, and any changes will require time-stamped photo
evidence.
MOVE-OUT
All residents are expected to move out of their residence hall by the date and time
specified in their housing contract. Any resident who plans to move out prior to the
end of the housing contract, must contact the Residence Life Coordinator for their
residence hall to schedule a check-out appointment. Residents who move-out
before the end of the housing contract must also complete the online Petition to
Terminate form if requesting a cancellation of their remaining housing contract.
Completion of the petition form does not guarantee that a resident’s housing
contract will be cancelled; however, failure to complete the petition form will result
in full housing contract charges being applied to their student account, regardless
of if they continue living in on-campus housing. Any unused meal plan or Flex Cash
21 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
credit or balance will be forfeited at the time of move-out from on-campus housing,
whether or not the student’s contract has ended.
To properly check out of Housing & Dining, each resident must make a move-out
appointment with a Housing & Dining staff member. Prior to the appointment, an
email will be sent notifying a resident of all the steps involved in moving out,
including but not limited to moving out all personal items, returning the room/suite to
move-in condition, having their suite inspected, and turning in any keys.
Any resident who moves out without scheduling and/or attending a move-out
appointment with a Housing & Dining staff member per the provided instructions
may be assessed an improper checkout fee, in addition to any applicable missing
key and/or cleaning and damage charges.
Any resident who would like to extend their move-out date past the date specified
in their contract must receive written approval from the Associate Director of
Residence Life or designee. Typically, only residents who are graduating or have
a final exam on the last day of the contract will be provided with extension approval;
however, all extension requests received by the provided deadline will be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
WINTER BREAK HOUSING
City Heights Residence Hall is closed over the Winter Break period, and City
Heights residents will not be permitted to stay in City Heights over this break
period. City Heights residents DO NOT have to fully move-out of City Heights for
Winter Break. They will be provided information on how to prepare their room for
the break period, which includes unplugging all appliances, turning off all lights,
and packing any personal items needed for the break period. Any resident who
would like to live on campus for any portion or all of Winter Break must apply to
live on-campus for the break period and will be responsible for paying a Winter
Break fee. The application form will be sent later in the Fall semester. Any resident
approved to live on-campus for Winter Break will only have access to an assigned
space in Lynx Crossing Residence Hall for the entire break period.
Communication
The Office of Housing & Dining’s official forms of communication with students are
through the individual student’s assigned college or university e-mail address and
through individual residents’ mail folders at the Front Desk. It is each student’s
responsibility to check their school e-mail and resident mail regularly.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 22
Confiscated Items
Any items violating a Housing & Dining and/or University policy may be confiscated
by a member of the Housing & Dining staff. Any confiscated items, including drugs,
drug paraphernalia, alcohol, lit candles, and weapons, will not be returned to the
student at any time. All confiscated items will be disposed of by staff.
Damages & Related Charges
Residents
are responsible for the condition of suite and bedroom furnishings and will
be billed for all repair, replacement, moving, and/or additional cleaning costs. All
repairs needed within rooms and other areas must be performed by authorized
maintenance personnel. Residents will be charged for any damages or cleaning
issues for which they or their guests are responsible, including those in suite,
bedroom, and common/shared areas of the residence halls. If Housing & Dining
staff are unable to determine the individual(s) responsible for damage to common
areas or shared spaces within rooms or suites, staff may split the repair,
replacement, and/or cleaning charges between all residents of a room, suite, floor
or entire residence hall.
Any repair, replacement, moving, and/or cleaning costs related to an alleged policy
violation will not be incurred until the case has been adjudicated through an
institution’s student conduct process. If a resident is found responsible for violating
related policies, the charges will be assessed as a Restitution sanction.
All charges will be assessed to the residents’ student accounts. Any unpaid
charges may result in additional late fees, collection attempts, or termination of the
housing contract.
See Appendix A: Charges Sheets for more about specific charge amounts.
Inspections
&
Entry into Room
Housing & Dining Staff will perform bedroom/suite inspections for health and safety
conditions, preventative or requested maintenance, occupancy checks, or pest
control. When not requested by or pre-arranged with the resident(s), Housing &
Dining staff will communicate these inspections in advance via e-mail at minimum,
and they will knock on doors multiple times and verbally announce themselves
before entering any room. Inspections will occur as scheduled and announced,
whether residents are present or not. Residents present in the room/suite during
these inspections must comply with staff and allow entry into the unit.
23 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
In limited circumstances, Housing & Dining staff or other University officials may
key into a suite or bedroom at unscheduled times, with or without a resident
present. These circumstances include maintenance and safety checks as well as
cases when there is a potential risk to individuals or property.
In addition, if a resident has allegedly violated their housing contract regarding
proper cleanliness, guest privileges, drug violations, the pet policy, or other policies,
this serves as notice that Housing & Dining staff may re-inspect the room/suite as
necessary to ensure the alleged violation is no longer present.
Residence Hall, Suite, & Room
Access
All residents have electronic access to their assigned residence hall via their
school ID. Upon moving into on-campus housing, a resident’s school ID will be
coded with the appropriate access to their residence hall and other amenities.
Residents must have your school ID in hand prior to moving into the residence
halls. The school ID also functions as their meal plan card and provides access to
the parking lot at Lynx Crossing (if applicable). Residents of Lynx Crossing, except
residents living in studios, are also issued an individual bedroom key upon moving
into Lynx Crossing.
LOCKOUTS
If a resident is locked out of their suite or bedroom, they may go to their residence
hall’s front desk to regain access to their room; if the Front Desk is closed, they
can call the RA on Duty. Each resident will receive at least two (2) free lockouts per
semester. After the final free lockout, the resident will be charged an administrative
fee of $10.00 per additional lockout.
LOST KEYS/IDS
If a resident loses any key, they will be assessed the following replacement fee(s):
• Bedroom Key (Lynx Crossing residents only) - $150 (requires a full re-core
and re-cutting for all occupants of the bedroom). This charge will be billed
directly to the resident’s account by the Office of Housing & Dining.
• Lost ID cards must be replaced through the Auraria Campus ID Station,
located in the Tivoli Student Union, Tivoli Station Bookstore. Please visit
the ID Station website for more information about replacement ID costs.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 24
If a resident’s bedroom key is stolen, they should file a police report with AHEC
Police Department and bring a copy of the police report to the Front Desk. A
Housing & Dining staff member will work with them to request a replacement
bedroom key.
DAMAGED IDS
If a resident’s ID Card is damaged or not working, they must request a replacement
through the ID Station. No one should discard or destroy any ID card.
Roommate Agreements
We encourage all residents to set parameters and rules at the beginning of the year
with their roommate(s) and/or suitemate(s). This allows everyone to have a firm
understanding of everyone’s expectations in the room/suite and will ultimately lead
to an experience with a strong foundation. Each Resident Assistant (RA) will work
with every suite to establish a Roommate Agreement at the beginning of the year.
We require that each resident complete each section of the roommate agreement
and submit them to Housing & Dining. Should there be any future conflicts related
to the agreement’s terms, each roommate/suitemate will be able to refer to the
Roommate Agreement drafted at the beginning of the year and work with their RA
to amend as needed—this is a “living document” that develops as students
develop.
In addition to the Roommate Agreement, we encourage residents to utilize their RA
as a guide in navigating and solving roommate concerns. RAs are trained and
aware of how to mediate roommate concerns and conflict management.
Room Changes
Housing & Dining has several programs in place to intervene if you and your
roommate(s)/suitemate(s) are not getting along as well as you would like. The most
important step you can take is to discuss your concerns with your roommate(s)/
suitemate(s). Frequently, conflict occurs because one roommate assumes the
other should know that they are upset, but the roommate/suitemate does not
actually realize there is a problem. It is difficult to commit the time necessary to
work through the conflict, but the skills learned in the process will serve you for the
rest of your life. Take advantage of the situation to become more skilled at working
with others. If you do not feel you are able to handle the situation yourself, talk with
your Resident Assistant, who can help you to communicate with your
25 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
roommate/suitemate and hopefully reach a compromise. This may include
reviewing and revising your Roommate Agreement.
Moving to another room with new roommates/suitemates is a last resort and will
be treated as such. Each assignment change request is assessed on a case-by-
case basis. The possibility of an assignment change may not be feasible due to
space constraints so it should never be seen as a guarantee.
During the year, if you wish to move to another room, the first step is to contact the
Residence Life Coordinator who will assist. All room change must be approved by
the Associate Director of Residence Life (ADRL) or designee.
Please note the following guidelines about the room change request process:
• The room change request period will open after the first two weeks of
classes and end two weeks prior to the end of the semester.
• Room change requests are evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis
and are evaluated based on space and availability. If no space is
available, the resident will be placed on a waitlist.
• Room changes will not occur during University holidays.
• Evaluations of room change requests can take up to 5 business days.
• Making a request does not guarantee a change will occur.
• Room changes are specific to individual residents. Requests do not
include roommate(s)/suitemates(s).
• All approved room changes may be subject to an administrative fee of
$200 to cover the additional staff time involved in facilitating moves.
• Any unapproved room changes may result in a $200 administrative fee to
cover the additional staff time involved and may require that the
resident(s) move back into their originally assigned space.
• Residents who are approved to change rooms will rarely have a second
request considered unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Depending on availability, all residents may be offered an opportunity to change
rooms without incurring administrative fees during a pre-established week in early
October (“Milo Moves Week”). All room changes during Milo Moves Week must be
approved by the ADRL or designee. All room changes approved during Milo Moves
Week must be completed no later than the published deadline Milo Moves Week;
any occurring later may result in an assessment of the room change fees above.
Lynx Living Tip: See Appendix B: Room Change FAQ for more on the process.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 26
Policies & Procedures
While this entire Resident Handbook serves as notice of Housing & Dining policies and
procedures, the policies included below are meant to inform residents of the behavioral
expectations and responsibilities to maintain a safe & inclusive living-learning
environment for all residents and guests. These policies do not supersede any
expectations listed in any Code of Conduct of any institution on the Auraria Campus or
any directives issued by the AHEC or University of Colorado administration. For
additional student rights & responsibilities, please see each institution’s Code of
Conduct at the following links:
• University of Colorado Denver:
https://www.ucdenver.edu/student/wellness/student-conduct
• Community College of Denver:
https://www.ccd.edu/employees/departments/student-conduct-
support/office-student-conduct
• Metropolitan State University of Denver:
https://www.msudenver.edu/policy/student-code-of-conduct/
Access, Keys,
&
Locks
Residents must always keep their school ID and bedroom key with them.
Residents must use their individual ID to access areas and show their school ID
upon entry into the residence hall. This includes using their individual ID to access
the Lobby doors and Elevators, even if someone has opened these doors ahead
of or for them. Residents may not duplicate, distribute, or loan their bedroom key
or school ID to any individual, including other residents or guests. Loaning keys
and/or IDs to other residents and guests presents a serious safety concern.
Residents may not change locks or install additional locks, chains, or barriers on
any door. Upon completion or termination of the housing contract, all bedroom keys
must be returned to Housing & Dining. Failure to return keys will result in
replacement costs, paid by the resident.
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Only authorized staff may enter certain areas of the residence halls to maintain the
safety and privacy of all residents. This includes areas within and behind Front
27 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Desks, roofs, maintenance and housekeeping closets, mechanical rooms, storage
areas, and other designated areas of the residence halls.
Alcohol
In accordance with federal, state, and local laws, the use of alcohol by underage
students and the abuse of alcohol is not permitted in the residence halls. The legal
drinking age in Colorado is 21.
If the student is underage, this prohibition includes a student who knew, or
reasonably should have known, they were in the presence of alcoholic beverages,
or possessed, displayed, or was in the presence of alcohol containers or packages.
Manufacturing, distributing, or selling alcoholic beverages is not permitted. In
addition, playing games that require consumption of beverages (“drinking games”),
whether conducted with alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks (i.e., whether “beer pong”
or “water pong”), is prohibited in the residence halls.
ALCOHOL POLICY SPECIFIC TO RESIDENTS 21 AND OVER
Students of legal drinking age (21 years of age and older) are permitted to possess
and consume alcoholic beverages in their assigned space with the door closed
when no individuals under the age of 21 are present.
• It is illegal for anyone of legal drinking age to provide alcoholic beverages
to anyone under the age of 21.
o Residents of legal drinking age who live in suites with residents
under the age of 21 must ensure that their alcohol is not accessible
to their roommates or suitemates. This means storing all alcohol in
their assigned bedroom and, if sharing a bedroom with someone
under the age of 21, keeping alcohol in a secure fridge or cabinet.
o Alcohol-related conduct which infringes upon the rights of others,
such as restricting a resident under the age of 21 from their space
so that alcohol can be consumed per this policy, is prohibited.
• When residents of legal drinking age are transporting alcohol through the
hall, the containers may not be visible and must be closed.
• Alcoholic beverage possession and consumption are not permitted in any
areas of Housing & Dining property outside of bedrooms or suites.
ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
To promote healthy, legal consumption of alcohol, full or empty bulk dispensers
(kegs, taps, beer bongs, beer funnels, shot skis, etc..) and alcohol related
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 28
paraphernalia (beer pong tables, etc.) may not be brought into the residence halls,
regardless of resident’s age. In addition, collecting and/or displaying empty
alcohol containers or packaging is not permitted, regardless of resident’s age.
Appliances
Residents are permitted to bring mini fridges for their personal bedroom. Mini
fridges must be no larger than 3.3 cubic feet. Each resident is permitted to bring
their own mini fridge; however, due to space limitations, we strongly encourage
residents to coordinate with their roommate(s) regarding sharing one mini fridge.
Due to electrical and fire safety concerns, microwaves are not permitted in any
bedroom for any reason.
There are a number of additional appliances not permitted in the residence halls
due to the fire, electrical, or life safety concern they present; please see the
Prohibited Items policy for a list of these items. Other small appliances, such as
coffee pots, tea kettles, etc., may be brought into the residence hall as long as they
are UL-approved and have an automatic shut-off function.
Assault, Abuse,
&
Harassment
Physical, verbal, and other abusive behavior and threats of any kind toward
resident(s) or Housing & Dining staff are strictly prohibited. Displays of any abusive
behavior will result in a referral to the University conduct process and violations
may result in termination of the housing contract. Refer the University of Colorado
Denver’s Sexual Misconduct, Intimate Partner Abuse, and Stalking Policy and the
Student Code of Conduct for more information on prohibited behaviors that fall within
this category.
Animals in the Residence Halls
No pets or other animals may be brought into the residence halls. The only
exception is aquarium-bound fish (up to a 5-gallon capacity) that are capable of
living underwater 24 hours a day. Residents found to have any unapproved pet or
animal within the residence hall will be asked to remove the animal immediately.
Residents may not shelter stray animals. Residents are obligated to inform staff of
stray animals so action can be taken to protect the animal(s).
The “No Pet” policy within the residence halls does not apply to approved
emotional support animals or service animals, defined generally as “assistance
animals”. When an animal is necessary to provide a student an equal opportunity
29 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Lynx Living Tip: Approval for an emotional support animal or service animal must
be requested at least 14 business days before a resident brings an animal into
the residence halls. Any resident with an unapproved animal will be asked to
remove the animal immediately.
For more information on how to request approval for an emotional support animal
or notify Housing & Dining regarding a service animal’s occupancy, please contact
Housing & Dining at [email protected].
to use the residence halls and participate in the Lynx Living experience, service
animals welcome in the residence halls and emotional support animals must be
approved through a request for accommodations.
Residents with assistance animals are expected to care for the animal at all times
while residing in the residence halls.
• Residents are expected to maintain a clean and healthy living environment
for the animal as well as other residents in the building. Maintaining a
healthy environment includes cleaning up after the animal and its waste.
There are several designated outdoor relief spaces located across the
Auraria Campus. Residents living at Lynx Crossing may also access an
additional animal relief area located in the Lynx Crossing south parking lot.
If an assistance animal requires indoor relief space, the resident is
responsible for maintaining a clean relief space within their space.
• Assistance animals are not allowed to be unrestrained by a leash or cage
outside of the resident’s personal suite/bedroom space. Emotional support
animals are not permitted to be in any common area, including dining
service areas, with or without their resident, unless they are actively on
their way to or from the room. Service animals accompanying their
resident are permitted in all areas of the residence halls.
• All assistance animals traveling outside of the resident’s suite must be
kept on a leash.
• Assistance animals that display repeated disruptive behavior may result in
the resident being referred to the student conduct process or, in extreme
circumstances, the resident’s contract being terminated and/or the animal
being excluded from the residence halls.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 30
Bicycles, Hover Boards &
Skateboards
Following uniform fire code, bicycles should be stored only in designated areas.
Any bicycles parked and/or locked in any common areas, stairways, breezeways,
or in front of interior or exterior doorways will be removed at the owner’s expense.
Housing & Dining will not hold any bicycles after move-out. All remaining bicycles
will be disposed.
All bicycles must be registered each year with Auraria Campus Police Department
using the online registration form. Housing & Dining advises residents to provide
their own vandal proof bike lock and to always lock the bicycle frame and wheels
to the racks. Housing & Dining is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged
bicycles.
Bicycle riding, skateboarding, rollerblading, or use of any equipment with wheels
are prohibited within the buildings, suites and courtyard, and other common areas.
In addition, Housing & Dining prohibits the use, possession or storage of hover
boards, Segway’s, electric bicycles, electric scooters, and similar devices.
Commercial Ventures, Gambling,
&
Solicitation
The use of suites and bedrooms for commercial purposes (personal or corporate)
and participating in or encouraging door-to-door solicitation within the residence
halls is not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, canvassing and polling
for any purpose.
Gambling and running a business within the residence halls are also prohibited.
The internet connection provided as part of the housing contract may not be used
for any commercial or profit-making enterprise.
Compliance with Personnel
Per each institution’s Code of Conduct, all residents and their guests are expected
to follow the directions of all CU Denver and AHEC personnel, including student
staff, who are performing their duties.
31 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Disruptive Behavior
According to each institution’s Code of Conduct, residents may not interfere with,
obstruct, or disrupt a normal university activity. This includes, but is not limited to,
behavior that results in injury; damages property; and/or interferes with, obstructs,
or disrupts the free movement of any member of the residential community or their
guests. Many pranks may be considered disruptive behavior.
Elevators
If an elevator malfunctions, residents and guests must press the alarm and stay
inside until help arrives. Occupants must not attempt to pry open doors or climb
out. Residents will be charged the cost of labor and repair needed due to their
misuse of elevators. Residents will also be charged the cost to retrieve items
dropped down shafts.
Fire & Life Safety
Residents must evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds. Residents must
follow all posted fire and life safety policies, including evacuation routes and
occupancy limits, in addition to local fire codes. All fire and life safety equipment
must remain intact, installed, and functioning, without any modification or addition
(e.g., no items attached to or hanging from them). This includes fire extinguishers,
smoke detectors, sprinkler systems/pipes/heads, EXIT signs, and other equipment
that provides protection and safety to all building occupants.
Part of living in a community is reporting any equipment that is failing, being
tampered with, or has been destroyed. All residents are responsible for reporting
any vandalism, damage, or theft of fire & life safety equipment of which they should
have reasonably known the status.
Any student who allegedly tampers with, removes, or damages any fire/life safety
equipment will be referred to the student conduct process, and if found responsible
may be assigned a restitution sanction of $500. In addition, residents may be held
financially responsible for false fire alarms and/or evacuations caused by behavior
in violation of Housing & Dining polices, including but not limited to Smoking,
Room/Suite Decorations, and the Unapproved Items policies.
Modifications to, or changes in, electrical wiring are not permitted. No "splices,"
"octopuses" or modification devices of any kind may be used to add plugs in a room
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 32
Lynx Living Tip: Refer to the CU Denver Student Code of Conduct for additional
university policies on fire and life safety.
or suite. Only UL-approved, grounded power strips with circuit breakers may be
used; a maximum of two power strips may be used per resident.
There are several items not permitted in the residence halls due to the potential
fire hazard they present. Please see the Prohibited Items policy for more
information.
Guests
All residents are permitted to host guests in the residence hall. “Guests” are
defined as any individual who is not checked-in as a resident of the residence hall
and/or not assigned to the room or suite they are visiting. This includes, but is not
limited to, family members, residents of another residence hall, friends, other
Auraria campus students, etc. Guests are also defined as anyone that you allow
into the residence hall, even if you do not know them.
Residents may only host guests in their bedrooms/suites with the permission of all
roommates and suitemates. In turn, residents are expected to provide reasonable
permission to roommates/suitemates to host guests. Residents should continually
discuss comfort with guests and document these discussions in their Agreements.
Conflicts that arise from guests or guest-related issues will be addressed with
support from Residence Life staff.
Note that the safety and comfort of residents takes priority over the comfort or
desire of residents to host or guests to visit. The Office of Housing & Dining
reserves the right to exclude any non-resident from any residence hall to maintain
a safe and inclusive community. Residents will not be able to register any individual
who has been excluded from visiting the residence halls, and Housing & Dining
may not be able to provide notice or reasoning to protect individuals’ privacy.
GUEST REGISTRATION
• Guests can only be registered during Front Desk hours. If a resident
intends to host a guest outside of Front Desk hours, they must plan to visit
the Front Desk with their guest prior to the visit at a time when the Front
Desk is open.
• All residents must register and check-in their guest at their residence hall’s
Front Desk each day the guest visits, before or upon that guest’s arrival.
33 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
• Upon checking in, guests will receive a daily wristband for each day they
are at the residence hall. These wristbands indicate that the guest has
been checked in for that day only.
• Guests must have a valid photo ID to register as a guest.
GUEST EXPECTATIONS
• Guests’ daily wristbands must be worn and visible at all times.
• Guests must abide by Housing & Dining policies. Residents are
responsible for communicating these policies to guests.
• Residents are responsible for their guests and their actions while at the
residence hall, including any damage caused by guests.
• Guests must always be escorted and accompanied by their resident host
while in the residence hall.
• Guests not complying with policies or causing extended and/or severe
disturbances to the residential community may be excluded from Housing
& Dining property.
• Any resident wishing to host a guest under the age of 18 years must
receive written authorization from the Executive Director of Housing &
Dining or designee prior to the guest’s arrival at the residence hall.
OVERNIGHT GUESTS
• Any guest who is present in the residence hall at any time between
12:00am and 7:00am is considered an Overnight Guest.
o Because guests must be registered when the Front Desk is open,
and Front Desk hours to not cover these hours, residents must
register Overnight Guests prior to 12:00am the night of their visit.
o If a resident hosts an Overnight Guest past 7:00am the following
morning, they must re-register their guest for that next day at the
Front Desk in order to meet the policy above that residents register
guests each day they are visiting.
• Overnight Guests & Hosting in Rooms/Suites
o Residents may not host Overnight Guests in their room/suite during
the period between Move-In and the Monday of the second week of
classes each semester.
o Residents may not host Overnight Guests in their room/suite during
the period between the final Friday of classes and the conclusion of
Final Exams each semester.
o Outside of this timeframe, residents may host Overnight Guests in
their rooms/suites no more than three nights within any two-week
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 34
(fourteen-day) period of time. This limitation is per resident and not
per Overnight Guest.
o Just as with daytime guests, Overnight Guests must be agreed
upon by all roommates/suitemates.
o Overnight Guests must be at least 18 years of age or older, unless
otherwise approved by Executive Director of Housing & Dining or
designee prior to the guest’s arrival at the residence hall.
Hammocks
Hammocks are not permitted to be hung from any tree, post, or other outdoor
space in or around the residence halls unless otherwise indicated (there are posts
in the City Heights courtyard for this express purpose). This includes courtyard
spaces, parking lots, etc. Furthermore, hammocks should not be hung within the
interior of the building, including in any suite, bedroom, common space, etc.
Hammocks are intended for temporary use and must be removed immediately
after use.
Health, Cleanliness, & Trash
Removal
All suites, bedrooms, and common areas must be kept clean at all times, “Clean”
is defined as free from dirt, stains, contaminants, excessive clutter, debris, and
food waste. Any activities that violate any health code are prohibited. Residents
may not interfere with the safe and clean environment of others.
All suites, bedrooms, and common areas, including dining halls, eateries, etc.,
must remain free of noxious odors. A noxious odor is any aroma of such intensity
that it becomes apparent to others. Any odor can become noxious when it is too
strong. Some examples are perfume, trash, dirty laundry, or the smell of cigarette
smoke. When a noxious odor can be localized to a particular room, the assigned
resident may be required to meet with Housing & Dining and/or other University
staff to correct the odor.
If Housing & Dining believes that your room presents a health risk, you will be
notified by staff and you will be asked to clean your space. Housing & Dining Staff
will check on the progress of this clean up to ensure that it is complete, and your
space is maintained at an acceptable level of cleanliness.
Housing & Dining provides housekeeping for hallways, common areas, common
bathrooms, breezeways, and grounds. Residents are responsible for the cleaning
35 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
and upkeep of their bedroom/suite. For your convenience, there are trash and
recycling rooms located on each floor of the residence halls. If the trash room near
your bedroom/suite is full, please take your trash to another trash room or to the
dumpster(s). It is everyone's responsibility to keep the community clean and free
of trash. Do not leave trash on the stairwell or in the hallways. If trash is found in
inappropriate locations, you may be charged trash removal fees. Please make sure
all your trash is properly bagged and placed in appropriate trash and recycling
rooms. Courtyard trash bins are not intended for large quantities or bags of trash.
In addition to the trash and recycling rooms, recycling bins are located throughout
the residence halls. These recycle bins are equipped to handle paper, plastic, and
glass. We encourage you to help keep the environment clean by recycling what
you can and discarding the rest in the trash.
Identification & Visible Badging
All residents, guests and persons on the property are expected to carry
identification at all times. Residents and guests must carry a Auraria Campus ID
(i.e., CU Denver, MSU Denver, CCD) or guest wristband, respectively. Other
persons must carry a form of government-issued identification. All residents and
staff must have their campus ID visible on their person when not in their assigned
bedroom, suite, or office.
If a person is unable to produce identification, staff will document this and escort
them off the property. If a person refuses to leave the property, they will be deemed
as trespassing and will be reported to Auraria Campus PD.
Marijuana & Other Drugs
The use, possession, manufacturing, or sale of marijuana, including medical
marijuana or related paraphernalia, used or possessed under Colorado
Constitution Article 18, section 14, is strictly prohibited on campus, including in and
around the residence halls. The Colorado state constitutional amendment
authorizing individuals over the age of 21 to recreationally use marijuana
(“Amendment 64”) does not change this prohibition or authorize a student to use
marijuana on Housing & Dining property or the Auraria Campus. Federal law,
including the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, prohibits the presence or
use of drugs, including marijuana, on campus. Thus, marijuana use or possession,
even if in compliance with Amendment 64, is prohibited on campus. Violations of
this policy will result in a referral to the student’s college or university conduct
process, as well as possible termination of the housing contract.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 36
This prohibition includes a student who knew, or reasonably should have known,
they were in the presence of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia when
knowledge of the drugs and/or paraphernalia is reasonable.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Residents who possess a medical marijuana card will not be permitted to use or
have marijuana while living on-campus. Residents who fail to report and/or are
documented in the presence of medical marijuana are also in violation of this
policy. Violations will result in referral to the conduct process and possible
termination of the housing contract.
OTHER DRUGS
The use, possession, distribution or selling of any illegal (under federal or state)
drug is also strictly prohibited in the residence halls. This includes any drugs
decriminalized at the state level under the Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act
(SB23-290)—the use, possession, distribution or selling of hallucinogens,
including psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), is still prohibited on campus.
All illegal drugs and related paraphernalia (under federal or state law) found within
the residence halls will be confiscated and turned into Auraria Campus police. Any
and all drug paraphernalia that is confiscated will not be returned at any time.
This prohibition includes a student who knew, or reasonably should have known,
they were in the presence of drugs or drug paraphernalia when knowledge of the
drugs and/or paraphernalia is reasonable.
Noise & Quiet Hours
Residents must be aware of their noise level and demonstrate respect for others.
To promote community, the following hours are designated in residence halls:
COURTESY HOURS
Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residents should
always honor the request of the community regarding noise levels, even when it is
not during general quiet hours.
Lynx Living Tip: Refer to the Student Code of Conduct for a comprehensive
definition of prohibited drug-related behaviors.
37 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Residents experiencing disturbances due to noise should first try to talk
respectfully with the responsible resident(s) directly. If you do not get the desired
results, take the concern to Housing & Dining staff. Residents asked to reduce their
noise are expected to courteously reduce their volume. Through reciprocal
cooperation, all members of the community will be able to study, socialize, and sleep
successfully.
Shouting down hallways or between rooms is not permitted. Stereos or speakers
may not be played out of open windows, as they may disrupt other residents,
students, and campus community members.
GENERAL QUIET HOURS
Quiet Hours are in effect at the following times, starting in the evening of each day:
Sunday–Thursday: 10:00PM – 8:00AM
Friday – Saturday: Midnight – 8:00AM
During general quiet hours, noise should not be heard more than one room away
from its source. This includes noise from televisions, gaming consoles, stereos,
speakers, musical instruments, and other electronic equipment. Any equipment
that continually disturbs other residents of the room/suite or hall may be
confiscated from the responsible resident.
During quiet hours, residents and their guests are also expected to keep their
voices at a reasonable level such that conversation cannot be heard from the room
next door. Residents may be asked to reduce occupancy in certain lounges and
other common areas during this time to reduce noise levels.
If any noise from a room can be heard from a door next door or further away, it is
too loud.
EXAM WEEK QUIET HOURS
Quiet hours are enacted 24-hours a day during exam weeks, starting when
General Quiet Hours begin on the Friday prior to Final Exams each semester.
Personal Responsibility
Residents are responsible and accountable for their behavior and for the choices
they make as a member of the residence hall community. Residents may not
engage in any behaviors that are illegal or endanger themselves or others.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 38
Prohibited Items
The following items are prohibited in the residence halls for fire, electrical, and/or
life safety reasons:
• Alcohol & Drug-Related:
o Alcohol-related paraphernalia, real or simulated
o Bulk alcohol dispensers (kegs, taps, beer bongs, beer funnels, etc.)
o Empty alcohol containers used as decoration
o Marijuana, illicit drugs, and related paraphernalia
• Appliances:
o Air Fryers
o Deep fryers
o Grills
o Hot plates
o Microwaves (other than those provided by Housing)
o Portable or countertop dishwasher, washers, or dryers
o Portable or window-unit air conditioners
o Pressure cookers
o Radiators & space heaters
o Toasters & Toaster ovens
o Any item with an exposed heating coil/element
• Other Items & Materials:
o Ammunition
o Burning materials (e.g., incense, candles, sage, etc.)
o Combustible or highly flammable materials (e.g., gasoline, spray
paint, butane, kerosene, etc.)
o Explosives & fireworks
o Smoking devices (e.g., e-cigarettes, vaporizers, hookahs, etc.)
o Any item using an open flame (e.g., candles with wicks)
Any items restricted or prohibited by other policies should also be considered part
of this list. Housing & Dining staff may add to this list as the year progresses.
Residents will be informed of any additions at minimum via e-mail from the
Associate Director of Residence Life or designee.
Public Posting
All signs and posters in common areas must be pre-approved by the Residence
Life Coordinator prior to posting and must be displayed in designated posting areas.
39 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Responsibility to Assigned
Suite/Room
SUITE/ROOM ASSIGNMENT
Residents are assigned to their specific suite, room, and bedspace in the residence
hall. They may not enter any other room without being a permitted guest of that
room. Residents cannot refuse a new roommate or suitemate or tell a potential
roommate that they do not have a vacant space in their suite/room when in fact
one or more spaces are unoccupied.
In addition, residents may not occupy or modify furniture or decorate surfaces in
vacant bed spaces in their suite/room. All furniture and surfaces in vacant spaces
must remain open and undecorated for newly assigned residents to use at any time.
SUITE/ROOM DECORATIONS
Residents are encouraged to personalize their assigned space(s) bedroom/suite
to make it feel more like home. However, residents have the responsibility to
maintain the condition of their assigned space; the space must be in the same
condition at the resident’s move-out as it was at their move-in. The following
policies are meant to assist with this as well as promote safe decoration and
utilization of spaces for the entire residential community:
• All decorations must be temporary and not permanently alter or damage
walls, doors, windows, or furniture. Residents should not use materials
that cannot be readily removed from any surface.
• No items may be attached to the ceiling or to any smoke detectors, strobe
lights, or fire sprinkler heads.
• Materials affixed to the door must not cover the peephole.
• Covering an entire wall or door with flammable items is a fire hazard and
not permitted.
• Tape of any kind on the windows, carpet, or flooring is not permitted.
• Residents should avoid using any paints or dyes in their spaces that may
stain or discolor surfaces in their space. This includes using hair dye in
bathrooms. Residents may not paint or draw on any walls or furniture.
• While not prohibited, Command Strips, double-sided tape, putty, adhesive
light strips, and similar items can cause significant damage to surfaces
and should be used and removed with caution.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 40
Residents must remove all decorations from their assigned space at move-out,
including any items used to decorate walls or add lighting. Any damage or alteration
to ceilings, walls, floors, windows, or furniture will result in charges for cleaning,
repair, removal, and/or replacement.
Housing & Dining recommends that residents avoid material that a reasonable
person might find offensive. The posting of material that “attacks,” demeans or
otherwise exploits an individual or a group of individuals is not permitted.
Housing & Dining staff reserve the right to ask students to remove any decorations.
SUITE/ROOM FURNITURE
All suites/bedrooms are to remain furnished with the furniture provided upon check-
in. In other words, beds must remain on their frames and furniture on the floor (e.g.,
no beds on top of desks or dressers, no desks or dressers stacked or turned on
end). Furniture may be rearranged in your suite/bedroom as long as it is returned
to its original position prior to check-out. No self-bunking of beds or waterbeds are
permitted.
No construction, wall partitions, bed risers or any similar structures are
permitted. All existing furniture must remain intact in each room/suite and cannot
be deconstructed or removed.
Housing & Dining does not permit beds to be raised or lofted. All twin XL beds are
able to be moved up or down on their provided frame to provide a variety of height
and under-bed storage options. All twin XL beds can be raised to a maximum
height of 30 inches, with the top of the mattress sitting at 41 inches. Full XL bed
heights cannot be adjusted. Students may not attempt to loft beds themselves, as
injury can occur, and the bed may not be secure. This includes the use of lofting
kits, bed risers, or any other material to raise the bed frame off the floors.
Students
found lofting their bed or using materials to raise their beds will be asked to restore
the bed to its original height and may be charged for any labor costs if staff are
needed to assist with this.
Responsibility to Common Areas
COMMON AREAS DECORATIONS
Residents may not post in or decorate any common areas outside of their assigned
room or suite without permission from Housing & Dining staff. This is only permitted
when done as part of an advertised Residence Life engagement activity, during
which the Residence Life Coordinator will share explicit guidelines and a timeline
for permitted decorations.
41 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
COMMON AREA FURNITURE
All furniture in common areas must remain in their designated areas and not be
moved out of the area. Residents may not bring common area furniture into their
assigned rooms. When leaving a common area, residents must return furniture to
the arrangement it was in when they arrived. Any residents found responsible for
moving furniture may be charged for the labor to return the furniture.
LYNX DINING PROPERTY
All furnishings and non-plastic dining ware in Lynx Dining facilities, is the property
of Housing & Dining and must remain in the respective facility. This allows the
entire residential and campus community to fully utilize and enjoy Lynx Dining.
Specifically, plates, bowls, cups, utensils, and other items provided for patrons
dining within City Heights Dining Hall may not be taken out of the Dining Hall. In
addition, residents may only use one hard plastic to-go box (also known as “green
boxes”) at a time, and they must return one before being permitted to use another.
Responsibility to Report
If you are present in a room/suite, common space, or Housing & Dining function
where a policy violation is occurring, you are required to leave the room and/or
area immediately and to report the incident to Housing & Dining staff.
Smoking
Smoking is strictly prohibited in all suites/bedrooms, hallways, breezeways,
common rooms, and courtyards. Smoking is permitted in designated areas only. At
Lynx Crossing, residents are permitted to smoke at the smoking pavilion located
in the South parking lot. Hookahs, bongs, vapes, and any other smoking
paraphernalia are strictly prohibited on the property, even when they are not in use.
Sports & Physical Activities
Any physical sporting activity (including, but not limited to: ball- or puck-sports,
shooting sports & games with Nerf© & squirt guns, other water fights, frisbee,
darts, tag, etc.) is not permitted within the residence halls, including courtyards,
due to the potential for property damage, physical injury to participants and non-
participants, and disturbance to the residential community. Students found to be
participating may be liable for any injuries and damage.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 42
Vandalism
Vandalism, including but not limited to, damaging university property or property
belong to another is not permitted and a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
This includes intentional damage to elevators, white boards/bulletin boards,
common areas, door decorations, flyers, and fire and life safety equipment.
Residents found responsible of vandalism could face possible termination of the
housing contract.
Weapons
Firearms, ammunition, fireworks, explosives, highly flammable materials (including
spray paint), projectile devices, guns or knives, or any other weapon or material or
instrument which poses a risk of damage or injury is strictly prohibited on Housing
& Dining property. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct for “weapon” as defined by
the University of Colorado Board of Regents. This definition includes a harmless
instrument designed to look like a firearm, explosive, or dangerous weapon which is
used by or is in the possession of a person with the intent to cause fear in or assault
to another person.
Residents and guests are not permitted to carry handguns in the residence halls
regardless of their possession of a Concealed Handgun Permit. Residents and
guests may not possess or store any other types of firearms in the residence halls.
Firearms are defined as any gun, rifle, pistol, or handgun designed to fire bullets,
BBs, pellets, or shots (including paint balls or darts) regardless of the propellant
used. This includes ornamental rifles used for military or ROTC training. Auraria
Campus PD does offer an opportunity for short-term weapons storage. Questions
about this or suggestions for longer-term storage should be directed to
303.556.5000.
Windows
Window screens must be left intact and must not be removed, loosened, or
altered in any manner. No objects may be thrown or dropped from a window or
suites/common area opening. Window guards are installed on each window that
opens for the resident’s safety. All window guards must remain installed in
windows at all times. Removal of any window screen and/or window guards is
prohibited.
43 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Safety & Emergency Procedures
Fire Log Access
Housing & Dining maintains physical Fire Logs at the Front Desks of each
residence hall that are available to view upon request. In addition, and electronic
running log is available upon request by e-mailing [email protected]. Finally,
the public can access monthly University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Fire Alarm
Reports, kept by the Campus Fire Marshall, at
https://cuanschutz.edu/offices/facilities-management/services/fire-and-life-
safety/fire-alarm-reports/2023-reports
Evacuation
Fire pull stations and safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, are to be used
only in case of emergency. The activation of fire alarms should be taken seriously,
and residents shall proceed according to the instruction posted in and about the
property. Activating a fire alarm outside of an emergency situation will be
considered a criminal offense and the person or persons responsible may face
disciplinary action both criminally and in accordance with the CU Denver Student
Code of Conduct.
If there is a fire or an alarm is activated, evaluate your options:
• Evacuating should be your first priority. Before exiting your
suite/bedroom, feel the door with the back of your hand. If it is cool or at
room temperature, immediately and safely exit the suite/bedroom, close
the door, and proceed to your nearest fire stairwell or emergency exit to
evacuate. Leave your belongings behind and do not use the elevators
when evacuating. If smoke is present in the hallways, lie down and crawl
to your nearest fire stairwell; fresh air will be near the floor.
• If you evacuate your suite/bedroom and you realize you cannot make it
out of the building, seek refuge in your nearest fire stairwell. Wait in the
nearest fire stairwell to be rescued by the fire department.
• If a door is hot, don't open it; fill any cracks with wet towels if you have
access to a water source. If you live at Lynx Crossing, open your window,
pop out the screen, and hang a sheet out of it. If you live at City Heights,
place a towel or sign in the window. Doing so will signal your location and
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 44
need for help. From your suite, wait on the floor, near your window to be
rescued by the fire department.
• To avoid falling debris and to give the fire department personnel room to
operate, all residents should proceed away from the building and meet at
the designated rally points indicated by Housing & Dining staff. Once at a
designated rally point, notify a member of the Housing & Dining staff. Based
on information provided by the first department and/or emergency services,
Housing & Dining staff will indicate to residents when they are able to
reenter the residence hall. Do not re-enter the building without explicit
guidance to do so.
You are required by law to evacuate the buildings when the alarm sounds, unless
it is not possible physically. Failure to do so is not only dangerous and illegal, but it
also may result in criminal prosecution and the termination of your housing
contract. Additionally, failure to exit the property during a fire alarm or drill may
result in fines.
Missing Persons
Every on-campus resident will be required to provide confidential contact
information for an individual who will be contacted in the event that the resident is
reported missing. This confidential contact is not required to be a parent or
guardian if the resident is 18 years of age or older. If the resident is non-
emancipated and under the age of 18, parents or guardians will be called upon
determination that the resident is missing. Regardless of the student’s age, law
enforcement will be notified upon determination that the resident is missing. During
the housing contracting process, every student will be required to identify that
confidential contact in addition to a regular emergency contact.
Personal Property Insurance
Housing & Dining takes many precautionary measures in attempting to aid the
well-being of residents and to create the safest possible living environment. These
measures include strongly urging residents to keep their suite and bedroom locked
at all times and having an extensive preventive maintenance program designed to
detect and cure problem areas throughout the physical facility.
Housing & Dining is not liable for any losses or damage that may occur to your
personal property. As stated in the Housing & Dining Services Contract, Housing
& Dining does not assume any responsibility for the theft, destruction, or loss of
money, valuables, or other personal property belonging to or in the custody of the
45 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
residents, regardless of cause. This includes losses that occur in the resident's
room, storage room, laundry areas, public areas, or other areas of the residence
and dining hall.
Housing & Dining strongly recommends that residents obtain renter’s insurance
and/or personal property insurance for their valuables. If a resident is a dependent,
they may be covered under their guardian's insurance.
Personal Safety
Personal safety measures are just as important to your well-being as those
previously mentioned. As you navigate your student experience, there are steps
that can be taken to decrease your likelihood of being a victim. Living in a major
metropolitan area carries with it a responsibility to be aware of your surroundings
and take certain steps to ensure your safety. Below are some safety tips to keep
in mind while both on and off the property:
• Do not walk alone after dark. If you must travel across campus alone after
dark, you may opt to request a Safety Ride with Auraria Campus Police
Department. As long as an officer is available, Dispatch can arrange for
you to have a ride or escort to and from on-campus destinations. Just call
dispatch at 303-556-5000 or text dispatch at 720-593-8477.
• Your ID:
o Protect your ID Card – keep it secure, so no one else can use it to
access the building or your suite/room
o Keep your ID Card Accessible – you will need to use it frequently,
and campus policy is that it is visible when you are not in your room
o Tap your ID Card on all Lobby Readers – this will guarantee your
access stays up to date, and that access panel light turning green
is another way for staff to know you are a resident
o Report & Replace Lost ID Cards – if you lose your ID, please both
(1) report this to hall staff as soon as possible so that we turn off
your card’s access and (2) replace it with the Auraria ID Station &
bring your new ID to the Front Desk so we can get you the access
you need!
o Do not allow people through locked doors who you do not know
and who do not tap their own ID card
• Guests:
o Check-In all guests, every day, and make sure they wear their
wristbands, keep IDs on them, and are aware of the policies
o Escort / accompany your guests in all spaces in the residence hall
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 46
• Doors/Exits:
o Keep your suite/room doors locked at all times and do not disable
the locks (do not tape the locks open, prop the handles open, etc.)
o Report broken or malfunctioning doors, lights, signs, and windows
to staff or through a Maintenance Request in your Housing Portal
o Do not prop open any exterior door, remove any prop you see, and
only exit through Emergency Exit doors in emergencies
o Know your nearest exits wherever you are - especially from your
room in case of evacuation - and take all evacuation alarms
seriously, leaving the building immediately
• Save the RA on Duty, Front Desk, and Auraria Campus PD numbers in
your personal phone to be prepared to call if you need help:
o Lynx Crossing RA on Duty: (303) 416-0035
o Lynx Crossing Front Desk: (303) 315-5271
o City Heights RA on Duty: (720) 670-6741
o City Heights Front Desk: (303) 315-5250
o Auraria Campus PD:
▪ Call: (303) 556-5000
▪ Text-a-Tip: (720) 593-TIPS (8477)
▪ Call with an anonymous tip: (303) 556-2677
Preventing Auto Crime
Housing & Dining staff recommend keeping your car locked and your valuables out
of sight. Housing & Dining is not responsible for any damage or loss to your motor
vehicle or its contents. Please reference the following tips to prevent auto crime.
• Roll up windows.
• Never hide a spare key in your car.
• Approach your car from behind on the passenger side while giving the
impression that you are just passing by. Walk past the passenger side and
look into the car. Check the back seat. Proceed to the driver's door.
• Carry your key ring in your hand while walking to your car, whether in
daylight or dark.
• As soon as you get in the car, lock the doors.
• If a stranger is in your car or loitering around it, call the police. DO NOT
confront the stranger.
47 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
Security Cameras
To enhance safety and security efforts in the residence halls and dining centers,
security cameras are located near external doors, inside main
entrances/lobbies/hallways, and around other public areas. The camera’s
locations only record data in areas considered public, where people would not
expect privacy.
Tornados
Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado
watch simply means that conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. A
tornado warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or has been
indicated on radar.
In the situation that a tornado warning is in effect, the safest place for you to stay
is in your bathroom. Housing & Dining suggests you take a portable, battery
operated radio with you to keep you up to date on the current status of the tornado.
Once the tornado warning has been lifted, the immediate danger is over, and you
can resume normal activity. If the residence hall has been damaged, emergency
first responders will be contacted and determine if residents can return to their
suites/bedrooms.
Winter Storm
Because winter storms can be particularly severe and impact campus, you should
begin making plans in late fall for the coming winter. Housing & Dining
recommends having the following items on hand before the storm season arrives:
battery operated radio and spare batteries, fully charged cellular phone, flashlights
with spare batteries, and a fully stocked first aid kit.
Lynx Living Tip: The safety and emergency procedures listed above are specific to
the residence halls. All policies and procedures listed in the above section should be
followed, in addition to those specified in the CU Denver Student Code of Conduct.
CU Denver Resident Handbook | 48
Paying for Housing & Dining
University of Colorado Denver
&
Metropolitan State University of
Denver
Based on your attending institution, the Office of Housing & Dining submits a
semester charge to the CU Denver or MSU Denver at the beginning of the fall and
spring semester (typically around late July for the fall, and late December/early
January for the spring semester). Your housing charges will be combined with
your tuition and fee charges on one bill through your student portal. You will be
responsible to log into your CU Denver or MSU Denver student portal and set up
payment arrangements on your student account. If you make a housing contract
modification you are responsible to make the appropriate adjustment to any
payment plan you may have in place.
• The CU Denver Bursar’s Office can be reached via phone at (303) 315-
1800 or via email at [email protected]. You can also find useful
information on the CU Denver Bursar’s Office website.
• The MSU Denver Bursar’s Office can be reached via phone at (303)
615.0070 or via email at [email protected]. You can also find useful
information on the MSU Denver Bursar's Office website.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial Aid may be used to pay for all or a portion of the housing contract liability
charges. These payments are made for the full semester balance. Please work
with the Office of Financial Aid for eligibility and packages.
• The CU Denver Office of Financial Aid can be reached by calling Lynx
Central at (303) 315-5969 or via email at [email protected]. You
can also find information at CU Denver Office of Financial Aid website.
• The MSU Denver Financial Aid Office can be reached by calling (303)
556-8593 or via email at [email protected]. You can also find useful
information at MSU Denver's Office of Financial Aid website.
Any remaining balance unpaid through the University of Colorado or Metropolitan
State University Denver will be the sole responsibility of the student to ensure the
balance is paid directly to the appropriate Bursar’s Office. Any late payments will
49 | CU Denver Resident Handbook
be subject to the terms and conditions of your attending institution’s late payment
policy. Additionally, students with a balance due may receive balance due letters
and/or phone calls and emails reminding them of the balance outstanding. An
outstanding balance may jeopardize your eligibility for housing. If you are unsure
of your payment status or account balance, please contact, in writing, the Office of
Housing & Dining at any time at [email protected]
Community College of Denver
The Office of Housing & Dining does not send bills or statements for payments due
for CCD students. We do not provide payment slips, payment reminders, etc.
Community College of Denver students will not be able to make payments for
housing or dining charges through their institutional billing offices. All Community
College of Denver students must contact the Office of Housing & Dining at
[email protected] for payment purposes.
Early Contract Termination
If you would like to terminate your housing contract before the end date specified
in your housing contract, you must complete a Housing Contract Termination
Petition. You must first contact the Office of Housing & Dining at
[email protected] to request information about the petition process. Please
note that submission of a Housing Contract Termination Petition, requesting
information, or withdrawing from your college or university does not
guarantee that your housing contract will be terminated and/or terminated at
a reduced cost.
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Appendix A: Charge Sheets
See General Housing & Dining Procedures > Damages & Related Charges for more
on how, when, and why a resident would be assessed these charges.
General Damage & Labor Charges
Item
Amount
Access/Keys – Lockouts
$10 per lockout (after first two)
Access/Keys – Lost bedroom key
$150 each time key is lost
Bed loft/risers removal
$50
Elevator damage or item retrieval (intentional or
negligence)
Actual cost for parts and labor
Fire & Life Safety equipment damage, tampering, or
theft (fire extinguishers, EXIT signs, smoke detectors,
etc.)
$500 per item
Furniture movement (returning to correct area)
$250 per furniture item
Laundry machine damage (intentional or negligence)
Actual cost for parts and labor
Parking Permit Replacement
$24
Improper Check-Out Fee
$150
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Appendix B: Room Change FAQ
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT I STAY IN MY ASSIGNED ROOM?
Stability. An essential component of a student’s personal development is the ability to
form stable and productive interpersonal relationships. Living in your room/suite for the
entire year contributes to the stability of these relationships and encourages all
residents to rely on each other, solve problems, and contribute to ongoing community
development.
Problem Solving. Working through challenging situations is a valuable life experience
and learning to compromise and communicate are essential life skills. We encourage
students to put substantial effort into the success of their living situation, which can
include navigating conflict and setting appropriate personal and interpersonal
boundaries.
Cultural Competency. Learning to live with others who are different from yourself is an
important life skill and contributes to both an individual’s and community’s overall
development. CU Denver is proud to be an incredibly diverse, urban institution, and the
positive impacts of having a diverse student body are evident.
WHEN CAN I REQUEST A ROOM CHANGE?
We do not accept room change requests within the first 2 weeks of classes. If you feel
you are experiencing extenuating circumstances that warrant a room change before the
room change request period opens, contact the Residence Life Coordinator ASAP. Room
change requests will be considered until 2 weeks before the end of the semester.
WHY AM I BEING CHARGED A FEE?
Room changes represent a large administrative impact, involving professional staff
members, Resident Assistants, housekeeping services, maintenance services, and
potential outside departmental involvement. Students experiencing extenuating
circumstances or requiring medical accommodations may be exempt from the fee.
HOW MANY ROOM CHANGE REQUESTS DO YOU RECEIVE?
The number varies from year to year and depends on the occupancy of the residence hall
and availability of rooms. More room change requests are submitted than approved.
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WHAT REASONS ARE LIKELY TO BE APPROVED?
A resident has a specific health or medical concern that cannot be accommodated in
their current living situation.
A resident has experienced a roommate conflict that they have attempted to resolve
throughout the semester, but the conflict is no closer to being reconciled. As part of this,
the resident must demonstrate the variety of ways that they have attempted to resolve
the conflict both individually and with the assistance of Housing & Dining staff.
A resident is in a situation where there are immediate health concerns, safety concerns,
or other extenuating circumstances that can only be mitigated by moving rooms/suites.
WHAT REASONS ARE LIKELY TO BE DENIED?
A resident is experiencing non-emergency roommate conflict that they have not
attempted to resolve on their own or with the assistance of the staff.
A resident would prefer to live with their friend on a different floor or wing.
A resident does not like physical aspects of their current suite/bedroom (e.g., it is close
to the train, it is farther away from the laundry room, etc.).
WHY CAN’T MY REQUEST BE PROCESSED, ESPECIALLY WHEN I
KNOW OF SPECIFIC ROOMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE?
Rooms/suites that appear to be vacant may not actually be available. Since the Office of
Housing & Dining signs individual housing contracts with each resident, once a resident
takes occupancy of a space, that space remains assigned to that resident until their
housing contract is officially terminated. Housing & Dining may also reserve certain
spaces for students with accommodations or may have already offered the vacant
space to someone else.
Several students may be requesting the same room/suite.
Room changes represent a large administrative impact, involving professional staff
members, Resident Assistants, housekeeping, maintenance, and potential outside
departmental involvement. Processing every room/suite change request would not be
an effective use of staff members’ time since our primary goals are to promote
community and residential personal development.
Rooms/suites may be kept vacant for alternative uses, including providing spaces for
students who are temporarily moved for facilities or construction.
WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE TO REQUEST A ROOM CHANGE?
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1. You must submit your request to the Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) by e-
mail. They will review your request and possibly schedule a meeting to discuss
further. In every case, the RLC will ask if you have taken actions to address any
concerns. Actions that you can take on your own include:
a. Have a conversation with your roommate(s)/suitemate(s). This demonstrates
that you have taken personal responsibility in resolving the issues and gives
you a chance to exercise conflict-resolution skills.
b. Have a conversation with your Resident Assistant (RA) to seek guidance on
navigating any concerns.
c. Attempt to utilize other campus resources when appropriate. These can include
the Student and Community Counseling Center, Ombuds Office, Disability
Resources and Services, Student Life & Campus Community, etc.
2. A likely outcome of working with the RLC will be the development of a plan to
support you in your current housing assignment. The RLC may make the
following suggestions to include in this plan:
a. Creating or amending your Roommate Agreement, if your RA has not already
completed this with all occupants of your suite.
b. Instructing you to approach your roommate(s)/suitemate(s) directly about the
issues you are facing. Guidance and instruction will be provided to you on how
to best prepare for a successful interaction.
c. Instructing an RA to facilitate a conversation or mediation between you and
your roommate(s)/suitemate(s).
d. Formally mediating a conversation involving you and all other suitemates.
e. Referring you to other on-campus resources.
f. Following-up and/or checking-in more regularly.
If it is determined that there are extenuating circumstances, the RLC will then direct the
request to the Associate Director of Residence Life (ADRL) or designee for consideration.
The ADRL or designee will review this request against available spaces. Note that there
may or may not be alternate accommodations available even after this referral.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY REQUEST IS APPROVED?
1. The RLC will email you with your new room/suite assignment, instructions, and
timeline for making the move.
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2. You will have until the end of the timeline provided to complete the change per
the instructions provided. If the move is not completed by the deadline given, the
move will be void and you will need to resubmit your request.
3. You will work with your new roommate(s)/suitemate(s) and new RA to complete a
new Roommate Agreement within 2 weeks of moving into your new room/suite.
WHAT IF I DECIDE TO BREAK MY HOUSING CONTRACT
ENTIRELY?
Note that moving out of on-campus housing does not terminate your Housing & Dining
contract; you will still be charged per your contract even if you complete a Move-Out. To
begin the process of terminating your contract, you must complete a Housing Contract
Termination Petition. You must first contact the Office of Housing & Dining at
[email protected] for more information about the petition process. Please note
that submission of a Housing Contract Termination Petition does not guarantee
that your housing contract will be terminated and/or terminated at a reduced cost.
