Housing Services and Residence Life Philosophy

Housing Services

Our mission is to Support Student Success, so we provide an environment conducive to the mental, social, and physical health of your student.

Residence Life Mission Statement

The Department of Residence Life inspires, engages, and challenges residents as they transition into their life at Utah State University and navigate their academic pursuits. We focus on student development by providing intentional experiences beyond the classroom that support individual and community advancement, social engagement, and critical thinking. To ensure well-rounded citizens, we uphold policies that encourage safe and socially responsible behavior.

Our program is built around four Guiding Principles:

• Personal Growth
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Academic Support
• Social Responsibility

Professional Staff

Professional Staff, or ProStaff, are area supervisors for specific buildings or groups within the residence life program. At USU, ProStaff includes Area Coordinators, Residence Directors, Assistant Residence Directors, a Senior Coordinator, a Family Communities Coordinator, a Student Success Programs Coordinator, and an RHA Advisor. Paraprofessional, or Student Staff, includes the Resident Assistants, Academic Mentors, and RHA executives working in the different housing areas.

We work closely with other departments on campus to connect residents with important resources and we strive to educate residents about their influence and responsibility within their community. The Residence Life program is closely aligned with the ideals of the Aggies Think, Care, Act Initiative.

Aggies Think, Care, Act Mission Statement

“Aggies Think, Care, Act” is designed to introduce Aggies to the social responsibility expected as a member of the Utah State caring community that values human dignity, equality, respect and safety for each individual student, faculty, staff and alumni.”

We encourage residents to become actively involved in their Housing community!

Residence Hall Association (RHA), National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), & Area Councils

Residence Hall Association

RHA is the largest student-run organization in the world, and its focus is empowering residents to play an active role in their community, on their campus, and even at regional and national levels. Our RHA has an Executive Board comprised of students who are selected by Professional Housing Staff and voted in by residents of On-Campus Housing. Each executive has different but complementary responsibilities to serve the on-campus community and oversee all aspects of RHA.

At USU, RHA provides leadership opportunities for residents, such as holding a position in the RHA Area Councils, becoming a member of NRHH, or representing USU’s RHA at regional and national Housing and Residence Life conferences. RHA provides opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and scholarship opportunities for active and hardworking members. Attending an RHA conference also allows residents to meet people from all over the country (even people from Canada, South Africa, Qatar, and Taiwan!), learn more about Residence Life, attend amazing programs and activities, and then bring back everything they’ve learned back to USU.

Each year, our RHA hosts fun activities like the Week of Welcome BBQ, Humans vs. Zombies, and Housing and Residence Life Week among many others. Residents have the opportunity to participate in all of these programs by attending, volunteering, or even helping with the planning and implementation.

Another focus of RHA is helping students have a voice that can be heard. This is done through resident participation in monthly General Council Meetings, where they can represent their fellow students, vote on RHA legislation, and network with residents from other areas of campus. Residents can also fill out Advocacy forms and come up with solutions to problems and issues they see in their community. The RHA Executives work hard to make sure residents’ ideas are heard (and in many cases) implemented by Housing and University officials.

For more information about RHA and RHA Councils, email usu.rha@aggiemail.usu.edu or visit http://usu.edu/rha/.

Area Councils

An RHA Council is a collection of residents who are highly involved in their community by working with RAs, attending RHA leadership retreats, planning and implementing large-scale activities, and getting involved in service projects, all while service as student advocates for their communities. Each RHA Council is advised by an RHA Executive, and there is one per Housing Area. Residents are voted into leadership positions within AC by their fellow residents. Everyone is welcome to come to the meetings!

National Residence Hall Honorary

NRHH is an internationally recognized honor society for members of the on-campus community who show outstanding leadership, community involvement, scholarship, and service. The organization is based on four pillars: leadership, recognition, service, and scholastics.

If you are passionate about service and learning, if you want opportunities to develop your leadership abilities and to make a difference in your community, and if you would like to shape your resume to be competitive in the workplace; you’ll find that NRHH is an organization for you.

With monthly service projects and recognition activities, leadership development training, opportunities to take on leadership positions, and the opportunity to attend regional and national Housing conferences the opportunities for members of NRHH are endless. Coupled with academic support and the accomplishment of graduating with honor cords, NRHH is a meaningful part of the USU and RHA experience.

For more information about NRHH, including membership requirements and an application, please email nrhh@aggiemail.usu.edu or visit usu.edu/rha/

Community Living

Community living requires each resident to be aware that his/her behavior or actions will affect other residents. Residents and their guests must not disturb, annoy, harass or interfere with residents or staff. At all times, residents and their guests are required to abide by all University and Housing regulations regarding student conduct, as well as applicable federal, state, and local laws.

On-campus housing units are intended for primary use by residents of that unit. In all circumstances, respect for the rights of other residents will be considered the highest priority. If problems arise that residents cannot resolve initially among themselves, they should seek assistance from a Resident Assistant or other Residence Life staff member.

Housing and Residence Life strives to develop strong, respectful communities based on the ideals of community living as detailed below. These ideals align with the USU Student Code of Conduct and represent the kind of campus living experience we would like to provide for our residents.

Residential Support Principle

Housing and Residence Life encourages members of the Utah State University Housing community to support, practice, and respect:

• Personal and academic integrity through elimination of deceit, plagiarism, and lying.
• Dignity of all persons, including the rights of all community members to be free from discrimination under University Policy.
• Rights and property of others, by demonstrating concern for them and asking first before borrowing or using items and property.
• Discouraging bigotry, by striving to learn from and accept the inherent differences in people, ideas, and opinions which contribute to an academic community.
• Keeping the living environment clean and attractive, knowing that such an environment is essential to positive physical, mental, and academic health.
• Refraining from and discouraging all behaviors which threaten the freedom and respect all residents deserve.

Community Equality Principle

Various cultural and ethnic groups compose the Utah State University Housing community. Residents are afforded unique and valuable opportunities to interact with a variety of people different from themselves. Housing and Residence Life is committed to respecting diversity and equality among its students and residents, seeking to:

• Aid students in the enhancement of their cultural experiences.
• Promote cultural acknowledgment among all religions, races, national origins, and ages.
• Encourage respect for different abilities, sexual orientations, and genders.
• Advance on-going resident consideration of their fellow student residents, as well as their shared values and common experiences.

Safety and Anti-Violence Principle

Housing and Residence Life is committed to creating a community free from violence by not condoning conduct which threatens or abuses the health, safety, and/or psychological well-being of any person on or within Housing property. Residents are encouraged to behave in a manner which does not diminish the quality of life within their residential community and living/learning environment. This includes, but is not limited to, physical assault, battery, sexual assault or harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, threats, reckless endangerment to others, intimidation, indecent exposure, etc., whether against other residents, family members, or visitors, and whether conducted in person, via telephone, by facsimile, or through computer transmissions.

Resident's Rights and Responsibilities

Living on-campus provides opportunities and challenges associated with living in a community. Community responsibilities such as cooperation, tolerance, and mutual respect accompany group living situations. Establishing a supportive and positive residential environment means each individual must make occasional adjustments in personal habits, attitudes, and beliefs. This means residents should exercise their rights within the confines of respecting and considering the rights of others. We encourage residents to work toward developing responsible involvement in their community. These are some of the residents’ "rights" and "responsibilities":

• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to associate with whomever they please;
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to accept all other residents for whom they are and where they are from. Residents have the responsibility to educate themselves on issues of diversity.
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to a reasonably peaceful and quiet space in which they can read, study, and sleep;
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to observe quiet hours, keep their stereo and voice at a reasonable volume in Housing and remind others that the same is expected of them.
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to personal privacy in the use of their room/apartment both in terms of space and time, and the right to be free of unwanted guests;
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to inform their roommate(s) and neighbors of their wishes and preferences for hours of sleep, study, and visitation and to work through any differences that may arise in a peaceful and non-threatening manner.
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to choose their means of recreation and relaxation;
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to follow the laws, rules and regulations established to support the educational purposes of the University and to sustain a safe and comfortable living environment in while living on campus.
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to confront behavior which infringes on their rights;
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to examine their own behavior when confronted and work towards resolving conflicts peaceably.
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to participate in programs and other community-building activities;
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to get to know other members of their community and to attend all mandatory programs.
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to the assistance of Housing and Residence Life and/or University personnel;
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to notify staff of problems in a timely manner, and to cooperate in working to solve the problems.
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT to know what’s OK and NOT OK in Housing;
• RESIDENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to read information provided to them by Housing and Residence Life.

Student Conduct Policies

Appropriate student conduct is expected of students living on campus and our approach to addressing student conduct concerns is done so from the perspective of social responsibility and respect for others. The Residence Life staff is primarily responsible for addressing student conduct issues within their respective community. Each resident is expected to comply or cooperate with any authorized University official as requested, acting in the performance of their duties and within the scope of their authority. Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to evict or refuse housing to any resident who has demonstrated an unwillingness to abide by rules and regulations, or who demonstrates behavior which is incompatible with the maintenance of residential order, respect for others and educational propriety.

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

Utah State University Housing is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider.