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Section Five: Health, Safety and Security

Emergency Policies

Emergency Instructions

You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the location of alarms, exits, fire alarm pull stations, fire extinguishers, emergency assembly point(s) for your building, and all emergency procedures for your residence. Fire and earthquake safety information is posted in all residences, and earthquake emergency procedures are detailed on the Student Housing website and the Stanford University Department of Environmental Health & Safety website.

Fire Equipment and Alarms

It is against the law and University policy to set off a false fire alarm or tamper with any fire equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, door closers, evacuation maps, fire sprinklers, or fire sprinkler cages. Tampering includes, but is not limited to the following actions: obstructing equipment in any way, covering or hanging objects from the equipment (e.g, fire sprinkler cages, fire sprinkler heads). Evacuation maps must remain unobstructed and visible at all times. Violators will be subject to an Administrative Fee of $500, University disciplinary action, and criminal penalties.

Fire Exit Rooms

If you have been assigned to a fire exit room, it means that either a door or a window in your room has been designated as a secondary exit for residents on your floor in case of fire. Your room may have a two-tone carpet signifying the pathway to the designated exit. As with hallways, the designated pathway and window or fire exit door must be kept clear at all times. Rooms with designated fire exits and/or fire safety equipment are subject to unannounced inspections by the University and the County Fire Marshal. Failure to keep the exit pathway clear will result in an Administrative Fee of $500, and is grounds for termination of your occupancy.

Hall, Stairs & Entrance Access

Common areas and hallways are to remain clear of personal belongings at all times. Items left in a hallway or common area will be removed immediately by University staff and residents will be charged an Administrative Fee of $25 per item. Repeated violations will incur escalating charges.

Removal of Student Property

In the event of an emergency or other exigent circumstance, the University may remove students’ belongings from their rooms or other areas for cleaning, repair, storage, and/or protection.

Prohibited Items

Appliances and Cooking

Appliances with open heating elements, such as hot plates, toasters, and electric heaters, are prohibited (An exception is made for electric heaters provided by Student Housing). Cooking is only permitted in designated kitchens and kitchenettes. Large appliances (e.g., full-sized refrigerators) and cooking equipment, except microwaves, are not allowed in student rooms.

Barbecue Grills

Barbecue grills of any kind, propane cylinders, charcoal, or starter fluids are not allowed inside residences, on balconies or decks, or in stairwells.

Candles and Torches

Candles, torches, hookas, incense and any other open flame device are strictly prohibited in and around the residences. Violation(s) will result in an Administrative Fee of $100 upon discovery and $100 per day until they are permanently removed.

Halogen Lights

Halogen lamps are prohibited in University housing. Violation(s) will result in a charge of $100 upon discovery and $100 per day until they are permanently removed.

Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials must not be used or stored in or around residences. If a material is deemed hazardous, it will be removed immediately by the appropriate staff. It is illegal to dispose of hazardous materials and “universal wastes” such as batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and electronic devices in the trash. Contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety for disposal of hazardous chemical waste, and Peninsula Sanitary Services for home electronics.

Hot Tubs, Saunas, Pools

Hot tubs, saunas, and pools of any size or kind are not allowed within or outside the residences.

Inflatables

Inflatables of any kind such as bounce or jump houses, slides, etc., are not allowed within or outside the residences.

Propane Cylinders

Propane cylinders are not allowed inside the residences or in outside areas.

Weapons

Dangerous weapons (including but not limited to firearms and non-culinary knives) and ammunition are prohibited in the residences.
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Disclosures, Notices & Warnings

Lead Advisory

Federal and California law requires that notice be provided to persons who are exposed to even extremely small quantities of lead. Housing built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Lead from paint chips and dust can pose health hazards if not managed properly. Lead exposure is especially harmful to young children and pregnant women. Before allowing third parties to occupy pre-1978 housing, owners must disclose the presence of lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards in the dwelling. Occupants must also receive a federally approved online pamphlet on lead poisoning prevention.

Stanford University has an ongoing testing program for lead in Escondido Village and provides information online to Escondido Village families and Resident Fellows with children. Testing has indicated low levels of lead in dust, soil and sand samples. Previous testing of painted surfaces in Escondido Village revealed varying levels of lead in the paint in the apartment units tested. More complete information about testing results and a federally approved pamphlet about ways to minimize risk are posted on the Student Housing website at http://studenthousing.stanford.edu/disclosures.

Lead and Asbestos Management

The University has an ongoing asbestos and lead paint management program and reserves the right to conduct periodic inspections and monitoring and to perform necessary repairs to conform to health and safety standards. You may be temporarily or permanently relocated to another room if abatement or removal of asbestos or lead is required. You may not penetrate floor tile or sprayed-on acoustical ceiling materials with hooks, nails or other materials, nor scrape or sand any painted surfaces in your living space. Pipe or boiler insulation may never be moved or disturbed.

Megan’s Law

California state law requires that all residential occupancy agreements contain the following notice regarding registered sex offenders.

Notice: Pursuant to Section 290.46 of the Penal Code, information about specified registered sex offenders is made available to the public via an Internet Web site maintained by the Department of Justice at www.meganslaw.ca.gov. Depending on an offender’s criminal history, this information will include either the address at which the offender resides or the community of residence and ZIP Code in which he or she resides.

Pest Control Notice

California state law requires that occupants be given a copy of the notice provided by a registered pest control company that is used for periodic pest control service. This notice is posted on the Student Housing website at http://studenthousing.stanford.edu/disclosures. In addition, whenever residents request that pest control action be taken inside their rooms, separate and specific notices will be given to or left for affected residents by the pest control company. This notice contains information on what agent was used and any pertinent instructions the company recommends be followed.

Building Security

Stanford has a policy of having residences secured 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Students are expected to ensure that doors latch behind them when they enter or leave a building and to not prop doors open. All security failures must be reported as soon as they are found to the Housing Front Desk, Housing Building Manager , or the After Hours Housing Maintenance hotline at (650) 725-1602. This applies to buildings with electronically card access doors as well as mechanically keyed doors.

Building Access

It is against University policy to tamper with any building access equipment, such as crash bars, door/window locks or latches, card readers, audible alarms, door sensors, display panels, or motion sensors. Violators will be subject to an Administrative Fee of $500 and University disciplinary action.

Keys

Undergraduate students are issued one set of keys to their room and common areas of their residence. Graduate students in singles housing receive two sets of keys. In Couples without Children Housing and Student with Children Housing, students are also issued two sets of keys for their spouse/partner (if any) and may purchase one additional set of keys for each child living with them. With the approval of the Office of Accessible Education, students may also receive an additional key for a personal attendant (See “Personal Attendants” in Section One). Keys may not be duplicated, and a non-University locksmith may not alter or repair a lock. Students found violating this policy will be charged an Administrative Fee for the re-keying and have the incident referred to the Residence Dean or Graduate Life Office Dean.

You are responsible for the keys issued to you. Lost keys must be reported immediately. If a door must be re-keyed because of a lost key, the student(s) responsible for losing the key is charged an Administrative Fee for the re-keying. Students who fail to return key(s) issued to them to their local Housing Front Desk on the day they move out are charged an Administrative Fee to re-key their room. Keys and access cards issued to students may not be given to guests.

Room changes: Keys must be turned in to the local Housing Front Desk and re-issued for all room changes. Keys may not be handed off by a vacating or transferring resident to the new occupant of the room.

Lock-Outs

If you are locked out, you may obtain a temporary key from the Housing Front Desk staff for your building during normal business hours. After hours in undergraduate residences, you are encouraged to contact your RA for room entry. After hours in graduate residences, you are encouraged to use the second key issued to you at check in. Additionally, residents of both undergraduate and graduate housing may also call (650) 725-1602 for lockout assistance after hours. A member of the Housing Access Response Team (HART) will respond and assist you. There is an Administrative Fee of $75 for lockout assistance provided via the HART team, and you will need to present a Stanford ID or government-issued ID.

Privacy of Housing Information

All residence assignments and room numbers are considered University-level directory information, available to any person upon specific request. Directory information is included in the printed and on-line Student Directory and in printed University public rosters. You may designate which information should be kept private or public through Axess at any time. Once you request privacy, the information will be held private until you change or revoke your privacy request.

All residences with interior hallways have public access phones at entrances for guests to call in to the student’s room or apartment to gain entry. If your housing information is declared private, your name will not appear in your building’s access system. If you want your housing information to be kept private but still have your name appear in your building’s access system, send an e-mail to doorkingadmin@lists.stanford.edu.

Unless you opt out, Student Housing provides a roster with resident name, email address, and post office box number to mail/package vendors utilizing the Roble Package Center who have signed a confidentiality agreement with the University agreeing to use the roster for mail/package notification purposes only. Information for the roster is consolidated from information included on the Stanford Public Directory.

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