Policies and Procedures

UTC Housing Office: 831-421-0695

The UTC Housing Office is located in Suite 405. Here you will find the Coordinator of Residential Education, Resident Assistants, and Housing Coordinator. If you need to report a maintenance problem, have a question or concern regarding life at the UTC, or other residential issues, this is the place to come.

Hours are Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm

*Though the office will occasionally have to close due to administrative meetings on campus.

Internet

All rooms are wired, but not wireless. Ethernet cables may be used in all the rooms or a router may be set up. For assistance or to report a problem with Internet access, please contact resnet@ucsc.edu or call them at 831-459-4635.

Wireless Internet is available in the fourth and fifth floor lounges.

Laundry

The laundry room is on the fourth floor. There are four washers and four dryers. Wash loads are $1.00, while drying costs $0.75.

There is additional information on the bulletin board in the laundry room. The laundry system is an outside vendor utilized by UCSC. There is a laundry App for issues related to any of the machines and residents are encouraged to report to both the app and the office so we know what has been reported already.

Utilize the CSC Service Works Coinmatch app - or visit cscsw.com

Mail

The mailboxes are located on each floor between the stairwell and the elevators. You will share a mailbox with your roommate(s). Be sure to check your mailbox often, even if you get mail somewhere else. Because we are a relatively transient community, occasionally you will receive mail for residents that no longer live at the UTC. Please drop this mail off at the office and we will forward it to the appropriate person. There is a US Post office at the intersection of Front and Water streets.

Oversize packages are delivered to the Front Desk. We accept packages during regular office hours. Upon receiving a package at the front desk, we send out a ‘Parcel Notification’ via email to the recipient. Students need to have their IDs to sign for packages so that we can confirm that it is going to the correct recipient.

UTC Mailing Address:

1101 Pacific Ave (Apt. #)

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

UTC Lounges

There are two lounges at UTC.

• The fourth-floor lounge contains a large screen TV, dishwasher, stove and oven, and access to the balcony. This is a great gathering place for meals, movies, and entertainment. If you wish to hold a gathering in the lounge, please contact the CRE to make a reservation. Please clean up after yourself! Also, alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the lounge or in the kitchen, it is a policy violation and will be immediately discarded. Either guests or residents may not use the lounge for overnight accommodations.

• A study lounge, on the fifth floor, is available to residents. There is a computer and printer also located in the fifth-floor lounge for free use for residents of the UTC.

Parking

There is no specific parking for UTC residents located downtown. Downtown parking is available by applying at the Santa Cruz parking office located on Locust St. You will need a letter from the CRE verifying your residency. For inquiries regarding campus parking contact Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) office at 831-456-4543.

Bus Service

Bus service to and from campus and around town is easily available to UTC residents. The central hub for the Santa Cruz transit system is conveniently located across the street and down one block. You can find transit information including routes and schedules at the Santa Cruz Metro website.

Meal Plans

Meal plans are available to all UCSC students and are optional for residents at the UTC. You may purchase a plan at any time. If you want to change your meal plan for the next quarter you may during the Filing Periods in November and February. Any other modifications may be approved for medical or financial reasons only. Go to the UCSC Dining website to apply for a meal plan.

Resource Conservation

The electricity, water, and gas are provided for you and included in the rent, but we do ask that you conserve as much as possible. California is suffering shortages of both energy and water, and we all need to do our part. See below for some specific suggestions.

Energy

Please do whatever you can to save energy. Turn off lights when you leave the room, keep your heater turned down to 68º or lower, and turn the heat off when you leave. Never leave doors or windows open when your heat is on. While utility costs are included in your rent, you may be billed for excessive use.

Water

Water is a scarce resource in Santa Cruz, and it’s important to do all you can to conserve. Please keep your showers short, turn the water off when shaving or brushing your teeth, and minimize water use when washing the dishes.

Recycling

Recycling containers are located in the trash rooms on each floor. We recycle newspaper, metal cans, glass and plastic containers. Please rinse your containers before recycling. Any questions? Just ask!

Checking In

Room Condition

Upon moving in, each resident is responsible for recording any existing room damages on the Room Condition Form (RCF). Forms should be returned online. Damages not indicated on the RCF will be billed to each resident at the end of the year. All residents are held jointly responsible for the common areas, and therefore all roommates should look at these areas.

Any new residents moving in after the beginning of fall quarter must also complete an RCF. Failure to return the RCF by the communicated deadline from the Res Life Staff could result in charges for any damages in the room and/or building.

Scheduled Check-In

At the start of the year, and during moving periods, please follow the schedule provided and/or utilize the times provided by the staff for a quick and smooth move-in. Information about move-in will come from the Housing Coordinator.

Checking Out

Upon leaving, UTC has employed express check-outs, but scheduled check-outs with your RA are a possibility, so please check with your RA or with the CRE:

Express checkout procedures:

• Pick up a key envelope from the Front Desk.

• Clean your space and assigned common areas.

• Move all your belongings out of the apartment.

• Write your name and apartment number on the key envelope, insert your keys, and drop it off at the UTC office.

All Express Checkouts waive the right to appeal cleaning and damage charges, and agree to pay all damage and cleaning charges not previously noted on the RCF. Any damage found in the room at the time of departure not previously noted on the RCF will be billed directly to the resident(s).

After the last resident checks-out, UTC staff inspects the room for cleanliness and damages.

Moving out before end of academic year

Remember, your housing contract is for the entire academic year.

You can request to cancel your housing contract prior to the end of the academic year. To do so you must fill out a ‘Request for Housing Contract Cancellation Form’. Speak to your RA, the Housing Coordinator, or the CRE about this form. You will need to meet with the CRE to discuss why you are moving out, prior to receiving the form. Circumstances generally approved for canceling your housing contract are: graduation, withdrawal, field study out of area, leave of absence, study abroad, medical hardship, or financial hardship.

** However, cancellations are on a case by case basis. You will be notified if your request is approved. Moving out of your room does not indicate that your contract will be cancelled and you will be subject to the remaining balance on your contract.

Sub-Leasing/Sub-Letting

Residents are not permitted to sub-lease their housing space.

Changing Rooms

If you would like to switch rooms with another resident, your RA will be able to assist and refer you to the proper resources.

Unauthorized room switching prevents us from contacting you, or another resident, in case of emergency. Also, we need to know where each resident is living in order to avoid misunderstandings over responsibility for cleaning or damage charges.

Break Housing

Thanksgiving and Spring break periods are included in your housing contract, though Winter break is not. Please check the housing website calendar for dates you need to move out by, and when you may return to the UTC. Information about Break Housing will be posted for residents prior to each break period.

Specifically for winter break, your access to the community will be removed.

Keys

Once you are issued access on your ID cards or provided a temporary access card and room keys, you become partially responsible for the security of our building. In order to maintain the security of our building you must report all lost access cards and/or keys to the UTC Office immediately. There will be a charge for new keys and access cards.

Apartment key- $140

Mailbox key- $15

Temporary CCURE Access Card- $30 for lost CCURE TEMP cards

Late CCURE Temp Card- $5

Do not allow anyone else to use your card or key, even temporarily. Please do not allow building entry to anyone who does not have an access card. Individuals looking for residents may call them from cell phones, or from phones outside of the elevators.

Lockouts

UTC Staff is available to assist residents who are locked out of their rooms. It is the responsibility of each resident to carry their room key with them any time they leave their room.

A spare room key checkout is available as a temporary measure only. Each student is allowed 3 assisted lockouts per academic year, after which students will be assessed a $20 charge per assisted lockout.

Community Living Agreement

The UTC Housing Staff does all it can to produce the best roommate matches possible. A tool we offer for healthy community living is a Roommate Agreement Form. This form is a starting point for discussion and a space to come to agreements.

Conflicts between roommates do still occur. Many can be avoided through discussion. If conflict arises: talk with your roommate(s) and review or renegotiate agreements. Ask a member of the residential staff for ideas on addressing the issues or ask the residential staff to help you and your roommate(s) through a mediated discussion.

Room Condition

Your room will be your home for your duration of the academic year. Our expectation is that your room be left in the same condition, as it was when you moved in. Review the Room Condition Form in your room. Return the signed form to the front desk. This report will be used to compare the condition of your room when you leave, to the condition of it when you moved in. The RCF is for your protection and you will be thankful you filled one out. Apartments are inspected for general cleanliness and safety on a quarterly basis. Make sure to read your emails for more details regarding inspections. We have made every effort to provide you with a home that is clean and well cared for. Please assist us by keeping your room and the building clean and in good working order.

Cleaning

You and your roommate(s) are jointly responsible for all common areas. You are responsible for your own area. You must supply all of your cleaning supplies and equipment. A vacuum and swiffer may be available upon request at the front desk during office hours.

It’s also important that everyone leave the kitchen, bathroom, and other shared areas clean after each use. Please be considerate of your roommate(s) and don’t leave messes behind.

Maintenance

If anything in your space is broken or in need of attention, please report it right away! Don’t wait for a small problem to become a big one. You can report any maintenance problem directly to our maintenance via the web through CruzFix at https://ches.ucsc.edu/cruzfix/, or, if urgent (a threat to health, safety, security, or property), call the RA on Call.

When you go to the website or call, be prepared to explain exactly what the problem is, where it is located and if it is okay for our maintenance staff to enter your room in your absence. Please also remember to leave your name, phone number, and room number. It is a good idea to let your roommates know you have made a maintenance request so they will not be surprised to find the maintenance staff working in the apartment. After reporting the issue to maintenance, please contact the UTC front desk so that we can assure that your maintenance problem has been appropriately addressed.

Policy Information

All residents at UTC are expected to know, uphold, and abide by all policies and regulations set forth in all publications of the University as well as all Federal, State and local statutes. It is your responsibility to review the UCSC Student Policies and Regulations Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct. Both documents can be accessed online at: http://deanofstudents.ucsc.edu

Quiet/Courtesy Hours

This is an educational community. All residents have the right to study and sleep without undue interference. Consequently, Courtesy Hours are in effect 24 hours per day.

Quiet Hours are 10:00pm to 8:00am Sunday through Thursday and 12:00am to 10:00am Friday and Saturday. It is the responsibility of each resident to make sure their activities are not disturbing to any neighbors.

Finals Week Quiet Hours

Finals week quiet hours increase to 24hrs, beginning Thursday at 10pm before Finals Week.

Alcohol

Federal, State and local laws, as well as university policy prohibit alcoholic beverages from being sold, furnished, possessed by, or given to any person under the age of 21. In addition, no possession, transportation of open containers, or consumption of alcoholic beverages will be allowed in public areas, by any person, regardless of age. Kegs or other “common source” containers holding alcoholic beverages are not allowed on campus property.

If you are of legal drinking age you may drink in your room with the door closed unless any of your roommates are under the legal drinking age, then you may not drink in your room nor store alcohol in your room.

Smoking

You must exit the building at the ground floor to smoke. Smoking is not allowed inside any campus building. Policy states that you must be at least 25 feet from the building (or the equivalent of standing at the middle of the first row of parking lines in the parking lot).

Guests

The Housing Contract states a person may have a guest stay overnight for a maximum of three consecutive nights, and for no more than 15 nights per year. Your roommate(s) must approve all overnight guests in advance. Requests for a guest to stay more than 3 nights must be submitted in writing to the CRE and Housing Coordinator, and approved in advance. Any resident can request that a guest leave at any time. Any student providing housing for guests in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, and may be charged for their guests’ housing. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests.

Identification

Students are required to carry ID with them at all times. Proof of identification must be shown when asked by a university official. Failure to do so is considered non-compliance and disciplinary action will be taken.

Candles & Incense

Candles and incense are not permitted at the UTC or any UCSC residential community.

Paraphernalia

Drug or Alcohol Paraphernalia is not allowed in the residential community. Items including, but not limited to: Bongs, shot glasses, pipes, alcoholic marketing in flags/banners, hookahs, red solo cups, etc. are not allowed in any on-campus community, and if found, are subject to disciplinary action.

Pets

No pets of any kind, except fish in a small (up to 10 gallons) tank are allowed at the UTC. Service and Emotional Support Animals must be approved through the UCSC Disability Resource Center prior to arrival at UTC. Specific UCSC Housing expectations regarding the animal are provided at the UTC Office.

Posting Policy

Please do not post any items on the door of your room without prior approval by UTC staff. You will be given a metal clip board to post your personal decorations. Please note that you cannot post any items that will damage the property, obstruct the academic missions, create a fire hazard, pose a health and safety risk, or create a hostile environment as defined by Title IX.

ResNet Policy

Copyright violation is a serious issue. When the University receives a copyright violation letter, the machine is blocked from accessing network resources outside of the University and a warning letter is sent to your UCSC email address. When ResNet is informed that the terms of the letter have been met, the connection will be restored to normal. Repeated violations will result in significant service loss and the CRE will be notified.

For specifics on the ResNet Policy please visit the UCSC ResNet Website: http://its.ucsc.edu/policies/resnet-rup.html

Safety Policies

In order to protect the individual safety of students, certain policies have been formulated. These include the following:

1. Do not bring weapons onto campus even for display purposes. This includes any type of firearm, paint-ball, pellet guns, swords, and knives (as defined by the California Penal Code). If you have a legitimate need for any of these types of weapons (hunting, etc.), the Campus Police Department will store them for you.

2. Pranks designed to injure (either physically or emotionally) any person are unacceptable. Water fights with balloons, guns, pails or any other object containing water (or any other liquid) are prohibited in all areas of the UTC.

3. Do not bring into or store non-household chemicals (i.e. gasoline, laboratory chemicals, motor oil) in the building. When improperly stored or disposed, these materials can endanger people and pollute the environment.

4. Skateboarding, roller blading, roller-skating, and bike riding are prohibited in the UTC hallways, as is the throwing of objects. Protect your belongings by having your name engraved on your valuables.