I, the undersigned, hereby contract for a residence hall room space and board plan as a full-time, matriculated, and registered undergraduate* student at Gwynedd Mercy University. The Room and Board Contract is in effect upon my signing and for the duration of the academic year or the remaining portion thereof. This contract is subject to and in accordance with the following terms and provisions that supersede any previously published contract.
- The University will agree to provide a space based on availability to eligible students who are at least 16 years of age at the time of move-in. For students under 18, the signature of a parent or guardian is required guaranteeing payment of established charges for the specific academic year.
- Occupancy shall be subject to the student maintaining full-time matriculated status during the contract term.
- Occupancy shall be subject to all rules and regulations of The University, including those in the University Student Handbook and Guide to Residence Life, which are available on the University portal.
- Residence halls are closed during semester breaks and other University closings. Residents are required to vacate the residence halls during break periods unless otherwise approved. Dates and times of residence hall closings will be advertised in the Guide to Residence Life, the University website, and in an email to residents at the beginning of the semester.
- In order to maintain health, safety, maintenance standards, or for emergency reasons, the University reserves the right to inspect student rooms and furnishings at any time.
- The University accepts no responsibility for damage, theft or loss of money, valuables or personal effects of the student. Residents are encouraged to confirm that their property is covered by their family’s homeowner’s insurance and/or purchase personal property insurance.
- The University has the right to assign a resident to any existing vacancy at any time. When a vacancy exists in a double room, the University has the right to reassign the remaining resident to a vacancy in another room.
- The resident shall be responsible for the applicable room and board charges for the entire academic year or the remaining portion thereof. Residents interested in a release from the housing contract, for whatever reason, must be approved through the contract release process. If a resident is released from the room and board contract during a semester, they must vacate the assigned room within 24 hours of being notified. Extensions may be granted at the discretion of the Office of Residence Life.
- The withdrawal date from the residence halls is based upon official notification in writing by the student to the Office of Residence Life and their official check-out date. The following schedule is used to determine room and board refunds:
- 100% refund prior to the first day of the semester
- 75% refund through the end of the add/drop period
- 50% refund through first week after add/drop period
- 25% refund through second week after add/drop period
- 0% refund after end of second week from add/drop period.
If a student is released from their housing contract, they will have 24 hours to move out and return keys. Failure to do so will result in fines.
- Please note that if residents are asked to leave housing for two weeks or less due to a pandemic or communicable disease outbreak, no refunds for room and board will be provided.
- All residents must submit a $200 housing deposit via Self Service through the Portal and submit a housing application to the Office of Residence Life before being assigned a residence hall space. New residents who cancel their housing prior to May 1 will receive a full refund of their housing deposit; May 1-31: a $150 refund; June 1-30: a $50 refund; and no refund any time after July 1. Further information about the housing deposit and eligible refunds for returning students can be found in the Guide to Residence Life.
- All residents will be held responsible for and billed for defacement or damage to the room, common areas, and furnishings for which they contract. All residents are responsible for certifying the condition of their room by completing and submitting a Room Condition Report (RCR) upon check-in. This electronic form is the responsibility of the resident to complete on their own after moving in. The RCR will be used as the basis for comparison and charges at check-out. All residents will also be billed for any damages (see the Guide to Residence Life) in common areas.
- Billing is assessed on a semester basis and any charges shall be paid in accordance with the official schedule established by the University. The collection of room and board charges is pursuant to University procedures. Room and board rates for the next academic year are announced in February/March of the current academic year.
- A meal plan is required for all residential students and is selected by the student when they submit their housing application. Meal plans can be changed through the first week of classes via the Campbell Solution Center each semester. Each meal plan comes with M.E.R.V. Bucks (discretionary dollars) per semester. M.E.R.V. Bucks left over from the fall will carry over to the spring but do not carry over into the next academic year.
- The University reserves the right to take appropriate action against a resident, including the termination of this agreement, if they violate University policies, including those related to COVID-19 and other pandemic policies, or pose a detriment to their safety or the welfare of the residence hall environment. Students dismissed from University housing for disciplinary reasons will automatically forfeit their housing deposit and will not receive a refund on room and board charges. The University reserves the right to establish required conditions for re-entry into the residence halls pending approval by the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students.
- The University may terminate this agreement by written notice if the student fails to comply with the agreement or continued operation of the residence halls is deemed to not be feasible. The student remains liable for room and board charges for the full academic year unless released from this agreement by the Office of Residence Life.
- The University and the Office of Residence Life reserve the right to refuse or remove students from University housing who have been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime.
- If any of these provisions is found to be invalid the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
*May also include students enrolled in graduate degree or Integrated Studies programs at the Gwynedd Valley campus