POLICIES
& PROCEDURES
2025-2026
INTRODUCTION
To all students:
Welcome to Residence Life, Housing, and Dining Services! We are so excited you are living with us this year, and we want you to know that we are committed to meeting the needs of all students, to the best of our ability by providing a welcoming, respectful, and safe living environment. We want your experience living on-campus to be positive, enabling you to make connections and take advantage of the many great things the University of Wyoming has to offer.
Showing respect to others, the University, and personal property are the cornerstones of community living.
Successful residential communities are based on a resident’s ability to accept responsibility for their behavior and by showing care and concern for others.
For us to ensure that our residence halls and apartments are conducive to community living, the policies and procedures that follow apply to all residents, guests, and visitors.
These policies are complementary to the University of Wyoming Student Code of Conduct.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Housing & Dining Office, our Residence Coordinator (RC), or your Resident Assistant (RA) with any questions regarding these Policies and Procedures.
From all of us, have a wonderful year!
Housing, Dining, & Residence Life Dept. 3394
1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82072 Washakie Center, Lower Level living@uwyo.edu 307.766.3175
ALCOHOL
Containers and/or games that encourage excessive consumption of alcohol are prohibited, even if you are 21 or over. This includes, but is not limited to, kegs, beer bongs, and beer pong (with or without alcohol).
Alcohol containers (whether full, partially full, or empty) may not be possessed or used as decorations by those under the age of 21.
RESIDENCE HALLS:
Where you canhave alcohol (if you are of the legal drinking age, 21+):
o In your private residence hall room with the door shut – all other residents or guests present in the room must also be 21+.
Where you can’thave alcohol (if you are of the legal drinking age, 21+):
o Any common areas (lounges, study rooms, shared community spaces, lobbies, stairwells, hallways, etc.)
o With anyone who is under the age of 21.
o If discovered with alcohol with a person under the age of 21, all current occupants of the room (guests and assigned residents) will be cited for a violation of the alcohol policy.
APARTMENTS:
Where you canhave alcohol (if you are of the legal drinking age, 21+):
o All areas within an apartment are considered private, so alcohol can be consumed if you (and all other tenants) are of the legal drinking age.
Where you can’thave alcohol (if you are of the legal drinking age, 21+):
o If other tenants (where applicable) or guests are under the legal drinking age, alcohol can only be stored & consumed by those of legal drinking age in your private lease-assigned room.
o With anyone who is under the age of 21.
o If discovered with alcohol with a person under the age of 21, all current occupants of the apartment (guests and assigned residents) will be cited for a violation of the alcohol policy
CLEANLINESS & FACILITIES
o Residents are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their rooms or apartments and community areas, including, but not limited to, study rooms, lounges, kitchens, private bathrooms, and lobbies.
o Residents are not permitted to place their room trash in lobby or common area trash receptacles. Personal trash must be taken to the appropriate trash or recycling receptacle.
o Residents are not permitted to clean or dress animal carcasses in any building. Wild game meat may not be frozen in residential housing freezers unless the meat has been properly prepared/dressed.
o Repairs and maintenance must be performed by authorized University staff and personnel.
o Residents should report maintenance concerns in a timely manner by submitting a work request form (password to submit: cowboys).
o Residents will be held financially responsible for damages and missing items in their community. For damages or missing items in common areas, Housing will make every effort to determine the individual(s) responsible for the damage, so they may be charged. However, if specific responsibility cannot be reasonably determined, Housing will divide the cost of repair/replacement for damaged or missing items equally among the residents of that community. This action will be taken in instances where the combined cost per resident exceeds $5.
CHILD SUPERVISION
o Parents/guardians living in the apartments are responsible for the behavior and supervision of their children at all times. Cases of potential child neglect or abuse should be reported to UWPD and the Residence Life Apartments Staff.
DECORATIONS
o Decorations may not cover exit signs, alarms, smoke detectors, or fire extinguishers.
o Decorations also may not cover exit doors and hallways, exterior lights, or security peep holes/door viewers.
o Duct tape and masking tape may not be used in any housing or dining facility for any purpose.
o Painter’s tape and command strips are permitted.
o Adhesive is not allowed on walls including adhesive light strips. Lights can be hung using painters tape or command strips.
o Damaging walls is prohibited, including the use of nails, screws, etc.
o Residents may not hang lights on the exterior of the building, or outside of their rooms or apartments.
o Lighting and appliances must be directly plugged into an outlet (wall or approved power strip).
o Clothing, banners, tapestries, flags, blankets, advertisements, and/or messages may not be displayed in windows, hung, or placed outside the buildings and apartments.
o Perishable decorations (i.e. pumpkins, plants, etc.) must be properly disposed of in the dumpsters located outside of residence halls and apartments when they begin to expire.
o Live Christmas trees are not permitted.
o Items, except for stickers, may be hung on doors outside of the room with painters’ tape and/ or command strips but cannot cover the peep hole. There are no content restrictions on what may be hung, except if items contain constitutionally unprotected content. Residents may not take down or vandalize property on another’s door.
FIRE SAFETY
To ensure the safety of all residents, the following fire safety regulations apply to all University Housing facilities:
Electrical Safety
o Extension cords and multi-plug outlet adapters are not permitted.
o Only UL-approved power strips with built-in circuit breakers may be used.
o String lights are allowed inside rooms only if they are UL-labeled, designed for indoor use, and plugged directly into a wall outlet.
Flammable Materials
o Flammable liquids and their containers (e.g., gasoline, propane, and similar substances) are strictly prohibited both inside and outside University Housing and on University grounds.
Decorations
o All decorations must be non-combustible or treated with fire-retardant material.
o Flammable decorations such as live trees, dried plants, or similar items are not permitted.
Prohibited Items
o Candle warmers, including Scentsy-branded or similar devices, are not allowed.
o Candles, incense, and any open-flame items are strictly prohibited in all University buildings, including residence halls and apartments.
o Halogen lamps are not permitted.
o The use, possession, or storage of Hoverboards, Segways, IO Hawks, Skywalkers, and similar devices as well as e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and other similar devices is prohibited.
o The following items are never approved in Residence Halls:
• Barbecues and grills; crockpots; electric fryers; electric grills and sandwich makers/presses; electric woks; fog, smoke, and haze machines; hookahs, hookah smoking accessories; hot plates; portable space heaters; pressure cookers and instant pots; rice cookers; and toasters and toaster ovens.
Fire Safety Equipment
o Tampering with or covering fire safety equipment such as sprinkler heads or smoke detectors is strictly prohibited.
o Do not hang or attach any items to sprinkler heads or smoke detectors.
Egress and Exits
o Living and common areas must remain free of obstructions. Items must not block exits, doorways, or passageways at any time.
Electrical Load Limits
o Each side of a residence hall room supports a maximum of 1500 watts. Residents must monitor the total electrical load, especially when using high-wattage appliances such as microwaves, hair dryers, and coffee makers.
Evacuation Procedures
o All residents must immediately follow evacuation instructions from university staff, emergency personnel, or verbal alerts from fire alarm systems during any emergency.
Cooking and Heating Appliances
o Personal grills, smokers, flattops, and similar cooking equipment may not be used or stored inside or outside residential facilities.
o Cooking appliances must never be left unattended while in use.
o Open-flame and exposed-heat appliances (e.g., hot plates, toaster ovens, pressure cookers) are prohibited in residence halls. These items are only permitted in apartments and other residential areas with designated community kitchens.
Electric Mobility Devices
o The use, possession, charging, or storage of electric mobility devices—including hoverboards, electric scooters, and e-bikes—is prohibited inside all University Housing facilities.
FURNITURE
o Residents may not remove furniture from their rooms, apartments, or common areas.
o Residents will be charged for any items that are missing at the time of check-out.
o Property left behind by residents following check-out or agreement termination is considered abandoned. The resident will be charged for any costs incurred by moving or removing property from their room or apartment.
GUESTS
o All guests must comply with our Policies and Procedures as well as the University of Wyoming Student Code of Conduct. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests and may be held accountable for their guests’ actions.
o Guests must be accompanied by the resident they are with at all times.
RESIDENCE HALLS:
o Residence hall residents may host overnight guests, provided they obtain the approval of their roommate in advance.
o An overnight guest is defined as someone who is staying in a resident’s room past 12AM and who is not a resident of the room they are staying in.
o No guest may stay in a room for more than three nights in a 14-day period.
o A maximum of two guests are allowed in a double-occupancy room on a given night.
o No overnight guests are permitted to stay in a resident’s room during the first and last two weeks of the semester. This includes move-in, Saddle-Up, finals, move-out, and graduation periods.
APARTMENTS:
o Residents may host overnight guests, provided they obtain the approval of their roommate(s) in advance.
o No guest may stay in an apartment for more than 14 nights in a semester without being listed as a roommate on the UW Apartment lease. Further, a guest may not stay over three nights in a row.
LOCKOUTS & KEYS
o Residence hall and apartments students will be charged a $10 fee for each temporary key or replacement card that is not returned.
NOISE, QUIET, & COURTESY HOURS
o During all hours of the day, excessive noise is prohibited. Noise should not be heard from more than two doors away from your room or apartment.
o Quiet hours are observed from 10:00pm-8:00am on weeknights (Sunday-Thursday) and 12:00am-8:00am on weekends (Friday-Saturday).
o 24-hour quiet hours will be observed during the final 10 days of the semester.
PEST MANAGEMENT
o Residents are responsible for following any pest management procedures performed in their living space.
o If you suspect you may have pests or bed bugs, please notify Residence Life or Housing staff immediately. You can also submit a work order. Our pest management team will inspect your room as soon as possible, then will work with you if any treatment steps are required. Treatment can include pesticide spray, heat treatment of your room/belongings, and possibly temporary relocation.
RESIDENTIAL ACCESS
o Residential building entry is restricted to residents and their accompanying guests.
o Allowing another person to enter a residential facility by holding a door open is prohibited.
o Unisex accessible restrooms are located in the main lobby of each residence hall for guests.
PETS
o Pets are not permitted in residence halls and apartments (outside of those in Landmark Village), with the exception of fish contained in aquariums of 20 gallons or less.
o Residents living with a pet in Landmark Village are required to abide by the Pets Welcome Policy and Agreement.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS
o Emotional Support Animals (ESA) differ from service animals. Requests made by students living in residence halls and/or University apartments for ESAs are processed by the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS). The process must be completed before an ESA can reside on campus. ESAs who are found to be on-campus prior to approval will need to be boarded, at the owner’s expense, until the process is completed.
o The University of Wyoming is committed to compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its amendments.
o DSS will work with students on documentation and other requirements. Once approved, DSS will communicate with Housing and Residence Life.
o For ESAs and disability related accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services (DSS) at (307) 766-3073, email at udss@uwyo.edu, or visit their website at www.uwyo.edu/udss.
SMOKING
o Smoking is prohibited within all residence halls, apartments, and dining areas. This includes the use of pipes, cigarettes, hookahs, e-cigarettes, vape pens, and like items.
o Outdoor smoking is permitted at least 20 feet away from entranceway, passageways, operable windows, or ventilation systems.
o Cigarette butts and other smoking-related waste should be disposed of in ash containers provided outside of the buildings.
o The use of smokeless tobacco products is prohibited in the residence halls and apartments.
SOLICITATION & BUSINESS OPERATION
o Solicitation, including the sale of items or services in the residence halls/apartments, is not permitted.
o Students are not permitted to operate a business within their room or apartment. Conducting online business is allowed, as long as UW IT terms of use are upheld.
SPORTS
o Sports activities are not permitted inside the residence halls, apartments, or surrounding areas. This includes, but is not limited to, throwing objects, roughhousing, water fights, and roping.
o Active use of bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades/skates, scooters, or other related equipment is not permitted in, on, or around any facilities. Residents may walk bicycles to their rooms for storage.
o Hoverboards and similar self-balancing personal scooters are not permitted in the residence halls, apartments, or on campus.
o The use of drones or aerial vehicles is prohibited within the residence halls and apartments and surrounding areas without the appropriate permission.
USE OF SPACE
o Residents in double-occupancy residence hall rooms may onlyuse their own side of the room, unless they have purchased the space as a double-as-a-single. Residents in shared apartment accommodations (Bison Run Village or River Village) without a roommate(s) may only utilize their own lease-assigned space.
o If a resident has a concern related to a conflict with a roommate, the resident should contact a Residence Life staff member who will attempt to work with both parties to address the concern. If the concern is not addressed, the resident may request a room/apartment change, which may be granted at the discretion of Housing/Residence Life and may be dependent on available space.
o Room/apartment changes are not automatically granted or guaranteed. Changes must be approved by the Residence Coordinator, in cooperation with the Housing Contracts Office.
• Room changes are not permitted during the first two weeks of each semester.
o Changing rooms or trading keys to access another room is not permitted.
DINING CENTER
o Diners must have their WyoOne ID or temporary card with an associated meal plan to access the dining hall; no W#’s can be entered into the register.
o Residential meal plans can only be used by the plan holder
o Shirts, shoes, and appropriate clothing must be worn at all times.
o Dishes and trash must be taken to the designated area when finished dining.
o Diners may take two pieces of fruit or a dessert item when they leave the dining hall. All other food must be consumed within the dining hall unless a student is using the To-Go container program.
o Diners will be provided with a limited number of To-Go Meal swipes per semester. To access these meals, prior to swiping a meal card, the cashier should be alerted that a ToGo meal is going to be used.
o Although residential dining is an all-you-care-to-eat facility, at peak serving hours, diners may be limited in the number of portions they are served at one time to ensure efficient service for all diners. Patrons may always return to the station for additional portions if needed.
WEAPONS
RESIDENCE HALLS:
o Firearms, ammunition, and dangerous weapons to include explosive, paintball gun, airsoft gun, taser or other electronic restraint device, sling-shot, mace or pepper spray container in excess of 1 ounce, knife (blades 3” or longer except in the apartments or for cooking purposes only), precursor for explosives, brass knuckles, blowgun, dart gun, bow, arrow, and martial arts weapons are not permitted in or around the residence halls. This does not include the legal carrying or storing of firearms and ammunition with a valid WY conceal carry permit, pursuant to Wyo. Stat. §6-8-105 and UW Regulation 6-4. Use of any such item, even if legally possessed, in a manner that harms or threatens others is prohibited.
o For concealed carry permit holders, handguns must be secured in a biometric firearms storage container or a lock box within your direct control if it cannot be secured on your person (for example, while you are sleeping, changing, taking a shower, etc.). A firearms storage container or lock box is defined as a locked, hard-sided safe, gun case, or similar secure device designed specifically for storing firearms when not in use. Direct control of a firearm storage container or a lock box refers to the authority and ability to access it, even if it is not in the individual’s immediate physical possession at all times. This means the individual must retain control over the key, combination, or other access mechanisms to ensure that only authorized individuals can open or use the lock box. Additionally, the firearm storage container or lock box must be securely placed and protected to prevent unauthorized access, theft, or misuse, allowing the individual to maintain control and oversight. Firearm storage containers may be bought locally at sporting goods stores or through online retailers. It is your responsibility to procure the appropriate storage container or lock box. More information can be found on the University Campus Carry FAQs.
o Cooking knives with blades exceeding 3 inches in length are permitted only in university specified community kitchens.
o Weapons and associated paraphernalia, as defined above and in the Student Code of Conduct, displayed as decorations, are not permitted.
WEAPONS
UW APARTMENTS:
o Explosives are not permitted in or around the UW Apartments.
o Residents who are legally eligible to possess firearms may keep them in their apartments. It is strongly recommended that all firearms be stored in a secure and responsible manner within individual apartments (not in common areas) to help prevent accidents or unauthorized access. Free gun cable locks are available at UWPD and various locations across campus; however, these locks do not meet the storage requirements for concealed carry storage in residence halls. Firearms and bows may also be stored free of charge at UWPD, with 24-hour access. UWPD is unable to store gun cases, ammunition, or other weapons such as swords.
WINDOWS, BALCONIES, & ROOFTOPS
o Hanging, climbing, or attempting to climb on/within buildings is not permitted. Disabling window stops or rivets is prohibited. Balconies and rooftops may not be accessed by residents under any circumstances.
o Throwing, shooting, or dropping any object (including liquids) within or from any building is prohibited.
o Removal of window screens is not permitted.
o The use of window-mounted air conditioners is prohibited.
HEALTH & SAFETY INSPECTIONS
o Residence Life staff will conduct Health & Safety Inspections once per semester to check all residential facilities and ensure that all policies are being followed. Residents will be notified whether they passed or failed their inspection and will be given proper steps to remedy the violation(s), if applicable.
INCIDENT REPORTS
o If a student is found to be in violation of a policy, an Incident Report (IR) will be submitted by Residence Life staff. Incident Reports contain a narrative about what happened or what policy was violated and a summary of who was involved/their role in the incident.
o Once an IR is submitted, Residence Life staff will review the violation and follow the appropriate procedure for addressing the concern. Incident Reports are used by Residence Life or Dean of Students staff as part of the student conduct process.
CONDUCT PROCEDURES
o When a potential violation of policy occurs, an incident report is submitted, and Residence Life staff follow the same procedures used by the Dean of Students Office in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
RESOURCES
Housing, Dining & Residence Life
•uwyo.edu/living/
Residence Hall Information
•uwyo.edu/living/housing/
Residence Hall Contract Terms and Conditions
•uwyo.edu/living/housing/residence-halls/housing-contract.html
Apartment Information
• uwyo.edu/living/housing/uw-apartments/
Bison Run Village Lease Agreement
• https://www.uwyo.edu/living/_files/pdfs/bison-run-lease-25-26.pdf
Landmark Village, Spanish Walk, and River Village Lease Agreement
• https://www.uwyo.edu/living/_files/pdfs/traditional-apt-2025-26-new.pdf
• https://www.uwyo.edu/living/_files/pdfs/rv-rent-by-the-room-2025-26.pdf
University of Wyoming Student Code of Conduct
•uwyo.edu/dos/conduct/
University of Wyoming Regulations & Presidential Directives
•uwyo.edu/regs-policies/
Office of Equal Opportunity Report and Response (EORR)
•uwyo.edu/reportit/eorr/
The University of Wyoming does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and political belief in any aspect of employment or services. The institution’s educational programs, activities, and services offered to students and/or employees are administered on a nondiscriminatory basis subject to the provisions of all civil rights, laws, and statutes. Evidence of practices that are not consistent with this policy should be reported to Equal Opportunity Report and Response (EORR)