University Housing

Room/Suite Inspections: Student rooms and/or suites will be periodically inspected by Property Management staff. Inspections are generally not announced. Any unacceptable conditions found during the inspection must be corrected within the specified time frame and will carry mandatory fines. Additionally, policy violations will be reported to AU Housing staff for conduct sanctions. Any prohibited items discovered during room inspections will be confiscated by Property Management staff and fines will be imposed.

At the start of Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks, RAs will check each resident’s room to ensure that students have left and all closing procedures were followed. When RAs notice policy violations, the violations will be reported to Housing staff.

Room/Suite Entry: Housing staff members and other authorized University personnel may enter a resident’s room and/or suite under the following circumstances:

• when there is an immediate threat to the health and safety of residents/property
• when it is necessary to preserve campus order, security, or discipline
• during fire drills or severe weather evacuations
• for routine maintenance repairs or inspections
• at closing for all university breaks

Weapons and Firearms: During room/suite inspections, any weapons or firearms found will be confiscated and turned over to the proper authorities and a $200 fine will be imposed. See the Dangerous Weapons and Firearms Policy for a list of prohibited items. University Housing prohibits the possession and use of airsoft guns.

Security of the residence hall is everyone’s responsibility. Direct any questions or concerns to the RA staff.

Hall Access: Residents must carry their keys and TigerCard with them at all times. Do not prop exterior or interior doors and unprop any propped doors.

Keys/TigerCards: Residents are responsible for the key(s) assigned to them at check-in. Report a broken, lost, or stolen key or TigerCard to the RA immediately. Lost or stolen cards should be reported immediately to the TigerCard staff to deactivate the card and to request a replacement card. Residents should request a temporary access card from the Area Office or their RA until they receive their new TigerCard. Temporary cards should be returned within 72 hours. If the resident does not return the card in this timeframe, a $15 fee will be added directly to the student account. If a resident loses their key or it is stolen, there is a $100 lock change fee billed directly to their student account.

Room Security: Residents are advised to lock their room door anytime they are sleeping or away from the room. Immediately report lost keys to the RA or damaged lock mechanisms to Property Management.

Report all suspected thefts to a Housing staff member (i.e., the RA on duty), and file a report with the Auburn Police: (334) 501-3100. Students are encouraged to check with their family’s insurance provider to determine if their homeowner’s/apartment dweller’s policy covers personal property. If this coverage is not provided, students are encouraged to purchase personal renters’ insurance.

Suspicious Behavior: Do not allow any unknown person to enter the residence hall. Report suspicious behavior by calling 911 immediately.

Severe Weather: Severe weather is a threat to campus and every resident needs to know how to respond. In Alabama, tornadoes can occur any time of the year, but peak in the spring – March through May – and again in November.

• Tornado Watch: This means that conditions are favorable for severe weather and possible tornadoes. During a watch, students should consider how they will seek shelter should a tornado warning be issued. There may not be time to start looking for a shelter area once the warning is issued. The outdoor warning sirens will not sound unless there is a tornado warning.
• Tornado Warning: This means that a tornado has either been seen or appears on a weather radar. The Outdoor Warning Sirens will sound when there is a tornado warning for campus and they are intended to warn people that are outdoors. Once the tornado warning is issued for campus, an AU ALERT is sent to all students, faculty and staff. Additionally, all residence hall digital signage and the indoor public address systems in the Village and South Donahue may be activated to provide instructions.
• Outdoor Warning Sirens: The Outdoor Warning Sirens on campus are tested the 4th Wednesday of each month at noon. Because the outdoor warning sirens may not be heard indoors, students are encouraged to sign up for Auburn’s emergency notification system (AU ALERT) and to consider purchasing a NOAA weather radio. AU ALERT is used to communicate time-sensitive information via text, voice, email and social media.

If students receive an alert that there is a tornado warning, take shelter immediately in the designated shelter locations. Shelter locations are clearly marked with white and green signs and are typically located on the lower interior portions of buildings on campus. Severe Weather Shelter locations are identified on building diagrams.

• If shelter is not available, move to the center and lowest point of the building.
• Stay away from windows and doors to prevent injury from glass or other flying objects and cover your head with any heavy/bulky object to protect yourself.
• Do not go outdoors to watch the storm, Campus Safety and Security personnel and trained storm spotters will monitor the situation.
• If you are in a vehicle, seek shelter in a building or other safe place. As a last resort, you should seek shelter in a ditch or low lying area until the threat passes. Be careful and look for low area flooding as well.
• If flood water rises, do not attempt to wade or travel through the stream, even small amounts of water can be very dangerous.
• Report any injury/damage to the 911 dispatcher and provide them as much information as possible to respond to the emergency.
• Once the storm has cleared and only after dialing 911 for help, then notify Campus Safety and Security at (334) 844-8888 of any damages or injuries.

Shelter-In-Place: If advised to “shelter-in-place” follow the instructions provided at that time. In most cases, students will be asked to stay indoors, stay away from all windows and doors until the danger passes and they receive an “all clear message”.

Suspicious Object or Package: If you find or receive a report of a suspicious object or package, do not touch the object/package and immediately call 911 to report it. Leave the immediate area and tell others around you so they can clear the area as well. Auburn Police will respond and investigate. Do not initiate a building evacuation unless instructed to do so by Auburn Police or Campus Safety and Security personnel.