:: Housing Rules and Regulations

1. The residents of College Housing are required to properly vacate dwellings no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of cessation of student status at TSTC-Harlingen.
2. The student(s) must keep the property in such state of repair as is recorded on the inventory inspection and property inventory form. Dorm furniture is not allowed to be moved outside of dorm.
3. Resident(s) shall notify the housing supervisor promptly of known need for repairs and wear and tear to his dwelling unit. Resident(s) agree to pay a reasonable charge for repairs of intentional or negligent damage of the leased premises caused by the resident or his/her guests. Time for repairs will be agreed upon between the resident and the housing supervisor. Work order forms shall be filled out at the Housing Office.
4. The student(s) must admit: a.) pest control personnel; b.) safety sanitation or periodic maintenance inspectors; or c.) maintenance mechanics. Families, the housing supervisor will leave notice of the scheduled visit to the apartment at least 24 hours in advance of the visit. If the student chooses to be absent, the housing supervisor will admit personnel for the above specifically outlined purposes at the scheduled time. Female dorms are inspected on Tuesdays; male dorms are inspected on Thursdays.
5. Student(s) agree(s) to allow the housing supervisor or a TSTC representative to enter the apartment without prior notice to residents(s) if the housing supervisor or TSTC representative reasonably believes that an emergency exists or a housing rule is being violated which requires such entrance, or to conduct inspections.
6. All approved new construction, alterations, or new utilities installations which are requested by the student shall be installed by TSTC at the student's cost, payable in advance, and will immediately become the property of TSTC as installed property.
7. Single students will neither use nor permit the use of the apartment unit for any purpose other than their own private dwelling.
8. Absolutely no other person(s) will be permitted to remain in the apartment between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. unless approved in writing, 24 hours in advance, by the housing supervisor. A fee of $7.00 is required per guest, per day, whether in the student sponsor's apartment or in another apartment. Student(s) may not give accommodations to lodgers. College Police will be provided with a list of guest by the housing supervisors.
9. Visitors will be permitted in the living room and the kitchen area only. Visitors must leave the apartment and yard by 12:00 a.m. (midnight). Visitors are not allowed to stay in the apartment unaccompanied by a student resident. This includes housing students who are not in the same dorm.
10. Business cannot be conducted from within any of the apartments.
11. TSTC has no insurance coverage. Any desired insurance coverage must be purchased by the student(s) at his/her own expense.
12. No antenna may protrude, be affixed to, or suspended from the apartment building without the supervisors permission.
13. Student(s) may not store their inoperative vehicles, boats, trailers, etc., within the TSTC Harlingen Campus Housing boundaries unless it is approved by the housing supervisor. After due warning, unauthorized vehicles of this type found on campus will be towed off without notice and stored at owner's expense.
14. Minor maintenance on personally owned vehicles may be performed in the housing area. Minor maintenance is defined as "that maintenance which will be completed within four (4) hours." The area must be maintained in a neat and orderly manner. Repairing cars in the housing area or using apartments as repair shops will not be permitted. No spray painting of any kind will be allowed in the rooms. Auto parts cannot be kept inside the dorm. No oil changing will be allowed in dorm area.
15. Washing of motor vehicles will not be allowed in the housing area.
16. All garbage must be placed in student owned, non-leaking containers immediately following food preparation and/or consumption, whichever is the earliest possible. Foods that need to be disposed of must be placed in plastic bags or leak-proof containers before being placed in outside trash containers.
17. All trash and garbage must be emptied everyday and placed in TSTC trash dumpsters, which are located outside the student apartments, prior to creating an unsanitary condition. Empty liquor bottles or cans will not be allowed in the dorm.
18. Student(s) must maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary living atmosphere. Student(s) creating an unsanitary condition due to un-cleanliness will be subject to eviction from Housing.
19. Students are responsible for not littering in their yards and around their dorms. No grease or leftover foods should be thrown outside the dorm, especially onto landscaping.
20. Pets are not permitted on campus. College Police, Physical Plant, and Housing employees are instructed to subdue and dispose of any animals which pose a threat to the well-being of college personnel or college property. All animals on campus will be considered to be stray. Subjugation and disposal is to be performed as is determined by the dispose to be legal and safe for his/her personal well-being. Whenever practical, wild or domestic animals will be moved alive and unharmed to a natural habitat or the Harlingen Animal Control Shelter, whichever is most appropriate.
21. Each room within an apartment must at all times have at least one operable clear, forty (40) watt ceiling light which can be activated from a wall switch.
22. The use of or possession of illegal drugs, narcotics, or hallucinatory agents in the dormitories is prohibited. Any student suspected of possessing or selling drugs or narcotics, who has been convicted of illegal use, possession, or sale of drugs or narcotics shall be disciplined accordingly and evicted from housing. Any drug residue or paraphernalia found in dorm is also sufficient evidence for eviction.
23. Alcoholic beverages are allowed in the confines of the apartment but are restricted and may not be consumed in parking lots, park areas, stairways and immediate areas surrounding the apartment. You must be of legal age, 21 years or older, to be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages inside dorm. Kegs of beer are not allowed in the apartments or other areas.
24. Weights and barbells are not allowed in any apartment.
25. Decorations (e.g., pictures, posters, statues, etc.) should reflect a decent (not obscene) image.
26. Gambling is prohibited.
27. Barbecuing and cookouts will be allowed only in the park area.
28. Due to representing a fire hazard, burning of candles will not be allowed. The Housing Office will strictly enforce the burning of candles, incense, or any type thereof. Candles, etc. used as decorations only are also strictly prohibited. Flammable liquids such as charcoal starter, gasoline, turpentine, or oils will not be allowed in dorms.
29. Wrestling, scuffling, and other types of horseplay on beds, rooms, or other areas of the apartment is prohibited.
30. No weapons, as defined in Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code, may be kept on college grounds. They may be stored at College Police and checked out for off-campus use when needed. Student's conduct should not infringe upon another resident's safety. Fireworks and explosives are prohibited.
31. Room security is the responsibility of the student(s). Dorm should be locked at all times when leaving the dorm.
32. All plug-in electrical devices (hair dryers, curling irons, etc.,) must be in good condition. Any defective items will be confiscated by the housing supervisor. All plug-in devices (except clocks, air conditioners, freezers, and refrigerators) must be unplugged whenever the apartment is vacant.
33. No changes will be permitted during the first twenty (20) calendar days of the semester.
34. Radios, stereos, televisions, tape players, and all noise and sound producers must be low enough to be heard in the room only and are not to be audible in the halls or nearby rooms. No big sound equipment is allowed in dorms like amplifiers, drums, or electric guitars. Sound equipment should be lowered by 10:00 p.m.
35. It is a violation to be found outside the dorm, riding around the dorms in vehicles, and causing noise after 10:00 p.m.
36. No parties (birthday parties, etc.) will be allowed at any time.
37. Any disorderly conduct, such as harassment of roommates, eating their food, and using their appliances without permission, is considered an offense.
38. Any person(s) giving free lodging to anyone will be evicted from the dorms. Individuals caught in dorms illegally will not be allowed into the dorms and will be off-limits to housing.
39. Any student removing a padlock, or entering a dorm when padlocked, during holidays or semester breaks will be charged with trespassing and will be evicted from the dorms.
40. College Police Officers are charged with enforcement of all college, city , county, and state laws and regulations on all TSTC property including college housing. Students are required to hand over student I.D.'s when requested by a officer. Any disrespect displayed to an officer will be a serious violation.