Residence Life Processes and Policies

Click here for information on how to self-isolate in residence.

Supporting a safe and secure residence community is an important role of the Residence Life team. Residence Life Dons, Team Leaders and Residence Life Coordinators (RLCs) work together with our residents to maintain an environment conducive to learning and community building. 

When we are made aware of or observe a possible violation of the residence rules or terms and conditions of the residence contract, Residence Life staff are asked to document the incident or interaction. This documentation is captured primarily to help Residence Life staff follow up with the residents involved to ensure they have the supports they need and to further investigate the incident if necessary. Our documentation also helps Campus Housing understand common challenges with current rules and identify trends of note across the residence communities to inform how we educate our residents every day.  

If a resident is documented, they may be invited to a meeting with a Residence Life Staff member to discuss the incident and share their perspective, and they may be issued an outcome. Outcomes may include a sanction or other follow up. It’s important to note that being documented in an incident does not mean you will be in trouble or issued an outcome; often we reach out to residents who are documented to ensure they have access to the resources they need to be successful and provide support if need be. 

Residence is a shared living environment, and it is the joint responsibility of all our community members to be informed of and adhere to the rules and expectations that support the ongoing safety, comfort, and reasonable enjoyment of our community.

 

Escalting procedures for residence life action.

COVID-19 Self-Isolation in Residence

Please refer to Ontario Public Health for guidance on self-isolation. Detailed information is also available in the Ministry of Health Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario document.

  • Staying in Your Room: You should remain in your individual bedroom for as much time as possible, except to access the washroom, retrieve food, or minimally to go on walks outdoors.
    • If you have roommates, you should be wearing a mask and practice social distancing when you are in the same space as your roommate.
  • Accessing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs): While supplies last, students can obtain disposable masks, cloth masks, and COVID-19 Rapid Antigen tests at the Front Desk of their building. Students can also purchase PPE through  Instacart to be delivered to residence.
  • Accessing Food: All students in self-isolation have two options available for accessing food. Students are expected to retrieve food no more than three times daily using one of the options below.
    • Contacting Food Services 
      • If you wish to order food from your residence eatery, please call during operational hours:
        • CMH: 519-888-4992
        • Village 1: 519-888-4003
        • REV: 519-888-4019
      • Students are responsible to coordinate a pickup time and residence location over the phone as well as method of payment (meal plan or credit card). 
      • If you have questions about accessing food, please contact Food Services at foodserv@uwaterloo.ca. 
    • External Food Delivery
      • You are welcome to order food/groceries using Apps/services such as Uber Eats, Door Dash, Wal-Mart or Instacart.
    • It is imperative that when leaving your residence room and accessing building common areas, that you wear a mask and maintain physical distance of at least 2 metres from others at all times.
    • You are responsible for the costs of obtaining food.
  • Cleanliness & Hygiene: Practice good hygiene at all times including washing hands, cleaning surfaces, wearing a mask, washing reusable masks, etc.
    • Before and after use of the washroom, please clean touch points and any contact areas. This is to ensure cleanliness and hygiene while self-isolating.

Campus Housing is here to support your well-being during this challenging time. If you have any questions or concerns, you are encouraged to access the following resources:

Resources for your reference  

Support for your well-being  

If you any questions related to your self-isolation or, if your friends or close contacts who are residents have questions about their wellness regarding COVID-19, encourage them to visit Residence Life Processes and Policies and complete the COVID-19 Self-Assessment tool. 

Universal Precautions

 

Icons of a mask, two people physical distancing, and handwashing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sanction?

A sanction is an outcome that is shared with a resident to help educate them on the impact of their actions on their residence community. Depending on the severity of the incident a variety of sanctions may be issued by Residence Life Staff. 

What other kinds of outcomes are there?

The following list describes some of the outcomes that may be issued by Residence Life staff. This list is not exhaustive, and some incidents may require Campus Housing to work with other resources (such as UW Special Constable Services).  

Peer conversation 

Many issues or concerns that come up are addressed in meetings with the resident’s Don. The focus of this conversation is to educate residents on the purpose of residence policies and clarify the residence rules and expectations. 

Educational sanction 

You may be asked to complete an educational activity (like writing a reflection or preparing an informative poster) and/or participate in a designated workshop or program on campus to encourage learning and reflection. 

Mediation 

When there are ongoing community or roommate disputes, or existing roommate agreements are not supported by all roommates, you may be requested to participate in a mediation facilitated by Residence Life staff to identify an appropriate resolution. 

Notice of Behaviour  

In the event of ongoing or repeated incidents following previous attempts to address behaviour a Notice of Behaviour may be issued. A written notice summarizing incidents and actions is delivered to the student and reviewed by themselves and Residence Life staff in a meeting, and the expectations to continue living in residence are discussed and agreed upon. 

Policy 71 (Student Discipline) notice 

Repeated violation of the community rules and expectations, especially those related to public health rules at the University of Waterloo, may result in written notice delivered to the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies and the faculty may choose to follow up with the student directly.

Financial restitution  

Fines may be issued for, but not limited to, tampering with fire safety equipment, property damages, and extensive vandalism. All fines are set at the discretion of the Residence Life staff and will be issued in writing and applied to a student’s Quest account.  

Relocation  

In some cases, Residence Life Coordinators may determine the current accommodation is no longer a suitable space for the student to participate safely and/or responsibly in the community and a temporary or permanent relocation to another residence community will occur.  

Eviction  

Eviction is reserved for those residents who have seriously breached the expectations for living in residence and/or infringed on the comfort and/or safety of the community.  

Can I have a room change?

Room changes will not be accepted for the first month of the academic term. Preference-based room changes cannot be accepted. If you require a room change for accessibility, please follow our Accessible Housing so we can support you. For other concerns, please contact your Residence Life Coordinator.

What is the Disciplinary Appeal Process?

To appeal disciplinary action and/or eviction from residence, the student must submit a Notice of Appeal to Manager, Residence Life within 10 working days of the action and/or eviction being appealed. Submission of the Notice of Appeal form does not change or delay the disciplinary action in question and the student is expected to carry out the sanction that has been imposed by the Residence Life Coordinator.