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Bourne Chambers Halls of Residence Handbook 2011-12
Bourne Chambers
Halls of Residence Handbook
2011-12
Welcome
Welcome to the Arts University College at Bournemouth Halls of Resi-dence at Bourne Chambers. This booklet is to help answer any ques-tions you may have about living in Halls of Residence, and to set out the University College‖s commitment to you. It also explains your own responsibilities as a student resident. We appreciate that living away from home for the first time, along with starting a new course of study, can be quite daunting. It may take a while to adjust to your new lifestyle, and you can expect to feel a little homesick to start with. The Halls Officer and Student Services can help you with any practical issues, and the AUCB Counselling Service and Student Wellbeing Officer can provide confidential support if you want to talk things through. We hope you take the opportunity to develop new friendships and to get fully involved in University College life. Use-ful contact details are included at the end of this Handbook.
Your address
Your new address will be: [[Room number] Bourne Chambers St Peters Road Bournemouth Dorset BH1 2JZ The Halls Officer is based in the Halls Office on the second floor of West House Halls of Residence on the AUCB campus, and will assist with any practical issues you may have whilst living in halls. Telephone: 01202 527268 Fax: 01202 537729 Email: [email protected]
Contact numbers
Halls Office: 01202 527268 (fax: 01202 537729) Security guard: 07920298849 AUCB Reception: 01202 363200 Student Services: 01202 363242 / 363031 Senior Disability Officer: 01202 363291 Student Wellbeing Officer: 01202 363106 Counselling Service: 01202 363033 International Office: 01202 363233 Students‖ Union: 01202 363286 Finance Office: 01202 363216 ITCS Helpdesk 01202 363333 Emergency Services 999 (police, ambulance, fire brigade) Universities police team 07554 439650 NHS Direct 0845 46 47 Village Surgery 01202 525252 Urgent Care Medical Services 0845 600 1013 (out of hours medical care) Boscombe and Springbourne drop-in Health Centre Tel: 01202 727969
Complaints
If you wish to make a complaint relating to Halls of Residence please contact James Jackson, Halls Officer, in the first instance. If this does not result in a satisfactory conclusion you are entitled to make use of the Student Complaints Procedure, details of which can be obtained from the Student Services section of AUCB‖s intranet. For information on the Student Complaints Procedure, or to discuss your complaint, please contact Heidi Cooper-Hind, Head of Student Services: Tel: 01202 363220; email: [email protected].
UUK / Guild HE Code of Practice The Arts University College at Bournemouth complies with the UUK / Guild HE Code of Practice for the management of student housing. Copies of this code are available from the Halls Officer, Student Ser-vices, or the AUCB intranet.
Moving in
We wish to provide you with a warm welcome upon your arrival and for this reason we ask that you arrive to move into your room between the hours of 2.00pm and 4.00pm on the specified days. Whilst we appreciate that, if you travel long distances, it may not be easy to give a precise time of arrival, we cannot guarantee that the relevant staff will be available to meet you if you arrive outside of these hours. If you know that you will be unable to move into halls during the above times, please contact Student Services, who will try to arrange for a sabbatical officer from the Students‖ Union to greet you. If you are delayed on your journey to us, please be reassured that security staff are on the AUCB campus, so you will still be able to collect your keys prior to going to Bourne Chambers. The contact telephone number is included later in this handbook. Insurance We strongly advise you to take out insurance for your personal belongings. A number of companies offer student policies; details are available from Student Services. AUCB cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage incurred to your belongings.
What to bring with you
A bedding pack (duvet, pillow, sheet, and pillowcase) is provided in all rooms, if required. We suggest that you bring the following items: Spare Bedding Towels, bath mat, toilet roll Personal belongings – including coat hangers, iron, etc. If you are renting an en-suite room, you have one cupboard for storing your belongings in the communal kitchen, so we suggest that you bring only what you need, such as: Crockery: plates, bowl, mugs Cutlery and cooking utensils Saucepan, frying pan Tea towels, washing up liquid, dishcloths You are responsible for keeping your room in a clean and tidy condition so you may wish to bring basic cleaning equipment (bathroom cleaner, cleaning cloths, etc) with you. If you have a television in your room you must have a TV licence. You are responsible for ensuring that all electrical items that you bring are safe, used correctly and comply with all the relevant British legisla-tion. You will be required to list all electrical items you bring with you and to confirm that they are in safe working order. What not to bring with you The use of any item which increases the risk of fire or injury (e.g. kettles, toasters, additional heaters, dartboards or candles/naked flames) is not permitted in halls, so please do not bring these items with you. Smoking in halls is strictly forbidden. Pets, of any kind, may not be kept. Additional furniture cannot be brought in to the halls without prior agreement. The keeping of illegal or hazardous substances, firearms or any danger-ous weapon is strictly forbidden and may result in immediate eviction from the halls. Insurance
Damages and fines
The cost of any loss or damage will be deducted from your deposit. AUCB operates a system of collective responsibility, so the cost of damage to communal areas will be divided between all users. Indicative charges include:
Room
Repainting of walls - £150.00 (min) or cost
Room re-painted - £250.00
Carpet damaged - £400.00 per room
Sticker removal - £20.00 per sticker
Fire warning sign damaged or removed - £30.00
Broken blind/curtains - £50.00
Mattress destroyed/damaged/stained - £100.00 (single)
Room not emptied at end of year - £50.00
Keys not handed in at end of year - £80.00
Bin missing or broken - £20.00
Broken shower – deliberate misuse - £230.00
Broken or unhygienic shower flooring - £60.00
Bedside lamp damaged or missing - £15.00 Communal
Fire extinguisher emptied/mis-used per building - £100.00
Fire extinguisher tags broken - £5.00 per tag
Carpet damaged in corridor - £400.00 per strip
Kitchen needs painting - £250.00
Large ceiling tile destroyed - £50.00
Small ceiling tile destroyed - £25.00
Kitchen not emptied at end of year - £50.00
Personal kitchen cupboard not emptied at end of year - £20.00
First aid kit damaged or missing - £30.00
Vacuum cleaner broken or missing - £130.00 Failure to attend the Halls of Residence induction will result in a fine of £100.00. A full list of charges is included in your welcome pack, or is available on the AUCB intranet.
Terms and conditions
If you are under the age of 25 you will need to provide a guarantor (usually a parent) who can confirm that they will be responsible for the rent and any additional costs (e.g. for damages) in the event that these are outstanding. If you are under the age of 18, your parent or primary carer will also need to complete a parental agreement form. If AUCB is not able to collect the rent on the due date(s) because you have insufficient funds or have not informed the University College of any changes to your card details, there will be an administration charge of £25.00. Students must not change rooms or buildings without AUCB‖s consent. There will be a charge of £100.00 for room changes, to cover cleaning and administration costs. Students wishing to move out before the end of the residence agree-ment are liable for the remainder of the rent for the duration of the residence agreement. However, if another student (acceptable to the University College) is found, an administration charge of £100.00 will be made to the outgoing student, to cover cleaning and administration costs. The incoming student must sign a new residence agreement and pay the deposit and required rent before the outgoing student can be released from the terms of their agreement. It is the responsibility of the outgoing student to find a replacement tenant. If a student withdraws from AUCB the residence agreement will be ter-minated but the deposit will be retained by the University College in lieu of notice. In the event that a student is asked to withdraw from AUCB, they will receive 4 weeks‖ notice, upon completion of which the residence agreement will be terminated. Any deposit or over-payment of rent will be returned, minus any deductions for damages. Procedures to evict due to misconduct or non-payment of rent will fol-low AUCB‖s Student Disciplinary Policy.
Facilities in halls
Each flatlet comprises: Bedsitting room, with bed, desk area, wardrobe, drawers, chairs,
lamp, bin A bedding pack comprising 1 duvet, 1 pillow, 1 sheet and 1
pillowcase, if required Small kitchenette area, equipped with hob, oven, microwave,
kettle, toaster, fridge, sink, cupboard and preparation area. En-suite shower room with shower, toilet and wash hand basin. IT/TV connection. Each en- suite room has: Bed, desk, wardrobe, drawers, shelving, chairs Shower, toilet and wash hand basin A bedding pack comprising 1 duvet, 1 pillow, 1 sheet and 1
pillowcase, if required IT/TV connection There are communal lounge areas on the first, second and third floors, with seating and a breakfast bar. Kitchens are located on the first, second and third floors of the building. These are equipped with hob, oven, microwave, kettle, toaster, fridge, freezer, sink, lockable cupboards and preparation area. Kitchens and communal areas are cleaned, and bins emptied, on a daily basis. There is a pinboard in your room for posters (if you attach posters to the walls you will be charged for the cost of removing any marks they leave). There are no laundry facilities at Bourne Chambers. However, there is a laundry in each Halls of Residence on the University College campus which you are welcome to use. The washing machines and tumble dryers are coin-operated and currently cost £1.00 - £2.00 per load. Alternatively, details of local launderettes are included in the 2011-12 Student Welcome Guide. Please note that the standard voltage in Halls of Residence is 230V. A representative of AUCB has the right of access to residents‖ rooms at all reasonable times. Prior notice will be given, other than in emergencies.
Computing in halls
Each flatlet / study bedroom provides a broadband connection enabling you to connect your computer to the Internet and access additional computing services, resources and facilities through AUCB‖s network. This service is included in the rent and is primarily intended to enable you to extend your electronic learning environment in your residence. The current service is offered through a standard network cable – please note that this cable is part of the room‖s fixtures and fittings, and should not be removed from the room. No wireless (WiFi) provision is currently offered within the halls. All computers connected to AUCB‖s network must have appropriate Virus Protection software and users must abide by the University Col-lege‖s Acceptable Use Policy, a copy of which is available on AUCB‖s intranet, or from ITCS. It must be noted that the Internet service is restricted and monitored and does not include specifically Peer2Peer networking or online gaming provision. The University College reserves the rights to restrict the Inter-net usage as required. Any interruption to internet services will be re-sponded to in the next working day. Advice on current virus protection software and information relating to restriction of provision can be obtained from AUCB‖s ITCS Helpdesk on 01202 363333, by emailing [email protected] or through documents published through the ITCS section of the University College‖s Intranet.
Residence Agreement
Rent Rent for 2011/12: £95.00 per week £100.00 per week for small flatlets £120.00 per week for larger flatlets The duration of the residence agreement is as follows: Prep HE students:30 August 2011 – Friday 8 June 2012 Higher Education students: Monday 19 September 2011 – Friday
8 June 2012 Rent is payable termly, in advance. Rent will be collected by AUCB by credit / debit card on or following these dates: Autumn Term: 12 September 2011 (PrepHE students) 3 October 2011 (HE students) Spring Term: 9 January 2012 Summer Term: 16 April 2012 Please remember when your rent payments are due and notify the fi-nance office if there are any changes to the card details held by them, or if you are experiencing financial difficulty. Deposit A deposit of £380.00—£480.00 is required from each resident at the point of application to reserve a place in halls. This deposit is held until the end of the residence agreement when it will usually be returned, but some or all of the deposit may be withheld to compensate for dam-age, loss of equipment, debt or extra cleaning if this is required. This may include charges for damage to communal areas, the cost of which is shared between all tenants, unless individual responsibility is estab-lished. Failure to attend the Halls induction will result in a fine of £100.00. Final checks on the accommodation for damage etc. will be made at the end of the tenancy and any deductions will be itemised to you.
Fire safety Fire drills will be held each term and you should familiarise yourself with the nearest fire exit from your room, and the location of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment. Details of the fire evacuation pro-cedure are displayed just inside the entrance to each building. As part of your induction to halls you are required to view a short film on fire safety.
On hearing a fire alarm: you must leave the building by the nearest exit, do not run. Do not take any belongings with you. Close all doors behind you, shut your bedroom window if it is safe to do so, and go to your as-sembly point. You will receive further instructions from the emergency services. Under no circumstances may you return to the building until permission has been given. Please contact the AUCB Halls Officer or security guard on duty to inform them of the fire at the earliest oppor-tunity. On discovering a fire: however small the fire, you should activate the nearest alarm and shout ―fire‖. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire. If safe to do so close all doors and windows in the vicinity of the fire and leave by the nearest exit, as described above. Go to your assembly point and telephone the emergency services. Students must be familiar with the fire safety and evacuation proce-dure as displayed in Bourne Chambers. In the event of a fire, priority is given to clearing the building, so you should help to alert others as you leave the building. Fire extinguishers must not be misused and smoke detectors must not be covered or tampered with. Corridors and staircases must be kept clear at all times and fire doors must never be wedged open. Kitchen doors must be kept shut at all times and the hob never left unattended when in use. Naked flames are not permitted anywhere in the build-ings. Any student who deliberately raises a false fire alarm will be charged for the costs incurred, including the cost of staff time.
Cleaning and repairs
Students are responsible for keeping their rooms clean (vacuum clean-ers are available but must be returned after use). Rooms may be in-spected on a regular basis. Students are expected to wash up and remove rubbish daily and keep the kitchen clean and tidy for other users. AUCB reserves the right to take action should cleaning standards fall below acceptable levels. This may result in liability for any cleaning costs incurred by the University College. Communal areas will be cleaned on a daily basis by cleaning contrac-tors. These areas must be kept clear in order for the cleaning to be car-ried out. The outside area of Bourne Chambers must be kept clear; rubbish must never be left outside the buildings. Please ensure that you report any faults or items in need of repair promptly. All faults must be reported promptly. You can use the computer out-side the halls office or within Student Services to log faults via the TopDesk system—instructions on how to use the system are available by the computers. Alternatively, you can report any faults by emailing the Halls Officer on [email protected]. You are advised to request a receipt to ensure that your email has been safely delivered. Please note that faults must be reported via the correct reporting method – failure to do so will result in delays to any repairs.
Overnight guests
No overnight guests are permitted in the Halls of Residence, except with the express permission of an appropriate member of University College staff. Students must not sublet or allow anyone else to use their room. AUCB or security staff may insist on unauthorised guests leaving the building and residents are reminded that guests are their responsibility whilst in halls. Guests with mobility difficulties should be notified to the Halls Officer or security guard so that appropriate steps can be taken in the event of an emergency evacuation.
Facilities on the AUCB campus
The Arts Bar, Refectory and Gallery Café are situated on the AUCB Campus. The Refectory and Café are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 3.30pm and the Arts Bar, also providing snacks, is open 10.30am - 9.00pm (3.30pm on Fridays) during term time (hours vary during holi-days). There is a cashpoint in the Refectory. There are gardens with seating areas on the University College campus. At the start of term the Students‖ Union will be hosting a fresher‖s week. This is a week of social events designed to welcome all new stu-dents and is a good chance for you to get to know each other. Bicycle and car parking at Bourne Cham- bers There is no car parking availa-ble at Bourne Chambers. However, there are two municipal car parks nearby – please note that charges apply. Bicycle storage is available at the rear of the property—we recommend that you lock your bike at all times. Bicycles must not be kept inside Bourne Chambers. Any bicycles not claimed within one month of the end of the tenancy will become the property of AUCB.
Emergency only: telephone 999 and request an ambulance. (Please inform the Halls Officer if it has been necessary to call an am-bulance for any reason). If you need immediate medical attention but it is not an emergency: Take a taxi to the Accident and Emergency department of Bourne-mouth Hospital. If you need to see a doctor but it is not an emergency: Telephone the Village Surgery on 01202 525252 to make an appoint-ment to see a doctor. If you are unwell in the evening, overnight or at the weekend and need to see a doctor urgently: Contact the Urgent Care Services for Dorset and Somerset (UCSDS) on 0845 600 1013, or Boscombe and Springbourne drop-in Health Cen-tre—open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year—Tel: 01202 727969. For medical advice: telephone NHS Direct: 0845 4647. For minor illnesses such as coughs, colds and upset stomach, visit a pharmacist for advice and over-the-counter medicine.
Medical treatment—who to contact
Your Health
We would strongly advise that you register with a local doctor as soon as possible. The local Village Surgery is a short walk from the University College campus and they hold two surgeries per week on campus. A registration form will be provided in your welcome pack, or is available from Student Services. If you fall ill with an infectious disease please inform the Halls Officer so that any potential risk to fellow residents can be assessed. If you be-come ill during the holidays whilst you are away from halls, please do not return to halls until your doctor confirms that others are not at risk of infection. If you are worried about the welfare or behaviour of a fellow student in halls for any reason, please contact Student Services or the Halls Officer to discuss your concerns. Your confidentiality will be respected.
Facilities in the local area
Bourne Chambers is situated in Bournemouth town centre, which has shops, bars, clubs, restaurants, etc, as well as good transport links to AUCB and surrounding areas. Bournemouth beach (pictured below) is a 15 minute walk away from Bourne Chambers. Transport to the AUCB campus (approximately 2.5 miles away) costs approximately £9.00 by taxi and £2.50 by bus. However, the Uni Linx bus service, which runs Monday – Friday, costs £8.00 for a book of ten tickets (available from AUCB‖s finance office); services to Poole, Bournemouth and Boscombe are available. The AUCB Student Welcome Guide includes further details of facilities in the surrounding area.
Environmental awareness
The Arts University College at Bournemouth is conscious of its respon-sibility to promote environmental awareness and sustainability. The University College encourages residents to minimise energy use, use any appropriate recycling facilities and to generally reside in the halls in as ―green‖ a lifestyle as is appropriate / possible. Repeated or deliberate wastefulness (eg. leaving lights on, showers running etc) or otherwise failing to respond to the need for energy conservation, may result in disciplinary action. AUCBSU encourages all students residing in halls to participate in the Student Switch Off campaign.
The Universi- ties‖ Safer Neighbour- hood team pa-trol the AUCB campus and Bourne Chambers. The police are always happy to give advice and guidance, and you can speak to them confidentially. For informal advice and guidance, you can contact the Universities‖ team on 07554 439650, or email [email protected].
IN AN EMERGENCY, TELEPHONE 999 FOR POLICE, FIRE BRIGADE OR AMBULANCE. 999 calls are free from any phone, and must ONLY be used in an emer-gency.
Personal safety
is affected by a temporary disability (eg. a broken leg). Security Officers will be on duty at the AUCB campus between 9.00pm and 9.00am Monday to Thursday, and from 9.00pm Friday until 9.00am Monday. They will be based in the security lodge at the main entrance and will patrol the University College campus and halls, in-cluding Bourne Chambers, to safeguard your personal safety and to ensure that the rules and regulations are upheld. They can be contact-ed by mobile telephone at all times—you are advised to store the num-ber in your mobile phone. You should always lock your room door, even if you just go to the kitch-en or lounge. The main entrance to halls should never be left open, and you should report any suspicious behaviour to the Halls Officer or secu-rity guard on duty. If you lose your keys the Halls Officer or security guard will be able to let you into your room. Replacement keys can be obtained from the Halls Officer for an additional cost.
Please report all accidents to the Halls Officer so that a record may be entered into the acci-dent book. AUCB works in partnership with the Dorset Police Universities‖ Safer Neighbourhood Team, whose role is to police AUCB and the neighbouring Bourne-mouth University.
Personal safety
Student Duty of Care Living in shared accommodation can be a vibrant, dynamic experience, with the opportunity to share with, and learn from, fellow students from across the world. You have the chance to make friendships, and to meet with people from different backgrounds, with different out-looks on life. At the Arts University College at Bournemouth we believe that every-one is entitled to study, work and live their lives in an environment free from discrimination. We aim to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between all persons. It is important that you recognise the important part you each play in delivering a friendly, welcoming and safe environment which counts as home to all student residents. This includes a responsibility for health and safety issues, but also in showing consideration for others, and promoting general well-being. Behaviour in Halls We want your time in halls to be happy and comfortable and these regu-lations intend that all students can enjoy their time here. Please remem-ber that you have a responsibility to be a good neighbour. Any breach of these regulations or the terms of the Residence Agreement may result in disciplinary action. This could result in a fine or, in serious situations, could result in you being evicted. The Arts University College at Bournemouth requires students to con-duct themselves at all times in a responsible and proper manner to-wards other students, guests, AUCB staff and representatives, includ-ing security guards. In addition, when in Halls, students are responsible for the behaviour of their invited guests, and will be liable for the cost of any damage they may do.
Conduct regulations
Charges will be incurred for damages and vandalism. Charges for dam-age to communal areas such as kitchens or hallways will be divided by all residents or users unless individual responsibility can be identified. A full list of charges for damages is included in the induction material provided in the Halls of Residence Welcome Pack and are available on the AUCB intranet; examples of charges are included at the end of this handbook. Remember that others may keep very different hours to you, for what-ever reason. We ask you to ensure that you do not contribute to unac-ceptable noise levels, and have due consideration to those who may be working or sleeping, whatever the time of day. Between the hours of 11.00pm and 8.00am you should not cause any noise which is audible outside of your room.
AUCB operates a system of collective responsibility which means that where an individual(s) cannot be identified as responsible for any dam-age or other disciplinary matter, then those residents whom the Uni-versity College deems most likely to be responsible will be held jointly liable. (Note: in reaching this judgement, the University College will not consider individual statements of innocence.)
Misconduct Misconduct in halls or any breach of AUCB policies or these guidelines will be dealt with according to the AUCB‖s Student Disciplinary Proce-dure. Disciplinary offences are characterised as minor or serious; differ-ent procedures are followed and different penalties may apply, de-pending on the category of offence. In applying the Student Disciplinary Procedure to incidents relating to Halls, the Head of Student Services will fulfil the functions of the Course Leader, and the Director of Academic Services will fulfil the functions of the Head of School. The Course Leader will also be noti-fied of any penalty imposed. Students will be required to reimburse the University College for the cost of any damage to property as a result of his / her actions. This will be in addition to any penalty (including a fine). Copies of all AUCB policies are available on the University College in-tranet, or from Student Services. Bourne Chambers is an old building and is not accessible to wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties. There is no lift within the build-ing. Please note that you should inform the Halls Officer if your mobility
Damages and misconduct Disciplinary action
The following list gives typical examples of minor misconduct; it is in-dicative, and is not intended to be exhaustive. Minor damage to property Creating a disturbance through rowdy behaviour or loud music Wasteful use of resources (including water or electricity) Failure to maintain a reasonable state of cleanliness Showing a lack of respect to other tenants, visitors or staff Penalties for minor misconduct include: Apology and restitution to third parties Formal reprimand Warning Conditional discharge. The following list gives typical examples of serious misconduct; again it is indicative, and is not intended to be exhaustive. Harassment or bullying Theft, or serious or repeated damage to property Threatening behaviour or physical violence Smoking within Halls of Residence Substance abuse Disruptive behaviour and unwillingness to co-operate with rea-
sonable instructions from staff Repeated instances of minor misconduct. Penalties for serious misconduct may additionally include: Eviction from Halls of Residence A formal warning AUCB service penalty A fine of up to £150, to be paid in cash within 10 working days. In the most serious circumstances, serious misconduct might result in the suspension or permanent exclusion of a student from AUCB. If the disciplinary procedure results in eviction, the Director of Aca-demic Services will serve a notice to quit, giving 4 weeks‖ notice for the student to vacate his / her room in halls. Any deposit or overpayment of rent due after the notice period will be refunded to the student, mi-nus the cost of any fines and / or costs.
