Fire, Health, and Safety Regulations 

Manhattan University makes a concerted effort to comply with state fire, health, and safety regulations to maintain a safe living environment for students residing in residence life housing. Electrical appliances and additional items or actions which may be considered hazardous by the Department of Residence Life and/ or Public Safety are specifically prohibited.

Students are responsible for upholding the following regulations: 

• All electronics must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, UL (Underwriters Laboratories or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories). 
• Personal belongings and/or university issued furniture may not block room egress or door swing.
• Residents are responsible for maintaining an adequate level of cleanliness in the room, especially on the floor, to prevent pests and to allow an unobstructed means of egress. 
• No decorations or signs shall be displayed on fire doors, in stairwells, or on exits. Decorative materials may not hang down over doorway openings, or cover/obstruct any life safety device. This includes “EXIT” signs, emergency lights, smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, sprinklers, fire extinguishers, AEDs, electrical panels, radiators, etc. 
• Residents can decorate their rooms and suites, however, students will be assessed damage fees if the decorations, or methods used to decorate cause damage to any part of the room, furniture, etc, or require Manhattan University staff to remove them.

• No decorative material(s) or coverings shall be placed over or attached to any sprinkler piping, sprinkler head, smoke detectors, heat detectors, radiator vents, light bulbs or lighting fixtures under any circumstances. 
• Residents are prohibited from attaching or hanging any item to the ceiling of the room, suite or apartment. 
• All decorations shall be at least 2 feet from/below the ceiling. 
• The number of decorative material(s) shall not exceed 20% of the total area of the walls. Flags, tapestries, etc., are permitted if they do not exceed 36 inches in any direction and are not hung on the wall directly over a bed. Hanging a 36-inch-long flag or tapestry will occupy 20% of the wall it is attached to. No other decorations would be permitted. 
• No decorations shall be hung on the outside of the suite or apartment door(s) besides residence life door tags made by the resident advisors. 
• Extension cords are not permitted. Students may only have surge protectors or power strips that have a reset button and and must listed by the nationally recognized testing laboratories, UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories) 
• Residents are permitted to bring a cube model refrigerator that is no larger than 3 cubic feet.
• Curtains must be flame resistant. Proof that the curtain is made of inherently flame resistant materials or treated with flame retardant and tested to Class A flame rating, must be attached to the curtains. 
• Fans are permitted but must not be placed in the window or up against window screens. Damage to screens or window tracks will result in window/screen replacement and associated charges)
• Screens are to remain in place at all times. Students may not remove screens for any reason other than in an emergency situation such as a fire, where the window is the only means of egress. Students must report damaged or missing screens immediately.
• Nothing may be hung on the inside of the Student's window or on the blinds. Students will be responsible for any damage caused to the blinds from hanging clothes, decor, etc.
• Nothing may be hung outside the student’s window or placed on the outer windowsill to prevent hurting someone standing or walking below.

The following items are not permitted in residence hall rooms, suites or apartments…

Prohibited Items List 

KITCHEN APPLIANCES (** are allowed in Horan apartments ONLY) 

• Student owned microfridges or refrigerators larger than 3 cubic feet 
• Microwaves larger than 0.7 cubic feet and/or more than 800 watts 
• Air-Fryers** 
• Hot Pots 
• Portable Ranges 
• Griddles 
• Toasters 
• Toaster Ovens 
• Rice Cookers 
• George Foreman Grills 
• Popcorn makers 
• Fondue Pots/Fountains 
• Electric Pots/Pans/Woks 
• Coffee makers/ electric kettles with exposed heating elements 
• Hot Plates 
• Crock pots** 
• Instant Pots, and other electronic pressure cookers 

LAMPS 

• Lamps with plastic or cloth lamp shades/covers 
• Lamps with exposed bulb 
• Halogen lamps or bulbs 
• Sun/Sunset Lamps 
• Lava Lamps 
• Clip-On Lamps are permitted ONLY if they use LED lights. Other clip-on lamps are not permitted

• Power splitter cables 
• Extension cords 
• Outlet extender/adapter 
• Multi-plug adapters 

OTHER PROHIBITED ELECTRONICS 

• Hoverboards 
• Electric Blankets 
• Air Conditioners 
• Space Heaters 
• Electric heating pads. Non-electric pads such as microwaveable pads are permitted.
• Appliances in need of electrical repair or which may be considered hazardous.
• Vehicles with internal combustion or electric engines to include motorcycles, motorized skateboards, hoverboards, motorbikes, etc. 

DECORATIONS

• Corn 
• Hay 
• Garland 
• Tinsel 
• Fake snow 
• Fake spider webs 
• Shag or high-pile rugs 
• Straw decorations 
• Crepe paper decor 
• Metallic or Mylar decor 
• Plastic door decor 
• Full length door coverings 
• Real Christmas trees 
• More than 2 lengths of decorative lights strung together 
• Artificial trees, wreaths or other artificial vegetation without certification of fire resistance. Artificial vegetation with certification of fire resistance must not exceed three feet 
• Doormats cannot be used outside the room/suite/apartment as they are a slip, trip and/or falling hazard. Additionally, doormats inside the room must not obstruct the egress path and should allow sufficient clearance for doors to open and close freely. 

FLAME PRODUCING & FLAMMABLE ITEMS/LIQUIDS 

• Fireworks 
• Oil lamps 
• Scented plug-ins 
• Grills of any type 
• Grilling charcoal 
• Incense accessories 
• Candles with a wick (burnt or unburnt) 
• Incense (burnt or unburnt) 
• Butane/lighter fluid /gasoline 
• Torches, including culinary torches 
• Scented oil, wax or candle warmers of any kind 
• Coals, including hookah coals. Hookahs that are free of coal residues may be stored in residence hall rooms. 
• Art supplies consisting of flammable materials such as oil based paints, stains, paint thinner, aerosol paint cans, etc. 

ALCOHOL/DRUG PARAPHERNALIA 

• Water pipes, bongs, one-hitters, hypodermic syringes/needles not prescribed by a licensed physician, any scale or smoking apparatus determined to be drug-use related, funnels for drinking, kegs, decorative alcohol containers, including empty wine/beer bottles used for craft projects. 

WEAPONS AND RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT 

• Weapons are prohibited in the Residence Halls, including but not limited to: firearms, electronic dart or stun guns, gravity knife, switchblade knife, pilum ballistic knife, metal knuckle knife, cane sword, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, plastic knuckles, metal knuckles, chuka stick, sand bag, sandclub, wrist-brace type, slingshot or slungshot, shuriken or “Kung Fu Star”.
• In addition, we prohibit any knives, box cutters, BB, paint or air guns, archery equipment, metal tipped darts and hoverboards. 
• All permitted items with a sharp edge must be safely stored away when not in use.

NON-COLLEGE ISSUED FURNITURE 

• All non-college issued furniture is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to desks, dressers, mattresses, headboards, couches, upholstered or wooden chairs, fabric-covered folding chairs, bean bag chairs, air-mattresses and other furniture items. 
• Bungee chairs or small bookcases no larger than (36” Length) x (24” Height) x (12” Width/Depth) may be approved as long as they are not blocking egress. 
• Storage units with any fabric covering, such as upholstered storage ottomans.

• Soldering equipment 
• Cinder Blocks 
• Power Tools 
• Bed Risers 
• Construction or wood working tools such as saws, hammers, drills, etc. 
• Tapestries, flags, etc., exceeding 36" in any directions that are hung on the wall
• Taxidermy (This includes finished products as well as skins, tools and other items used for the repairing, stuffing, or mounting taxidermy). 

The State of New York will occasionally instruct campuses to add items (especially new products) to the list of prohibited items if it is determined that they pose a health or fire hazard. Residence Life will inform students if this happens. At that point, any student in possession of such an item will need to remove it from the premises immediately. 

Additionally, Manhattan University reserves the right to have students remove from campus any item which is not listed, but deemed to be a fire or health and safety hazard by the Department of Residence Life, Public Safety and/or the NYS Fire Marshall. 

What if a prohibited appliance or item is found? 

• Residents are Officially Requested to remove the item from the residence hall. Should the student fail to comply with the Official Request, the item will be confiscated and the student will be subject to disciplinary action. Students will also be subject to disciplinary action for repeat offenses. 

Prohibited items that do not pose a safety risk when not in use that have been confiscated by or returned to Residence Life Staff will be stored for no more than 72 hours. Stored items that are not claimed and removed from campus will be discarded. Manhattan University shall bear no financial responsibility for discarded items.

Marijuana Policy

Manhattan University remains bound by its federal requirements under the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act and the Drug Free Workplace Act.  At Manhattan University marijuana/ cannabis is NOT permitted in any form, ANYWHERE on the university campus. This includes marijuana/ cannabis and its derivatives, including tinctures, topicals, edibles, etc. Medical marijuana is also prohibited. If you are found with marijuana while at orientation, please be aware that you will be required to surrender it and may face campus judicial consequences.

Smoking

Smoking (including the use of e-cigarettes, vaporizers, hookahs or any other smoking apparatus) is STRICTLY prohibited anywhere on Manhattan University campus. Any smoking apparatus determined to be drug use related is prohibited.

Prohibited Activities in Residence Hall Interiors

For the safety and well-being of all residents, playing sports or engaging in any athletic activity is strictly prohibited within residence hall rooms, suites, apartments, and all common areas including hallways. This includes, but is not limited to, activities involving balls, frisbees, or other sporting equipment. Additionally, the use of skateboards, bicycles, scooters, hoverboards, rollerblades, and motorized or non-motorized vehicles or devices is not permitted indoors under any circumstances.

Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or liability for any damages or injuries caused.

Pets

Pets are not allowed in the residence halls. It is important that everyone respect the idea that while some may enjoy being around pets, others do not and/or are allergic. Only fish are permitted. Fish tanks must not exceed 5 gallons.

Posting Flyers in Residence Halls

Students are not permitted to hang flyers, posters, or other promotional materials in residence hall common areas or hallways without prior approval from the Office of Residence Life or the Office of Student Engagement. Unauthorized postings will be removed. Repeat violations will result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Please contact either office for guidelines and approval procedures.

Use of Cameras and Recording Devices

To promote a respectful and private living environment, the continuous or unauthorized use of cameras, video recording devices, or other surveillance equipment within residence hall rooms, suites, apartments, or hallways is strictly prohibited. This includes live streaming or the use of smart home devices with recording capabilities.

Occasional, limited use of cameras for virtual meetings, academic purposes, or personal communication (e.g., video calls) is permitted, provided it does not infringe on the privacy or consent of others. Residents are expected to communicate with roommates, suitemates, or neighbors when recording may occur and obtain consent when necessary.

Unauthorized surveillance or recordings may result in conduct sanctions and may also be subject to applicable state or federal privacy laws.