Services

Mail forwarding is not provided for commercial addresses by USPS. No mail will be forwarded during the summer break period. All items will be returned to sender. Items such as newspapers or magazines cannot be returned and will be discarded. Please update your contact information will all vendors to ensure your mail service is not disrupted over the summer.

Missing or damaged mail should be reported promptly to your Assistant Director of Operations or Resident Head. If a package is missing without confirmation of delivery on-campus from Housing & Residence Life, please follow up directly with the shipping vendor. 

Mail may be picked up 8:00AM - 11:00PM Monday through Saturday and 8:00AM-4:00PM on Sundays 

The residence halls participate in the University single-stream recycling program. Look for designated bins in lounges, common areas, hallways, and/or trash rooms. If you cannot locate a recycling bin, contact your Resident Head or the Assistnat Director of Operations. Recycled items have to be clean (empty of food and if possible, rinsed) and include:

• Aluminum food and beverage containers, including cans, foil, and pie tins
• Glass food and beverage containers – brown, clear or green
• Iron cans
• Plastic containers – clear and pigmented
• Newsprint
• Corrugated cardboard (flattened)
• Magazines and catalogs
• Cereal boxes
• Telephone books
• Office paper (including envelopes with plastic windows)
• Mail, including FedEx envelopes and envelopes with plastic windows

Facilities Services works with a specialized pest control vendor to regulalry monitor areas in and around the Residence Halls. Residents are responsible for reporting  suspected pest issues through Maximo as soon as they become aware of a possible issue. Pest control services are not available on weekends or holidays. 

Residents can help prevent pests by keeping their rooms picked up and clear of food debris. 

Residents are responsible for damages, missing furniture, and additional cleaning in their rooms upon moving out and checking out of their room. Residents will need to complete the Room Inventory and Condition report via the myHouising portal; they will not receive their mailbox combination or mailbox key until this is completed.

Residents should complete the Room Inventory and Condition report immediately upon moving to avoid being charged for damages that existed prior to their arrival. After check-out residents will receive an email detailing any damage bill charges if applicable.

Damages that occur in the common spaces of a particular House will be charged to that House. In areas supporting more than one House, damages in common spaces are the responsibility of all residents. A bill for such damages will be assessed to each resident on their account unless someone claims responsibility for the damage.

Residents need to leave their room “broom clean” upon checking out – including the removal of all trash. Failure to leave their room clean and clear of trash will result in fines.

Fire Code Regulations prohibit leaving luggage, furniture, bicycles, and other items in the corridors (including basement corridors) AT ANY TIME.

• Lost Room Keys- $125.00, core changes will be processed for security purposes in the event of a lost key. If a key is lost due to theft or you have any questions around your core change, please contact your Assistant Director of Operations.
• Lost Mailbox Key- $25
• Lost University ID Card [UCID]* varies by instance at ID & Privileges Office
• Improper room change – $25.00
• Late check-out- $50.00/hour
• Trash removal or cleaning required /to room: Minimum charge of $25.00 will be billed per resident
• Any and all labor (union rate) and material cost for repairs will be billed to student; only rarely are punitive fees added.
• Painting Room- $100.00 minimum per wall
• Smoke Detector- $90.00
• Furniture relocation or replacement: Minimum charge of $25.00 will be billed per resident 

All student rooms are furnished and residents are not permitted to bring any additional furniture to campus. All University supplied furniture must remain in your room. 

Upon check out, all residents are responsible for returning the room furniture to the same condition and layout as was found upon moving in. 

 

Residents are responible for cleaning their assigned room/apartment. Vacuums and brooms may be borrowed from the front desk but all other supplies needed are the responsibility of the resident. 

In areas with private bathrooms, residents are asked not to use chemical drain openers to unclog drains. Please submit a work order in Maximo for drain issues.  

All residence halls are heated and all are air conditioned except our most historic buildings: Burton-Judson, International House, and Snell-Hitchcock. The heating and cooling systems within our residence halls cannot operate concurrently nor can we switch between the heating and cooling systems, except seasonally.  Residents should not expect air-conditioning beyond October 1 or before May 15.

Should a current student, or an incoming student, require year-round air conditioning due to a disability, the student must seek an accommodation with the Student Disability Services Office. If approved Housing & Residence Life will order, install, and maintain the required equipment. 

Technology Services

Each residence hall has at least 1 printer available for student use. More details about this service can be found here. Printer services are provided through Proven IT, the University's third party vendor. For assistance or to report a service or supplies issue, call Proven IT at (773) 834-0038 or email proven@lists.uchicago.edu. These requests should not be made through University Information Technology Services.

All residence hall rooms use metal keys for access. Upon checking in, each resident will receive the key to their room. Residents maintain this key throughout the break periods, but must return the key upon check out. Residents who require a metal key for the main entrance of their residence hall, due to religious observance requirements may request one at the time they are checking into their housing assignment.

If a room key is lost, this must be reported to the residence hall front desk as soon as possible. The lock core and keys will be changed for security and the resident will be responsible for charges associated with this work. 

Students who get locked out of their room may obtain a temporary key at the front desk, which must be returned within one hour. Keys that are not returned to the desk will be considered lost and a charge will be assessed to the resident for it's replacement. 

Duplication of residence hall keys is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.

Each front desk has a variety of items that residents can check-out. These items include such things as vacuums, brooms, and moving carts; to list a few. Residents of a building may sign these items out at any time by providing the desk with a photo ID.  

The residence hall visitation policy can be found within the HRL Policies & Disciplinary Procedures document. 

Sabbath Observant Visitors

• UChicago Students: identity can be verified by providing front desk clerk with UChicago ID number, first name and last name
• Non-UChicago Students: valid government-issued photo identification must be provided to front desk clerk. Guest may also also visit front desk with host prior to start of Sabbath to pre-register as guest

Housing & Residence Life does not have on-campus guest rooms available to reserve. Please go to visit.uchicago.edu for information on accommodations in the neighborhood and around the City of Chicago. 

All residents are required to tap their University ID card at the front desk each time they enter their residence hall to verify their identity and residence hall access privileges. Sabbath observant residents can gain access to their residence hall during the Sabbath by stopping at the front desk and providing the front desk clerk with their UChicago ID number, first name, last name and housing assignment. Once the clerk has verified this information, the student will be provided entry to the building.

UChicago is committed to the safety and security of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus.  We ask for students to assist in maintaining the security of the residence hall by: 

• Tapping their UChicago ID card on the black access boxes at the building’s main entrance, front desk, and wing doors where necessary
• Not allowing individuals who are unknown to them to enter the building behind them
• Closing doors properly and tightly (no propping)
• Locking their room door (no "bolting" open)
• Reporting any suspicious activity to the front desk clerk

Under no circumstances should heat detectors, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fire hoses, standpipes, or fire sprinklers be tampered with. These are life-safety devices intended for emergency situations. Residents should fill out a work-order request or contact the front desk clerk if any of the equipment malfunctions or needs repair. Likewise, under no circumstances should automatic door closing devices or window screens be removed. Violation of these policies will result in disciplinary action.

Students are not permitted to go out on the roofs or fire escapes, or any area deemed as a “restricted area” of the residence halls and dining commons except in an emergency. Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action, including possible expulsion from Housing & Residence Life. 

Suspicious activity should be reported to a resident staff member or the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) at once.