Room Search Policy
The College reserves the right to conduct an administrative inspection and/or thorough search of rooms in emergency situations to address safety and welfare concerns or when there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that a room contains contraband items, controlled substances, or items in violation of College policies such as drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, weapons, firearms, and/or excessive quantities of alcohol such as kegs, party balls, etc.
- College officials may enter a room for a visual inspection as needed. Health and Safety visual inspections are routinely scheduled and communicated to students by Residence Life.
- A room search can be authorized to address safety and welfare concerns or when there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that a room contains contraband items, controlled substances, or items in violation of College policy. Such an inspection may be conducted only by a College official with specific authorization from Senior Student Affairs On Call leadership (SOC). Prohibited items may be seized by Student Affairs or Public Safety professional staff.
- If the Resident Director On Call (RLOC) believes a room search is necessary, they will call the SOC to request permission. The SOC, or a member of the SOC rotation, may authorize a thorough search of a student’s residence. The RLOC will attempt to contact the room owner(s) to alert them of the authorized search and give them the opportunity to produce the items the College is seeking or witness the search. If the student cannot be contacted, does not desire, or is not able to be present, the search will proceed without the student present.
- If the student cannot be contacted or is not present for the search, the RLOC will contact the student following the search informing them of the attempt to contact and what was found during the search.
- The search will be conducted by the RLOC, Student Affairs Staff, or another Resident Director and witnessed by a member of the Residence Life, Student Affairs, or Public Safety professional staff. If a professional staff member is unavailable to witness, the on call or responding Resident Assistant (RA) may serve as the witness. Student Public Safety officers will not serve as witnesses. One person will complete the search while the other observes. Prohibited items may be seized by Student Affairs.
- Any found prohibited items, alcohol, or drugs will be placed in the center of the room. The RLOC or search leader will photograph & document the items. The RLOC will then direct the student(s) to dump the alcohol contents in the bathroom; one staff member will accompany the student to the bathroom to ensure the alcohol is disposed of. If the student is not present, the RLOC or search leader will dump the contents in the witness of a Residence Life or Public Safety professional staff member. Prohibited items and empty containers will be seized and taken to Student Affairs or Public Safety.
- The Residence Life staff will include photographs and a list of the confiscated/destroyed items in the documented Incident and Concern form (ICR). Prohibited items may be seized by Residence Life or Public Safety and will be disposed of according to the College policies. Contraband such as drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons, firearms and excessive quantities of alcohol will not be returned to the student.
- The Director of Public Safety will be notified of any weapons, illegal substances found, or of alcohol possessed by an underage student.