Residential Life

Charges

All residence charges are billed to the student account through the Office of Student Accounts. Payment must be paid to that office, as per the instructions on the billing statement.

Charges for damages, services, keys, and so on, which can be attributed to students during their residency, are billed to the student. Students are expected to pay all residential charges by the due date. Failure to do so may result in termination of the Occupancy Agreement and/or denial of room selection privileges.

The following are examples of what might cause housing charges applied to student accounts:

• Failure to Clean
• Trash left behind
• Painting a wall
• Repairing holes/tape scars
• Furniture and Rugs:
  • In the case of damaged and/or missing room furniture resulting in repair or replacement, the cost of the repair or replacement item will be billed to the resident(s). Common-area furniture found in a room(s) may result in a charge.
  • Residents will be charged for any damaged or missing furnishings or furniture.
• Room key not returned

Damages to students’ living spaces will be charged to their student accounts. This includes their rooms, but also common area damage that cannot be assigned to a specific person/group. Damage is considered more excessive than regular wear and tear, and is determined by Buildings and Grounds. Common area damages will only be charged if the total charge per resident of the building meets or exceeds $5/resident per semester.

Charges are made to student accounts based on the closing inspection of their room. For most students this occurs at the end of the spring semester. This can occur earlier if a student either moves to a different room, or if they leave campus (such as at the end of the fall, to spend the spring semester abroad).

Charges for damage to common areas cannot be appealed. To appeal damage charges to your room, please email the Office of Residential Life at reslife@vassar.edu, describing the damage charged and why you are appealing it. Damages charged after the fall semester must be appealed within a month of receiving the bill. Damages charged after the spring semester must be appealed by email no later than the end of August.