Residence Life Policies

As a member of our residential community, you have responsibilities and a commitment to others.

In general, you should:

1. Respect the basic rights of others
2. Respect university property and the personal property of others.
3. Refrain from activities that interfere with the regular operations of the university.
4. Present identification upon the request of an authorized university official.
5. Ensure that guests behave in a manner consistent with university and residence Life policies.

Quiet Hours

Designated quiet hours in all residence halls begin at 11:30 p.m. Quiet hours are maintained to provide an atmosphere conducive to relaxation, study, and sleep within our residence community. During designated quiet hours, no noise should be heard outside of your rooms. You should not engage in any form of disruptive activity in hallways or other public areas, inside or near residences. Students who cause disturbances or excessive noise at any time will be subject to disciplinary action.

We recommend that you bring all personal items (e.g. clothing, linen, pillows, towels, soap, shampoo, etc.). However, should you forget or need something, we are a few blocks away from Staples, Target, and other stores.
 
The university beds are twin standard sized. Each room includes the following: beds, desks, chairs, closets, a dresser, a sink, a medicine chest, a trash receptacle, and an air conditioner.

Yeshiva University is not responsible for loss, damage or theft of personal belongings. Many families have homeowner's insurance policies or special "floaters" added to the policy to cover losses away from home. Please report any losses or thefts immediately to the Department of Safety and Security in Brookdale Hall (Beren) or Strenger Hall (Wilf), as well as to your resident adviser and the Office of Residence Life.

Lost and Found

The office for retrieving lost property or submitting found items is the Department of Safety and Security in Brookdale Hall (Beren) or Strenger Hall (Wilf).

Visitor Policy for Undergraduate Student Housing

Effective September 1, 2022

The university recognizes that having non-YU friends visit you on campus and spend time with you in your residence hall may be an important part of your college experience. As such, undergraduate students are permitted to host visitors in their university residence halls on the following terms and conditions. For the safety of the university community, all visitors must have a visitor pass issued by security.

Visitors are expected to abide by this policy and all other university policies and procedures (including safety and access restrictions), and to immediately comply with all instructions of university personnel. The student host will be responsible for their visitor, and will be responsible for any non-compliance and any harm or damage caused by their visitor. The university reserves the right to remove or restrict any visitor at any time as it may deem necessary or desirable.

Any visitor who is coughing or shows other signs of illness will be asked to immediately leave campus. This is true whether or not they test positive for COVID or another disease. YU is not able to provide any quarantine or isolation rooms for ill visitors.

The university reserves the right to modify this policy at any time without notice.

Daytime Visitors

• Students may be permitted to host not more than 2 persons per day between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• In advance of the visit, the student host must email visitormanagement@yu.edu with their guest's name, arrival time, and departure time. This can be done on the day of the visit, but must be done in advance.
• On the day of the visit, the visitor, accompanied by their student host, must first go to one of the following locations to be issued a one-day, limited daytime access visitor pass by Security:
  • Wilf Campus: Strenger Hall Security Office, 2521 Amsterdam Avenue
  • Beren Campus: Brookdale Residence Hall Security Office, 50 East 34th Street
• The student host must present their YU ID to security.
• The visitor must present a valid government-issued photo ID to security.
• Visitors must be accompanied at all times by their student host.
• Visitors, accompanied by their student host, will be permitted to access: 
  • the host’s residence hall and (subject to permission of the host’s roommates) room/apartment,
  • the campus’ dining hall,
  • the campus’ batei midrash,   
  • the campus’ minyanim, and
  • on the Wilf Campus, the Shenk Shul located in Schottenstein. 
• Visitors will not be permitted to access any other campus spaces, including libraries, athletic or recreational facilities, and classrooms. Visitors will not be permitted to attend campus events (unless otherwise open to the public). Visitors will not be permitted to use the campus shuttles.
• Please note that currently only non-cash forms of payment are accepted by the dining halls. Students may not use their Caf Cards to purchase food for visitors. 
• Daytime visitors are not required to be vaccinated/boosted against COVID.

Overnight & Shabbat Visitors

• Students may not host more than 1 overnight visitor per night / 1 Shabbat visitor per Shabbat. The overnight visitor may not stay more than 3 consecutive nights or 5 nights in a month. 
• All overnight/Shabbat visitors are required to comply with all COVID vaccination requirements of university undergraduate students. At the moment, there is no vaccine requirement.
• All visitors must be between the ages of 16 – 25, and otherwise deemed suitable (e.g. only male visitors in the Wilf residence halls, and female visitors in the Beren residence halls).
• The student host must receive prior approval of their roommates for the visitor.
• The student host must receive prior approval from the Office of Residence Life at least 48 hours prior to the visit. The student host must accurately complete all forms required by Residence Life. Residence Life will only be responding during business hours (Monday -Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) so please plan accordingly. 
• For Residence Life to approve the visit, the student host must provide the following information: 
  • Full name, cell phone number, and banner ID of student host
  • Residence hall/room of student host
  • Full name and cell phone number of visitor
  • Date and time of visit
  • Completed guest form with RA approval (Wilf Campus only)

Residence Life has the discretion to reject a visitor for any (or no) reason. If the guest is approved, Residence Life will notify the student host and the Security Department at least 24 hours in advance of the visit, at visitormanagement@yu.edu, with the above information.

• On the day of the visit, the visitor, accompanied by their student host, must first go to one of the following locations to be issued a 1-3 day, limited overnight access visitor pass by security: 
  • Wilf Campus: Strenger Hall Security Office, 2521 Amsterdam Avenue 
  • Beren Campus: Brookdale Residence Hall Security Office, 50 East 34th Street 
• The student host must present their YU ID to security.
• The student host must present to security a completed guest form (available from security). The guest form must be approved by their RA (so the student host should coordinate beforehand with their RA in advance of the visit). 
• The visitor must present a valid government-issued photo ID to security.
• Visitors must be accompanied at all times by their host.
• Visitors, accompanied by their host, will be permitted to access:
  • the host’s residence hall and room/apartment,
  • the campus’ dining hall,
  • the campus’ batei midrash,
  • the campus’ minyanim, and
  • on the Wilf Campus, the Shenk Shul located in Schottenstein. 
• Visitors will not be permitted to access any other campus spaces, including libraries, athletic or recreational facilities, and classrooms. Visitors will not be permitted to attend campus events (unless otherwise open to the public). Visitors will not be permitted to use the campus shuttles. 
• Please note that currently only non-cash forms of payment are accepted by the dining halls. students may not use their Caf Cards to purchase food or meal tickets for visitors. Shabbat meal tickets should be purchased for Shabbat guests in the week prior to their arrival. 

Internet access is provided to all students in university housing.

YUWireless

YUWireless is the internet service available in all academic buildings on campus. For support, contact the Office of Residence Life or ITS Academic Computing Office by emailing helpdesk@yu.edu or calling 646.592.3457.

YUHousing

To log into YUHousing, use your university-provided active directory (YUAD) credentials. Once you are logged in, you will need to disconnect and reconnect from the Wi-Fi. Alternatively, you can restart your device after entering your credentials.

If you don't know your credentials or are unsure what they might be, visit www.yu.edu/findid and enter your banner ID (800 number).

If you receive this error, please contact the YU Helpdesk at 800.829.7418 or e-mail helpdesk@yu.edu 

For any other wireless access issue, please contact 732.974.1502 or email service@privatelinc.com

To connect a device that doesn't have a screen, we have made an instructional video to guide you through it.  Or you can view instructions online.

For the Information Technology Services Handbook for Students, click here.

As a reminder, please be mindful with your internet usage. Illegal downloading, illegal file sharing or online piracy may result in a disciplinary hearing and intermittent or total loss of internet access.

Shabbat is a warm, communal experience in university housing. Refreshments and board games are put out every Friday night and Shabbat afternoon, and a variety of programs is planned in partnership with the Office of Student Life and Undergraduate Torah Studies. Elevators in the residence halls are set to run automatically on Shabbat.

Shabbat programming is aimed to be inclusive of students from all backgrounds and inclinations. To achieve the Shabbat environment we strive for, in university residence halls, public observance of Shabbat is mandatory for students and guests. It is the student's responsibility and that of any guests s/he hosts for Shabbat to abide by the residence hall regulations.

• Students' and guests' behavior and dress should be appropriate for Shabbat.
• No Shabbat candles may be lit in student rooms because of NYC fire regulations.

The use of computers or electronic devices is prohibited on Shabbat. Use of such appliances on Shabbat will be treated as a violation of Residence Life rules, and the student involved will be subject to disciplinary action.

(Beren) Tables are set up in each residence hall lounge for candle lighting each Shabbat.

You must remove all chametz from your possession before Pesach.

Bedikas Chametz

Before you leave for Pesach, a thorough cleaning should be done of your room or apartment in order to remove all chametz in your possession. You are obligated to do a “bedikas chametz” on the night before you leave, without a bracha (as it will not be ‘Erev Pesach’ proper). You can also assign a roommate to do this on behalf of everyone in the room.

Issur Chametz

One should eat, discard, or otherwise remove any chametz items they own and remove all trash (into the large bins in the hallway) before leaving for Pesach. The prohibition to own chametz takes effect while the residence halls are closed, so all chametz must be removed from your room / destroyed before leaving.

Selling Chametz

If you do not wish to discard chametz products, you must sell them through the process known as “Mechiras Chametz,” as according to halakha (Jewish law), one is not allowed to eat from chametz that was owned by a Jew over Pesach.

Keys are a basic part of maintaining a safe and secure campus experience. In order to protect the belongings of all residents, each student is expected to lock the door to his/her room at all times. Upon moving onto campus, each student will receive a room key (and on Beren, either a mailbox key or a mailbox code depending on the specific residence hall). Yeshiva University issued keys may not be duplicated. Any student attempting to do so may be subject to disciplinary action. All room and key switches must go through the Office of Residence Life. If a student loses her/his key, s/he should notify security and Residence Life immediately and order a replacement key.

If your room assignment during the semester is changed, you are responsible for returning the original key that was issued to you. Failure to do so may result in fees or cancellation of the move.

Lost and Replacement Keys

• If a student loses his/her key, there is a $150 fee to replace a room key and a $10 fee to replace a mailbox key.
• If one roommate misplaces a key, the lock will be changed by the university locksmith and all roommates will receive a new key. Only the one roommate who lost the key will be charged for the replacement key.
• Once the lock is changed and a replacement room key is made, a note will be placed on the student's door and the key will be available to be picked up from the Office of Residence Life between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• In the interim, until the student's new key arrives, security is available to open and lock the room after the student presents his/her ID. On Beren, if the student needs to check her mail while waiting for a replacement key, she can ask the RA on duty to open her mailbox.

Key Return

At the end of the academic year, each student will receive an envelope from his/her RA. Upon moving out, every student must place her/his keys in this envelope and close it securely. The envelope should be placed in the key drop-off box next to the security desk in each residence hall.

• If the correct procedure for returning a key is not followed by the appointed time, the student will be billed $150 for the room key and $10 for the mailbox key by the Office of Student Finance.
• Once a student has handed in her/his keys at the end of the semester, s/he is officially out of housing. Her/his entire space must be completely empty at that time.

If you leave behind large quantities of refuse after the official closing of university housing, facilities services will remove them and you will be charged a fee.

Moving Mid-year

Students must inform Residence Life via email at wilfreslife@yu.edu or berenreslife@yu.edu if they intend to withdraw from housing for the spring semester. Failure to do so will result in your getting billed for the spring semester. Please note, students remaining in housing for the spring semester begin being charged for the spring semester on the first day of winter break. Students should discuss any financial implications of moving out of housing with the Office of Student Finance prior to finalizing any decisions.

Vacation

When you leave for vacation periods during the year, please remember to:

• Close all the windows
• Remove or secure all valuables
• Turn out the lights
• Turn off your air conditioner
• Empty the garbage cans
• When feasible, unplug appliances (before unplugging refrigerators, it is recommended to empty their contents and leave the doors open)
• Lock your door

Storage Scholars is a preferred moving, storage, and shipping partner of Yeshiva University. From securely storing your belongings during breaks to ensuring safe delivery of packages, Storage Scholars has consistently demonstrated their commitment to excellence. Look no further than Storage Scholars for a hassle-free experience, superior customer service, and peace of mind. Visit their website to learn more and explore the comprehensive range of student storage, moving, and shipping services offered to the YU community.

Sign Up Now: https://www.storagescholars.com/schools/yeshiva-university-moving-shipping-storage-new-york-ny

How Summer Storage & Moving Works at Yeshiva University:

1. Pack & Lock - After receiving our free packing supplies, pack your belongings, lock everything in your room, and leave at your convenience.
2. Pick-Up & Store - After exams, your school provides our student team access to your room, so we can transport and store your items in a local, secure, and temperature-controlled facility.
3. Delivery - Your belongings will be delivered to your new room on campus the week before classes start or we’ll deliver off campus on your preferred date.
4. Shipping - We can ship boxes home for the summer, or to your first apartment a few months after graduation (optional).

Learn More: https://www.storagescholars.com/schools/yeshiva-university-moving-shipping-storage-new-york-ny

Storage Scholars Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfTvV_sd1r4

University policy requires all new students to reside in university housing for their first 2 semesters on campus. This policy is designed to help new students engage with the YU community and supportive resources on campus.

To qualify for university housing, you must:

• Be enrolled for at least 12 credits each semester in Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women, Sy Syms School of Business, or a Katz Associate program (and a Jewish studies program on Wilf)
• (Wilf) Or be a full-time Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) student. Semicha students are eligible to live in university housing until the conclusion of the four years of residency at RIETS. Summer semesters do not count against this requirement.
• Agree to live in accordance with halachic (Jewish law) norms and Torah ideals and allow common sense, good judgment, and courtesy to govern your actions at all times

If you decide not to live in university housing, please exercise discretion when selecting your apartment and roommates. The university will not monitor or bear any responsibility for any non-university housing.

Click here to view the Yeshiva University Housing Contract.

We hope you will be comfortable in our housing facilities and, to make your stay at Yeshiva University a pleasant one, we encourage you to personalize and decorate your room or apartment to your liking. Nevertheless, we ask that you show respect for our facilities and the ideals of the university by adhering to the following:

• Room furnishings, including wall posters, should be in consonance with the standards of propriety of our Yeshiva University community.
• Students will be charged for damage to university property and facilities, including smoke alarms, in their rooms or in public areas.
• Furniture may not be removed from student rooms. Furniture may not be taken into student rooms from other rooms or from any other area of the university, including lounges. The room occupants will be financially responsible for any missing or misappropriated furniture.
• Decorations may be affixed to walls only with masking tape. All posters, other decorations and tape are to be removed before vacating the room. Please note that you will be financially responsible for any damage to the walls or any other part of your room, including graffiti, tape or tape marks on the inside or outside of your door or on the walls.
• Smoking (of any kind) is not permitted anywhere within university housing including student rooms, apartments, bathrooms, corridors, elevators, stairways, lounges, etc. Additionally, tampering, disabling, or covering smoke detectors is strictly prohibited by state law.
• For safety reasons, no flags, banners, signs or other objects may be hung or affixed outside of windows anywhere in university housing.
• The thermostat valves attached to radiators are not to be tampered with; report any problem to the Office of Residence Life.
• No flyers, notices, or other written materials may be posted or distributed under the doors of student rooms or in mailboxes without authorization from the Office of Residence Life.
• University housing does not allow pets.
• University housing facilities may not be utilized for the purpose of conducting any form of private business.
• All electrical equipment, including telephone jacks, may not be removed from student rooms.
• (Wilf) To use the Morgenstern Lounge or Rubin Shul for lectures, club programs or special events, you must reserve these areas in advance by contacting the Office of Residence Life.

Undergraduate Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

Yeshiva University strives to maintain a community which supports intellectual growth, learning from others, mutual respect and freedom of thought and expression. Yeshiva University undergraduate students are encouraged to take advantage of the academic and non-academic opportunities available to them, to deepen their intellectual insights through formal instruction, and to expand their educational experience through and beyond their academic programs.

Respect for one another is essential to preserving the spirit of community at Yeshiva University. Membership in the Yeshiva University community entails certain rights and responsibilities. All members of this community are accorded these rights, and are equally accountable to uphold their responsibilities. It is therefore important to maintain a clear statement of basic rights, obligations and responsibilities concerning both academic and personal conduct.

For the full bill of rights, as well as other university standards and policies, please visit this page.
 

Possession of illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia is prohibited and will subject students involved to university disciplinary process and may result in dismissal.

In accordance with Yeshiva University's Drug and Alcohol Policy, undergraduate students, regardless of age, are prohibited from possessing and consuming alcoholic beverages on Yeshiva University premises. Students are also prohibited from possessing any drug paraphernalia.

Smoking (cigarettes, hookahs, water pipes and electrical cigarettes) is prohibited throughout all university residences including students' rooms, bathrooms, corridors, elevators, stairways, lounges, study halls, balconies, etc. All forms of gambling and/or card playing are prohibited in the residences as well. Any of the above behavior will subject the students involved to dismissal from the university.  Possession of these items is against university housing policy.

Any student receiving a government grant who is involved with the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance will lose his/her government grant. Furthermore, the university will be required to notify the appropriate government offices of any student receiving a government grant who is involved with drugs.

To learn more about the Yeshiva University Drug and Alcohol Policy, click here.

The following will subject the student involved to dismissal from the residences:

• Setting a fire, unauthorized use of a fire extinguisher, or setting off a false alarm.
• Possession and/or use of all forms of fireworks.
• Throwing objects from residence windows or any other area of the buildings.
• Causing damage to or use of public or private telephones for dishonest purposes or harassment.
• Causing damage to or tampering with elevators, mailboxes or vending machines.
• Possession of firearms, other weapons, or any implement perceived by the university or by the students as dangerous.
• Being present on the rooftop of the residences. The rooftop is off limits at all times except in case of a fire emergency situation. Security personnel check the roof regularly.
• Unauthorized installation of cables, electrical wiring, or telephone lines on the premises of the residences.
• Causing damage to any university housing property.

The students assigned to a room will be held responsible for any violation of regulations that occurs in their room even if they are not present.
 

As a Yeshiva University student, you now have access to Antidote Health services to see a doctor about anything you need 24/7. Antidote Health is an online healthcare company providing the highest quality digital healthcare to American families and individuals, based upon first in line doctors and innovative technology. The Antidote Health service includes doctor visits 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via video-call with the Antidote mobile app. Appointments can be scheduled easily from the app for as soon as 10 minutes time or later in the day at a preferred time.

How to Use Your Antidote Health Account with a Smart Phone

Your account has already been created and setup by Antidote Health and Yeshiva University. Your username is your university email address. To activate your account, you need to install the Antidote mobile app and reset your password.

Once installed, open the app and click on “Log In”. This will take you to a screen where you can select “Forgot password” and follow the instructions to choose a password. Once you’ve updated your password, the activation process is complete, and your Antidote Health account is ready to use anytime of day or night.

How to Use Your Antidote Health Account without a Smart Phone

You do not need to anything to complete your account setup. You can schedule an appointment with a doctor any time of day or night by following the instructions below. Since you are using the service without a smartphone, the process will be different to using the app. It is easy and we will guide you through it all. This service is available 24/7 and you can see an Antidote doctor within minutes.

To schedule an appointment

• Contact Antidote customer service via phone at 866.256.2134
• Tell the representative you are a Yeshiva University student
• You will be asked to identify yourself and confirm date of birth
• You will be connected directly with the doctor

Antidote Customer Service

Customer service is available 24/7 on the following channels:
Phone: 866.256.2134
Live Chat: www.antidotehealth.com
Email: support@antidotehealth.com

As the COVID-19 landscape continues to change, we constantly monitor our protocols to ensure they are suited to the needs of our students and the wider population. As per recent guidelines and support from our medical director, we have adjusted our campus isolation policy to “isolate in place.” This policy is in accordance with CDC guidance as well as common practice in other NYC universities.

Here are the new protocols regarding isolating on campus for students living in the Yeshiva University residence halls:

Isolating in Room

• If you have symptoms unique to COVID-19, such as loss of taste or smell, you should take a COVID-19 test to determine if you are COVID-positive. The tests that are accepted are either through a lab or via telehealth.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, isolate in place in your room for at least five days. Day zero of this count is the day you first started experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. If you did not experience any symptoms, your day zero is when you tested positive for COVID-19.
• If you live in a shared suite (with roommates), you should remain in your bedroom. If you need to use common areas, such as the bathroom or kitchen, make sure to mask and keep social distance.
• Avoid contact with other people (including your roommates) as much as possible, and make sure to mask and keep social distance when you are with others. You should not have visitors coming to your room (or suite).
• Wear a mask around the room and suite as much as possible.
• Open windows in order to increase ventilation in the room.
• If you live in a residence hall with communal bathrooms, you should mask and keep social distance when using the bathroom.
• You should only leave your room and residence hall for emergencies and necessities.
• Per CDC, you should continue to wear a mask for five days following your exit from isolation.

Food

• Students are expected to obtain their own meals during their isolation and eat all meals in their isolation location. Please note this is not your RA’s responsibility unless they volunteer.
• A student can ask a fellow student to deliver meals to them. If doing so, please email either wilffood@yu.edu or berenfood@yu.edu based on the campus you reside on. In the email, you should let Dining Services know the name of the fellow student who is picking up the food as well as the isolating student’s Banner ID / 800 number to use for payment.
• A student can order from delivery services such as Seamless or Uber Eats, and can leave their room in order to retrieve the meal from the lobby of the building as long as they mask and keep social distance. Please note, Yeshiva University will not reimburse any meals while a student is in isolation.
• In regard to Shabbat, if you are buying meals from dining services, please buy them through OneCard. If you need meals packaged or delivered, please reach out to shabbatwaitress@gmail.com (Beren) or yuwaitstaff@gmail.com (Wilf).
• If none of the above options work for you, you can leave your room (masked and social distancing) to go to the cafeteria and pick up the food. You may not eat the food in the cafeteria, and must eat back in your isolation location. We suggest picking up enough food to last you a few days.
• Remember to remain masked and maintain social distancing in all public areas if you need to exit your room or residence hall.

Alerting the Proper People

• If you test positive or have symptoms, you are responsible to inform your RA and roommates.
• Roommates are not required to isolate, but should maintain their distance from the isolating student as much as possible. Roommates should monitor themselves in case any symptoms arise and should test if they feel symptomatic.
• Should you test positive, please reach out to covidstudentline@yu.edu to submit your positive test. The COVID team will alert your professors, but you must follow up with your professors yourself so that remote accommodations can be made where possible and to ensure you are not penalized for your absences. Please note, only positive tests administered by either a lab or telehealth will permit Zoom capabilities and class attendance.

We understand you may have questions about living with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or who has symptoms. Please remember, students can become sick with many different illnesses, such as the flu or a cold, and usually remain in shared rooms with their roommates while recovering. With highly effective vaccines, mutations in the virus that are associated with milder illness, higher population-level immunity, and more widely available medication (when clinically indicated), students are rarely getting severely ill from COVID-19. Due to these reasons, and in conjunction with YU’s high rate of vaccination, this makes YU well-positioned to use an isolate-in-place protocol. Under this protocol, residential students who test positive for COVID-19 will be isolated in their own room even though their roommates may be negative for COVID-19, without the need to relocate to a different isolation location.

We understand that this is a new policy, and we ask you to please comply with the guidelines above.

If you have further questions, please reach out to covidstudentline@yu.edu.

You will receive information about fire safety and evacuation procedures specific to your residence hall at the beginning of each term. It is extremely important that you and your guests know all applicable fire safety procedures for your building.

Residents who fail to fully comply with applicable fire safety procedures, who fail to abide by building emergency evacuation procedures, or who otherwise violate rules and regulations related to fire safety will be subject to disciplinary action.

In general, you are expected to maintain adequate standards of cleanliness to avoid fire hazards and must not obstruct sidewalks, entrances, passages, fire escapes, elevators, lobbies, stairways, corridors, or halls with personal property. The following items are prohibited in the residence halls and will be confiscated:

• Flammable decorations (e.g. twinkly lights)
• Natural or artificial trees
• Non-university electric heaters and air conditioners
• Halogen lighting equipment and electric blankets
• Explosives, fireworks, firearms, or ammunition
• Candles, hookahs, incense, outdoor grills, or any other type of open flame or open coil device (e.g. toaster ovens, toasters, hot plate burners, etc.). This applies to Shabbat and Hanukkah candles, which may be kindled only in officially designated areas. For Shabbat candle lighting purposes in your room, you may use an incandescent electric light.

The use of extension cords is discouraged; power strips with surge protectors are preferable.

Students found in possession of prohibited items will be subject to disciplinary action. If you have any questions or concerns regarding fire safety, please contact the Office of Residence Life.

Evacuation Drills

The Office of Safety and Security may conduct evacuation drills. These are an important way to prepare you to respond to a fire alarm. You must evacuate the building immediately upon hearing the alarm. Residents who do not are subject to disciplinary action.

General Emergency Fire Safety Instructions

1. Keep calm. Do not panic. Notify the fire department as soon as possible. Fire department personnel will be on the scene of a fire within minutes of receiving an alarm.
2. If your building is equipped with a fire alarm and that alarm is sounded, you should evacuate the building in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Fire Safety notice affixed to the back of the room/suite entry door. When a fire alarm sounds, always evacuate the building.
3. Because flame, heat, and smoke rise, generally a fire on a floor below your room or apartment presents a greater threat to your safety than a fire on a floor above.
4. Do not overestimate your ability to put out a fire. Most fires cannot be easily or safely extinguished alone. Do not attempt to put a fire out once it begins to quickly spread. If you attempt to put a fire out, make sure you have a clear path of retreat from the room.
5. When exiting the building during a fire, close all doors as you exit to confine the fire. Never use the elevator. It could stop between floors or take you to where the fire is.
6. Heat, smoke, and gases emitted by burning materials can quickly choke you. If you are caught in a heavy smoke condition where visibility is poor, get down on the floor and crawl. Take short breaths, breathing through your nose.
7. If your clothes catch fire, don't run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands to protect your face and lungs, and roll over to smother the flames.

University Ban on Lithium-Ion Batteries

All lithium-ion-powered bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, hoverboards and other electric transportation devices are banned from all University campuses, including residence halls, courtyards, and parking lots. They may not be carried, used, stored, charged or otherwise possessed on any University campus. Storage, charging and possession of lithium-ion batteries are also prohibited. These devices and batteries present a serious hazard and may explode, causing injuries and starting fires. These fires cannot be extinguished like traditional fires and create toxic gasses that can be deadly in enclosed spaces. Fire extinguishers do not work on lithium-ion batteries.
Exceptions to this policy are available for electric mobility aids for individuals with disabilities and for authorized research activities. Please contact the Security Department for more information.
This policy applies to all University faculty, staff, students, visitors and guests. Anyone violating this policy will be required to remove the device/battery in question immediately, and will be considered to be in violation of University policy and subject to applicable disciplinary procedures (including removal from University housing if applicable). If any such device/battery is discovered, it may be removed and discarded without notice or reimbursement.

Yeshiva University is committed to maintaining an academic, work, and living environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

To learn more about the university's Title IX office and to report sexual harassment, sex discrimination, or any other Title IX infraction, click here.

Living with other students is one of the most rewarding and valuable components of your college experience. You will have the opportunity to make lifelong friends, be challenged intellectually and develop important social ties that will influence you throughout your life. Living in university housing gives you the opportunity to learn to understand and appreciate others.

Keep in mind, it is normal to have difficulties in adjusting to college life and a new roommate, even one you were already friends with. In any communal living setting, it is important to maintain honesty, consideration, mutual respect, communication, and compromise.

Here are some specific guidelines for getting along with your roommate:

• Communicate. Discuss pet peeves, personal habits, sleeping and waking schedules, musical tastes, comfortable noise levels and other expectations. Have an initial discussion on how to arrange the room, what accessories to buy and how to decide who pays for what and who will keep it at the end of the year.
• Set ground rules. Who can borrow what, when and for how long? What time will the lights be turned off?
• Make an effort to keep your living space clean, comfortable and pleasant. The more livable your space is, the happier and more productive you will be.
• Ask your roommate and inform your RA, before you accommodate an overnight guest. Make agreements and keep your word.

If difficulties arise...

• Talk it over with your roommate and your RA. Don't wait until the differences escalate.
• If after discussions with your roommate and RA, you feel a room change is the best solution, please discuss the matter further with the Director of Residence Life. Changes will be processed after the first two weeks of a new semester. No room changes can be made without official approval from the Director of Residence Life.

It's not essential that roommates become best friends, but dorm life is easier when there is a positive and respectful environment. Open communication and the willingness to compromise are valuable aspects of a healthy roommate relationship. Regardless as to what the religious and cultural backgrounds are, each student enters the dorm with a unique set of personality traits, habits, and beliefs about what college life will be like.

Discussion Questions

1. What is your reason for choosing Yeshiva University?
2. What are your Major, interests and hobbies?
3. Are you a social butterfly or homebody?
4. How do you resolve conflicts?
5. What time of day/night do you study?
6. Are you a night owl or a morning person?
7. What hours do you usually sleep? Study? Relax? Socialize?
8. Are you organized?

During the first week of the semester, a room meeting is recommended. This is an opportunity to sit down as a group and decide together what the rules, responsibilities, and shared expenses will be. Everyone should have equal input in these decisions, and compromise will be necessary. Since views and habits usually evolve over time, it's important to continue discussing these themes throughout the year.

• Setting up the furniture in the room (layout, kitchen area)
• Creating a cleaning schedule (Who? What? When?)
• Purchasing cleaning supplies and other items for the room (toilet paper, Windex)
• Discussing sleeping and study habits (hours, lighting, noise)
• Respecting individual preferences for noise (music, Skype)
• Setting up parameters for visitors and overnight guests (use of bedding, length/timing of visit)
• Establishing what items will be shared (refrigerator, microwave, soap)

Even under the best circumstances, conflict is bound to arise between roommates. This is especially true after the first few weeks of school, when the stress of midterms and the challenges of living away from home become clearer. Overcoming conflict can lead to more open, effective communication. Here are a few suggestions to help students work through everyday issues:

• Stick to the room contract. This should be a fair set of guidelines, designed with everyone's input.
• Talk about issues as they arise.
• Be direct and to the point.
• Avoid making assumptions.
• Go straight to the source.
• Know when to get help. Resident Advisors, Graduate Assistants, and other members of the Res Life team are always available to assist you.

Here are some guidelines to address difficult conversations.

• Schedule the discussion in advance and take everyone's academic and social commitments into consideration.
• Meet privately. You are more likely to resolve an issue if each person involved is able to speak openly.
• Stick to the facts. Your roommates will be more receptive to what you have to say if you are able to calmly describe the issue at hand in neutral, factual terms. You may want to jot down important points in advance.
• Use "I" statements and take ownership of the problem. Realize that there are always two sides to every story.
• Be willing to compromise. Look for solutions that are in everyone's best interest.
• Take turns talking and be prepared to listen. Once you've opened the discussion, give your roommates adequate opportunities to respond. Don't interrupt them and don't get defensive. Try to really hear what they are saying instead of thinking about what you are going to say next. Ask questions if you don't understand and remember that your roommates are more likely to try and see your point of view if you make an effort to see theirs.

Whether or not you and your roommates are best friends, the close living quarters in dormitories offer you a unique glimpse into each other’s personal lives. For this reason, you may be among the first to notice if your roommates are experiencing serious difficulties. While it may be tempting to offer help or advice when roommates are in trouble, it is important to recognize that many situations require the assistance of a trained professional. If you have concerns about a roommate or friend, do not hesitate to contact Residence Life or the Counseling Center.

Roommates are expected to do their best to make a success of their placement. They are encouraged to find a resolution to the problems or difficult situations before requesting a room change. When they feel they have exhausted all possible solutions, and a student is interested in changing her/his room assignment, s/he should set up a meeting with a Residence Life administrator to explore her/his housing options. Room changes are made only with authorization from the Office of Residence Life.

A student can request a room change for the spring semester by sending an emailing the Office of Residence Life in late November / early December.

When a student requests to change rooms at the end of the fall semester, s/he is expected to move out of his/her current room and into his/her new room before winter vacation.

• Cleanliness: It is the student's responsibility to leave his/her area (i.e. bed, desk, dresser, closet, etc.) neat and clean. A charge of $100 per person will be incurred if there is damage to the room/furniture or if excessive clean-up is required.
• Key Return: The student moving must return her/his current room and mailbox keys before intersession. The student should seal her/his keys in the envelope provided by her/his RA and then place them in the key return box on the security desk in Brookdale Residence Hall. There is a charge of $150 for a room key and $10 for a mailbox key if they are not returned by the deadline.
• Key Pick-Up: The student should pick up her new keys from the Residence Life office during regular office hours.
• Move Out Guests: Male and female guests will be permitted upstairs in all residence halls during the specific hours throughout the week of finals to assist with room changes and students moving out of university housing. These hours will be emailed to each student during reading week.
• (Beren) Laundry: For a student to use her laundry card in another building, she must go online and update the CVA# and address assigned to her card.
• (Beren) Transportation: Vans will be available during specific times to assist students in moving their belongings to another building.

Refrigerators and Microwaves

There are three communal microwaves in university housing for students to use.  It is expected that only OU food is heated in these microwaves.  Their locations are listed below:

• In the back lounge of Brookdale Residence Hall
• In the back lounge of Schottenstein Residence Hall
• In the hallway of the back lounge of 36th Street Residence Hall 

Students may choose to have a microwave and/or small refrigerator in their room.  Some students opt to use these appliances exclusively, while others may decide to share with their roommates.  Alternatively, the roommates may agree to rent or buy a microwave and/or refrigerator together.  It is important to discuss the details with one another.

Microwave ovens are the only cooking appliances permitted in undergraduate university housing, according to New York City fire regulations and residence codes. Fire and safety inspections of rooms are conducted during the school year and prohibited appliances will be confiscated.

Small refrigerators of five cubic feet or less are permitted only in accordance with official specifications.

Additional Permitted Appliances and Electronics

• Desk lights, irons, non-commercial hair dryers, computers, and other similar appliances are permitted in university housing.
• Keurigs and other coffee makers are acceptable appliances, as long as there is no open flame or coil.
• Other cooking appliances (but no open-flame devices) can be used in the kitchen area in 35th Street and IHP apartments, as well as Brookdale Deluxe rooms (e.g. blenders, food processors, hand mixers, etc.)
• The use of extension cords is discouraged; power strips with surge protectors are preferable.
• Non-university space heaters and air conditioners, open-coiled appliances and halogen lamps are not permitted in university housing.
• One lounge in each residence hall is equipped with basic cable TV. Cable TV is not permitted in student rooms in any university housing location.

There is a self-service laundry area with washing machines and dryers in the basement of each residence hall. Resident Advisers distribute the laundry smart cards to every student during the first week of the semester. If lost, a replacement laundry card can be picked up from the Office of Residence Life, located in 215 Lexington, Room 520, during regular business hours.

There are two options to pay for the use of the laundry facilities. Students can either use a credit card to set up an online account or they can use the cash machine, which is located in the Brookdale Hall laundry room, to add money to their smart cards.

Click here for instructions on how to activate, register, reassign, or reload your laundry card.

Laundry Alert is a service that enables students to:

• Determine the availability of washers and dryers in the building's laundry room.
• Request to be notified via email when a machine becomes available.
• Know when the wash/dry cycle is finished without waiting around for it.

Laundry Alert notifies students so there's no need to keep running down to the laundry room to check on machines. To use this service, enter the building's log-in, which can be found on the laundry machine, and click "Sign In".

To report any problems with the machines in the laundry room, please fill out a work order form by clicking here.

Each student is assigned a mailbox when she checks into housing. The mailboxes are located in the following areas:

• Brookdale – hallway in basement
• Schottenstein – entryway to back lounge
• 35th Street – in the back of the fitness center in the basement
• 36th Street – in the lobby, next to the security desk

All mail must be addressed to the student using her legal name, not her preferred name or a parent's name. Mail is only accepted for students currently residing in university housing. 

Each residence hall has its own address, and you should use only these addresses.
251 Lexington residents should direct their mail to Brookdale Residence Hall.

Mailbox keys are provided for students living in Brookdale, Schottenstein, and 35th Street. 36th Street residents are provided mailbox combinations. If one misplaces her combination, or has difficulty opening or locking her mailbox, please contact the Office of Residence Life.

To safeguard mail, we encourage students to make sure their mailbox doors are closed at all times. Please return misdirected mail to the Office of Residence Life; do not leave it near the mailboxes.

The Package Center

There is a central package room for all Beren Campus students residing in university housing and students living in 251 Lexington Avenue IHP. Students residing in 200 E. 30th Street should ship packages to their building directly. The package center is located in Brookdale Residence Hall, room 2D. All package deliveries will be processed at this location only.  All packages (anything that cannot fit in a small mailbox) for undergraduate students on the Beren campus must be sent to: 

(Student's Full Legal Name)
50 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016

The hours of operation are: 
Monday - Thursday, 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
During breaks, special hours will be posted

When a package arrives, it will be processed and placed in the package center.  An automated email listing a control number will be sent to the student's YU email account to alert her that she has a package to pick up. The student will present her YU ID to the Package Center staff member.

Important points to keep in mind:

• Prepay shipping charges on all packages or they will not be accepted.
• Packages not properly addressed will not be accepted.
• The university does not carry any insurance for packages. Therefore, it is advisable to insure the box at the time of shipping.
• The university is not liable for damage to or loss of any package/letter.

If a student is interested in working in the package center and is eligible for the work study program, she should email a Residence Life administrator to check on availability.

Please submit a work order request by clicking here. Someone will address the issue within 3-5 business days. This is the form to report all plumbing, electrical, and HVAC (heating/air conditioning) issues, as well as other items that might need to be repaired.

If you have a question about the status of your work order, contact the Office of Residence Life at berenreslife@yu.edu and include the number associated with your work order that was emailed to you with your work order confirmation.

Small refrigerators of five cubic feet or less are permitted only in accordance with official specifications.

Non-university air conditioners or space heaters are not permitted in university housing. 

University provided air conditioners are in each room in Morgenstern, Muss, and Rubin Halls.

Microwave ovens, hot water kettles, and urns are the only cooking appliances permitted for use in rooms.

Cooking appliances with enclosed heating elements such as hot plate warmers, slow cookers, George Foreman grills, sandwich makers, and egg cookers (but no open-flame devices) can be used in communal kitchenettes, which are located on Rubin 3 and 6, Morgenstern 4, 6, and 8, and Muss 3 and 4.

All open flame or exposed heat element devices are prohibited. This includes toasters, ovens, air fryers, pressure cookers, stove top or electric burners, and griddles.

There is a self-service laundry area with debit-card-operated washing machines and dryers in the basement of each Residence Hall. These machines are for residents of university housing only, and non-residents should make their own laundry arrangements accordingly.

If you would like a laundry card, please come to the Office of Residence Life or speak with your resident adviser.

Please report any problems with these facilities to the Office of Residence Life, Rubin Hall, suite 106; wilfreslife@yu.edu.

Mail delivered to campus will be delivered directly to your room by your Resident Advisor. Mail and packages should be sent to:

Your Name
Yeshiva University
Mailroom
40 Laurel Hill Terrace
NYC, NY 10033

Packages will be held for you in the campus mailroom located in the Office of Production Services (Belfer Hall basement, room B13; 212.960.5240). When a package arrives, you will be notified via your YU e-mail, and you will need to show your student ID card to retrieve it.

More mail and package guidelines can be found here: Mailroom Guidelines