Policies & Procedures

CBU is committed to making sure every student has a safe and supportive place to live. If you need housing accommodations due to a medical, psychological, or accessibility need, we’re here to help.

Types of Accommodations May Include:

• Specific room types or layouts
• Accessibility adjustments (e.g., ground-level access, bathroom modifications)
• Assistance Animals (with prior approval)
• Other housing modifications based on documented needs

How to Request an Accommodation:

• Contact the Office of Student Success & Accessibility Services (SSAS) to begin the process.
• Provide documentation of your accommodation needs (details will be explained by SSAS).
• SSAS will work directly with Residence Life and Housing Services to coordinate your approved accommodations.

Important Information:

• Requests should be submitted as early as possible—ideally during your housing application process.
• Approval is required before bringing an Assistance Animal or making any modifications to your living space.

Our goal is to make sure your campus housing experience supports your personal success

Need to cancel your housing request? Here’s what you need to know:

• How to Cancel: Submit a Cancellation Form on the Housing Portal.
• Phone calls or verbal requests cannot be accepted.
• Reservation Fee: The $100 housing reservation fee is non-refundable, even if you cancel before move-in.

Timing Matters: If you decide not to live on campus, let us know as soon as possible so we can assist other students waiting for housing.

Still have questions? Contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing Services

Here’s what you should know about eligibility:

Who Can Live on Campus

• Full-time CBU students (minimum of 12 units per semester).
• Students approved by the Associate Vice President for Student Services.
• Graduate students (placement varies by program and availability).

Housing Requirements

To support your success, CBU requires:

• Single students under 21 to live on campus
• Students who receive more than $15,000 in institutional aid per year to live on campus.

Exemptions are available for students who live locally with parents or approved relatives. Exemption requests must be submitted to Residence Life & Housing Services before the first day of classes.

If you’re unsure whether you meet eligibility requirements or want to request an exemption, reach out to our office—we’re here to guide you through the process.

While most CBU students are required to live on campus, we understand that there are circumstances where an exemption may be applicable.

Who May Qualify for an Exemption:

• Students enrolled in fewer than 12 units (with approval)
• Students living locally with parents or approved relatives
• Other special circumstances reviewed by Residence Life & Housing Services

How to Request an Exemption:

• Pick up or download the Exemption Request Form from Residence Life & Housing Services.
• Please complete the form and include any relevant supporting documentation.
• Submit your request before the first day of classes.

Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You’ll be notified by email once a decision is made.

If you receive more than $15,000 in institutional aid per year or are under 21 and single, you are expected to live on campus unless officially exempted.

If you think you qualify, reach out as early as possible.

Common Fees

• Housing Reservation Fee: $100 (non-refundable) due with your housing application.
• Programming Fee: A small fee each semester that supports community events in your living area.

Possible Fines

• Damage or Cleaning Charges: Billed if your room or common spaces are damaged beyond normal wear and tear, or if extra cleaning is required at check-out.
• Rekey Charges: Applied if you lose your key, your key is stolen, or you don’t return your key at check-out.
• Improper Check-In/Check-Out: If you don’t follow the official process, additional charges may be assessed.
• Late Payments: Unpaid balances can result in housing removal, enrollment holds, or outside collection costs.

Most fines and fees can be avoided by taking good care of your room, following check-in/check-out instructions, and paying attention to deadlines.

Appliances

Allowed in Rooms

• Small microwaves
• Mini-fridges (check size/wattage limits with Residence Life)
• Coffee makers, electric kettles, and similar small kitchen appliances
• Hair dryers, curling irons, and similar personal care appliances

Not Allowed

• Air conditioners (unless provided/approved by the University)
• Large kitchen appliances (toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, electric grills, etc.)
• Washing machines or dishwashers
• Antennas, satellite dishes, or any appliance that requires installation or rewiring
  University Appliances
• * Appliances provided by CBU (such as stoves, refrigerators, or microwaves in apartments) vary across campus. Provided appliances must stay in your unit and cannot be moved or stored elsewhere.

If a repair is needed, submit a work order—don’t attempt to fix it yourself.

When in doubt, ask Residence Life before bringing an appliance from home.

Flammables

For the safety of our residential communities, open flames are not allowed in CBU housing.

This includes:

• Candles (even decorative or unlit ones)
• Incense
• Matches or lighters used indoors
• Fire pits, grills, or any flame-producing device not already provided by the university

Open flames are a fire hazard and put the entire community at risk. Even a small candle can cause serious damage in a shared living environment.

Parking Permits

Student, Faculty, and Staff vehicles operated on the campus of California Baptist University must be registered with the Department of Safety Services.

• Vehicles are registered by license plate.
• Physical permits (stickers) are not issued.
• Per University policy, vehicles must be registered within forty-eight (48) hours of first appearance on campus. See Student Handbook, Section 31 for CBU Vehicle Code.
• CBU does not charge a separate parking fee.

To register for a parking permit, navigate to the InsideCBU login and visit the Safety Services page for more information.

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are installed in every CBU housing unit to keep you and your community safe. Smoke alarms save lives. Disabling or ignoring them puts you and your entire community at risk.

What You Need to Know:

• Do not tamper with or disable smoke alarms for any reason. This includes removing batteries, covering the alarm, or disconnecting the device from its power source.
• * If your smoke alarm is beeping or not working properly, submit a work order right away so our Facilities team can address the issue.
• False alarms caused by tampering may result in fines and disciplinary action.

Theft Prevention

While our campus is a close-knit community, it’s still important to take steps to protect your belongings.

Tips for Protecting Your Property

• Always lock your doors and windows when you leave your room or apartment.
• Don’t lend out your keys or student ID card.
• Keep valuables (laptops, phones, wallets, jewelry) in a secure place when not in use.
• Register bikes with Campus Safety and always use a quality lock.
• Avoid leaving belongings unattended in public or common areas.

Important to Know

• CBU is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property.
• Students are encouraged to carry renters’ or property insurance for added protection.

By taking a few simple precautions, you’ll help ensure your CBU home stays safe and secure.

Bookings

We use the term “booking” to describe your official housing assignment. Once your booking is confirmed, you can relax knowing your space is reserved for you.

How to Secure a Booking

• Complete your housing application through the Housing Portal.
• Fill out your roommate profile honestly—it helps us with the room selection process.
• Pay your $100 non-refundable reservation fee.
• Sign the Housing License Agreement.

Your booking is not complete until all steps above are finished.

Other important information:

• Freshman housing is first-come, first-served, so the sooner you finish, the more options you’ll have.
• If your preferred area is full, we recommend booking your second or third choice. You can always check back in the portal to see if a space becomes available.
• Graduate students with approved applications are assigned into available spaces.

After you’re booked, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your housing details.

Consolidations

Sometimes, spaces in our living areas become available during the year. When that happens, CBU may need to consolidate housing assignments to maximize the use of available space and ensure that every student has a roommate.

What Consolidation Means

• If your roommate moves out, you may be paired with another student.
• You may be asked to move into a different room to help balance space across the community.
• Private rooms are not guaranteed; if a space is available, Residence Life may reassign another student to that room.

Important to Know

• Consolidations help keep housing available for all students who need it.
• You’ll receive communication from Housing Services if a move or new roommate is coming.

Our staff works to make transitions smooth and support you throughout the process.

Determination

The University reserves the right to make final assignment decisions, including room changes when necessary.

Room Changes

Room changes are possible, but must be approved and coordinated through Residence Life.

How to Request a Room Change

• First, talk to your RA or RD — often, roommate conflicts can be resolved with support.
• If a change is needed, submit a Room Change Request through Residence Life.
• Wait for approval and instructions before moving.

Unauthorized room changes (switching rooms or moving belongings without approval) may result in fines, reassignment, or loss of housing privileges. Room changes depend on space availability. Sometimes we may not be able to honor every request immediately. During certain times of the year (such as immediately after move-in), room changes may be temporarily restricted.

Termination

CBU may revoke your housing for:

• Violations of University policies or the Student Handbook
• Failure to remain enrolled as a CBU student
• Failure to pay housing charges
• Situations where you pose a risk to the health, safety, or well-being of others

Important: Termination by the University does not automatically release your financial responsibility. You are still responsible for charges for the semester in which the termination occurs.

Withdrawal

We understand that plans can change. If you need to withdraw from CBU or move off campus, here’s what you need to know about your housing agreement:

Before Move-In

• If you cancel housing before move-in, you will receive a full refund of housing charges.
• The $100 housing reservation fee is non-refundable.

After Move-In

• You may request to terminate your housing agreement any time during the semester (after classes begin).
• To qualify for a partial refund, you must:
  • Submit your request in writing through the Housing Portal (Housing Cancellation Form).
  • Include your reason for leaving.
  • Students who withdraw after move-in will be charged for housing up until the date they officially check out.

Your housing agreement is a binding contract for the semester. Submitting a Housing Cancellation Form and completing the official check-out process is required to close your account.

If you’re considering withdrawing or moving off campus, contact Residence Life & Housing Services early. We’ll walk you through your options and help make sure you understand any financial impact.

Locked out of your unit? Here’s how you can get back in:

• Call a roommate
• Call your RA, RA lockout fees cost $5, cash only
• Between the hours of 12am - 8am, call Safety Services at (951) 343-4311

For the safety of every student, lost keys mean we’ll need to change (rekey) the locks on your unit.

When a rekey happens:

• If you lose your key
• If your key is stolen
• If you fail to return your key at check-out

Cost: The cost of the rekey and replacement keys will be charged to your housing account.

Always keep your key with you and never lend it to others. This protects both you and your community.

If you’ve lost your key, please contact Housing Services immediately so we can assist in securing your space.

Sharing a living space can be one of the best parts of college—but it can also come with challenges. Respect, cooperation, and communication are expectations for all CBU residents.

Steps to Work Through Roommate Conflicts

• Talk it Out – Start with a calm, honest conversation about the issue. Many conflicts can be resolved by simply listening to each other.
• Use Your Roommate Agreement – Review the preferences and boundaries you both set at the beginning of the year.
• Get Support – If you can’t resolve it on your own, reach out to your RA. They’re trained to help mediate and guide discussions.
• Residence Life Staff – For larger issues, your Residence Director can step in to provide additional support or solutions.

Unauthorized room changes are not permitted—always go through Residence Life if a move becomes necessary.

Conflicts are normal! With open communication and support from Residence Life, many students turn tough beginnings into strong friendships.

Solicitation is not allowed in CBU housing. This includes:

• Going door-to-door to sell products, fundraise, or promote outside organizations
• Posting flyers or advertisements in residence halls without approval
• Running a business out of your room or apartment

If you’d like to promote a campus event, fundraiser, or student organization, connect with your RA or RD first. Approved postings or announcements can be shared in designated areas.

Our goal is to make sure every student’s home at CBU is respectable and free from unwanted disruptions.

24 Hour Noise Policy

CBU is a community where everyone deserves the chance to rest, study, and connect. That’s why we maintain a 24-hour noise policy across all living areas.

What this means:

• Noise should always be kept at a level that does not disturb your roommates or neighbors.
• Courtesy hours are in effect at all times—if someone asks you to lower your volume, please do so.
• This includes music, instruments, TV, gaming, conversations, and any other activities that may disrupt others.

Quiet Hours:

Residence Life has the ability to establish designated quiet hours (for example, during finals week) when extra care is expected.

Your CBU housing unit is your home, but please remember it’s also University property. To keep our living areas safe and consistent for everyone:

• You may not paint, remodel, or make repairs to your room or any common space without written approval from Residence Life and Housing Services.
• This includes activities such as drilling holes, using permanent adhesives, or making structural modifications.
• University furniture and fixtures must stay in place and in good condition.

If any unauthorized changes are made, the University will restore the room to its original condition and charge the cost to your student account.

Want to personalize your space? Go for it—with decorations that don’t damage walls or furniture. If you’re unsure whether something is allowed, check with your RA or RD before making any changes.

Late housing payments may result in collection costs, legal fees, and enrollment holds.

Hours

Guests of the opposite gender are only permitted in units during designated hours.

• Freshman Visitation Hours: Only on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 7pm - 10pm
• Upperclassman Visitation Hours: Sunday - Thursday from 12p - 11p, Friday & Saturday from 12p - 12a

During visiting hours, guests of the opposite gender are only allowed in common areas and not bedrooms within the unit.

Guest Policy

We love it when you get to share your CBU experience with friends and family! To keep our living communities safe and enjoyable for everyone, here’s what you need to know about visitation:

Guest Registration

• All guests must be registered with your Residence Life staff before visiting.
• You are responsible for the actions and behavior of your guests while they’re on campus.

Guest Limits

• Guests may visit for up to three separate, non-consecutive days per semester.
• Overnight visits are not permitted beyond these limits.

Community Expectations

• Guests are expected to follow all CBU policies and community guidelines.
• Any charges or damages caused by your guest will be billed to your student account.

If you have questions about hosting a guest, reach out to your RA or RD before making plans!