Housing Form

HOUSING AGREEMENT & REGULATIONS

To ensure the safety, wellbeing, and success of all participants residing in program housing, the

following list of housing rules was created to outline behavioral expectations. For the purposes

of this document, “API” refers to Academic Programs International, the organization in

Shanghai responsible for student housing and emergency management.

All participants living in program housing must comply with the following rules for the duration of

the contracted housing period. Violations of the outlined policies will result in disciplinary action

being taken. Though API has attempted to create a comprehensive list of infractions and

guidelines below, API reserves the right to discipline a participant for any action that API deems

unacceptable. API may, at any time, contact the participant's emergency

contact/parent/guardian and/or the University of Rochester if the participant's behavior is

inconsistent with the rules specified in this agreement.

I. FINANCIAL AGREEMENT

By signing and submitting this form, I agree to the following payment and cancellation policies:

1. Once I have confirmed my place on the program with the University of Rochester, API

will arrange housing on my behalf upon receipt of this form and payment of my housing

application deposit of US$550.

2. The housing application deposit is applied toward the total housing cost and is

non-refundable once paid.

3. Both myself and the individual designated as my emergency contact will receive a copy

of my confirmed housing offer from API after the housing application period has closed.

4. The full housing payment must be submitted by the payment deadline of January 15.

This payment is non-refundable for any reason once paid.

5. All students in Student Residence A will be required to pay a security deposit directly to

the residence during the check in process. The deposit is refundable upon conclusion of

the housing period, provided there are no damages. Any housing damages beyond this

amount will be assessed to the participant.

6. All students in Student Residence B will be directly responsible for any housing damages

upon completion of the semester.

II. PERSONAL CONDUCT IN PROGRAM HOUSING

1. All participants are responsible for their own behavior and choices. API representatives,

including the Resident Coordinator and Community Assistants, are available as a

support to participants but are not able to make decisions for them or to continually

monitor their behavior.

2. Participants must behave respectfully at all times toward fellow residents, neighbors and

housing representatives.

3. Participants must attend all mandatory housing meetings, including all scheduled

sessions during the on-site orientation, led by the API representatives.

4. Participants are urged to avoid placing inappropriate photographs or statements on

public websites or other social media platforms. While API representatives will not

specifically monitor such sites, if a participant openly demonstrates a disregard for

housing regulations outlined here with their posts or pictures, disciplinary action may be

taken against that participant.

5. Participants who are concerned about their own behaviors or those of other program

participants in the program housing are encouraged to speak with API representatives

for assistance.

6. Participants who will be absent from API housing for more than a 24-hour period must

alert their roommates (if applicable) or an API representative. Participants who share a

room with a participant who has not returned for more than 24 hours without previous

notification of travel plans must alert an API representative of the situation.

7. Participants are responsible for abiding by all regulations set forth by the housing

management. Participants should be mindful of city ordinances.

8. Accommodations should be kept neat and orderly.

III. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES IN PROGRAM HOUSING

Prohibited activities include but are not limited to the following:

1. Any behavior that could result in harm (e.g. physical, emotional, psychological) to

oneself or another person, including but not limited to fellow residents. Any physical or

verbal abuse or harassment by a participant can result in automatic dismissal from

housing. All participants are responsible for reviewing API's non-discrimination policy ,

which includes information regarding how API will respond to allegations of any form of

discrimination, including bullying, gender discrimination and sexual misconduct.

2. Use of the property of other program participants, API, the housing authority or ECNU

without express permission given in advance. Participants must respect all property of

ECNU, API, the local housing provider, and other program participants.

3. Abuse of alcohol or the use, distribution, or possession of controlled substances/drugs

not prescribed by a physician. Any such use and/or group disturbance will be evaluated

and dismissal from program housing without the issuance of intermediary warnings will

be considered. Neither consuming alcohol nor having open containers of alcohol is

permitted in your private quarters in a student residence or hotel.

4. Disruption of others' rights to a peaceful living environment (e.g., with excessive noise)

and privacy. This policy protects not only fellow program participants (roommates) but

also other inhabitants of the accommodations.

5. Introduction of known allergens into housing. Participants are responsible for respecting

their roommates and must refrain from exposing others to disclosed allergens (e.g.,

peanuts).

6. Hosting of parties or overnight guests. Parties and overnight guests are strictly prohibited

in the housing provided by API. Given social distancing considerations and efforts to limit

exposure, participants are encouraged to avoid having any visitors in their housing.

Visitors may only enter housing during daytime hours with the express permission of all

roommates and if doing so is allowed by the policies of the residence.

7. Bringing pets or animals into API housing. Exceptions may be granted for service

animals, depending on the availability of housing that allows service animals.

8. Giving assigned keys to other participants or guests or to make duplications.

Participants whose keys are lost or stolen will be held responsible for their replacement

or the cost of changing the lock in question.

9. Jeopardizing the safety and the property of others by neglecting to secure common

spaces (e.g., failure to properly lock doors or windows; loss of keys) or by allowing

strangers into accommodations (e.g. allowing an unknown person into the building after

you, admitting an unknown or unanticipated service person, inviting acquaintances into

the building, etc.).

10. Participants are ultimately responsible for what happens in their API accommodations.

You will be held responsible for any and all damages, as well as the resulting fees or

sanctions.

IV. PAYMENTS, MOVING PROCEDURES AND DAMAGES

1. Housing is provided only for full-time students in good standing. Housing privileges can

be revoked if the student’s status changes at any point during the contract period.

2. If a participant is dismissed from the school or loses housing privileges due to an

academic or disciplinary issue, they will be responsible for vacating the provided housing

by the deadline given by API or the provider. API will provide housing for the participant

for up to two days post-dismissal, to allow the participant to make arrangements to return

home or to make alternate housing arrangements if planning to stay in Shanghai at their

own expense. API representatives will be available to assist the participant in identifying

suitable options, in order to promote the participant’s safety.

3. Housing accommodations are contracted and paid for the full contracted housing period.

Participants who choose to move out of their pre-arranged housing prior to completing

the session are not entitled to any type of housing refund.

4. If a participant insists on a move that API does not deem mandatory, there may be

charges assessed for moving as well as additional fees to pay for the new housing.

5. Shifts in enrollment and changes to housing availability or other factors may make it

necessary for participants to move between semesters, if the program is extended

beyond the Spring 2021 semester.

6. Participants are required to notify an API representative about any damages or problems

noticed upon move-in. Any and all housing problems experienced during the session,

regardless of whose responsibility they are, should be reported immediately to an API

representative.

7. API reserves the right to require participants to assume the cost of pest control

treatments, including required laundering of personal items, in the event of an infestation

of bedbugs or other pests.

8. Damages to accommodations resulting from misuse or negligence will be assessed to

the participant(s) in question.

9. Property insurance in the case of theft is not included as part of the housing cost. If this

is a concern for you, you should consider insuring your personal belongings with an

individual policy in advance.

10. Participants must vacate the housing on the check-out date and follow all check-out

procedures given. API is not responsible for any personal belongings left behind.

V. EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES DUE TO COVID-19

1. While living in API housing, each room will be a housing “bubble” where roommates will

be considered the equivalent of a nuclear family. This designation means that while

interacting outdoors or within the room with roommates, participants will not be required

or advised to wear a mask unless a member of the housing bubble suspects that they

may have been exposed or if recommended by local health authorities.

2. All housing will be cleaned regularly by a professional local cleaning agency or housing

management.

3. Should a roommate demonstrate signs or be confirmed of having COVID-19, participants

are advised that local health measures will likely require that they be quarantined with

the roommate, just as one would with a nuclear family. Seeking to quarantine outside of

API housing (e.g., in a local hotel) could be a violation of local health practices or local

law and will be the financial responsibility of the student. In such situations, any student

who wishes to leave their API housing after potential exposure to COVID-19 must make

every effort to follow local health guidelines, such as limiting interactions with other

people while moving to the hotel and using a mask at all times.

4. If an individual experiences symptoms of COVID-19, they will be required to follow local

guidelines, including testing, isolating until symptoms subside and/or they get a negative

test result, and informing local health authorities and/or API of all individuals they were in

contact with during the period preceding their illness. API will follow the direction of local

health authorities regarding recommended contact tracing and quarantine protocols.

5. Given regulations regarding COVID-19, API representatives may not be authorized to

accompany students to hospitals.

6. If a program participant tests positive for COVID-19 after arrival, API will inform the full

group that someone has tested positive, without specifying the participant’s name unless

required by local health authorities. Roommates of the sick individual will be notified

directly of the positive test and protocols they need to follow as a result.

VI. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

Participants who disregard the policies outlined here will face disciplinary consequences. API

may choose to utilize any of the following disciplinary measures at its own discretion, depending

on the severity of the infraction by the participant:

1. Issuance of warnings:

a. Verbal warning: An API representative will discuss the participant's behavior with

the individual in question. The specific behavior will be identified and the

participant will be asked to discontinue such behavior.

b. Written warning: An API representative will issue a written warning to the

participant. This warning will outline the negative behavior and may establish

specific conditions for continued lodging in the program housing. The participant

in question will be asked to sign the warning acknowledging the problematic

behavior. This written warning may serve as the last effort to promote behavior

modification before dismissal from the housing. At this stage, the University of

Rochester and the emergency contact may be contacted.

2. Implementation of an individualized behavioral plan: Participants whose behavior can be

considered harmful to themselves and/or others may be required to complete an

assessment with an on-site health professional. Based on the recommendations of the

evaluator, the University of Rochester and API reserve the right to implement a

behavioral plan with the participant, including requiring ongoing consultation with local

medical professionals, attendance at local support group meetings, cooperation with

local authorities, periodic check-ins with the API representatives, etc.

3. Loss of housing: Participants who fail to abide by housing regulations may be removed

from program housing either temporarily or for the remainder of the session. Participants

will be responsible for paying any costs incurred to secure housing independently of the

program.

4. Assessment of damages: Participants are responsible for and will be billed by API for

any damages caused by misbehavior or negligence.

VI. APPEALING DISCIPLINARY ACTION(S)

1. Participants who are issued a written warning or removed from program housing

temporarily or permanently may appeal the decision by submitting a written appeal to

API’s Associate Vice President of Health, Safety and Student Wellness within 48 hours

of the disciplinary action. Oral arguments will not be accepted, and the appeal will be

reviewed solely on the basis of the written testimony and any other physical evidence

(e.g., photographs, videos, etc.) submitted for consideration.

2. The Associate Vice President of Health, Safety and Student Wellness, in consultation

with the University of Rochester, will have 72 hours to review the participant’s appeal

and make a ruling. All original consequences/sanctions will remain in effect until the

Associate Vice President of Health, Safety and Student Wellness has reviewed the

written statement of the participant.

3. The decision of the Associate Vice President of Health, Safety and Student Wellness, or

her designee, shall be final.

VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT OF PARTICIPANT

1. I understand that the above rules, regulations and policies are enforced for the safety of

all program participants living in program housing. I have read and agree to comply with

all the rules, regulations, and policies stated in this document.

2. I understand that API will gather personal data about me and my online presence for the

purposes of processing payment and arranging housing on my behalf.

3. I acknowledge that I am willingly providing the requested personal data on the

application form, which will be used only by API and the housing partner(s) for the

purposes of securing my housing placement.

4. If I wish to retract my consent for use of this personal data, I understand that I must

make such a request by email to [email protected] . I understand that doing so

could hinder API’s efforts to provide quality service to me.

5. I understand that the University of Rochester and/or API directors in Shanghai may need

to communicate information about me to the main office of API in Texas and/or my

emergency contact if an issue arises in my housing which requires discussion and

resolution.

By checking this box and typing my name below, I acknowledge that I understand the

information provided and agree to the terms and conditions stated on this electronic form.