Housing

Welcome to Residence Life at UHV (University of Houston Victoria)

On behalf of the Department of Residence Life (DRL), we would like to welcome you to campus housing at the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV). The Residence Life staff hopes that you will consider UHV your “home away from home.” The DRL staff is committed to your development by striving to provide excellent customer service and providing each resident with the tools necessary to be successful in an ever-changing and diverse society. We challenge each resident to play an active role in their community through participation in campus, community, and housing activities.

National research shows that students who live on campus perform better academically and graduate earlier than their off-campus counterparts, so it is up to each student to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity. Living on campus will provide you with many new freedoms and personal choices, an experience in which you will meet students from across the country and around the globe, develop life-long friendships, and establish a connection to our diverse campus life.

Living in campus housing, you will find that we are “more than just a place to live!” We provide facilities, programs, and services that will assist you in achieving your academic goals. Programs are sponsored by our Resident Assistants, the Residence Hall Association (RHA), Student Involvement and student organizations/leaders. Get involved in your community, participate in the various campus activities/programs, and become involved in RHA to make a difference in your living community! This handbook is filled with valuable information regarding campus housing.

The Housing Agreement

The most important parts of the contract for the university residence halls are the Housing Agreement and the Residence Life Rules and Regulations. The Housing Agreement applies to the entire academic year while the Residence Life Rules and Regulations are continuously in effect. 

The purpose of the Housing Agreement is to ensure maximum usage of available housing facilities. Every effort is made to provide the best possible facilities at a reasonable cost. Once the semester begins, very few students look for on campus housing. Therefore, it is difficult to replace residents who leave the university, and for this reason, the university must insist on complete compliance with the terms of the Housing Agreement. During official university vacation periods, residence halls are closed to residents. Students staying for intersession may be reassigned to temporary housing during this time.

Each resident must sign a Housing Agreement when completing their Housing application. A resident should read and understand the conditions of the Housing Agreement carefully before signing. The Housing Agreement is a binding contract for both the fall and spring semesters. The agreement specifies provisions for cancellation, termination, payment, applicable policies and procedures, and the contract period. Since the Housing Agreement is in effect for the academic year (fall & spring semesters), approval must be obtained to cancel or terminate the contract. A penalty charge of $400 is assessed when terminating early.

Community Living Expectations

Residential Community Philosophy

Residence Life is committed to providing a high-quality residence hall experience where you will have many opportunities to become involved in numerous activities and organizations, meet and become friends with people from diverse backgrounds, and enrich your academic pursuits at the UHV. One of the most rewarding facets of living in residence halls is the ability to live with people who are different from you. Every person comes from a diverse background and brings a separate set of experiences and expectations for living here in housing. 

Residence Life rights and responsibilities, policies and the Student Code of Conduct are intended to give you, your roommate(s) and your neighbors a common set of guidelines by which you can all live and learn together in order to achieve academic success, develop lasting friendships, and continue to build your skills so you are well prepared for your career after graduation. The Residence Life program is an integral part of the educational initiatives of the institution. 

The Department of Residence Life, within the division of Student Affairs, supports the academic mission of UHV by creating on-campus living communities that foster personal growth and development, academic success, social responsibility, cultural understanding, and leadership in residential students. University housing is available to all UHV students regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or veteran status. The Residence Life program provides educational, cultural, social, and recreational programs in partnership with other departments and organizations.

Living with others near you is not always easy. To live cooperatively, it is critical that residents and staff members develop a mutual respect and are committed to specific expectations of behavior. University policies and the conduct process are based on respect for yourself, your fellow residents, and the living community. It is also based on taking responsibility for one’s behaviors and actions. To carry on its work of teaching, research, and public service, UHV faculty, staff, administrators, and students must maintain conditions under which the university can proceed freely. Therefore, it is the responsibility of everyone to know and abide by university and housing policies and procedures, ensuring we are all in accordance with the highest expectations of quality, institutional integrity, and freedom of expression. Each member of our community shares the responsibility of maintaining a safe environment conducive to the achievement of the university’s mission.

Amenities

Jaguar Village provides residents with access to most of the amenities listed below for twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven days a week. Each building provides an assortment of amenities for our residential students.

11:59 Lounge

The 11:59 Lounge is located in Jaguar Hall and is available to residents 24 hours a day. The 11:59 Lounge contains three 42-inch HDTVs, two arcade games, a vending machine, two microwaves, and plenty of space to relax or socialize with others. This is a shared space so please be mindful of others and clean up after yourself. 

Fitness Center

The Fitness Center, on the second floor of Jaguar Suites, is only accessible to UHV student residents and available 24 hours a day. Misuse of the fitness center equipment and space is prohibited, and residents will be held responsible for any damages. All UHV students also have a gym membership to the local YMCA. Please visit the Student Services website for more details. 

Internet

Each residence hall is a wireless accessible building. Each room has an active high-speed Internet connection in it. These connections are managed through our Local Area Network (LAN) and are part of your communications package. Connect a Category 6 Ethernet cable from the jack to the Ethernet card on your computer. Make sure that your TCP/IP settings are set to “auto-detect settings.” If you have any questions about this service or require assistance in setting it up, please contact the UHV Help Desk at HelpDesk@uhv.edu or 361-570-4399.

JP’s Market

JP’s Market, located in Jaguar Hall, is a free food pantry on campus open to all currently enrolled UHV students. The market gives students access to food and hygiene products at least once a week, with no limit on how many times they can return. The market offers a variety of foods to ensure students can focus on academics, and not on where they are getting their next meal. JP’s Market is supported by a partnership with The Food Bank of the Golden Crescent and donations from UHV students, staff, faculty, and community members.

Laundry Facilities

For your convenience, laundry facilities are provided at each residence hall. Payment for the laundry machines is through the CSC Go mobile application and accepts any Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card or American Express. Misuse of the laundry facilities is prohibited, and residents will be held responsible for any damages.

Residence Hall Association (RHA)

RHA is an elected governing body for the residential hall students at UHV. The main mission of RHA is to promote communication between Residence Life and our UHV residents. All residents are welcome to join the RHA and attend our monthly general body meetings. Meetings are hosted to hear your concerns, be your voice, and drive positive change within our residence halls. RHA even has officer/leadership opportunities available to interested students.

If you have any questions regarding RHA, please contact us at (361) 485-4404 or housing@uhv.edu.

Smith Hall Lounges and Kitchens

Smith Hall lounges and kitchens are available to residents 24 hours a day. The lounges, located on the first floor, contain large TV’s, vending machines, a microwave, and plenty of seating areas to relax and/or socialize with others. There is a full kitchen on each floor which contains a microwave, a refrigerator, an oven with a stove top and a sink. These are shared spaces so please be mindful of others and clean up after yourself.

Departmental Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures are necessary for the smooth functioning of any community. Here at Jaguar Village, we believe that you have the right to an environment in which you can study, socialize, and live comfortably. There are three basic principles involved in achieving this:

• Demonstrate care for yourself
• Demonstrate care and consideration for others
• Respect others and community property

Take time to familiarize yourself with the following policies and procedures as both you and your guests are responsible for following them.

**Any violations of the following policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action. **

Access/Unauthorized Entry

Residents found climbing over a fence, gate, or door, for any reason, will violate their housing agreement. Any person who is not a resident found climbing the fence or walking unescorted through the community is criminally trespassing.

If you see any suspicious persons around the property or see anyone climbing over the fence, door, or gate, please contact UHV Security at 361-570-HELP, the Jaguar Hall front desk at 361-485-4404, the RA (Resident Assistants) on-call phone for your building or dial 911.

Do not block or prop open doors, causing them not to lock properly. Report blocked and/or unlocked entrances, or individuals tampering with the doors, to an RA, a professional staff member or Campus Police. Disciplinary action will be taken against those who violate this policy. Violation of this policy puts yourself and other residents at risk of potential danger by giving non-residents access to community buildings.

It is prohibited to enter any Jaguar Village room that has not been assigned to you without the explicit permission of the resident assigned to that room/suite. Guests, contractors, vendors, etc. are prohibited from entering Jaguar Village rooms without checking in at our front desk and going through the proper procedures.

Check-In/Check-Out Procedures

Students must check into their residence hall by presenting a government issues photo ID or their Paw Pass to the Residence Life staff at the front desk. Upon checking in, students will receive their room key and complete the Check-In Inspection Form.

During check-out, residents must turn in their key and have a RA check their room to complete the Check-Out Inspection Form. Residents are responsible for returning their room to the original condition for check-out (floors and bathroom(s) are cleaned, furniture back in place and dusted, all trash removed, etc.). Residents will be responsible for damages and/or cleaning fees, if applicable.

Residents who vacate the halls are responsible for removing any property, which they own or used during their occupancy, from the building and premises. Failure to remove excess property will result in improper check-out charges, plus charges for removal by the university, and potentially storage charges at the discretion of Residence Life. In addition to regular cleaning charges, which are assessed for a dirty room at check-out, removal charges will be assessed for property such as tables, chairs, sofas, refrigerators, street signs, bricks, lumber and similar items that by their nature cannot be disposed of through the normal university trash disposal system or require extra effort to remove. 

Firearms and Weapons

The possession and/or use of a firearm or dangerous weapon, or look alike, are not permitted at Jaguar Village. Such weapons include bows and arrows, slingshots, darts, knives, BB guns or pistols, flare guns, air pistols, stun guns, rifles, martial art implements and more. Possession and/or use of any explosive device, including firecrackers, cherry bombs, and bottle rockets, etc. are not permitted. Residents are obligated to report the possession and/or storage of firearms, weapons, or explosives to UHV Campus Security of Residence Life staff immediately.

Fire Equipment

Residents who tamper with fire equipment may be subject to prosecution and fines, per Texas State laws. Tampering with smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire hoses, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers is prohibited and will result in a response from the local fire department, which is in violation of state and local ordinances. 

Furniture

Room furniture is not to be removed, transferred, or interchanged among other rooms or public areas. Room furnishings provided may be arranged in any reasonable manner that does not endanger a resident(s) safety. Waterbeds are prohibited. Shared area furniture is not to be removed from its assigned location to any other location at any time. 

Keys

A room key is issued to the assigned resident of a living space. Residents should always have their room key and Paw Pass (Student ID/access card) in their possession. Residents may not issue their key and/or Paw Pass to anyone else. Lost or missing keys/access cards must be reported as soon as possible to Residence Life staff. Keys shall not be duplicated. Keys must be turned in to Residence Life staff upon termination of the Housing Agreement or when moving out. A replacement key costs $40 while a replacement Paw Pass/ID costs $10.

Locked Out (Room or Building)

If you are locked out of your residential building or room, please follow the directions listed below depending on your situation.

• If you lose your room key, you will need to complete a Key Replacement Form at the Jaguar Hall front desk. These can be completed during desk hours Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Replacement keys cost $40. If it is after JH desk hours, you will need to call your building on-call number for access to your room. You will need a Paw Pass for identification purposes. After two consecutive lock outs, a new key will be issued and a $40 key replacement charge will occur.
• If you lock your key in your room, you can visit your building front desk during desk hours to have an RA grant you access to your room. If it is after desk hours, you will need to call your building on-call number for access to your room. You will need a Paw Pass for identification purposes.
• If you are locked out of your building contact UHV Security at 361-570-HELP for access.
• If you lost your Paw Pass, you can get a replacement card by completing a Paw Pass Application online. A replacement Paw Pass costs $10.

Room Transfer Procedures

Room transfers are offered to facilitate the development of mutual friendships, similar academic interests, relocation to a more desired area, and to mediate roommate conflicts. Room transfers are not to be used as an escape from dealing with conflict or unreasonable behavior. Students wishing to transfer rooms should submit a Transfer Request Form in the Housing portal. The Transfer Request Form must be approved, in advance of the move. 

After a request is submitted, Residence Life professional staff will work together to approve or deny a request. If the transfer is denied, the student will be informed by email. If the transfer is approved, the student will be informed by email and the resident will have 48 hours (about 2 days) to move into their new room and complete their new Check-In Inspection, after they pick up their key. As soon as they have completed their move, they will contact an RA who will check them out of their old room by completing a Check-Out Inspection Form and collecting their old room key.

Modifications and Alterations to Living Space

No alterations or modifications are to be made to either the interior or exterior surfaces of the rooms, doors, hallways, or building without the prior written approval of a Residence LIfe professional staff member. Unacceptable alterations or modifications include securing mirrors on the closet or bathroom doors, permanently mounting shelves to the wall, installing additional locks, chains, or latches to their unit or bathroom doors or replacement locks on the doors, screwing items into the walls, doors, or furniture, etc. This is not an exhaustive list and approval is required for any questionable alterations or modifications.

No self-adhesive stickers (bumper stickers, etc.) may be placed on the walls, doors, or furniture. Thumbtacks, poster putty, 3M Command strips, or small nails (7/8” long or smaller) may be used to hang posters and pictures; however, use of double-sided sticky foam tape is prohibited. Curtains may be hung if the holes do not exceed the above standards. No obscene or inappropriate items, signs, or posters may be hung on the windows. No material or pieces of material may cover windows. Painting on windows is also prohibited. Tampering with communal doors is also prohibited.

If you have any questions, contact Residence Life staff before applying any decorations to the unit walls. Residence Life has the authority to remove any offensive, inappropriate, or unauthorized items displayed on student doors, walls, or windows. Residents will be held accountable for damages not documented on the Check-In Inspection form.

Paw Pass

The Paw Pass is a multifunctional identification card issued by UHV and it serves as the official identification for students at UHV. The Paw Pass card offers a range of convenient features and benefits, enhancing the overall campus experience. It provides access to numerous services on campus, including:

• 24-hour residential access for residents to all residence halls
• Dining privileges for students with a meal plan
• Jag Bucks
• Library access and services
• Campus-wide printing services
• Daily Deals for local Victoria-area discounts
• Entrance and discounts (if applicable) to select university events, including athletic events

*Only the issued cardholder is authorized to their Paw Pass under any circumstances. The Paw Pass belongs to UHV and if misused it can be withdrawn by the University at any given moment.

Pet Policy

Only pets required for the assistance of an individual with a disability, or an approved Emotional Support Animal (ESA) are allowed at Jaguar Village. ESA animals must be approved through Disability Services. Guests are not allowed to bring their pets into the premises at any time. Pets include mammals, reptiles, etc. Residents found responsible for breaking the Pet Policy could be fined a $25 daily rate for the pet or the pet’s items being on campus.

*Residents are allowed to have one pet fish in a one-gallon tank in their room. 

Trash

We ask that residents remove trash and garbage from their rooms daily. Both Smith Hall and Jaguar Hall provide dumpsters to place your trash. Jaguar Suites also provides trash rooms on each floor. Trash left outside of any resident’s room door will be picked up and the residents of that room will be charged $25 per bag of trash. Multiple violations will result in disciplinary actions. 

Important Campus Phone Numbers

Campus Security – (361) 570-HELP (4357)

Career Development Center – (361) 570-4385

Counseling Center – (361) 570-4135

Financial Aid – (361) 570-4125

Student Billing – (361) 570-4833

Student Life – (361) 485-4410

Student Records – (361) 570-4368

Switchboard Operator – (361) 570-4848

Title IX – (361) 570-4835

UHV Help Desk – (361) 570-4399