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Residential Life Handbook 

General Information

Campus Address

While living on campus you will want to make sure you are using the following address, depending on which residence hall you reside in, to receive mail and packages: 

First Name Last Name

Florida Polytechnic University, Room ####

4540 Polytechnic Circle

Lakeland, FL 33805

If the student’s full name is not included in the address, the mail or package will be returned to the sender.

Mail & Packages (Parcels)

Residential Life is responsible for receiving, processing, and distributing mail and packages (parcels) to students living on campus. Parcels for students living on campus will no longer be sent to the University Mail Center, located in the Wellness Center, and students will no longer pick up their parcels from the University Mail Center. 

Students living on campus will not be assigned a mailbox within the residence halls. All parcels, after they have been received and processed, and the student has been properly notified, via our Notifii parcel system, can be picked up from the Residential Life front desk in the Phase 2 residence hall. 

Process for receiving parcels from Residential Life: 

  • All parcels addressed to residence halls, for students living on campus, will be delivered and received by Residential Life. 
    • Parcels are delivered to Residential Life during business hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parcels will not be delivered to Residential Life on weekends and when the University is closed.
  • Once parcels have been processed by Residential Life, the student will receive an email and text message notification from Notifii, which is our parcel system.
    • Please keep in mind if the website tracking your parcel states that the “status is delivered” or that the parcel has been "delivered to agent”, this means that your parcel has been scanned by the local carrier and it is on its way or will be on its way to the University usually within one business day.
  • Once you receive the email and text message notification from Notifii, please visit the Residential Life front desk, located in the Phase 2 residence hall, to pick up your parcel. Parcels can be picked up from the Residential Life front desk during business hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mail and packages will not be allowed to be picked up outside of these hours or on weekends. 
  • You must have a valid photo ID (i.e., driver's license) or your Florida Poly Card to pick up parcels.
  • After 30 days, parcels that are not picked up will be returned to the sender.
  • Residential Life does not handle outgoing mail or package parcels. If you have outgoing parcels that needs to be shipped, please take it to a local mail center or post office. You can also visit the Florida Poly Mail Center located in the Wellness Center. 

Change of Address: 

Residential Life and Student Living maintain several different addresses for students living on campus: local, permanent, and guardian. These addresses come from the student’s admissions application. It is the responsibility of each student living on campus to update and change their address at move-out to ensure they receive their final account statement and security deposit (if applicable). If we receive mail or package parcels when you are no longer living on campus, they will be returned to sender. 

University Breaks, Closures, and Holidays

There are several University breaks, closures, and holidays throughout the academic year. Students may want to return home during these periods, or they may want to remain on campus. Students are not required to return home or leave campus, unless asked to do so by Residential Life and Student Living, during University breaks, closures, and holidays. When the residence halls are closed, there will be no access to the residence halls unless a separate contract is signed, and additional fees assessed. Rent does not cover occupancy during winter break. No rent refunds or other concessions will be provided for those periods of time the residence halls are closed.

Students are welcome to remain on campus during the Thanksgiving break. Students will be surveyed by Residential Life before the break begins so we are aware of who is looking to remain on campus during the break. Residential Life will continue to provide resident support during the Thanksgiving break period. Please be aware Dining Services may be closed or have limited hours of operation during this period, and other University services may be limited or not available during the Thanksgiving break. Students will still be required to pay their rent during this time.

The residence halls will close during the winter break and students will be required to vacate the residence halls by 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 17. The University, along with the Residential Life and Student Living offices, will be closed during the winter break, as well. Students do not need to remove their belongings from their units or bedrooms when they vacate the residence halls for the winter break as they will be returning to the exact same unit and bedroom for the spring 2023 semester. Please ensure that you make the necessary arrangements to find alternative housing over the winter break. 

Students are welcome to remain on campus during the spring break. Students will be surveyed by Residential Life before the break begins so we are aware of who is looking to remain on campus during the break. Residential Life will continue to provide resident support during the spring break period. Please be aware Dining Services may be closed or have limited hours of operation during this period, and other University services may be limited or not available during the spring break. Students will still be required to pay their rent during this time. 

For more information regarding University breaks, closures, and holidays please view our academic calendar

Items for Checkout

Items are available for checkout from the Residential Life front desk, which located in the Phase 2 residence hall. A variety of items for checkout include moving carts. Please be aware Residential Life does not supply or allow students to checkout cleaning supplies or equipment such as vacuums and mops. Cleaning supplies and equipment is the responsibility of the student living on campus. Residential Life does not provide cooking equipment (i.e., grilling supplies, hot/induction plates, etc.) to residents for check out. Please be advised that open-heating element electrical equipment and appliances are prohibited in the residence halls. 

Lost and Found

In the case you have lost something or believe you have lost something, you may stop by the Residential Life front desk, located in the Phase 2 residence hall, to check the Lost & Found. Items left in the Lost & Found will be kept for no more than 30 calendar days. At the end of 30 calendar days items will be disposed of or donated. 

Lockouts

In the case that a student has locked themselves out of their unit, bedroom, or the building please follow these procedures: 

  • During normal business hours (Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.) stop by the Residential Life front desk, located in the Phase 2 residence hall, for assistance.
  • After business hours and on weekends, contact the Resident Assistant (RA) on-call. The RA on-call number is posted on each community’s floor bulletin board and posted at the Residential Life front desk located in the Phase 2 residence hall. 

After the first lockout, students will be required to pay $25.00 per lockout. 

Roommate and Suitemate Concerns

Living with another person or persons may be a brand-new experience for some, which may cause some concerns throughout the semester or year. In the case a student is having issues or concerns regarding their roommate or suitemate they should speak with their Resident Assistant (RA) or Community Director (CD) immediately. From there, the RA or CD can begin working with those involved in our well-planned and thought-out mediation process. Unit and bedroom reassignment is not a solution to roommate/suitemate conflicts and reassignment requests will not be granted. 

At the beginning of each semester, all roommates and suitemates that share a unit will be required to complete and fill out a roommate/suitemate agreement contract. This contract covers various topics when it comes to sharing spaces and living with other individuals (i.e., cleanliness, guests/visitors, studying, sleeping, etc.). In the case of a roommate or suitemate conflict, the roommate/suitemate agreement contract will be reintroduced to ensure all roommates and suitemates are following the rules and guidelines they have set for themselves. Roommate/Suitemate agreement contracts may be updated and changed at any time and as many times throughout the semester and year, as long as all students within the unit and/or bedroom agree to said updates and changes.

Community Building and Programming

A large and important aspect of Residential Life is providing a living, learning environment for all of our students living on campus. Everything we do is to ensure a positive and fun residential student experience that is inclusive, welcoming, and centered around community development. Throughout each semester and academic year Resident Assistants (RAs), Community Directors (CDs), and Residential Life staff, in collaboration with other University staff offices and groups, will put on and host several community-based and educational-based programs and events for students living on campus. These programs and events are meant to bring the community together, for students to get to know one another, and learn outside of the classroom. If there is ever an idea you have for a program or event, please share it with us! This is your home, and we want to make sure we help you get and make the most out of it! 

Housing Accommodations

The Office of Residential Life works closely with our Office of Disability Services (ODS) to ensure that any student living on campus who needs a housing accommodation completes the correct steps and procedures. 

If you are looking for or needing an accommodation relating to your housing on campus, please email the Office of Disability Services (ODS) to begin the process. Once your intake has been completed and approved by ODS, you will begin working with Residential Life and Student Living regarding you housing need(s). 

Personal Affects (Renter’s Insurance)

Students living on campus are not required to acquire renter’s insurance, however students living on campus are encouraged to purchase renter’s insurance to insure their personal belongings. Florida Polytechnic University and Student Living (Leasing Office) are not responsible for, nor do we insure, the student’s personal property. We strongly recommend that you contact an insurance agent to purchase apartment dwellers insurance to cover your personal belongings against fire, burglary, and water damage, as well as personal liability. If you are a legal dependent of a parent or guardian, you may be covered under that person's homeowner’s insurance. Your parent or guardian should check with their insurance carrier to determine this.

Resident Eligibility

While residing in the residence halls, a student must be enrolled in and attending nine (9) or more credit hours at the University during fall and spring semesters, and/or three (3) or more hours during summer semesters. If the student’s enrollment drops below these levels at any time, but the student remains enrolled in at least one (1) credit hour of class or the “Professional Experience Internship”, the student must notify the Office of Residential Life in writing of the change. Residential Life will determine the student’s eligibility to continue living in the residence halls. If a student is required to move off campus due to the reduction of course hours, the student must notify Student Living to discuss their continued financial obligation to their lease agreement. The student agrees to move out within five (5) days if instructed to do so by Residential Life or Student Living.