Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Pitzer Student Handbook 
    
2024-2025 Pitzer Student Handbook

Fines and Charges


  1. Rationale for Damage Policies   
    It is the policy of the College to charge individuals responsible for damages which occur or items which are lost from the residence halls. Charges reflect the cost of replacement and/ or repairs. Furthermore, it is the policy of the College to attempt to establish financial responsibility for damages that occur in public areas of a residence hall for which individual responsibility cannot be ascertained. Costs for acts of unclaimed vandalism may be charged back to those residing within the smallest identifiable space where the vandalism occurred.  
      

  2. Damages and Losses within Individual Student Rooms  
    All losses and damages which occur within an individual student’s room beyond the range of fair wear and tear are charged to the resident(s) of the room. The Room Completion Report (RCR) completed at the beginning of each resident’s occupancy protects the student from being held liable for previous damage. Individual student rooms are inspected upon checkout. Bathrooms are inspected for damages, violations and cleanliness during the winter break and again at the end of the year. Bathrooms and rooms should be cleaned so that they are “move-in ready” when students depart at the end of their time in housing.   
      
    At the end of the academic year, charges are assessed for damage and loss through year-end inspection and checkout procedures. Charges are billed to individual student accounts. For students not returning the following year (graduating or withdrawing), such charges are deducted from their deposit and if the charges exceed the amount of the deposit, the difference is billed to the student’s account.  
      

  3. Housekeeping in Common Areas  
    All students are expected to keep the common areas of the residence halls, including the laundry rooms, kitchens, and study rooms, in a reasonable state of cleanliness. When an excessive mess is found, it is the responsibility of the residents of the residence hall to clean it up. In the case of a common area, the smallest identifiable group of residents has the responsibility of restoring the area to reasonable cleanliness.  
      
    During the semester, the Residence Director of the affected building will contact residents with next steps. If the conditions are not up to standard by the end of the time period set by the Residence Director, a fine will be assessed to each person responsible for the clean-up task. If no people are identified, the cleanup costs may be charged to those residing in the smallest identifiable space where the mess occurred. It should be noted that in some cases this means that students not directly responsible for the mess will be held responsible for the cleanup.