Skip to main content

Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Summer Housing Terms and Conditions for Youth/Minor Events 2025

Conference and Event Services 2025-2026

CORNELL UNIVERSITY – STUDENT & CAMPUS LIFE
HOUSING TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR YOUTH/MINOR EVENTS OR PROGRAMS: 2025-2026

REVOCABLE LICENSE 

Cornell University provides housing accommodations to registered attendees on a revocable license basis only. This License may be immediately revoked for failure to comply with these terms and conditions, for behavior that may endanger public order or property or the personal safety or security of any person, or for any other reason that the University deems good cause, in its sole and absolute discretion. In such event, the University shall not be liable to you for any claims, causes of action, damages, injuries, penalties, costs or expenses of any kind, including (without limitation) attorneys’ fees or any refund of housing fees, whether paid to the University or to a third-party organizer. 

COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS 

Your occupancy of University housing is subject at all times to your compliance with these Housing Terms and Conditions, all applicable University policies, guidelines and directives, and all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. 

Individuals required by law to register as a sex offender who wish to occupy University housing or who have a family member or partner who must register as a sex offender who wishes to occupy University housing with the individual must notify Student and Campus Life prior to signing this license and may not occupy University housing without SCL’s approval. Contact housing@cornell.edu for details.

RIGHT OF ENTRY 

The University reserves the right to enter your assigned housing at any time, without notice, in times of emergency; to make repairs; for facilities-related project work, for housekeeping purposes, to inspect for compliance with health, fire, or building codes or with University policies or regulations; for law enforcement purposes, or for any other health, safety, or security purpose as determined by the University in its sole and absolute discretion. 

CHECK IN/CHECK OUT; LIABILITY FOR ROOM DAMAGES 

Upon check-in, Occupants must report room damages to the Service Desk. You are liable for any loss or damage you cause to your room or room furnishings, the residence hall, or other University property. When checking out, you must remove all your personal property, and leave your room empty. Charges for extraordinary cleaning required, removal of abandoned personal property, and for any loss or damage you have caused will be billed to you. Personal property not removed within 24 hours of check-out shall be deemed abandoned and may be disposed of by the University in its sole discretion. 

PERMITTED BELONGINGS 

Occupants may store their personal clothing, toiletries, and personal medical devices in their assigned rooms. No other personal property may be brought into University housing without the prior written consent of the University. 

PETS 

  • Pets are prohibited.
  • Service animals (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act) are permitted in University housing. Emotional support animals are permitted in University housing if approved as a reasonable accommodation for a disability. Occupants with service animals or approved emotional support animals must comply with Policy 2.8: Pets on Campus. ESAs must be approved in advance through the Conference and Event Services office. 

COOKING 

  • Cooking is prohibited. Community kitchens are not available for use under this license. Toasters and toaster ovens are prohibited. 

COMMON AREA USAGE 

  • Bathrooms must be kept clear of personal belongings, except where cubbies and racks are provided for storage between uses.
  • Behavior in common areas should conform to the standards of the community as a whole. Occupants should exercise good judgment and demonstrate consideration of others and common courtesy when using common areas 

RESTROOM/FACILITIES USE GUIDELINES 

  • In keeping with the University’s policy of nondiscrimination and the commitment to inclusion, the University allows Occupants, staff, faculty, and visitors to use the restroom or facility that corresponds to their gender identity. In addition, the University maintains a number of universal restrooms across campus to address restroom facility access not necessarily related to gender identity, such as access for parents with children and for other attendants/caregivers. These facilities are all-gender, accessible spaces, which may include amenities for families such as baby changing stations. 

    *Gender identity refers to an individual’s internal sense of gender. A person’s gender identity may be different from or the same as the person’s sex assigned at birth. 

SMOKING, TOBACCO AND ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES 

  • Smoking is not permitted inside any University building, including your assigned housing.
  • Smoking is only permitted outside at least 25 feet from any University building.
  • The use of electronic cigarettes and hookahs in your assigned housing or inside any University building is prohibited. 

ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES 

  • Occupants may not possess or consume alcohol or illegal drugs, or possess drug paraphernalia of any kind, while on University property. Please note that cannabis (whether recreational or medical) is federally illegal and is strictly prohibited on all University property. 

DECORATING ROOMS 

  • Occupants may not decorate rooms, doors, or common areas. 

BED ELEVATING 

  • Occupants are not permitted to use homemade or other bed lofting units.. 

REMOVAL AND STORAGE OF FURNISHINGS

  • You may not remove University-provided furnishings from your housing accommodations. 

NOISE AND OTHER DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR 

  • You may not make excessive noise or otherwise disrupt the residence community or adversely affect other Occupants, as deter-mined by the University in its sole and absolute discretion. 

BICYCLES 

  • Occupants may not bring bicycles onto University property. 

MOTOR VEHICLES 

  • Occupants (excluding Camp/Program staff who have obtained parking privileges) may not bring any type of motorized vehicle— gasoline, propane, electric, or battery-operated—onto University property. This includes hover boards. Vehicles in violation will be impounded without notice, at the owner’s expense. 

WEAPONS 

  • Possession or use of rifles, shotguns, pistols, and other firearms or of ammunition, archery equipment, gunpowder, fireworks, air rifles, air pistols, and other dangerous instruments is prohibited on University property. 

FIRE SAFETY 

  • Smoke detectors are located throughout residence rooms, corridors, and common areas. Do not block, cover, or tamper with any detector.
  • Objects may be no closer than 18 inches to the ceiling or to any fire safety device (such as sprinklers).
  • Fire extinguishers are located on each floor of each building and residence hall to be used only by trained personnel. Occupants should familiarize themselves with the locations of Fire Alarms and marked EXITS located throughout the buildings.
  • Manual pull stations are located at exit points from each floor and the building exterior doors. In the event of a fire emergency, activate the station to sound the fire alarm. This will automatically contact emergency responders.
  • In the event of a fire or other emergency, Occupants must exit the building following EXIT signs that are located throughout the building.
  • The University conducts periodic evacuation drills to practice education and safe exiting from buildings. Occupants must exit from the building when the fire alarm is activated and cannot re-enter the building until given permission by University personnel. Evacuation plans are posted at elevators, stairs, and exit points throughout the buildings. These plans will indicate means to exit the building safely. All persons should be familiar with the procedures for evacuating a building.
  • Occupant room doors cannot be propped open if they are designed to automatically shut. • Storing flammable liquids and gases is prohibited.
  • Use of open flame is prohibited.
  • Candles (wick or wickless) and incense are prohibited.
  • To ensure safe egress, Occupants may not leave personal items in hallways or stairwells. 

Fire and Safety Inspections: 

  • The University is subject to fire and safety inspections by various agencies. If a fine is incurred as a result of the Occupant’s failure to comply with the terms of these Housing Terms and Conditions or with any request from University staff, the Occupant will be responsible for the amount of the fine.
  • University fire safety plans can be reviewed online https://ehs.cornell.edu/campus-health-safety/fire-and-life-safety/fire-safety-plans. • Fire Safety policies are subject to compliance changes and updates based on local and state regulated standards. Advance notice of changes/updates will be provided whenever possible.
  • The University is subject to fire and safety inspections by various agencies. If the University incurs a fine as a result of your failure to comply with the terms of your Housing License or with any request from residence staff or other University staff, you will be responsible for payment of the fire safety fine and any damage incurred. Upon inspection, prohibited items will be confiscated. You will have seven days to retrieve your confiscated item(s), otherwise, they will be destroyed or donated at the end of seven days.
  • Prohibited items include, but are not limited to extension cords, artificial plants, untreated tapestries or flags, headboards with electrical adaptors, items blocking doors or windows, and all other items outlined in these terms and conditions and the fire safety section of the Community Living Standards.
  • All on-campus housing facilities are equipped with fire suppression systems and/or sprinkler systems.
  • You must immediately evacuate the building and follow all emergency and residence staff directions if a fire alarm sounds. You are responsible for knowing where the fire alarm boxes are located in your building. Fire extinguishers are for use by trained personnel only.
  • All occupants of University housing are strictly prohibited from Occupant tampering with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire and emergency doors, and other fire safety equipment.; Destruction/damage to exit signage; Falsely reporting a fire verbally or by falsely pulling the fire alarm/pull station; Failure to follow evacuation procedures during an emergency or an alarm; Use or storage of fireworks of any kind. 

GUESTS

  • Occupants may not allow guests or visitors in their housing accommodation.

SECURITY, SAFETY, KEYS AND LOCKOUT

  • Keys must not be duplicated or loaned.
  • All lost or stolen keys must be reported to and the Service Center staff immediately.
  • You must keep exterior entrances to residence halls locked at all times.
  • You may not place yourself or others at risk by offering access to any residence hall or locked building to strangers or unauthorized persons.
  • Occupants are not permitted on roofs, ledges, or overhangs and may not climb the exteriors of any University building.
  • Religious Restrictions: Occupants who are prohibited from using electronic devices on certain days due to religious restrictions may request an alternative access key from their Service Center and must sign an Alternative Access Key Agreement.
  • Bike Rooms: Occupants needing access to bike rooms may request an alternative access key from the Service Center and must sign an Alternative Access Key Agreement. 

GORGE SAFETY

  • All Occupants are highly encouraged to read the Gorge Safety website and brochure (available at https://gorgesafety.cornell.edu) and enjoy the natural wonders of the area safely. 

LIABILITY 

The University shall not be liable or otherwise responsible, directly or indirectly, for any loss or damage to any article of your personal property or your vehicle occurring anywhere on University property, whether caused by fire, water, steam, the elements, insufficient heat, loss or surges of electricity, theft, the actions of third persons, or any other reason. Your personal property is not covered by University insurance. 

The University is not liable for the acts or omissions of other Occupants or any, including but not limited to any third-party event, program, or camp organizer or operator. Under no circumstances shall University be responsible for (1) the security of Client or any attendee, contractor, vendor or agent of Client, or (2) for the loss, theft or damage to personal property of Client or any attendee, contractor, vendor or agent of Client. This provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

FORCE MAJEURE 

The University assumes no responsibility for failure to perform any terms or conditions of this License due to fire, earthquake, flood, act of God, weather events, strikes, work stoppages or other labor disturbances, riots or civil commotions, litigation, war or other acts of any foreign nation, terrorism, epidemics, pandemics, power of governments or governmental agencies or authorities, national emergencies, or any other cause that is beyond the control of the University, regardless whether such a cause is similar or dissimilar to the foregoing examples, and regardless as to whether the subject event or cause was conceivable or foreseeable. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

  1. Any waiver by the University of its rights under this License shall not be deemed a continuing waiver.
  2. If any provision of this License shall be found to be invalid, the remaining provisions hereof shall continue in full force and effect.
  3. This License represents the complete agreement between you and the University regarding your University housing, and supersedes any prior contracts or understandings, whether oral or written. It may not be amended in any way without the prior written permission of the University in each instance.
  4. This License is subject to the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws or principles. You agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts in Tompkins County, New York State, for the resolution of any disputes arising under the Housing License. 

  5. In any action, suit, or proceeding in any jurisdiction arising out of or relating to this Housing License, you and the University each knowingly and intentionally, to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law, irrevocably and expressly waive forever trial by jury.