Housing Contract

This document (referred to as the “Contract”) forms a complete understanding between the student, the eligible occupant of a residence hall space, and Goucher College, as the owner and operator of the housing and dining facilities on the Goucher College Campus. This Contract will explain to the student all of the rights and responsibilities that govern the student’s use of the residence halls and dining facilities.

This Contract will serve as an official agreement between Goucher College and the resident student (referred to as “student”). It is designed to be a clear statement of the rights and responsibilities of both the student and Goucher College. When both the student and Goucher College sign this Contract, it will confirm the student’s acceptance of the terms stated in the Contract. All resident students must sign this Contract as a condition of living in a Goucher College residence hall.

Section 1. Term Definitions

1. Fall Semester

a. For First-Year Students, the Fall Semester is defined as the time frame beginning at 10:00 am on August 17, 2024, and ending at 10:00 am on December 14, 2024.
b. For all other students, the Fall Semester is defined as the time frame beginning at 10:00 am on August 20, 2024, and ending at 10:00 am on December 14, 2024.

2. Winter Break

a. For all students, the Winter Break is defined as the time frame beginning at 10:00 am on December 14, 2024, and ending at 10:00 am on January 2, 2025.

3. J-Term

a. For all students, the J-Term is defined as the time frame beginning at 10:00 am on January 2, 2025, and ending at 10:00 am on January 26, 2025.

4. Spring Semester

a. For non-graduating students not participating in Commencement, the Spring Semester is defined as the time frame beginning at 10:00 am on January 26, 2025, and ending at 10:00 am on May 17, 2025.
b. For graduating students participating in Commencement, the Spring Semester is defined as the time frame beginning at 10:00 am on January 26, 2025, and ending at 10:00 am on May 24, 2025.

Section 2. Housing and Residential Life

1. Goucher College's Responsibility. Subject to the terms of this contract, Goucher College will provide housing as described in the Academic Catalogue and Campus Handbook. The college will also provide heat, water, electricity, wireless Internet access, and maintenance service during the times that Goucher College is in session. The student understands that unanticipated weather events and building system failures may occur that may disrupt service.

2. Joint and Several Liability. The student and your guarantor(s) shall be individually and jointly liable with other residents for all damage done to individual rooms, hallways, bathrooms, and common residential areas, including all equipment and furnishings. As part of the student’s agreement to reside in a residence hall, the student agrees to share in the payment of the cost of repairing damages sustained to Goucher College property.

3. Campus Residency Requirement. In accordance with Goucher College’s On-Campus Residency Policy, all undergraduate students are required to live on campus and all students living on campus are required to participate in one of the college meal plans.  Exceptions to this policy may be approved by the Office of Residential Life or the Vice President for Student Affairs in accordance with the circumstances and procedures defined in the policy.

4. Eligibility to Residence in Goucher College residence halls. To be eligible to maintain occupancy in a Goucher College residence hall, a student must be continuously enrolled for the entirety of the fall and spring terms as undergraduate or graduate student as defined by Goucher College

5. Housing Residency Exceptions.  Exemptions to the housing requirement may be made for students who meet any of the following criteria, and provide supporting documentation to the Office of Residential Life by the communicated priority deadline. Submission of an application does not guarantee an exemption from the residency requirement.  The Office of Residential Life and/or the Vice President for Student Affairs will review all applications and communicate whether or not an application has been approved. Students should not secure off-campus housing before being informed of the decision regarding their application, as this alone will not except them from the residency requirement, and may result in financial obligations to both the college and an off-campus landlord/agency. Students who desire to live off campus as an accommodation for a documented disability, should submit a request to the Office of Accessibility Services.

a. Exemption criteria:

i. Students who choose to commute from their permanent home address within 30 miles of Goucher's campus, and are residing with an immediate family member. The Office of Residential Life defines "immediate family member" as a parent, legal guardian, or sibling. Exceptions will also be considered for students residing with an individual who has stood in loco parentis to the student for one year or more, immediately prior to a student's date of first matriculating at the College. In loco parentis is commonly understood to refer to a relationship in which a person has put himself or herself in the situation of a parent, by assuming and discharging the obligations of a parent to a child with whom he or she has no legal or biological connection. It exists when an individual intends to take on the role of a parent. Persons who are standing in loco parentis include those with day-to-day responsibilities to care for or financially support a child.

ii. Students who are at least 23 years old.

iii. Students who are married.

iv. Students who are veterans of the armed forces

v. Students who are legal guardians of minors who reside with them on a permanent basis. (The college does not provide housing for non-matriculated minor children.)

vi. Students who are veterans of the armed forces

vii. Students who receive an approved on-campus housing exemption accommodation through the Office of Accessibility Services.

b. Students who reside off-campus without meeting one or more of the aforementioned criteria and receiving the appropriate approval will be held responsible for all room and board costs for the semesters in which they are enrolled without such approval.

6. Housing Fees. Students are responsible for remitting payment for all published housing fees in accordance with Goucher College billing and refund dates and deadlines.

7. Duration. Throughout the duration of the Contact, students will have full access to their assigned residence hall house and residence hall room. The duration of the Contract is defined as follows:

a. For students who maintain an active housing assignment for the Fall and Spring academic semesters, the Contract shall begin at the start of the Fall Semester through the end of the Spring Semester, as defined in Section 1, including the Winter Break and J-Term sessions.

b. For students who maintain an active housing assignment for only the Fall academic semester, the Contract shall begin and end for the Fall Semester dates defined in Section 1.

c. For students who maintain an active housing assignment for only the Spring academic semester, the Contract shall begin and end for the Spring Semester dates defined in Section 1.

d. For students who maintain an active housing assignment for the J-Term and Spring academic semester, the Contract shall begin at the start of the J-Term through the end of the Spring Semester, as defined in Section 1.

8. Move-in and Arrival. Students are permitted to move in and occupy their assigned residence hall room on the first day and time of the Contract as defined in section 2, paragraph 3.

a. A student is considered to have taken occupancy of a residence hall room upon confirming receipt of their assigned residence hall room’s key or verification by the Office of Residential Life that a student has physically occupied the residence hall room.

b. Unless an accommodation is approved by the Office of Residential Life, the student must complete all communicated check-in procedures with the Office of Residential Life no later than the second day of classes following the first day and time of the Contract. Failure to complete the communicated check-in procedures by the communicated deadline may result in a student’s residence hall room assignment being terminated, and the room may be assigned to another student.

c. Where space, time, and circumstances permit, a student may be approved by the Office of Residential Life to move in and occupy their assigned residence hall room prior to the first day and time of the Contract. If a student is approved to move in and occupy their assigned residence hall room prior to the first day and time of the Contract, the Contract will take effect immediately upon their student’s check-in with the Office of Residential Life and being granted access to their assigned residence hall room, such as taking possession of the room’s key.

d. Any student approved to move in and occupy their assigned residence hall room prior to the first day and time of the Contract may be subject to an early arrival fee equal to $75 per day for the number of days they are in occupancy of the room prior to the first day and time of the Contract.

e. Any student found to be in occupancy of any residence hall space prior to the first day and time of the Contract without prior approval from the Office of Residential Life shall be required to vacate the space, may be subject to additional early arrival housing fees, and may be referred to the appropriate Goucher College administrative offices for appropriate disciplinary action.

9. Move-Out and Vacating the Room. Students are required to remove personal belongings and vacate their assigned residence hall room no later than the last day and time of the Contract as defined in section 2, paragraph 3. Students who withdraw or take leave from the College during the academic year must remove personal belongings and vacate their residence hall room within 72-hours.

a. A student is considered to have surrendered occupancy of a residence hall room upon confirmation by the Office of Residential that the student has returned their issued key for their assigned residence hall room, verification by the Office of Residential Life that a student has physically vacated the residence hall room, and/or through written notification by Goucher College that the student’s privileges to the residence hall room have been revoked.

b. Where space, time, and circumstances permit, a student may be approved by the Office of Residential Life to occupy their assigned residence hall room past the last day and time of the Contract. If a student is approved to occupy their assigned residence hall room past the final day and time of the Contract, the Contract will cease immediately upon their student’s check-out with the Office of Residential Life and surrendering access to their assigned residence hall room, such as returning the issued room key.

c. Any student approved to occupy their assigned residence hall room past the final day and time of the Contract may be subject to an extended stay fee equal to $75 per day for the number of days they are in occupancy of the room past to the final day and time of the Contract.

d. Any student found to be in occupancy of any residence hall space past the final day and time of the Contract without prior approval from the Office of Residential Life shall be required to vacate the space, may be subject to additional extended stay housing fees, and may be referred to the appropriate Goucher College administrative offices for appropriate disciplinary action.

10. Room Assignments. Procedures for assigning students to a residence hall room will be determined and distributed each Spring semester by the Office of Residential Life. Goucher College may assign students to temporary housing facilities or relocate students as necessary.

11. Nondiscriminatory Assignments. Housing assignments are made without discrimination by reason of race, color, religion, national origin, age, political affiliation, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity,  or any other legally protected class, and are consistent with the provisions of Title IX.

12. Assignment Changes. Students may request to change their residence hall room assignment through the communicated residence hall room change request procedures. Where space and circumstances permit, the Office of Residential Life may approve the student’s request and provide the student with a new residence hall room assignment. Where space and circumstances do not permit, the Office of Residential Life may provide alternative assignment options or additional options to resolve the students’ concerns.

a. To effectively manage Goucher College’s residence hall assignments, including accounting for all students in residence, the Office of Residential Life may limit the time frame where students’ assignment change requests can be approved.

b. Where necessary, the Office of Residential Life may maintain a waitlist of students requesting a change to their residence hall room assignment to specific rooms or room types. Where a waitlist is maintained, students will be offered an opportunity to change their residence hall room assignment to the requested space in the order in which their name was added to the waitlist as the room or room type becomes available. Offers for a residence hall room assignment change shall be communicated to the student’s college-sponsored email, and failure to respond to an offer for a residence hall room assignment change within the communicated time frame may result in the offer being withdrawn and the student’s name being removed from the waitlist.

c. Any changes to a student’s residence hall room assignment must be approved by the Office of Residential Life. Any student who takes occupancy of a residence hall room other than their assigned residence hall room without the approval of the Office of Residential Life may be subject to a $100 improper room fee, may be required to vacate the residence hall room that the student has occupied, and may be expected to take occupancy of the student’s assigned residence hall room.

d. If an assignment change is approved after a student has taken occupancy of a residence hall room, the student shall complete the transition to the new residence hall room assignment within the communicated time frame and complete all communicated procedures to complete the transition, including vacating the previous residence hall room assignment and returning the issued room key to the previous residence hall room assignment. Failure to complete the transition to the new residence hall room assignment in accordance with communicated procedures or within the communicated time frame may result in the student’s residence hall assignment change request being canceled and the student being re-assigned to the original residence hall room assignment.

e. In the event of a necessary renovation or remediation of a residence hall house or room, residence hall room assignments may be changed by the Director of Residential Life or designee, in the interest of order, health, discipline, or best use of the facilities, solely at the discretion of the Director of Residential Life or his/her designee.

13. Housing Consolidation. To promote the best and most effective use of residential facilities, the Office of Residential Life may facilitate and provide current residents the opportunity to participate in a Room Consolidation process.  Room Consolidation is the process of reassigning student residents from one space to another to fill a vacancy that has arisen within a bedroom and/or an apartment. Vacancies can arise for any number of reasons, including a temporary relocation away from campus to study abroad or complete an academic commitment, administrative needs, in the interest of health/medical needs, or promotion of the best use of the facilities. All changes to room assignments are made solely by the Director of Residential Life or a designee. Room Consolidation may occur at any point that a student is assigned to a residential space. Residents occupying shared rooms (such as doubles, triples, and suites) where a vacancy has arisen may be offered different consolidation options depending on the actual circumstances and needs of the residential housing community. Those options may include but are not limited to moving to another room with a vacancy or getting a new roommate.

a. On a limited basis, students may be offered the option of keeping the current configuration of the residence hall room and/or suite/apartment bedroom for an additional fee. In this event, all college furniture must remain in the room.

b. If there is a vacant space in a room/apartment and a student has not paid for the entire space, it does not allow a student to use that area of the room, and the space must remain open for a new roommate assignment.

c. Office of Residential Life staff will work to communicate effectively and timely with students, should their room/apartment qualify to be consolidated. Please note that students will be notified by the Office of Residential Life when consolidation occurs within their space and will be offered options on how to proceed. Students will then be given one week to select from one of the options presented to them. At the conclusion of the one-week period, should a resident fail to communicate a decision, the resident will be billed for the current configuration of their room. Should a student decline to make a decision by the end of the second week of originally being offered the consolidation process, the student will be billed for the current configuration of their room.

d. During Room Consolidation, specific roommate requests will be honored to the extent reasonably possible. The Office of Residential Life strives to keep any roommate pairings together when consolidating spaces, but that is not always possible. Students who fail to adhere to the consolidation policy are subject to disciplinary action and/or the appropriate rate charges.

e. If any Office of Residential Life staff member receives information that an attempt is being made on the part of a student to discourage, refuse, or intimidate a potential or newly assigned roommate, the student(s) engaged in such action may be referred to the appropriate Goucher College administrative offices for appropriate disciplinary action.

f. Goucher College maintains the right to assign or reassign students to any college-sponsored residence space that is available and to initiate adjustments to the room rate based on the actual room accommodation.

14. Room Condition and Alterations. Students are responsible for maintaining a safe, secure, healthy, and hygienic room and living environment. The care of the assigned residence hall room, suite, or apartment shall be the responsibility of each occupant. Additionally, students assigned to a residence hall room with shared common areas must keep all areas clean and sanitary, including, but not limited to, taking reasonable steps not to attract the infestation of pests and insects.

a. Students will be assessed a room damage deposit of $175 prior to moving into an assigned residence hall room. This will be charged to the student’s account. If a student is not assessed any room damage charges upon vacating their assigned residence hall room, this amount will be credited back to the student’s account in accordance with established Goucher College deadlines and procedures.

b. Upon initial occupancy of an assigned residence hall room, each student shall be provided the opportunity to review and/or complete a room assessment form attesting to the condition of the room and its furnishings. If a student chooses not to complete the room assessment form by the communicated deadline, the student will be held responsible for any previously undocumented damages, and the repair or resolution for such damages will be charged to the student’s account.

c. After a student vacates the assigned residence hall room, personnel from Facilities Management Services and/or Residential Life will inspect the room's condition to ascertain the room's condition, any damage or alterations to the room, and an inventory of all provided furniture. The costs of repairing or resolving any previously undocumented damages to the room or furniture, replacing any missing furniture inventory, or additional cleaning beyond routine custodial services will be assessed to the student’s account. Where eligible,

d. While students are encouraged to decorate their assigned residence hall room in a manner that is comfortable for the student’s living, students are prohibited from making any permanent alterations to the residence hall room unless specifically authorized by prior written approval from the Office of Residential Life. Permanent alterations include, but are not limited to, painting any permanent fixture or provided residence hall furniture, tampering with or altering any electrical wiring or lighting fixtures, and removing any window screens.

e. Students are prohibited from removing any college-provided furniture from the assigned residence hall room. Students are expected to maintain the furniture in the room in manner consistent with fire safety and room egress policies and procedures. Upon vacating the assigned residence hall room, students shall set all furniture to the condition and configuration within the residence hall room as it was set when the student took occupancy of the residence hall room.

f. Any concerns or necessary repairs to a residence hall house, residence hall room, or college-provided room furniture must be reported to Facilities Management Services through published reporting procedures for repair or resolution.

g. Each residence hall room without a kitchen area is provided with a micro-refrigerator and microwave unit. Unless the student has been approved for an accommodation, students are prohibited from possessing a personal micro-refrigerator or microwave unit in their assigned residence hall room. Any concerns regarding the functionality of the provided micro-refrigerator and microwave unit should be reported to the Office of Residential Life as soon as possible.

15. Residence Hall House Responsibilities. Common areas of the residence hall houses, including lobbies, lounges, laundry rooms, hallways, open kitchen areas, and shared public bathrooms, are maintained clean, sanitary, and in operation by Facilities Management Services staff. Students are responsible for conducting themselves to prevent any damage, unsanitary conditions, or conditions that require repair or resolution beyond routine sanitation or maintenance. Identified individuals will be held responsible for any damages caused or unsanitary conditions to residence hall house commons areas. In situations where individuals causing damages or unsanitary conditions to residence hall house common areas cannot be identified, all students assigned to the residence hall house may be held responsible for such conditions, including providing equal restitution for the repair or resolution of such conditions. Inquiries regarding itemization of residence hall billing should be submitted in writing. If a student disputes any charges and is seeking an adjustment, the student must file a dispute in writing, stating the specific charges the student is appealing, and the appeal must be received by the Office of Residential Life no later than sixty (60) days after the date the bill was sent to the student.

16. Personal Property. Goucher College is not responsible for any loss of or damage to students’ personal property from any cause whatsoever. Students should record the serial numbers of valuable personal items and secure appropriate insurance. Students should also consider engraving individual identification of valuable items. Students are strongly encouraged to check for existing coverage under any homeowner's policy held by their parents or guardians and/or secure individual property insurance, if needed.

17. Abandoned Property. Any student’s personal property remaining in a residence hall room or residence hall space past the final day and time of the Contract or past the date the Office of Residential Life has confirmed a student is no longer in occupancy of a residence hall room will be deemed abandoned property. All abandoned items will be removed at the student’s expense, and will be sold, destroyed, discarded, maintained for use by the College, or donated to an appropriate charitable organization depending upon the items and their value. The student understands this and specifically agrees that Goucher College will have no liability to the student for trespass, conversion, or any other cause of action.

18. Residence Hall House and Room Access. Students must obtain a Goucher College-issued OneCard to access their assigned residence hall house, and students will only be assigned OneCard access to their assigned residence hall house, unless additional access privileges are granted by Goucher College. Upon check-in, each student will receive one key to their assigned residence hall room, and that issued key must be returned immediately upon the student vacating the residence hall room. OneCards and issued keys shall be maintained and used in accordance with Goucher College’s OneCard Photo Identification Cards and College-Issued Keys Policy, and students will be responsible for any fees resulting from damaged keys, a being locked out of their assigned residence hall room where Goucher College staff are required to provide the student access to the room, or being unable to return the issued residence hall room key.

a. Students are prohibited from accessing restricted areas of the residence hall house, including roof areas, custodial and maintenance storage areas, and any deemed restricted by Goucher College. Students found to be present in a restricted area may be referred to the appropriate Goucher College administrative offices for appropriate disciplinary action.

19. Room Entry. College personnel may enter any room in the event of an emergency, for health/safety reasons, or because of a suspected violation of the law or school policy, in accordance with Goucher College's Access and Search Policy.

20. Behavior & Conduct. Students are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and all published Goucher College rules, procedures, and policies, including, but not limited to, the Residential Life Policies, the Student Code of Conduct, and other policies as outlined in the Campus Handbook. Students must take primary responsibility for their safety and security and promptly and regularly update their contact information on record to receive communications from the Office of Residential Life.

21. Special Needs and Accommodations. A number of housing units are designed to be accessible and accommodate students with documented disabilities. Accommodations may also be made for students to support the student’s religious or spiritual practice. A student who wishes to request a housing accommodation based on a disability or religious practice must contact the Office of Accessibility Services and receive approval for such accommodations. Upon receipt of any approved housing accommodations and based on space availability, the Office of Residential Life will make good-faith efforts to provide such accommodations.

Section 3. Dining and Meal Plans

1. All students with a Goucher College residence hall room assignment are required to maintain a college-sponsored meal plan. Meal plan options and services are described on Goucher College’s website and may change as necessary at the College’s discretion.

a. For first year students with an active residence hall room assignment, the minimum required meal plan is the 19 meals per week + $250 Dining Dollars plan.

b. For all other students with an active residence hall room assignment, the minimum required meal plan is the 10 meals per week + $250 Dining Dollars.

2. Meal Plan Exceptions.  Exemptions or adjustments to the required meal plan may be made for students consistent with Section 2, paragraph 21 above. Students who desire exemptions or adjustments as an accommodation for a documented disability, should submit a request to the Office of Accessibility Services.

3. Goucher College dining facilities and food service are available during the Fall Semester and Spring Semester academic terms as defined in section 1.

4. Meal plan usage and dining facilities may be unavailable or limited outside of contract periods, during academic recesses (such as Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break), Intersessions (such as Winter Intersession or Spring Semester Senior Week), or during special events on campus.

5. The student meal plan is accessible using the student’s Goucher College OneCard, and the OneCard must be presented for admittance to a dining facility and/or at the time of purchase.

6. A student may be denied access or purchase if the student cannot provide the student’s OneCard or has an insufficient dining balance.

7. The Goucher College OneCard Photo Identification Cards and College-Issued Keys Policy prohibits individuals from possessing or using another individual’s OneCard. As such, students are prohibited from using another individual’s OneCard to gain access to or make a purchase at a Goucher College dining facility. Students must promptly notify the College if their OneCard is lost or stolen.

8. Goucher College meal plans, including dining dollars, are non-transferrable. Meal swipes are specifically intended for the assigned student’s use. Any student who abuses their meal plan by using their OneCard or meal plan to repeatedly provide access to dining facilities for others or utilizes their meal swipes at dining facilities for anyone other than themselves may be referred to the appropriate Goucher College administrative offices for appropriate disciplinary action.

9. No food, beverage, trays, dishes, utensils, or other dining facility property may be removed from a dining facility, with the exception of authorized to-go containers or food or beverage purchased from convenience dining locations.

10. Students must utilize Goucher College’s dining facilities in a manner that promotes a courteous, safe, and secure dining environment.

11. Special Needs and Accommodations. Goucher College strives to provide a variety of dining options that meet students’ dietary needs, preferences, and personal practices. A student who wishes to request a meal plan or dining accommodation based on a disability must contact the Office of Accessibility Services and receive approval for such accommodations. Upon receipt of any approved dining accommodations from the Office of Accessibility Services or the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, the Goucher College dining service vendor will make good-faith efforts to provide such accommodations.

Section 4. Contract Violations, Termination, and Cancellation

1. Violations of the Contract.

a. If the student believes that Goucher College has not lived up to its responsibilities under this Contract, the student should contact the Director of Residential Life, who will refer the matter to the appropriate office for resolution under existing college policies.

b. If Goucher College or a representative of Goucher College finds that a student has not lived up to any of the terms of this Contract, a representative of Goucher College will contact the student to explain the violation and the consequences that will take place, if the violation continues. If the Contract violation continues or recurs, a Goucher College representative will contact the Director of Residential Life. When this occurs, the Director of Residential Life, or a designee, will explain to the student the options for resolving the violation, which may include, but are not limited to, referral to the appropriate Goucher College administrative offices for appropriate disciplinary action.

2. Contract Termination. Goucher College may terminate this Contract for any of the following causes:

a. Monetary Breach. A failure by the student to pay any fees or other amounts due to Goucher College under this Contract.

b. Loss of Eligibility. A failure by the student to achieve or maintain the eligibility requirements to residence in a Goucher College residence hall under this Contract.

c. College Disciplinary Action. A student’s privilege to reside in Goucher College residence halls may be suspended or revoked because a student is found responsible for violating the terms of this Contract or any published Goucher College policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Code of Conduct. Any student suspended or expelled from Goucher College shall vacate the assigned residence hall room in accordance with written instructions from the Director of Residential Life, Vice President for Student Affairs, or a designee, and may be trespassed from further occupancy, access, or visitation of any Goucher College residential facility.

d. Force Majeure. For purposes of this Contract, the term “Force Majeure Event” is defined as any event which, whether or not foreseeable, was not caused by Goucher College, but which results in Goucher College being unable to comply with any or all of its obligations under this Contract. Except as explicitly set forth below, the College has no liability to the student for its failure to perform any terms or conditions of this Contract due to a Force Majeure event, even if that failure to perform results from the closure or partial suspension of the residence life operations and residence halls resulting from a Force Majeure Event. The sole remedy in case of a residence hall evacuation of any duration resulting from a Force Majeure event will be to receive a prorated refund of room and board fees (students will not be reimbursed for unused dining dollars or GopherBucks); and Goucher College shall have no further liability to you for non-performance of this contract.

3. Contract Cancellation. A request by a student to cancel the Contract must be submitted in writing to the Office of Residential Life. A student requesting to cancel the Contract after the refund deadline established by Goucher College for an academic term shall be responsible for the full cost of the student’s assigned residence hall room and meal plan.

a. A student may cancel the Contract without further housing and dining fees for the assigned residence hall room for any of the following reasons:

i. Participation in a Goucher College-approved study abroad or curricular commitment that requires the student to reside in a location other than the Goucher College campus to complete the commitment.

ii. Withdrawal from Goucher College as a student

iii. Completion of all academic requirements for graduation from Goucher College

iv. An approved leave of absence

v. Special circumstances or conditions approved by the Director of Residential Life or designee

b. A student who cancels the Contract but does not qualify for or has not received approval for an exemption to the Goucher College Residency Policy shall be assessed a housing fee equal to the lowest available housing fee and lowest meal plan the individual is eligible to receive.

c. A student who cancels the Contract before the start of the Fall or Spring semester and will remain enrolled through Goucher College for the subsequent semester shall be charged a $2,000 Contract Break Fee.

Section 5.

1. Revisions. This contract is subject to revisions. The Office of Residential Life will notify students of changes by means of a college email message and by posting the new information on the Office of Residential Life web page at least two (2) days before the revision takes effect.

2. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This Contract is being entered into in the State of Maryland and shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. By signing this Contract, the student consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts within the State of Maryland and Baltimore County.

3. Entire Agreement. This Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the student and Goucher College, and supersedes any previous agreements, understandings, or agreements made by the student or Goucher College, whether verbal or written, which may modify, explain, conflict with, or otherwise be different from anything stated in this Contract.

4. Severability. Each provision of this Contract shall be considered severable. If a court determines that any term of this Contract is found to be unenforceable or contrary to law, it will be modified to the least extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining portions of this Contract will remain in full force and effect.

5. Assignment. This Contract may not be assigned by any student.

6. Counterparts. This Contract may be executed electronically in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same legally recognized instrument.