Students Living Off Campus
Top Ten Tips | Off-Campus Safety & Security | Hosting Expectations
As a residential college, just because a student has moved out of campus housing does not mean the college is not here to support our students in their new living situation.
The resources on this page have been assembled to give students living off-campus some tools to help ensure their success.
Top Ten Tips for Being a Good Neighbor
- Get to know your neighbors. Introduce yourself, share your phone number, and get involved with your new community.
- Read your lease carefully. Make sure you know what your landlord expects of you and get any questions answered right away.
- Clean up after yourself and your guests. Furniture and trash left outside of your house are an eyesore and may make you a target for crime.
- Take care of your house and lawn. If something needs repaired, work with your landlord to get it fixed. Landscape maintenance may be your responsibility.
- Be a responsible pet owner, if you choose to adopt a pet. Plan ahead for breaks and know your landlord's expectations. Always clean up after them promptly and dispose of waste properly.
- Park legally and in your designated area.
- Follow all Social Host Expectations when having a gathering.
- If you borrow something from a neighbor, ensure you return it quickly and in good condition.
- Stay in contact with your neighbors. Say "Hi!", check with them frequently for concerns, be neighborly.
- Represent Colorado College by acting responsibly, respectfully, and reasonably at all times. Help when possible, be an active bystander, and engaged in your neighborhood.
Off-Campus Safety
General Information
- When off-campus, the Colorado Springs Police Department is your first and best source of assistance. Call 911 for emergencies or 719-444-7000 for non-emergency assistance, right away!
- Campus Safety's jusisdiction is limited off-campus; calling them first will only delay CSPD's response.
- Get to- and from- campus safely
- Walk in pairs or more
- Stay in well-lit, higher traffic areas
- Communicate with friends and/or roommates with departure and arrival plans - don't forget to follow-up
- Pay attention, stay alert, and trust your instincts - if you feel threatened or uncomfortable because of someone else's behavior, call CSPD immediately!
- Follow traffic safety signals and laws - cross at crosswalks, observe traffic signals, and pay attention
Home Safety & Security
- Campus Safety offers free Home Vulnerability Assessments to CC students. Call Campus Safety at x6707 to schedule.
- Your best partner in home safety is your landlord, but they only know what you tell them. If you see a safety or security concern - tell them.
- Ensure all doors and windows have locks and use them. All tenants listed on the lease should be issued keys, lock up if you're the last one out, and never hide spare keys outside of your house.
- Be sneaky!
- Think like a thief and look for opportunities to "break in" to your own house.
- When away from home, close all window coverings and leave a light on.
- Use motion sensor or light timers while away for breaks. Lighting is the most effective deterrent of criminal activity.
- Plan for emergencies.
- Ensure you have functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Make sure you have a fire extinguisher and that it is checked and/or maintained properly
- Have a first-aid kit stocked and readily available
- Plan your escape - If there is an emergency, know how to get out
- Know your neighborhood
- Get to know your neighbors, their schedules, and routines - report anything suspicious and ask them to do the same for you.
- Never open the door for strangers!
- Use voice, peepholes, or windows to check callers before opening the door
- Check identification of all maintenance, construction, utility, and/or cleaning personnel before letting them in you home
- Keep a clean, well maintained house and yard. Work with your landlord to address any maintenance issues promptly, always dispose of trash properly, and keep your landscaping well maintained. This will make you a less-appealing target and take away hiding opportunities for evil-doers.
- For more information and details, see Campus Safety's Off-Campus Safety Guide.
Off-Campus Hosting Expectations
Off-campus parties can be a fun way to socialize with your friends and classmates. However, when planning an off-campus gathering, it is vital to consider the safety of your guests, the security of your property, and your impact on neighbors. Failing to properly plan, manage, and clean-up your gathering leaves you susceptible conduct responses from the College, and possibly civil and/or criminal liability.
Expectations of all Party Hosts
- Have a Sober Host. This is required by CSPD. Failing to have a Sober Host will result in your party shut down. Host responsibilities are outlined below.
- Communicate with your neighbors about your plans. Work through any objections with them, before inviting anyone.
- Register your party with CSPD & the College. [details to follow]
- Have a guest list, and stick to it. Open parties are illegal in Colorado and a good way to have your event end prematurely.
Sober Host Responsibilities
At least one Sober Host is required and is an essential element to a successful gathering. These people are in charge of the party and ulitmately responsible if something goes wrong.
- Be sober - The purpose of the Sober Host is to have a reliable, competent individual (or a few) to maintain control of the gathering. Have a few after everyone leaves, while your roommates are cleaning up!
- Be engaged - It's difficult to monitor the gathering for which you are responsable when locked in your room, playing video games. Remember, you could be responsible if something goes wrong.
- Monitor access - Make sure the "bouncer" is doing their job and that only people you know and invited are at your party. Keep those under 21 away.
- Monitor consumption - Never serve to those under 21 and if someone's had too much, cut them off! Knowingly serving an intoxicated person or minors leaves you responsible for anything that might happen to them.
- Monitor noise - Go outside frequently to gage the amount of noise you are creating and adjust if needed.
- Be accountable - If Campus Safety, Student Life Staff, or CSPD knock on your door, answer it! Then, respectfully work with them to address any issues that brought them there.
- They may just be checking in! Student Life and CSPD are increasing efforts to contact party hosts before problems arise. Take a look at a sample Party Check Card here!
- For more information about working with CSPD, see their pamphlet here.
Other Ideas for Successful Hosting
- Consider hiring private security - Click here for more information on hiring a security guard.
- Observe all parking laws and restrictions and ensure your guests do, too
- Serve food and a variety on non-alcoholic drink options
- Ensure anyone drives does so sober - The College offers multiple options to help your friends get home safely.
- Clean up - Remove all garbage from yards (especially neighbors'), streets, and medians immediately! Littering is a crime. Drive around the neighborhood the next morning to make sure you got everything.
For more tips and resources around quality party planning, please see the Wellness Resources Center's Social Host Information page.