Damage billing charges are applied to student accounts when damage beyond normal wear and tear or vandalism that is deemed intentional, unintentional, or excessive is discovered in a student's room, residence hall, floor, quad, or apartment/suite.
Damage billing charges are applied to student accounts throughout the academic year and at the end of the year during the residential closing process. It is expected that students will maintain their assigned living space(s) in the same condition they were when the student first occupied the space. At the beginning of each year, and as students move out, Residential Life and Facilities Management staff inspect each living space and record the condition of these spaces.
Following is a list of examples of common incidents that often result in a damage billing charges being applied to a student account:
As stated in the student handbook, The Source, and the Housing Agreement: "The student is liable for any damage to University property and agrees to pay for the restoration of the property to its original condition ("act of God" or reasonable wear and tear excepted). Liability for any damage to the apartment, or to the public area within any one of the residential units, beyond reasonable wear and tear will be assigned to students of that particular apartment, suite, or room whenever the damage cannot be assigned as the responsibility of identified persons. Property belonging to the University must not be moved or taken from areas designated for its specific use. Students are encouraged to have Hawk Pride in their residential communities and help reduce damage by reporting issues and keeping their space clean."
When a damage charge is applied to a specific student, apartment, suite, floor, quad, or building, the Office of Residential Life will notify each student being billed for these charges. This notice will come in the form of a billing invoice that will be sent directly to a student's University of Hartford email. The charge will also be posted on your student account.
Students who believe a damage charge is unjustified or who have evidence that they did not cause the damage may submit an online appeal. Students who wish to appeal must do so within 10 academic days (Monday through Friday) from the date the billing invoice was sent to their University of Hartford email. Any appeals received after this deadline will not be eligible for consideration and will be denied. Remember it is the expectation of the University of Hartford that students check their email account regularly as your University email serves as an official means of communication. Failure to submit an appeal within the appeal deadline because you did not or do not check your email regularly will not be accepted.
All appeals are reviewed in the order in which they are received, and typically it can take 10-15 business days for a decision to be made and communicated regarding a damage appeal. In order to streamline the damage appeals process to better serve our students, appeals can ONLY be submitted by students using the appropriate online Damage Billing Appeals Request Form.
Appeals WILL NOT be accepted by email or over the phone.
