University Park

Students residing at University Park Apartments will be entitled to reside and continue residing in a residential facility of the university during the term of this agreement, only if they are accepted for admission to the university and remain enrolled as a student according to the rules and regulations of the university throughout the term of this agreement. Direct affiliation with the Abilene ACU campus is required and will be given preference when it comes to housing accommodations.

You are responsible to read all official correspondence from the Office of Residence Life and its designees, including but not limited to the Director of Residence Life, the Director of University Apartments, the Housing Coordinator, Senior Resident Advisors and Resident Advisors. When appropriate, you are responsible to respond to official correspondence from Residence Life staff in a timely manner. All correspondence will be sent to your registered ACU-affiliated email address. All correspondence will be addressed directly to the resident who signed the housing agreement.

The university reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to assign you to another room in any university residential facility or to remove you from university housing at any time during the term of this agreement if the university determines that a reassignment or removal is in your best interest or in the best interest of other students or the university. 

You may only reside or store belongings in the bedroom(s) and common areas (living rooms, bathrooms and kitchens) to which you are assigned. Failure to abide by this policy will result in a $250 fine per roommate. The university reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to assign new or current residents to vacant bedrooms in your unit at any time during the term of this agreement if the university determines that such an assignment is in your best interest or in the best interest of other students or the university.

If the university is requiring you to move units for any reason due to maintenance concerns or availability, you will receive a 60-day notice before move-out, and there will be no charge to the resident for the move. If you are electing to move to another room or floor plan before the end of your current lease, there will be a $200 transfer fee charged to the resident for the cost of cleaning for your previous unit.

ACU will apply the charge for housing to your student account in the full amount for each term (fall and spring), allowing students to utilize financial aid and a payment plan as needed. Once you sign your housing agreement and receive your assignment, you are responsible for the payment of the full amount of the housing term.

Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel your housing assignment before the start of your term, you are responsible to provide written notice of your cancellation by emailing reslife@acu.edu and will be subject to a non-negotiable cancellation fee in the following amounts, contingent upon the date written notice is received:

• $150 – Before April 1, 2023
• $300 – Between April 2, 2023- June 1, 2023
• $500 – June 2, 2023- August 1, 2023
• Cancellation after August 1st, 2023, will result in you paying the full housing amount for the Fall 2023 semester and the $500 cancellation fee.

The room fee will not be prorated if you move into the residential facility after the prescribed move-in date or if you move out of the residential facility before the prescribed move-out date. No refunds will be issued to any student after the assigned move-in date, except in the circumstances described in the subsequent paragraph. 

If eligible, students who conduct an official, documented medical withdrawal from the university will be considered for a prorated refund of their housing fee, determined by the date they vacate the premises. Other circumstances, including military deployment/transfer and instances of family violence, will also be considered for a prorated refund of the housing fee, determined by the date the resident vacates the premises.

You must vacate your room/apartment by 5:00 p.m. on the final day of the term of this agreement. Your room and common areas will be inspected before a clearance will be issued by the Director of University Apartments or student staff. You will be assessed for all damages to the building and furnishings, and you are responsible for all damages to your assigned room and shared common area. Failure to check out properly with the Director of University Apartments or their designee, including returning apartment key(s), will result in a fine charged to your account. A list of fees are available at the Residence Life office upon request.

If you are suspended from the university and/or asked to leave university housing, your rights under this agreement shall be immediately terminated and you will be required to vacate your room within 24 hours of the notice or at such other time as required by the appropriate agent of the university. All move-out requirements must be followed. The university has the right to suspend your housing at any time deemed sufficient by the university. A refund for housing will not be issued.

The university will not be responsible for the loss of or damages to your or your visitors’ money, valuables, personal effects or any other property of yours, whether caused or occasioned by fire, theft or any other cause except as a direct result of gross negligence of the university. You must accept responsibility for and take precautions to always protect the safety of your property. 

• It is strongly advised you take out a renter’s insurance policy or check if your family’s homeowner’s insurance covers items within the assigned apartment and room.

Authorized personnel of the university will have the right at any time to enter your room and inspect it and its contents, with or without advance notice to you and with or without your being present, for any reason deemed sufficient by the university, including but not limited to safety, cleanliness, repair, maintenance, enforcement of university policies or to take possession of items prohibited by university policy and/or law.

We expect all residents living in our residential facilities to abide by the Student Code of Conduct.

In accordance with the campus visitation policies, non-familial overnight guests must be the same gender as the resident. Guests may stay a maximum of three nights if each roommate’s verbal consent has been given, except in situations approved by the Director of University Apartments or designee. Guests are expected to abide by all campus policies and the host assumes responsibility for the actions of their guests. Visitors are required to register their vehicles with the ACU Police Department.

The following items are prohibited in University Park Apartment rooms, common spaces and balconies/patios: 

• alcoholic beverages, containers and promotional items (including posters or decorative shot glasses) 
• tobacco products
• illegal substances (including prescription drugs written for another individual)

Federal and State Law prohibits the possession, use or sale of narcotic drugs and marijuana. There is a zero tolerance policy for such behavior and the possession or use of illegal drugs on property may result in eviction. The sale, use or storage/production of any and all illegal substances are prohibited throughout the property.

Firearms and weapons of any type are not permitted at University Park Apartments at any time. Weapons include but are not limited to: firearms, ammunition, BB guns, pellet pistols, air rifles, darts, nunchucks, throwing stars, bows and arrows, sling shots, blow guns, paintball guns, taser devices, knives and other similar items.

Pets are not permitted on property at any time unless approved through the Office of Residence Life. Keeping a pet on property without proper approval will result in a $500 fine.

You can view the Residence Life Pet Policy in its entirety below.
Residence Life Pet Policy

To apply to keep a pet in your on-campus residence, please read thoroughly, initial, sign and submit this Pet Application.
Residence Life Pet Application

Pets are subject to a pet fee that must be paid per semester. You are required to register your pet every academic year. Shots and records must be up to date at the time of your application. Approval of your pet is not guaranteed. If your pet qualifies to be an ESA, please contact the Housing Coordinator to fill out that paperwork separately.

All residents are given an ACU mailbox through the mail center located at 1694 Campus Court. All mail sent to the University Park physical address will be rerouted to the mail center. Packages and mail will not be delivered directly to your apartment, so make sure to set up your mailbox after move-in and use your ACU-assigned mailing address for all mail. 

All residents are required to obtain a parking pass. Parking passes can be purchased through Wildcat Central or ACUPD. Our parking lot is monitored and ticketed by ACUPD. All visitors must have a temporary parking pass to avoid tickets and tow. A new parking pass is necessary each academic year.

All maintenance requests must be reported and submitted as soon as possible through Banner. It is your responsibility as the resident to report any issues that may arise within your unit. Please allow adequate response time before putting in a duplicate request. Emergencies related to maintenance and repair should be reported to the front desk immediately. We have a 24-hour on-call service in case of an emergency after hours.

Individuals are to respect and follow quiet hours. The quiet hours are:

• Sunday-Thursday: 10 p.m. until 8 a.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 12 a.m. until 9 a.m.
• Those who choose not to comply are subject to the following fines:
  • 1st complaint – written warning from Residence Life
  • 2nd complaint – $50 fine to each person in the unit 
  • 3rd complaint – $100 fine to each person in the unit
  • 4th complaint – $200 fine to each person in the unit
  • 5th complaint – $250 fine to each person in the unit

Any individual who misuses or tampers with the fire safety equipment located inside and outside of their buildings may be subject to eviction, a fine of $500, plus the cost of replacement of the equipment, cleaning of the facility and damage to any other property.