Frequently Asked Questions

Safety, Security, & Maintenance

How can I report maintenance concerns?

If there is a problem in your residence hall room that needs attention from maintenance staff, contact your RA as soon as possible to have him/her submit a work request. It is important for you to understand that personnel from Buildings & Grounds will enter your room even if you are not present in order to fix the problem.

Can I burn candles or incense in my room?

No! Candles and incense are prohibited in student rooms. Please leave these things at home.

Where can I store my belongings over the summer?

Students seeking storage will need to secure off-campus alternatives.

For more information, check out the Residential Storage Policy page.

What happens when a rule or policy is violated?

If a student is found to be in violation of a rule or policy governing Residential Life, that student may be referred to Student Conduct by a Residential Life staff member (RA/Moderator/RLC.)

What types of measures are taken to protect my safety? How safe are the residence halls?

All of the residence halls are locked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students have access to the residential facilities with their OWU card. It is very important for students to not allow persons whom they do not know to enter the building.

The OWU Department of Public Safety has policies and services in place intended to protect the Ohio Wesleyan campus and to assure the safety and well being of its community members. Public Safety officers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and strive to uphold University policies and state and federal laws. There is an RA on duty in resident halls each evening from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. There is also an RLC on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ohio Wesleyan also uses an emergency notification system to share urgent information via text, telephone, and email. The University enrolls you automatically to receive email alerts via your owu.edu email address and text alerts via your cell phone of record. If you wish, you are able to add more contact points (including your parents) for additional email, text, and/or voice messages. For more information about campus safety, visit the Department of Public Safety section of the website.

What is community damage?

The student or students responsible for damage resulting from abuse of facilities, negligence, or means other than those attributed to normal deterioration will be expected to assume the cost of repair or replacement. If the responsible individual or individuals are unknown, then the occupants of the hall/area will be be expected to assume the cost of repair or replacement. Community damage is calculated by taking the total amount of all damage and dividing it by the number of residents living in that hall/area. Community damage charges on a student account are not subject to appeal.