General Housing Information

Introduction

Of the many fraternity and sorority houses that Penn chapters occupy, it is important to understand that there is a mix of how they are owned and operated. Some are owned and managed by the University through the Office of Fraternity Sorority Affairs and University Life Facilities. Others are actually owned by the fraternity’s alumni house corporation, while yet others are leased from local real-estate management companies. Below is a listing of the house and type of owner/management.

Regardless of owner/management, the Office of Fraternity Sorority Affairs and University Life Facilities staff work with all chapter student house managers in day to day management, information, safety checks, etc.

Regarding the University owned/managed chapter houses, please understand from the beginning that the care, management, and procedures are different than they are in the College Houses/Residence Halls. These fraternity and/or sorority houses are managed through a three-way partnership between the chapter undergraduates, the alumni/ae house corporation, and the Office of Fraternity Sorority Affairs. This arrangement requires that students take more responsibility throughout the year in helping maintain the property which will provide a communal living experience that helps prepare them for a future of independence and success. Therefore, we encourage you to read this and all material provided to you throughout the year so that you have a clear understanding of chapter house living, including what you may expect.  It would also be helpful if students and parents discuss this material so that everyone understands their responsibilities in maintaining a safe, attractive and supportive chapter house that will become “home away from home.”

Maintenance & Repair Requests
Safety Systems/Services
Facilities Services Contact Information
Computing/Ethernet Issues
GreekNet Video/Cable problems
Personal Property/Renters Insurance
Housekeeping
Keys
Pest Control
Recycling
The Annual Lease/Occupancy Agreement
Semester Abroad Leave of Absences
Damage Deposit
Move-in and Move-out
University of Pennsylvania Police Department

Maintenance & Repair Requests
Complete an on-line repair request.

Any problems that arise (lack of hot water, electric outlets, heat, toilets, etc.) should be reported to the undergraduate house manager immediately or if she/he is not available, OFSA should be contacted on our maintenance form or at 215-898-5263 and/or email ofsareq@pobox.upenn.edu. 

Students should not assume that someone else will report a problem.  We would rather hear about a problem from several residents than not at all when residents assume someone else will report it.  This is especially important to avoid lengthy periods without service. Please keep in mind, contractors are hard to find overnight, or on the weekends. The more quickly the problem is reported, the faster the response time. Each chapter house manager works with OFSA and their alumni(ae) house corporation to resolve problems quickly before they become emergencies.  Immediate emergencies should be reported immediately to the student house manager and/or chapter president as well as calling the facilities services emergency number (215) 898 - 7208.

Safety Systems/ Services
Life Safety systems are serviced, tested, and maintained on a regular basis to meet or exceed the City of Philadelphia Fire Safety requirements. Fire alarm systems are tested and inspected monthly; sprinkler systems are certified annually in August: smoke detectors in bedrooms are tested semi-annually; and fire drills and house inspections are conducted in October with the University's Fire and Emergency Services Department. Safety systems are monitored 24 hours a day by the University's Operations control Center and University Police Security Centers.
Sprinkler systems were installed in the chapter houses for the safety of guests and members. Therefore, hanging laundry, telephone or stereo wires, or utilizing the pipes to get in and out of loft beds is prohibited.

Facilities Services
For emergency repairs to the property or fire alarm problems after OFSA office hours call (215) 898-7208.
During business hours, M-F 9 am -5 pm call OFSA at (215) 898 - 5263
 

Greeknet Video/Cable Problems - video help line: (8-4336)
You can leave a message on the video helpline, but the best way to report problems is to submit a repair request form from the website. In this manner you will be sure to provide them with all the information need for them to help you quickly. Follow the above link to their website and follow the "troubleshooting" link to the online repair request. They will need to know precisely which rooms are reporting bad reception. You can list them within the same trouble report form.

Personal Property/ Renter's Insurance
There is no summer storage in University managed chapter houses. We also suggest that they take all valuables with them over vacations.
Any student interested in obtaining their own “Student Personal Property” coverage can contact the National Student Service, Inc. in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Their phone number is 1-800-654-6814 or you can look them up on the web at http://www.nssinc.com
Students should check with their parents regarding the level of coverage they have for their belongings under their parents Homeowner’s Policy.
NOTE: Neither the University nor the fraternity or sorority is liable for loss or damage to your personal belongings as stated in the Occupancy Agreement you sign to living in the chapter.

Housekeeping
Members and residents of each fraternity/sorority make their own arrangements for keeping the house common area of their chapter house clean. This may be accomplished in two ways. Some houses hire a professional cleaning service, while other houses choose to spread the cleaning responsibilities among the members/residents of the chapter. However, it is the responsibility of all members and residents to respect the house, as well as the rights of each resident to live in a clean environment. Therefore, trash must be discarded appropriately and in a timely fashion from the common areas and bedrooms whether your house employs a cleaning service or not. Good housekeeping also helps avoid problems with sanitation and pest control. (Also see section XVI, "Cleaning" of the Occupancy Agreement).

Keys
Each resident is issued a room/house key when they move in. It is expected that the key will be returned at move out. Keys are not to be duplicated. Keys or lock problems should be reported immediately to the house manager or directly to OFSA if it is an emergency situation.

Pest Control
Each Fraternity/Sorority house has monthly pest control servicing in the public areas of their chapter house. Additionally, the private bedrooms are serviced four times a year during the summer (August), semester break (December/January), Spring break (March) and after graduation (May/June) periods. Pest Control is a shared responsibility and students must do their part to discard food and other trash properly and regularly.

Recycling
As required by the City of Philadelphia, Separations of mixed paper, aluminum, glass and plastic began in September, 1993. Containers have been provided for each house and central collection locations will be designated for houses on Walnut and Spruce Streets. Houses along Locust Walk currently have central collection sites. House Managers/recycling coordinators will coordinate this effort.

On October 10, 2004, the UA passed a proposal urging OFSA, in coordination with University Facilities, to implement a program that makes it feasible and easy for Greek houses to recycle after registered events for recycling at Greek and off-campus locations.

The Annual Lease
Every individual who resides in a University managed fraternity/sorority house is required to sign a University of Pennsylvania "Chapter House Occupancy Agreement" before they move into a chapter house. All individuals will be charged rent on their student financial services bill. Please review the summary of the "Agreement."

Semester Abroad Leave of Absences
Students who sign occupancy agreements for a full academic year (Fall and Spring semesters) and receive approval for a Semester Abroad program must contact OFSA and their chapter president directly in order to avoid paying expected rent. It is the student's responsibility to make sure OFSA receives a copy of the letter from the Academic advisor granting the leave.

Damage Deposit
Many of the chapters have instituted a damage/security deposit system for their residents. This enables chapters to establish accountability for damages/vandalism by residents that is not a result of normal wear and tear. Move-In/Move-Out Room Condition Reports will be completed with the house manager each September and May. If your son's/daughter's chapter has instituted this program, the charge will appear on their student financial services bill as a separate charge and they will receive a letter from their Alumni(ae) House Corporation in August prior to returning for the start of the fall semester.

Move-In and Move-out
Please see the page dedicated to Moving In & Out.

University of Pennsylvania Police Department
511 - if you are calling from a University phone
(215) 573 - 3333 - if you are off campus and calling from an non-University phone.