Substance-Free Rooms
Residence hall rooms are designated as either non-smoking or substance-free. Northwood III undergraduate apartments are all designated as non-smoking.

A substance-free (“sub-free”) room is defined as a room where all roommates and their guests (including those of legal drinking age) agree to keep the room free at all times from substances that have the potential to damage their health or the community. These substances include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• alcohol
• tobacco products (including smokeless)
• illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia
• illegally obtained prescription medications

There are many reasons that an individual may choose a substance-free room in a residence hall. These reasons may include, for example, personal lifestyle preferences, religious beliefs, or issues related to recovery from a personal or family substance abuse problem. Regardless of the resident’s reason, substance-free is a choice that University Housing supports and encourages as a way to help students living in the residence halls succeed academically and socially, outside of the alcohol culture too often prevalent on college campuses.

We are committed to providing a substance-free room environment for those who have requested it, up to the total number of spaces designated as substance-free for that academic year. Assignment is made on a first-come-first-served basis, determined by date of receipt of the student’s completed application. Approximately 28% of student rooms are designated as substance-free each year.

Residents and guests in any part of a residence hall are expected to comply with federal and local regulations regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs. In addition, all parts of all residence halls are designated non-smoking by University Housing. The laws and the non-smoking policy are enforced throughout the residence halls; however, the substance-free room option offers an additional measure of support for individuals who choose not to drink, smoke or use other drugs.

The substance-free lifestyle has a number of implications for residents who select it. These substances include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• No tobacco products are to be kept in the room, regardless of where or how they are actually used;
• Alcoholic beverages and behavior stemming from their use is not permitted in the room, regardless of the age of the person involved;
• Drugs and drug paraphernalia (e.g., bongs, water pipes, hookahs, roach clips, needles) and items promoting a drug culture (e.g. posters, clothing) are not permitted in the room, regardless of where they are actually used.

The power of this program is that community members voluntarily choose substance-free housing, and that they are committed to that choice as significant to their success at UM. This commitment is taken very seriously by University Housing. If an individual does not maintain his or her commitment to a substance-free room, resident staff and/or the Coordinator for Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution will seek to bring about a resolution resulting in the resident adhering to the rules for the room. In the absence of such a resolution, the resident will be transferred to another room, or, in extreme cases, may be asked to leave University Housing. (See Community Living at Michigan for more information)

Substance-free rooms can be identified by a large label located on the upper knob-side interior of a residence hall room door. Other identifying materials will also be found in the room during the Fall Move-In process.