Residential Policies and Guidelines

Residents of the residence hall community at Emerson College have the following rights and responsibilities.

BILL OF RIGHTS
The Basic Rights of a Resident include:

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
The Basic Responsibilities of a Resident include:

RESIDENCE HALL POLICIES

In addition to the policies cited elsewhere in the Student Code of Conduct, all resident students and their guests are expected to adhere to the policies cited below. Please note that a minimum sanction level for a violation of that policy accompanies each policy.

Level III violations, while not considered to be as serious as level I or level II violations, are infractions considered problematic in the residence hall community and may result in sanctions or combinations of sanctions such as, but not limited to, a written warning, fines, restitution, loss of privileges up to one month and/or community service.

Level II violations are considered serious and may result in sanctions or combinations of sanctions such as, but not limited to, mandated educational programs, removal from a particular floor/residence hall, loss of privileges, probation, fines, community service and/or educational assignments.

Level I violations are considered extremely serious and may result in sanctions including suspension or dismissal from the residence halls and/or Emerson College

A. Alcohol And Other Drug Policies
Refer to the ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS POLICY listed under Appendix B: College Policies.

B. Fire Safety Policies
Fire safety equipment is installed on each floor for the protection of the residents. This equipment is for emergency use only and the misuse of such equipment may result in the lack of protection in the event of an actual emergency.

The College will take very strong action against students found in violation of any Fire Safety Policy. Individual students found engaged in such behavior will be subject to severe disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the residence hall, and/or monetary fines, and may be exposed to criminal prosecution.

If the particular individuals involved in damage to fire safety equipment cannot be identified, the residence hall or floor will be subject to the monetary charges on a pro-rated basis.

Students may not:

1. Use or possess unauthorized appliances including but not limited to sun lamps, heating coils, air conditioners, water beds, electric frying pans, hot pots, coffee makers, toaster ovens, popcorn poppers and heating elements or cooking elements in any area of the residence hall. Refrigerator/freezer combinations are permitted provided the total size of the unit is no larger than a three cubic foot capacity. Microwaves are allowed, but are limited to 700 watts of cooking power. Sanction Level: II
2. Possess halogen lamps. Sanction Level: II
3. Store or use highly combustible items (e.g. gasoline, refill containers of cigarette lighter fluid, propane gas, etc.). Sanction Level: II
4. Hang tapestries or other large flammable items from ceilings or walls or near doors or other means of egress, or hang anything from ceilings or pipes. Sanction Level: II
5. Excessively cover walls or doors. Sanction Level II
6. Intentionally, negligently or recklessly misuse, disable or damage fire safety-related equipment (e.g. fire extinguishers, alarmed doors, exit signs, sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, etc.). Sanction Level I
7. Possess or use items capable of producing an open flame (e.g. all candles, torches, incense, sterno, refill containers of cigarette lighter fluid, etc.). Sanction level I
8. Tamper with electrical wiring, circuit panels, or related equipment. Sanction Level: II
9. Build lofts/platforms in student rooms. Sanction Level: II
10. Obstruct any entrance, exit, corridor or stairwell by placing any furnishings or property in these areas. This includes student rooms. Sanction Level: II
11. Possess holiday decorations, such as streamers, greens and light strings, unless prior written approval is granted by the Coordinator of Safety Services (located in the Office of Public Safety). Sanction Level: II
12. Fail to evacuate the building and follow directions by college officials during the sounding of a fire alarm. Sanction Level: II
13. Intentionally, recklessly, or negligently cause the sounding of the fire alarm without evidence of fire. Sanction Level: I
14. Possess non-College issued upholstered furniture or window treatments: In accordance with the City of Boston fire code regulations, upholstered furniture and window treatments (such as curtains) are not permitted in College residence halls. Sanction Level: II
15. Violate other fire safety policies as noted in the Student Handbook or other official College publications or postings.

C. Guest/Visitor Policies

Emerson College grants resident students the privilege of hosting guests in the residence halls. The right of a student to live in reasonable privacy takes precedence over the privilege of his/her roommate or suitemate to entertain a guest in their room or suite. A resident’s ability to host guests is, in fact, a courtesy extended by roommates and/or suitemates.

A guest is any individual who is present in a campus residence hall room or suite at the invitation of a resident student of the room or suite. This definition includes Emerson students, family and friends. For safety and security reasons, residents are expected to only host individuals with whom they are familiar.

Residents may host overnight guests in Emerson’s residence halls for no more than three (3) nights a seven-day period. Resident students who violate this privilege may have their overnight guest privileges terminated.

Guests may stay no longer than three (3) nights in a seven-day period. Guests who violate this privilege may have their overnight guest privileges terminated.

The intent of guest privileges is to allow limited and temporary lodging or visitation for a resident’s personal friend or relative at no additional cost, not a place of residence. Detailed arrangements for having guests must be worked out and mutually agreed upon by all roommates and/or suitemates. If an agreement cannot be reached, a staff member may be called upon to help mediate the conflict.

Guests that are disruptive or involved in a policy violation of any kind may be asked to leave the residence hall immediately and may be banned from returning.

All residents are requested to be aware of unescorted guests on the floor and to report their presence to the RA on duty or to the Desk Receptionist. You are responsible, along with the staff, for maintaining a safe living environment. Call Public Safety 617-824-8888 if you notice a person acting suspiciously.

Please Note:

1. The host is responsible for insuring that the guest(s) follows College rules and regulations. The host assumes the consequences for the violations committed by the guest(s). Sanction Level: III
2. Any person entering the residence hall must report to the main reception area. If the person does not live in on-campus housing, he/she must wait for his/her host to be signed in and escorted in the building. Sanction Level: III
3. A guest must be signed in with the desk receptionist by the host before entering the residence hall and must be signed out by the host when leaving. Sanction Level: III
4. The guest must be escorted by the resident who signed him/her in at all times. Sanction Level: III
5. Residents may not check in more than five (5) guests at any given time. No more than five (5) non-residents of a given room may be present in that room at any time. No more than 15 non-suite residents may be present in a residential suite at any given time. Sanction Level: III
6. Failure to check guests in/out at the front desk by established procedures is prohibited. Sanction Level: III
7. Abuse of the hosting policy. Sanction Level: III
8. Abuse of guest privileges. Sanction Level: III

For the safety of individuals and all members of the community a number of general safety policies are to be observed in the residence halls. Each member of the community is encouraged to hold others accountable to the community’s general safety policies.

Students may not:

1. Throw or drop objects from windows or down stairwells or place objects on ledges or fire escapes. Sanction Level: I
2. Remove or tamper with window stop hardware and/or screens. Sanction Level: II
3. Throw or toss objects in hallways or play “hall sports,” including in-line skating, skate boarding, bike riding, etc. Sanction Level: III
4. Access the roof, roof ledge, window ledge or fire escape (without evidence of fire) of any residence hall. Sanction Level: I
5. Possess, store, manufacture or use firearms, dangerous weapons, weapons used for sparring or fighting or fireworks. This includes nunchakus or karate sticks, switchblades, knives, pistols, mace, pepper spray, guns, ammunition, firecrackers, tear gas or other dangerous weapons or articles. Knife exception: Butter/table knives without a serrated edge or non-locking pocket knives with a single edge no larger than 2” in length. Sanction Level: I
6. Possess realistic replicas of dangerous weapons. Sanction Level: II
7. Students are to carry their keys at all times. Sanction Level: III
8. Keys issued to an individual are not to be given/lent to others at any time. Sanction Level: II
9. The unauthorized use or duplication of keys is prohibited. Sanction Level: II
10. Lost keys must be reported immediately to the Residence Director of the hall. Sanction Level: II
11. The unauthorized use of student property, residence hall property or equipment is prohibited. Sanction Level: II
12. Failure to comply with the directions of residence hall staff members in performance of their duties is prohibited. Sanction Level: II
13. Failure to present ID upon request to staff members in performance of their duties is prohibited. Sanction Level: II
14. Resident students are required to present their IDs to the Desk Receptionist each time they enter a residence hall. Sanction Level: II
15. Dart boards utilizing metal or sharp object tips may not be used in the residence halls. Sanction Level: III
16. The propping of any stairwell door or security door/grate is prohibited. Sanction Level: II
17. Students may not change the locks on their doors or add other locking devices including, but not limited to, deadbolts, chains or pad locks. Sanction Level: II
18. Violate other general safety policies as noted in the Student Handbook or other official College publications or printings.

E. Care and Treatment of Property Policies
Students May Not:

1. Remove College furniture from the residence hall room to which it is assigned. Sanction Level: II
2. Dismantle residence hall furniture. Sanction Level: III
3. Tamper with thermostat boxes in residential facilities. Sanction Level: II
4. Paint any residence hall structure or furnishing. Sanction Level: II
5. Make any renovation/addition or attachment (e.g. building shelves, making holes in the wall, the use of nails, etc.) that may cause damage. NOTE: Students are reminded that cellophane tapes and other strong adhesives will cause damage to walls and/or doors by removing paint. The Office of Facility Management recommends reasonable use of removable mounting squares or stick pins as items less likely to damage walls and/or doors. Sanction Level: III
6. Place room furnishings in such a way that they are supported by College furniture or residence hall structure. All room furnishings must be free standing and self-supporting. Sanction Level: III
7. Prop bed legs on any objects other than commercially manufactured bed risers (6” maximum height). Concrete blocks are not approved for bed raising. Sanction Level III
8. Place postings in residence hall common areas, except on authorized posting boards. Fliers or other postings may not be placed on hallway walls, lobbies, stairwells, doors or other unauthorized areas in the hall. Postings may not be placed on any window. Postings must be stamped as registered through the Office of Student Life. Sanction Level: III
9. Students are required to maintain rooms and suite common areas in a sanitary, safe and healthy condition at all times. Residence Life Staff will make periodic inspections of student rooms and suites to ensure compliance with this policy. Sanction Level: II
10. Store personal belongings in public area (e.g. hallways, lounges, and lobbies). Sanction Level: III
11. Dispose of any products, other than toilet paper, in residence hall toilets. Products such as paper towels, condoms, and tampons do not dissolve and will cause plumbing problems if flushed. As you would in your own home, please discard these items properly in a trash receptacle. Sanction Level: II
12. Violate other care and treatment of property policies as noted in the Student Handbook or other official College publications or postings.

F. Community Living Policies

1. Courtesy hours are always in effect. All residents and guests are expected to be courteous of one another at all times. Residents should be able to sleep and study in their rooms. All students should honor reasonable requests by any resident or staff member when asked that stereos, amplifiers, musical instruments, etc., be discontinued or toned down. Sanction Level: II
2. Quiet hours exist on the evenings of Sunday-Thursday from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following mornings, and on the evenings of Friday and Saturday from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. the following mornings. Additional quiet hour guidelines for each floor will be discussed at floor meetings and at hall council and/or Residence Hall Association meetings. The Office of Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to adjust quiet hours on the advisement of floor communities, hall council, or the Residence Hall Association, as well as during finals. During quiet hours, noise should not be heard outside any room or between rooms. Any noise or sound that can be clearly heard outside one’s room, or any excessive noise heard in common areas (i.e. hallways, elevators, bathrooms, laundry rooms, lounges, and suite common areas is prohibited. Sanction Level: II
3. Lounges and common areas on residential floors are available for the use of the building residents including floor meetings and programs, RHA and/or hall council meetings and programs, study, relaxing, etc. Lounges and common areas may not be reserved or used for student organization meetings, rehearsals or programs, or any meetings or activities that are disruptive to the living environment of the residence hall. Sanction Level: II
4. For health reasons, no pets are allowed in College residence halls, with the exception of fish. Fish tanks are not to exceed 10 gallons. PLEASE NOTE: Fish tanks, as well as all other electrical appliances, must be unplugged during periods when the hall is closed. Sanction Level: III
5. The unauthorized change (switch) of residence hall room is prohibited. Sanction Level: III
6. The College does not permit the use of its residence or dining facilities for the solicitation of membership or contributions for religious, charitable, or political organizations or activities. This includes direct solicitations by members of the College community on behalf of such agencies. This prohibition includes the selling of goods or services, recruitment meetings and/or efforts, and tickets of chance on behalf of such agencies. Sanction Level: II
7. The violation of other community living policies as noted in the Student Handbook or other official College publications or postings is prohibited.