Office of Residence Life Handbook and Policies

To promote a healthy and safe residential community environment at St. Mary’s University, each student is expected to abide by the Code of Student Conduct, the Office of Residence Life Handbook and Policies, and the Housing Agreement. Part of living on campus is learning to live in community with others by utilizing the Community Living Standards as a guide to follow and hold others accountable for living up to these standards. It is the responsibility of all residents to discourage other persons from violating university rules and/or report a violation of community standards to the Residence Life Staff. Violations may result in referral to the Student Conduct Process.

The Code of Student Conduct serves to highlight St. Mary’s general policies, practices, and procedures for your personal benefit and cannot be construed as a legal document of any kind. To review the Code of Student Conduct, including core values and behavioral expectations all St. Mary’s University students, whether undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, or law and other students participating in academic programs of the University (such as Intensive English Program participants) are responsible for knowing and abiding by, please click here.

Each resident student possesses certain individual rights and responsibilities that must be held in high regard. Furthermore, each resident also must respect the rights of other students. This document defines the rights and responsibilities of resident students without placing constraints upon such rights of other residents.

The Office of Residence Life is committed to fostering a successful residential education experience by promoting the following:

• The right to read, study and sleep in one’s room as well as utilize any residence hall area for its intended purpose, free from undue interference (i.e., unreasonable noise and other distractions) that inhibits the exercise of this right
• The right to a clean environment in which to live
• The right to expect that a roommate will respect one’s personal belongings
• The right to free access to one’s room and facilities without pressure from a roommate
• The right to privacy
• The right to host guests with the expectation that guests are to respect the rights of the host’s roommate and other residential students
• The right to redress grievances free from fear of intimidation, physical harm and/or emotional harm, including the right to due process
• The right to expect reasonable cooperation in the use of “room-shared” appliances
• The right to expect properly functioning facilities and equipment within University Housing that have been provided for residence hall usage, as well as timely maintenance of these facilities and equipment when problems arise

Reporting Concerns

Community members are encouraged to report to University officials all incidents that may involve a violation of the law and/or University policy including, but not limited to, the Code of Student Conduct. Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit a violation of University policy is subject to conduct action and the sanctions outlined in Section 6 of the Code of Student Conduct: Conduct Procedures.

Students living on campus have a variety of options to report concerns, including the following:  

• Building/Area Staff: Talk to your Area Coordinator (AC), Graduate Assistant (GA), or Resident Assistant (RA) living in your building/area. For updated contact information, please visit the Gateway > Residence Life
• Office of Residence Life: From Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., call the Office of Residence at
  210-431-4312 for assistance
• RAOD: Between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every evening, call the Resident Assistant On Duty (RAOD) for your building/area (signs are posted throughout the building with the RAOD phone number)
• Residence Life After Hours: For concerns when the Office of Residence Life is closed, and there is no RA On Duty, please call 210-431-6737 for assistance 
• University Police Department (UPD): Emergencies should be reported to University Police by calling 210-431-1911 or 210-436-3330 for non-emergencies
• Sexual Assault, Dating or Domestic Violence, Stalking, Discrimination or Harassment: Students can utilize the Title IX Report to submit concerns/complaint
• Student Counseling Center: Students needing immediate mental health crisis support can: For 24/7, 365 crisis support, call the Rattler Helpline: 210-825-3622. During business hours, students can also call or walk in to the Student Counseling Center.  Student Counseling Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone number is 210-436-3135
• Student Health Center (SHC): The SHC is a primary care health clinic. For assistance, appointment, and questions, please contact 210-436-3506
• Work Order: To submit facility-related issues/concerns, please submit a Work Order; if it is an emergency, please contact the Office of Residence Life or the RAOD

Residence Hall Offices

All residents have access to a front desk and/or hall office they can utilize to connect with Residence Life staff for their building/area. Access to residence hall offices and front desks are only permitted when Residence Life staff is present. Residents found in these areas without staff supervision will be referred to the Student Conduct Process.

Housing Accommodations

Resident students may request housing accommodation, including a request to have an emotional support animal in campus housing. Contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at accessibility@stmarytx.edu with requests and questions regarding housing accommodations. Please review the University’s Emotional Support Animas (ESA) Policy for all requests regarding ESAs.

Safety in the Residence Halls

In an effort to maintain a safe campus environment, cameras are located in and around some residence halls. Cameras are reviewed for investigative purposes by University Police Department, Residence Life, and Student Development personnel as necessary. Never open exterior doors for people who are not your guests. Report any suspicious people to the Residence Life staff and University Police Department immediately.

Residence Hall Amenities

Resident students have access to all residence hall amenities, including, but not limited to the Perigueux pool, Village volleyball court, fire pits, and basketball court. Inappropriate use of these amenities and residence hall facilities, including but not limited to use outside of posted hours of operation, may result in a referral to the Student Conduct Process.

Noise Levels and Amplified Sound in the Residence Halls

The residence halls are an integral part of the academic environment at St. Mary’s, and it is expected that students are able to study and sleep in their rooms. It is the responsibility of all residents to avoid noise that might disturb others in each area of the building. This includes the usage of ping-pong and pool tables in common areas during Quiet Hours. Management of disruptive and/or amplified sounds include, but are not limited to, the following: requiring the use of headphones, limiting the permissible hours of use, or limiting the volume of the device. Additional sound management actions may be implemented.

Creating and maintaining a strong, healthy, residential community includes resident students’ attention to noise in the community and help hold each other accountable for the level of noise residents and guests produce. For example, if a noise is bothering a resident, a request to the noise-causing individual(s) should be made to reduce the noise. If the noise continues, a resident should contact the Resident Assistant on Duty or, if during normal business hours, the Office of Residence Life staff. See Reporting Concerns section (page 2 of the Residence Life Handbook and Policies document) for additional information.

Cleaning and Offensive Odors

Residents are responsible for cleaning their private rooms and bathrooms as well as picking up after themselves in common areas. Residents are accountable for the condition of their room, suite and bathroom.

Offensive odors will be addressed by Residence Life staff when complaints are received. An offensive odor is any odor or aroma of such intensity that it becomes apparent and is offensive to others. Any odor can become offensive when it is too strong. Some examples are cooking smells, perfume, air-freshening spray or large amounts of dirty laundry.

Housekeeping services are provided for common areas, including corridors, lounges and public or community bathrooms in all buildings. However, all resident students are responsible for keeping the residence hall facilities clean. Common areas, such as lounges, community kitchens, study areas, or outdoor amenity areas, may be closed off for a period of time if left messy.

Residents are responsible for cleaning community kitchen spaces and appliances after each use. Grease and used cooking oils should not be drained down the sink, as this may cause damage to the plumbing in the building. Dispose of grease and used cooking oils by wiping them up with paper towels or placing them in a disposable container in trash receptacles.

Furniture in Rooms/Common Areas

Furniture provided in the residence halls for use in private rooms or public areas may not be removed, borrowed or exchanged from one room to another. Storage for unwanted furniture or carpeting is not available.

Damage Appeals

If damages or dirty spaces are documented, residents will receive an email with an invoice attachment outlining the charges billed to their student account. Residents have the opportunity to appeal the damages if they disagree with them as long as the charges in question are not for community damages. Community damages may not be appealed. Residents will need to fill out the appeal form found linked within the email, and it must be completed by the date indicated in the letter for the appeals committee to review.

Personal Items                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Residents are encouraged to keep their room door locked at all times to ensure greater security of their belongings. Residents are also urged to report all losses and missing items to University Police immediately.

The University is not liable for any damages or losses to person or property caused by other persons, theft, burglary, assault, vandalism, other crimes, fire, flood, water leaks, rain, hail, ice, snow, smoke, explosions, interruptions of utilities, electrical surges, or other phenomena. All St. Mary’s University students living in campus housing are expected to obtain or demonstrate proof of renter’s insurance. Please refer to the Housing Agreement for further details.

Floor and Hall Meetings

Residents are required to attend all mandatory floor/hall meetings. Residents who are unable to attend the meeting for any reason must receive permission to miss the meeting 24 hours in advance from the staff member conducting the meeting. Failure to attend will result in a $25 fine for each offense. Whether residents attend or not, they are responsible for all information that is presented in the meetings.

Students Locked-Out of Their Room

If keys are lost or stolen, please report this to the Office of Residence Life immediately. Residents will be charged $45 for a lost or stolen room key. Perigueux Hall residents will be charged $100 for a lost or stolen room key. This charge is for replacing the core in the room door and/or the mailbox and will be placed on the student account. Residents will be charged $5 for a lost or stolen mailbox key.

• If a resident locks themselves out of their room during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., that resident may go to the Residence Life Office to obtain a temporary key, and it must be returned within 24 hours to avoid charges.
• If a resident is locked out between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., the Resident Assistant On-Duty (RAOD) may be contacted for assistance. Every lockout an RAOD responds to will result in a fee of $5/per lockout.
• For all other hours not outlined above, residents may call the After-Hours number at (210) 431-6737 for assistance. Every lockout completed by a university staff member will result in a fee of $5/per lockout. 
• The $5 lockout fee will be billed to a resident’s student account on a monthly basis.
• Please note housekeeping and maintenance staff members are not allowed to let residents into residence hall rooms.

Living Agreements and Mediation

Living with a roommate should be an enriching learning experience. However, it may also be a challenging experience. The Residence Life staff are specially trained to assist residents in developing effective roommate relationships. Living Agreements are used as a tool to further understanding and communication. All students living in a double room with a roommate and all halls with suitemates who share a bathroom and common area (such as Perigueux Hall and Leies Hall) are required to complete a Living Agreement. Failure to participate and complete the Living Agreement facilitated by a Resident Assistant may result in follow-up from Office of Resident Life staff. Living Agreements will also be used as a means of solving conflicts between roommates.

Health and Safety Checks

Residence Life reserves the right to conduct announced or unannounced health and safety checks during each semester. The purpose of these checks is to maintain a safe living and learning environment by discovering potential hazards before they affect the individual residents or the resident population as a whole. Situations that are addressed include, but are not limited to, the following: prohibited items; overloaded outlets; obstruction of the pathway to exits (in case of a fire); extreme cases of dirty housekeeping in room or bathroom; the presence of weapons; the presence of pets; and/or an unlocked door.

Health and Safety checks are conducted by Residence Life staff members. Notification of any issues noticed will be addressed with the resident, and a follow-up inspection date will be set. If the situation has not been remedied by the follow-up inspection, a student conduct meeting and/or sanction may be applied.

Residence Life staff may enter a room when the resident is not present. In this case, a notification will be left in the room identifying potential hazards with a follow-up inspection date or a notice of satisfactory compliance. Items may need to be confiscated during these checks. If this occurs, please refer to CLS 13: Prohibited Items for further details.

Room Searches

The University reserves the right to enter a student’s room for the purpose of inspection of University property to seek missing residence hall furnishings, improvements, or repairs, to control the rooms in the event of an epidemic or an emergency, to ensure evacuation during fire drills, to conduct health and safety checks, or for any other purpose as stated in the Code of Student Conduct or Office of Residence Life Handbook and Policies, to include suspected violations of University or Residence Life policy. 

Where there is legitimate reason, however, University officials reserve the right to search a room with the consent of the occupying resident or with the authorization of the Vice President for Student Development or Assistant Dean for Residence Life. When possible, it is desirable for the resident to be present when a search is made. During official residence hall closing periods, residence hall staff members will check all rooms prior to closing the building to make certain that rooms are secure and proper closing procedures have been followed.

University Police, Residence Life staff members, or other appropriate University officials reserve the right to confiscate items they deem to be offensive, harmful, or a violation of University or Residence Life policies. Following notification of such action, residents will have to arrange for alternate storage off campus. Some items may be retained indefinitely if criminal or student conduct charges are pending. Following this time period, Residence Life may dispose of any and all confiscated property without financial liability.

COMMUNITY LIVING STANDARDS (CLS)

CLS 1: Alcohol

St. Mary’s University promotes personal responsibility regarding the use of alcohol. However, under no circumstances may an individual consume or possess alcohol if the individual is under the legal drinking age. Texas State law prohibits the consumption of alcohol by persons under the age of 21. Additionally, state law prohibits supplying alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.   

Residence Life staff and University Police enforce the Texas State laws and University policies stated below. Violations of these laws and policies will result in action under the Code of Student Conduct and possible University Police citation.

1. Alcohol consumed by persons under the age of 21. (1994 Alcoholic Beverage Code, Sec. 106.04)
2. Alcohol consumed in public places that are not pre-approved special events or designated areas on campus for alcohol consumption, regardless of age. This includes the Perigueux pool, Village volleyball court, Perigueux patio/fire pit area, and other outdoor amenities areas of the residence hall community.
3. Alcohol sold or given to minors. (1994 Alcoholic Beverage Code, Sec. 106.06)
4. Printed materials, flyers, or posters advertising alcohol when displayed outside a residence hall room. (Note: this includes doors to rooms)
5. Possession of kegs and/or items designed for rapid consumption of alcohol (i.e. beer bongs, funnels, etc.) are prohibited and subject to confiscation. Kegs or beer pong tables may not be used as decorations or furniture.
6. The manufacturing of alcoholic beverages in the residence halls.
7. Violation of alcohol policies by guests of residents.
8. Attendance at gatherings where alcohol is being served if you are under the age of 21.

NOTE:  Residents aged 21 or over may store and consume alcohol in their room. Residents under the age of 21 may not store or consume alcohol in their room or any other on-campus location for any reason and will be directed to dispose of any alcohol found in their possession.

In cases where one occupant is 21 or older, and the other occupant(s) is/are not, the occupant of the legal drinking age may store and consume alcohol in the room. It should be obvious who is storing the alcohol within the room. All alcohol should be labeled to show who it belongs to. Minors in possession of alcohol will be directed to immediately dispose of the alcohol.

The Office of Residence Life reserves the right to limit the quantity of alcohol in a resident’s room to an amount appropriate for personal consumption, i.e., a six-pack of beer, 2 bottles of wine, or 1 bottle of hard liquor. The appropriate amount is determined solely by University officials.

 CLS 2: Bulletin Boards and Postings

Residents are expected to be aware of the contents of bulletin boards and respect the work of the staff that puts together the bulletin boards. Residents found tampering with bulletin boards will be referred to the Student Conduct Process. Damage caused to Bulletin Boards by residents may result in a community charge to all residents of that floor/building.

All postings must be approved by the Student Life Office and/or the Office of Residence Life prior to posting. Once approved, items must be dropped off at the Office of Residence Life Office, located in Leies Hall, Suite 101-105, and Residence Life staff will post in designated areas. Items found posted in residence halls without approval will be removed and may result in referral to the Student Conduct Process.

CLS 3: Damages and University Property

No person may tamper with or borrow, without permission, the personal property of others to include any community property from its assigned place in the hall. Additionally, residents and their guests may not damage, deface, or destroy any University property.

Residents are expected to use the residence halls in a reasonable and proper manner. If damage occurs, residents will be responsible for the cost of repair. Damages caused by residents and their guests will be charged to the resident.  Damages caused in common areas (including community kitchens) that cannot be attributed to the responsible party will be charged to all the residents of that floor or building.

CLS 4: Decoration Restrictions

Residents may not use materials to attach anything that will destroy paint or leave residue on the walls, doors or windows of the room. Nails, screws, glue or other permanent adhesives require considerable labor and repair to remove. No permanent markings, holes in the wall, or other permanent modifications should be made. Command strips have also been known to cause damage to paint on walls, when removed incorrectly. Putty or BluTack works the best for light weight objects like posters and can be removed without damage. LED strip lights are not allowed because the adhesive used to hang these lights are known to damage or destroy paint and walls.

Additionally, residents may not paint their rooms. Room decorations must be contained within the room and must not be visible to the general public; this includes items placed in windows. Clothing should not be hung from windows. Windows may not be covered by foil, fabric, or other materials, except a properly mounted curtain.

Students may post political signs in their residence hall rooms in compliance with University and residence hall policies. However, the public areas of the residence halls are considered official public spaces and must remain free of political campaign advertising. Decorations with discriminatory language/imagery/items are not permitted.

The following items are restricted decorative items that will be confiscated:

• Alcohol paraphernalia – Please refer to the CLS 1: Alcohol.
• Dartboards
• Drug paraphernalia – Please refer to CLS 6: Drugs and Paraphernalia.
• Street or traffic signs (unless a receipt showing proof of purchase is provided)
• Restaurant or other advertising signs (unless a receipt showing proof of purchase is provided)

Only artificial trees and small light sets are permitted in the residence halls during the holiday season. Windows

may not be decorated with spray snow. All decorations must be removed before leaving for winter break.

CLS 5: Disruptive Behavior

Behavior that is disruptive, destructive, or lewd is not permitted in or around the residence halls. This may include but is not limited to, water fights, pranks, sports in hallways, shaving cream fights, and anything creating a mess or excessive noise in the hallways or other public areas. In addition, throwing objects from windows, balconies, or doors can be dangerous and is not allowed.

CLS 6: Drugs and Paraphernalia

The Residence Life staff and University Police will enforce state and federal laws with regard to the use and possession of illegal drugs and prescription medications. For this reason, the following activities may result in room searches and will result in action under the Code of Student Conduct:

1. Use, possession, manufacture or distribution of illegal drugs and other controlled substances or drug paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law and University policy.
2. Abuse, misuse, sale, or distribution of prescription or over-the-counter medications.
3. Reasonable suspicion regarding use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs.
4. Any of the above activities by guests of residents.

CLS 7: Fire Safety

The lives of community members depend on the operation of fire safety equipment. Do not, under any circumstance, tamper with smoke or heat detectors, sprinklers, fire extinguishers, fire hoses, or any alarm system. Students found tampering with such equipment can be subject to fines, student conduction sanctions, and criminal prosecution. (1994 Uniform Fire Code, Sec. 1001.6.2) Misuse of any fire safety equipment will result in a referral to the Student Conduct Process and a $200.00 fine.

In the event of a fire alarm, all residents must evacuate the building through the nearest exit as quickly as possible to the area specified for the respective hall. Residents cannot return to the building until University Police or Residence Life staff has indicated residents may. Failure to comply with an alarm will result in will result in a referral to the Student Conduct Process and a $200.00 fine.

In addition, violation of the following fire safety items may result in a referral to the Student Conduct Process and a $200.00 fine.

• Obstruction of pathways to exits; this includes the addition of personal furniture that creates a safety hazard
• Utilizing fire emergency exit only doors to enter/exit the building when it is not a fire alarm
• Overloaded electrical outlets

CLS 8: Keys

Residents are expected to carry their room key at all times in order to gain entrance to a specific building/area and room. Room keys may not be duplicated or loaned to another person. These keys are the property of St. Mary’s University and must be returned upon request. Keys are issued at check-in and must be returned upon check-out. Failure to return keys will result in charges added to your student account.

CLS 9: Noise and Quiet Hours

Courtesy hours are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, meaning that excessive noise should always be kept to a minimum and residents should always be thoughtful of the noise they produce. Quiet Hours are 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. every day. During study days and final exam days, quiet hours are 24 hours.

Violations of this policy may result in the removal of the equipment from the residence halls, a $25 fine for each noise violation, and referral to the Student Conduct Process.

CLS 10: Perigueux Pool

The Perigueux pool is available for use by all resident students during the open hours posted at the pool. Entry gates are always locked and only accessible with a valid Rattler Identification Card. Guests must be accompanied by a resident student at all times when in the Perigueux pool area. Alcohol is not permitted in the Perigueux pool area.

CLS 11: Pets

Pets are not allowed on campus unless approved as a Service Animal, an Emotional Support Animal, or as outlined in the Pets on Campus University Policy. Do not feed stray animals, as this may cause the animals to linger around campus, which puts the safety and sanitation of the residential areas at risk.

Fish tanks of ten gallons or less are permitted in the residence halls. Only animals that live completely underwater are approved (water snakes are not permitted). To safeguard community health and proper sanitation, pets are not allowed on University property unless a part of an approved event, with the exception of animals that assist, support, or provide services that are authorized for persons with disabilities.

Residents found with unapproved animals in their room may be subject to an immediate $250.00 fine applied to their student account, and must permanently remove the animal from the halls or the property within 24 hours. Violations will be referred to the Student Conduct Process and may result in escalated fines, and/or termination of their Housing Agreement.

CLS 12: Private Agreements

Residents may not enter into private agreements that sublet rooms or cause a conflict with vendors under contract with the University (i.e. alternative internet companies).

CLS 13: Prohibited Items

Prohibited items are prohibited in all residence hall rooms, common areas, lounges, and public areas of residential facilities (such as, but not limited to the Perigueux Pool). The Residence Life professional staff has the right to confiscate items that are not allowed in the residence halls or contact University Police to do so.

Items that are confiscated will be kept either in residence hall storage or with University Police, depending on the item (except those prohibited by law) until the end of the current semester. At that time, it is the resident’s responsibility to request the confiscated item and remove it from campus. Unclaimed items become the property of Residence Life and may be disposed of as deemed appropriate. Illegal items (i.e., drug paraphernalia, weapons) will be turned over to University Police and will not be returned to the resident.

A list of prohibited items includes but not limited to:

• Candles, incense burners, anything with an open flame;
• Cooking appliances such as electric skillets, air fryers, crockpots, toaster ovens, grills, hot pots, hot plates, cappuccino makers, popcorn poppers that use oil, or any items with an open heating element or coil;
• Space heaters, halogen lamps, lava lamps, fog machines, and electrical outlet splitters;
• LED strip lights, live Christmas trees, community furniture in assigned room, and street signs;
• Microwaves over 750 watts, mini-fridges over 4.5 cubic feet;
• Firearms, tasers, weapons ammunition, air rifles, slingshots, pellet guns, paint guns, explosives, firecrackers, flammable fluid, chemical weapons, replica weapons, flammable items of any nature, knives over 3 inches long;
• Decorative alcohol bottles, alcohol paraphernalia, drug paraphernalia;
• Anything illegal

CLS 14: Requests from University Officials

Residents and their guests are expected to comply with requests made by university officials. University

officials include, but are not limited to, the Assistant Dean of Residence Life, all Residence Life Staff members (including Resident Assistants, Community Coordinators, and Residence Life Student Assistants), University Police, the Dean of Students, and the Office of Student Integrity and Welfare staff members.

CLS 15: Safety

Students are not permitted to prop doors open, jam locks, or access rooms for which they have not been assigned or given permission by the University to access. Windows may not be used as entrances/exits to rooms and/or buildings except during an emergency (i.e.: building fire). Safety window screens may not be removed, except in cases of an emergency.

CLS 16: Solicitation

St. Mary’s University does not permit soliciting or offering of services or goods on campus (this includes all residence halls) without prior written approval from the Dean of Students. Individuals granted approval for such activities must also obtain approval from the Office of Residence Life prior to entering any residence hall. Placing fliers on cars, on or under the doors of residence hall rooms, is not permitted. Unauthorized Solicitation of any kind may result in a fine of up to $250 and, for non-university members, a criminal trespass warning issued by University Police.

CLS 17: Student Identification

Students are required to carry their Rattler Identification Card at all times and to present IDs when asked by a University official. Failure to present a University or state-issued identification card to a University Official upon request is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct and may result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from the University property or off-campus held events. Possession of a fake ID or use of an ID that is not your own is not permitted at St. Mary’s University. ID cards should not be loaned to another person for use. This includes loaning a University ID to gain entrance to a specific building/area, including residence halls.

CLS 18: Tobacco and Smoking

It is illegal for anyone who is under the age of 21 to purchase or possess tobacco products. Use of tobacco products including, but not limited to cigarettes, hookah, and chewing tobacco, etc., is not permitted within the residence halls.  This includes any vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, Non-Tobacco Nicotine or Tobacco-Free Nicotine products (i.e. Oral Nicotine pouches, Nicotine Infused Cotton, etc.).

There are five designated smoking areas on campus, as outlined below:

1. Pecan Grove
2. Pavilion at the Village at St. Mary’s
3. Benches at the back of Chaminade Tower,
4. The School of Law Courtyard,
5. The Center for Legal and Social Justice,
6. Counselor Education and Family Life Center  

CLS 19: Visitation Hours and Guests

Residence Hall Visitation Hours are 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Visitation hours are in effect year-round, including summer and periods before and after semesters. A resident is allowed to host a maximum of two guests in the residence hall at one time; however, a maximum of five people are allowed in each residence hall room at one time. A maximum of eight people is allowed in Perigueux Hall and Leies Hall at one time. During certain times of the year, the University reserves the right to amend visitation hours (such as Homecoming and Fiesta Oyster Bake).

Hosting Guests During Visitation Hours:

All guests (regardless of sex or gender identity) including parents and family members must be escorted by the resident they are visiting at all times. Additionally, guests should not be left alone in a residence hall room, be loaned a resident key, or a Rattler ID Card. During certain times of the year, the University reserves the right to restrict guests (such as Fiesta Oyster Bake).

Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests and will be liable for any damages and/or held responsible for any policy violations caused by their guests. Disruptive guests or guests involved in an incident may be asked to leave the building and the campus. Never escort a guest to someone’s room without that resident’s permission.

Overnight Guests:

Guests of the same sex may stay overnight in a room for a maximum of three nights per month with approval from the Office of Residence Life, and roommate(s), if applicable, via the completion of an Overnight Guest Request Form. The form must be completed no later than five business days prior to the intended stay. Residents must receive approval from Residence Life staff for overnight guests. Residents are not allowed to host overnight guests of a different sex or guests under the age of 16. Residents can host up to two overnight guests at once. Disruptive guests or guests involved in an incident may be asked to leave the building and the campus.

CLS 20: Wheeled Devices

It is not permitted to use skateboards, rollerblades, roller skates, bicycles, and similar wheeled devices inside residence halls. Motorized scooters or motorized personal transportation devices, including hoverboards, are prohibited from being stored and/or charged inside any University building. Individuals may be liable for damage to University property caused by these activities. Residents may not store their bicycles in their rooms, hallways, or inside the building and should be secured to their respective hall bike rack.

The use of wheelchairs, walkers, medically necessary scooters, or other medical devices on University property is permitted, including inside residence halls.