Guidelines for Community Living
The Guidelines for Community Living are in addition to the Student Code of Conduct . All residents, visitors of residents, guests, and staff are expected to abide by both the Student Code of Conduct and the Guidelines for Community Living. The Guidelines for Community Living are intended to create a standard for behavior that promotes positive relationships with others in an environment that is welcoming and conducive to studying.
Students may use only UL approved surge protectors (no more than 2 surge protectors are permitted per room) that contain their own fuse to increase their number of outlets. Extension cords, six plug outlets, and any device you plug another device into must have a surge protector. Appliances not permitted in traditional and suite style halls include open element appliances, appliances that glow red and appliances with a heated surface.
- Examples of permitted appliances:
- Computers, radios / stereos, televisions, VCR’s/DVD players, desk lamps, 4-cup coffee makers, small refrigerators (must not exceed 3.8 cubic feet or 1.5 amps)
- Examples of appliances not permitted:
- Open element appliances and/or appliances that glow red - i.e. toasters, hot plates, broilers, space heaters, kerosene heaters, toaster ovens, electric grills (George Foreman type), electric fry pans/skillets)
Electrical Appliances in Apartments - In addition to appliances permitted above, residents of apartments may have kitchen appliances like George Foreman Grills and toaster/toaster ovens.
Solicitation for purchase of goods or services except by Valdosta State University students who have received prior written approval from the Vice President for Finance and Administration is prohibited. All fliers and publicity hung in the building must have the prior approval of the RHD. All campaigning and other activities sanctioned by VSU (i.e. SGA or RHA elections) where residents are approached door to door, via personal approach or distribution of materials, must be approved by the RHD.
Bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, segways, skates and skateboarding are not to be ridden or used in housing facilities. Bicycles are to be secured to racks outside the facility and may be confiscated if found secured to any other objects. Running, participating in any form of rough housing or sports in hallways or public areas is prohibited.
Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Students are expected to respect the right of others by refraining from the production from loud volumes of noise (i.e., stereos playing out the windows, excessive noise from within a suite/room, etc). Students are expected to comply with reasonable requests.
Visitation by guests is permitted 10:00am-12:00am Sunday through Thursday, 10:00am-2:00am Friday and Saturday in the freshmen designated halls of: Brown, Converse, Langdale, Lowndes, Patterson, Reade and Georgia halls. Visitation in upperclass designated halls; Centennial and Hopper, is allowed 24 hours daily. A visitor is defined as students or non-students who are not assigned to that specific residence hall. This includes visitors of the same gender.
Paramount to the goals of a residential community is the right of the individual to privacy and the opportunity to sleep and study in one’s room. The right to privacy outweighs another’s right to visitor privileges. The hosting of a visitor must not interfere with the roommate’s use of the room. If the presence of a visitor is at any time an invasion of the roommates’ privacy, the visitor must leave. Roommates will decide upon a roommate agreement at the beginning of each semester which includes the visitation rules for that room. Visitation will not be permitted until a signed roommate contract is on file with the RHD.
- Residents may host up to two visitors at a time during designated visitation hours. Hosts must escort their visitors at all times including the hallways and common areas. Hosts are responsible for the actions of their visitors. It is the hosts's responsibility to inform the visitor of residence hall and university processes and procedures, such as the Community Guidelines and Student Code of Conduct.
- Men must use restrooms designated for males and women must use restrooms designated for females. Under NO circumstance are visitors to utilize the showering facilities of the opposite gender.
- Persons under 16 years of age have to be accompanied by a legal guardian at all times while in the residence hall. Babysitting/childcare for any length of time is not permitted in the residence halls.
- Visitors must sign in and out at the hall front desk (except in Centennial). Visitors will be given a visitation pass for the specific room of the host. The visitor must keep this pass in their possession at all times and the pass may not be removed from the building. There will be a $25 charge placed on the host student's account for a lost visitor's pass.
- Visitors to the residence halls are expected to abide by all university and housing processes and procedures, failure to follow the standards will result in a discipline hearing.
We recognize students may wish to decorate their rooms and other areas of the residence halls for a variety of reasons including holiday celebrations. The following standards must be met to prevent fires or other safety hazards.
- Residents must remove all holiday decorations one week after the holiday or before each hall closing (whichever comes first). Cords, lights, paper streamers, etc. may not cross doorways at any height or be placed under carpet. Natural Christmas trees are prohibited..
- Alcohol containers are allowed in the residence halls for decorations only if the student is of legal age and if the containers are completely empty and filled with a solid substance (sand, etc). Alcohol containers for decorations cannot be displayed in public viewing.
Roommates will agree on a roommate agreement at the beginning of each semester which includes the visitation rules for that room. This roommate agreement will be kept on file with the RHD of the building. Visitation will not be permitted until a signed roommate agreement is on file with the RHD. Any violations of the roommate agreement may result in disciplinary action. It is the responsibility of the residents to report any infractions of their roommate agreement.
Residents are responsible for the security of their room and their residence hall. The resident will be issued a room key and/or electronic access to his/her assigned hall and room. Residents should carry their room key and student id card at all times.
The full University alcohol policy is printed in the Student Handbook (Student Code of Conduct). These are some additional considerations and regulations for the residence halls.
- Students of legal drinking age may consume alcohol in their rooms with the door closed. If a student of legal drinking age lives with students who are underage, alcohol cannot be stored or consumed in any areas that are shared or accessible by the underage roommates.
- Kegs, beer balls, and other large size containers of alcohol (larger than 40 oz.) --whether empty or full-- are prohibited in the residence halls. Large quantities of assorted and/or mixed alcohol are prohibited.
- No student shall knowingly be present during the illegal use of alcohol.
- Quiet hours are designated to be 10pm-8am Sunday through Thursday, 12am-10am Friday through Saturday. Noise during quiet hours should be at a level that cannot be heard two doors down from your room when standing in the hallway. Noise should not be heard through walls.
- The area surrounding the residence halls and apartments have been designated as quiet zones from 7pm until 10am daily. During this time period, students and guests are expected to respect the residence hall and apartment residents' right to a quiet environment.
- Cohabitation is not allowed in any residence hall. Cohabitation is defined as any person who is not currently assigned to that room staying more than 20 consecutive hours.
- No overnight visitors/guest are allowed in the freshmen designated halls. This includes residents of the same hall that are not currently assigned to that specific room.
- Residents in the upperclass designated halls, Centennial and Hopper, may host a same gender visitor for a maximum of two consecutive nights (a night is considered any five hour period between the hours of 10:00pm and 10:00am), for a maximum of 16 nights per semester. The hosting resident will be responsible for the conduct of the visitor ar all times. Overnight visitors are subject to all residence hall and/or University regulations.
- All emergency doors are alarmed and should never be propped open. Do not use emergency doors unless it is an emergency. Propping of fire doors (any door that separate portions of hallways, hallways from stairwells, or hallways from a lobby) is also prohibited.
- No one is allowed to enter/exit the residence hall through a window.
Burning of candles and incense are not permitted in residence halls or apartments due to the danger of fire. Residents may possess candles if the wick is cut off.
Smoking is strictly prohibited in the residence halls and within a 25 feet radius of the building.
Non-carnivorous fish are the only pets allowed in the facilities and only in aquariums that do not exceed 10 gallons. The only exception to the rule is service animals registered with the ACCESS office.
VSU provided each room and apartment with basic furnishings.
- Removal of furniture or appliances from a room or apartment is prohibited.
- Water filled furniture is prohibited
Conducting, organizing, or participating in any activity involving games of chance or skill for money or other items of value is prohibited.
Window screens must not be unfastened or removed. Throwing or dropping items out of the window is prohibited.
Installing personal locks or chains on doors or windows is prohibited. Along with any altering or tampering with existing locks is also prohibited.