Community Living Guidelines

As a member of the Southern New Hampshire University community, you are responsible for you own actions, as well as the actions of your guests. You are expected to respect all other members of the university community and their property. It is the approach of the university to address violations of community living standards primarily from an educational perspective. However, at times other sanctions may be necessary to insure that the residential community continues to be a positive living learning environment. You are responsible for being aware of and understanding the university’s policies and expectations for individual behavior.

Community living guidelines provide the proper environment for all students:

• Follow posted quiet hours.
• Observe courtesy hours at all times.
• If bothered by noise made by another student, you should first try approaching the individual(s). If this is not successful, contact your R.A. or the R.A. on duty to assist you.
• If you are approached regarding noise, be respectful of others and take appropriate action to resolve the situation.
• Respect your environment, both in the confines of your room and in the public areas of your residence. Leave all furnishings in their original placement and condition for all to use and enjoy.
• Respect and follow all Southern New Hampshire University rules.
• Comply with university officials in the performance of their duties.
• Overall, respect the needs of others to live in an environment where they can sleep and study and to pursue their personal and academic goals. 

Conduct
All residence guidelines are enforced under the university’s disciplinary procedures.
See “University Conduct Policy.”

The university has developed these policies and procedures so that you have a positive living and learning environment. If you are documented for allegedly violating guidelines, there will be an examination of the circumstances and possibly a review of your behavior and how it affects others in the community. This process may result in some form of disciplinary action.

Bathrooms/Showers
Bathrooms and shower areas are designated as either male or female. There are no designated co-ed bathroom/shower facilities in any residence area. Personal items (shampoo, rinse, blow dryers, curling irons, etc.) are not to be stored in these areas. All personal items should be kept in the student’s room when not being used. Violators will face disciplinary action.  Minor violation.

Guest Registration Policy

Hall Sports
Athletic activities that normally take place outdoors (hockey, lacrosse, hackey sack, soccer, etc.) or in a gymnasium are prohibited in residence. Students must use university fields or athletic facilities for all sports.

Quiet Hours
To provide students the most conducive atmosphere for study and sleep, the university requires that noise be kept to a minimum at all times. Do not play radios, stereos, musical instruments, or other devices out of windows.

The university enforces quiet hours in its residence areas:

Sunday through Thursday: 9 p.m. to 10 a.m.
Friday and Saturday: 1 a.m. to 10 a.m.

During these times, students may play radios, televisions and stereos only at a low level and only with the resident’s room doors closed. Out of consideration for other students, each student must keep noise to a minimum. If students wish to gather together in halls or common areas, they must be aware that other students may be studying or sleeping. In a community living environment, consideration for one’s neighbors is of extreme importance.

During other times, students should observe “courtesy hours.” Courtesy hours, defined as hours of reasonable quiet, are to be maintained at all times. During courtesy hours, students are expected to keep noise at a level, which will not disturb neighboring residents, including those living on other floors and in other buildings. Students in this program are expected to anticipate and respect the needs of other students, specifically the need to live in an environment conducive to sleep, study and individual wellness.

During the final examination period (starting at 9:00 p.m. on the last day of classes), 24-hour quiet hours are in effect. Special quiet hours will be set during graduate programs final exams as the need warrants.  Minor violation.

Room Furnishings/Lounge
The university provides an adequate amount of furniture for each living area. All university furniture must be left in its assigned space. Students may not disassemble room furnishings for storage elsewhere, nor take lounge furniture for their own use. The cost of missing furniture will be assessed to the residents of the area.

Waterbeds and lofts of any kind are not allowed in any university residence because of the potential danger from weight and water problems (refer to the Health and Safety section for more information).

Smoking Policy
Students are not permitted to smoke inside any university building.

Smoking is permitted outdoors, but only at a distance of a minimum 25 feet away from any building. Minor violation.

Health and Safety
In keeping with the university’s commitment to providing students with a healthy and safe environment, students are expected to know and abide by the health and safety policies listed below. The university will periodically inspect all residences for violations. Please refer to “Terms and Conditions of the Residence Agreement” section for more information on inspections.

Keys, Doors and Locks
You will be issued one room key. You may not duplicate it or give it to another person. If you are assigned to a new room, or if you withdraw from the university, you must return your original room key and Locknetics (tek) key to a residence life staff member or the Office of Residence Life at the time of your check-out. Failure to do so will result in a core change and the corresponding charge to your account.

If you lose your room key and/or tek key, you must report this loss to your R.D. immediately. You will then be issued a temporary key, a core change will be completed and the corresponding charge will be billed to your account

You may not install your own locks. Personal locks will be removed by the university and the labor and replacement costs assessed to the resident(s). If you have questions regarding keys and core replacements, please direct them to your R.D.

Doorways and corridors may not be blocked or obstructed in any way that would limit passage during an emergency. Locked entry doors should not be propped open or otherwise rendered unlockable. Suite, room, apartment, and townhouse doors should be kept locked at all times. 

Electrical Appliances
For safety and health reasons, university regulations prohibit the possession or use of some appliances even though they are regularly found in private homes. Examples of items not allowed are: space heaters, power tools, hot pots, hot plates, toaster ovens, coffee makers, other small cooking appliances, microwave ovens, air conditioners, immersion heaters and halogen lamps.

This list is a guide and is not all-inclusive. The university reserves the final decision on any item determined to be inappropriate for residence halls.

Students living in an apartment or a townhouse, may have toaster ovens, coffee makers or microwaves because those residences have kitchens. Whenever using any appliance, follow common sense and exercise reasonable precautions.

The following rules apply to use electrical appliances:

• The appliance must be UL approved.
• Devices that overload or extend the normal capacity of outlets are prohibited. UL approved power strips with separate circuit breakers are allowed.
• Extension cords must be grounded.
• Personal refrigerators (max. size: 3.5 cubic feet) must be located where they do not interfere with doorways.
• Microfridge units (available on a rental basis through the Student Government Association) are the only approved microwave allowed in the residence halls (Lower Suites, Upper Suites, New Castle Hall, Washington Hall, Hampton Hall, and Windsor Hall). All other microwave units are not allowed and will be removed if they are found in student rooms.

Fire & Safety Regulations
Fire and safety regulations in group living situations must be stricter than in private homes. Residences are equipped with sprinklers, smoke and heat detectors, and fire-fighting equipment. The potential for fire and subsequent injury or damage demands rules and policies designed for the safety of all, as follows:

• No more than 50 percent of the total wall area in any room may be covered with combustible materials (e.g., flags, posters, pictures). Electrical outlets and lights may not be covered at all.
• Cut Christmas trees, wreaths, greens, shrubbery, etc. are not permitted. Fire retardant artificial trees are allowed, but cannot block any doorways and/or corridors nor in any way obstruct passage into the student’s residence.
• Do not suspend coverings (parachutes, fishnet, flags, tapestries, posters, electric lighting, etc.) from the ceiling or walls.
• Items are not to be suspended from fire detectors or sprinklers. Students may never disconnect any fire/smoke detector.
• Do not move any fire safety items (such as, fire extinguishers and exit signs).
• The university does not permit any type of student construction in residence. This includes all types of constructed area (e.g. sleeping lofts) and any materials. Furniture students bring into their area must be free standing (that is not bolted or fixed to walls, floors, etc.) and should be of a size that does not block doorways and/or corridors or in any way obstructs passage into the residence.
• Bunk beds may only be used as they are designed and intended. For safety reasons, students may not raise the height of any furniture (e.g. to form a loft). This includes the use of milk crates, desks, dressers, blocks, etc.
• Camp stoves, candles, incense and incense burners, propane torches and lanterns are not permitted in any residence. Cooking grills (charcoal or propane) are not permitted in any residence. They are permitted, however, in outside areas-provided they are a minimum of 15 feet away from any building.
• Public Safety, in conjunction with Residence Life, may conduct fire drills on an as needed basis. Each building must be completely evacuated in the event of a fire alarm.
• The cost for needlessly activated (false) fire alarms is $300. Costs for false alarms that cannot be attributed to a specific individual(s) will be assessed to the residents of the floor or area where the alarm was registered.
• Fire extinguishers are provided in all residence areas for emergency use. Anyone found discharging a fire extinguisher for other reasons will face disciplinary action and will be held responsible for the costs related to damage of property, clean up and recharging the affected fire extinguisher(s). Should the fire alarm also be activated, those responsible will be assessed $300 as noted above.
• Room, apartment and townhouse occupancy is limited for safety reasons.
• Residence Hall Rooms: two guests per resident.
• Apartments and Townhouses: 20 people including residents.
• Students may not be on the roof or a ledge of any building at any time.
• Do not remove windows or screens for any reason. The student and/or his/her roommates will be held responsible for any damage to screens and windows as a result of tampering or breakage. Do not sit on windowsills, or lean from, drop or throw items out of windows. Entering or exiting any residence building through a window is not allowed.

Pets
To keep conditions healthy and sanitary, pets, with the exception of fish, are not permitted in or around residence areas and may be impounded without notice. If a student is found keeping a pet on campus, he/she will be responsible for charges for cleaning/repair of his/her residence (e.g., furniture/carpet cleaning).

Fish will be permitted with the following specifications:

• One tank will be allowed per living unit.
• Tanks will not exceed 20 gallons.
• Residents will be held accountable for any damage incurred as a result of the aquarium.
• Owners are responsible for care and maintenance over vacations and breaks.