Community Standards & Residential Regulations
As
a residential institution, Wesleyan University believes that for each student
the experience of living with other students has an educational importance that
should parallel and enhance their academic and personal development. For
students to truly learn from this experience, they must respect the rights of
other members of the community in which they live. In order to ensure the
safety, security and maintenance of the residential units, the offices of
Residential Life, Physical Plant, and Public Safety have outlined the following
criteria for Community Standards and Regulations. These Community Standards are
part of your Housing Contract.
Parking
Residents and their guests are expected to observe all Middletown motor vehicle
and traffic ordinances. Any violation is subject to ticketing and/or towing by
the Middletown Police Department and/or Public Safety at the owner’s expense.
Residence hall students should park in designated student lots. Woodframe house
residents and their guests may park in the driveway of their house and on the
street when and where it is allowed. Parking is never allowed on yards or in
front of another driveway or alongside yellow or red curbs. Parking is
restricted on all streets during snowstorms, and is subject to fines. A full
description of all policies regarding on campus vehicles can be found at
http://www.wesleyan.edu/publicsafety.
Property
It is important for you and your guests to respect the property of your
neighbors. Acts of theft, vandalism, littering, and trespassing undermine
community relations and a common sense of well-being. Any instances of theft,
vandalism, or trespassing should be reported to Public Safety immediately.
Doors
Doors within the
residential units play a primary role in safety by preventing access from
intruders and by enhancing the building’s fire control capabilities. Propping
open corridor stairway fire doors, smoke doors, or exterior doors, opening a
secured outside door of a residential unit to allow access to an unknown
non-resident, forcing open a secured door, and tampering with door locks are
prohibited activities. Room doors must be closed and locked when the room is
unoccupied or when occupants are sleeping. Residents should not leave their
keys in their room doors at anytime.
Windows
Exiting or entering
through windows is prohibited. Window screens are considered permanent fixtures
and should not be removed for any reason other than an emergency. At no time
should anything be hung, mounted, or placed on the outside of a window. Window
locks, as well as window stops (where provided) should be used whenever
possible.
Student Handbook
University policies related to items that have been identified as possible fire
and/or safety hazards apply equally to all University housing, including
wood-frame houses. Please refer to the Student Handbook or your housing
contract for a complete listing of restricted items.
Noise
Everyone at Wesleyan has a different schedule for working, sleeping, and
socializing. All residents should be mindful of their neighbors’ schedules and
of Middletown’s ordinances with regard to noise, which require reduced levels
after sundown every day. Noise should be kept within reasonable levels at all
times, and special care should be taken to contain noise within your room,
apartment or house during evening and night hours. Residents should make an
effort to communicate with floor mates or neighbors about upcoming events.
Residents who repeatedly disturb floor mates or neighbors with excessive noise
will be charged under the provisions of the Code of Non-Academic Conduct that
states “the persistent interruption of a reasonable level of peace and quiet is
also a violation.” Repeated offenses of any of the above community standards
will result in more serious consequences, including an administratively
initiated move to another residential unit.
Quiet
Hours
One of the goals of
Residential Life is to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to study and
rest. In order to meet this goal, all residents must understand that the right
of residents to study and sleep takes precedence over the right to make noise
that disturbs others. At the beginning of the fall semester, the members of
each residential unit will establish “Quite Hours” for their community. These
hours cannot supersede Community Standards for Woodframe Houses or local
municipal ordinances. When “Quiet Hours” are in effect, all noise should be
kept at a minimal level and not be heard outside the room or unit. At all other
times, students are expected to observe “Courtesy Hours” and be mindful to
ensure that noise levels do not interfere with or negatively impact other
students or the community. If another person asks you to control the noise
level in and around your residence, you are expected to comply with the request.
-
Beginning at 12:00am on the second day of reading period through the last
day of finals, twenty-four hour “Quiet Hours” are in effect in all residence
halls.
-
Student in woodframe houses and program houses are expected to be mindful and
courteous of all house members during reading week and finals week. Any
social event that has the potential to be disruptive to the community at
large will not be approved. Specifically, noise must be contained to the
building.
Social Events
The University supports students having social gatherings in their residence as
long as these gatherings do not create a disturbance to other members of our
community. Students must take an active role in ensuring that the event does
not disturb Wesleyan and community members. Students hosting a party in their
apartment or house should always consult with floor mates and neighbors when
planning the event. Any social gathering must comply with the University social
event policy. When residents host a gathering, they will be held accountable
for the actions of their guests. If guest activity causes any harm to persons or
property, both the responsible person(s) and the hosts may be held financially
responsible.
Unless otherwise specified in the Dean of Student Services social registration
materials, a house event cannot exceed 49 people. However no party or social
gathering should host more people than can be contained comfortably within the
livable areas (no basements or attics) of the house, or apartment. Guests may be
outside but should stay in the yard of the host house. Residents should remember
that noise from outside gatherings travels freely and can be especially
disturbing to people nearby. Hosts are expected to be cognizant of noise being
generated from their event, and act appropriately in accordance with community
standards and expectations.. Upon receiving a noise complaint, Public Safety
will respond to the gathering and inform the hosts of the problem. If residents
and/or guests fail to respond appropriately to a complaint about excessive noise
from a gathering and a second visit is made by Public Safety, the event will be
shut down and the hosts will be referred to the Student Judicial Board.
Residents should not wait for Public Safety to notify them of a problem. All
students, and particularly students hosting an event, should pay close attention
to the noise and impact the party is having on the surrounding community. Hosts
should attend immediately to noise concerns and other violations of the Code of
Non-Academic Conduct. Charges may be presented to the appropriate judicial board
about disturbances from gatherings under the provisions noted in the previous
section on “Noise.” Judicial charges related to other types of violations of the
Code of Non-Academic Conduct, such as alcohol violations or vandalism resulting
from gatherings, may be brought forward following a single visit from Public
Safety.
Repeated offenses of any of the above community standards may
result in more serious consequences,
including an administratively initiated move to another residential unit.
Woodframe Houses
Living
in a house is very different from living in a residence hall, program house, or
apartment - with increased independence comes increased responsibilities. A
wood frame house is an old house that has been lived in by students for many
years. These are not new facilities and sometimes show their age. Houses vary
in size and amenities. Bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas vary in size. The
house will be a great place to live if you treat it like a home that needs
constant care. The appearance of your home is a reflection on you, your
housemates, and the Wesleyan community. You will be responsible for keeping the
house clean, taking out your own garbage and recyclables, turning on/off your
own heat, etc. Please remember the following:
§
All trash must be
placed in sealed plastic bags and then placed in covered trashcans.
§
Recyclable items
should be placed in the appropriate containers.
§
Trash and
recycling should be placed at the curb on the designated pick-up day. Trash cans
and recycling containers must be brought back to the house following pick-up.
Trash receptacles should not remain at the curb more than 12 hours prior to or
following trash removal.
§
Trash receptacles
should not be visible to a neighbor or from a sidewalk on days other than when a
pick-up is scheduled.
§
Debris should be
removed from the outer areas of the house and the yard kept in presentable
condition by the residents of the house. Failure to comply may result in fines
and/or disciplinary action.
§
The University
will provide snow removal and maintain the lawn.
§
Indoor furniture
is not permitted outside of houses or on lawns, decks, stoops, porches, etc.
§
Physical Plant
(x3400) should be notified immediately regarding any maintenance needs or
concerns.
§
Cleaning service
is not provided to wood frame houses. You are responsible for cleaning your
house. It is also expected that the house be left in a clean condition at the
end of the school year (refrigerator cleaned out, stove and oven cleaned,
bathtub/shower cleaned and all trash, furniture and personal effects removed.)
§
Laundry equipment
and hook ups for washers and dryers are not provided. Do not purchase or rent
laundry equipment expecting to use it in your residence.
§
Physical Plant
should be notified immediately regarding any maintenance needs or concerns. If
something breaks, gets damaged or is not working properly, or if you have any
concerns about the safety or security of your house, it is your responsibility
to call Physical Plant (X3400) during the day, or Public Safety (x3333) after
hours, as soon as possible to report the problem. A little problem addressed
quickly may prevent a bigger problem from occurring.
Quiet Houses
It is critical for
all students to realize that living in a wood-frame house is a privilege that
comes with significant responsibility. Students living in these houses become
part of a Middletown neighborhood, and must be sensitive to all of the student
and non-student residents living in these neighborhoods.
All
Wesleyan-owned student houses on Home Avenue and Lawn Avenue are designated as
quiet houses. Students living in designated quiet houses agree not to host parties or social events unless they are
small and the noise from such events will be contained within the house.
Further, students agree to not participate in activities that might negatively
impact their neighbors, and understand that they will be held responsible for
disruptive noise or activities caused by them or their guests. Any violation
will be immediately addressed by Residential Life and the Student Judicial
Board.
Smoking Policy
Wesleyan University
has a responsibility to its students and employees to provide a safe and
healthful environment. Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco
smoke, is a Class A carcinogen and has detrimental effects on health. Research
findings have established that environmental tobacco smoke triggers asthma
attacks and causes lung cancer, cardiovascular and lung diseases. Second hand
smoke contributes to increased absenteeism, institutional costs for medical
care, medical insurance, fire damage, and cleaning and maintenance costs.
In light of compelling research findings about the effects of
environmental tobacco smoke, the University strongly discourages students from
smoking in areas where non-smokers cannot avoid exposure to smoke.
In order to limit exposure to environmental smoke, the University prohibits
smoking in all residence halls, program houses, apartments, and Woodframe
houses, as well as within 25 feet of university residences.
Effective implementation of
this policy depends upon the respect and cooperation of all members of the
Wesleyan University community. Students are encouraged to discuss problem
situations regarding smoking in residential areas and outdoor areas with fellow
students. Complaints and disputes that are not resolved through discussion
should be brought to the attention of a Resident Advisor, House Manager, Head
Resident or Area Coordinator. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, the
Director of Residential Life should be consulted. Students who violate the
smoking policy will be fined, as well as charged with violating the Code of
Non-Academic Conduct.
The Office of Student Health
Services (x2470) provides assistance to students who wish to stop smoking.
WesWELL, the Office of Health Education (x2466), offers educational programs
about the effects of smoking. We encourage all students who smoke to take
advantage of these programs, in order to protect their own health and the health
of other members of the Wesleyan community.
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