It is impossible to set specific standards regarding levels of noise in a residence hall which will satisfy all residents. Individual levels of noise tolerance vary widely. The purpose of the House System is to offer conditions which permit reasonable order for study and sleep. At no time may a resident create excessive noise which will disturb other residents. After 11 p.m. on weeknights and 1 a.m. on weekends, residents must contain noise in their rooms and in the public areas of the Houses at levels which will not prevent other residents from studying or sleeping. Exceptions to these limits may occasionally be made on weekends for formal House events which have the prior approval of the House Council and the Resident Heads. a. Residents may not practice or play musical instruments, electronic or acoustic, in student rooms, but should use music practice rooms for those activities. b. Excessive noise is a problem not only for residents, but for people living in the buildings neighboring the residence halls. Residents must act to keep noise from unduly disturbing neighbors as well as other residents. 2. Personal Abuse The residence halls are intended to be communities where the -- the rights of others. Housing staff members have the responsibility to ensure that this and all policies of the House System are observed. In protection of these rights and responsibilities, residents may not engage in personal abuse, written or oral, directed against other residents, guests, or members of the housing staff. Any form of abusive, threatening, or harassing behavior will be considered grounds for serious disciplinary action by the housing staff. Residents must also respect the personal property and assigned space of other members of the House System. 3. Dangerous Acts Residents may not engage in activities which threaten the safety of -- 3. Private Parties in the Residence Halls Students are allowed to host private parties in their rooms in the residence halls with prior approval from the Resident Heads and in compliance with the House System Private Party Policy. Student hosts must assume full responsibility for the party and for the conduct of all guests at the party. Copies of the Private Party Policy are available from the Resident Heads. 4. Smoking The Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act provides that "smoking is prohibited -- to disciplinary action including oral warnings, formal written warnings (probation) and removal from the House or House System. 1. Visitor Procedures Most of the University House System residence halls are served by front desks at which residents' visitors must register before gaining access to the residence hall. Hosts must be present in the building to acknowledge either in person or by phone that they are willing to receive the visitor. Visitors will not be permitted to enter unless the host is present. Visitors are required to be signed in to the visitors log by the front desk clerk upon entry to the hall. The clerk will note clearly the visitor's first and last names and the time and date of entry. Failure to follow visitor procedures may be cause for -- Housing who live in the House System year-round. 2. Restricted Dining Halls The residential dining halls at Bartlett, Pierce and South Campus, are open only to individuals who have a residential meal plan and to those guests who purchase individual meals. Students must abide by the policies and procedures specified on the House System website. 3. Overnight Guests House System guest procedures are based on the premise that residents of the House System ought to be able to have occasional personal guests -- the University community. Anyone who is not a regularly assigned resident of a room is considered a guest. Residents may not host guests overnight in their room without the consent of all assigned residents of the room. Guests may not remain for more than three nights in the student rooms without prior approval of the Housing staff. Guests who wish to reside in the residence halls for more than three days may be required to take other lodging within a hall, if available, and must register at the desk of that hall to receive these services. 4. Door-to-Door Solicitation Door-to-door solicitation in the residence halls is prohibited unless prior approval has been given by the Director of the Office of -- problems cannot be settled in this manner, the housing staff will enforce the rules and regulations of the House System and will impose disciplinary action as appropriate. On those occasions when members of the housing staff find it necessary to act in the role of University authority, residents are obliged to follow their directives. If a resident believes that a member of the housing staff is acting improperly, the resident should: a. Obey the instructions of the housing staff member. b. Inform the staff member that the resident believes the staff member is acting improperly. -- responses will be governed by the nature of the particular dispute or infraction. Initial action will begin at a higher level for serious offenses. House System disciplinary sanctions include: 1. An oral warning from the Assistant Resident Head or Resident Head: The student is told why a particular behavior is a problem and what must be done by the student to correct the problem. No records of oral warnings are kept outside of the House. 2. House System Probation: House System Probation is a formal, written warning that a student's behavior is unacceptable and must change. Probation is imposed because the behavioral problem is serious or because the student ignored a previous oral warning. House System Probation is usually imposed by a Resident Head, but may sometimes be initiated by the directors in the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing. Probation is normally imposed for a specific period of time, usually for the remainder of the academic year. If, after being placed -- disciplinary reasons may request a review of the decision of the directors of the University House System by the House System Disciplinary Review Committee. This Committee consists of three students drawn from lists of residents appointed by the Residence Hall Student Councils, and two Resident Heads drawn from a list appointed by the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing. A student who seeks a review of a disciplinary decision must, within 48 hours of the decision, submit a written request and any supporting material to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing. Upon request, the student may be granted an additional 48 hours to prepare this material. The Review Committee will be convened as soon as possible after the student files for the review. At the hearing, both the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing (or a -- Removal from the House System A student who is required by the directors of the University House System to leave the House System for disciplinary reasons may request a review of the decision by the student's Area Disciplinary Committee. A student who seeks a review must, within 48 hours of the decision, submit a written request and any supporting material to the appropriate area Dean of Students with a copy to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing. Upon request to the area Dean of Students, the student may be granted an additional 48 hours to prepare those materials. The appropriate Area Disciplinary Committee, to which will be added one Resident Head from the housing staff, will be -- followed, (2) that the penalty will have unforeseen consequences for the student that are harsher than intended, (3) that new information bears importantly in the student's favor. The decision of the Area Disciplinary Committee is final and binding on both the student and the University House System. Questions about these rules, regulations, and procedures should be directed to one of the directors in the University House System (housesystem@uchicago.edu, 773-702-7366). Search Search _______________