Skip to main content Student Manual The University of Chicago Menu University House System Discipline The University House System seeks to serve the educational objectives of the University by offering facilities which provide a setting in which individual education is furthered. The intent of the rules and regulations of the House System is to establish reasonable limits within which the greatest number of residents can work effectively and live pleasantly. These limits help to guarantee the basic rights of all residents to protection from behavior which creates excessive noise, endangers or disturbs other residents, or invites the intrusion of public authorities into the House System. The basic rights and responsibilities of residents of the House System include: 1. Each resident has the right to the use of his or her own room. Each resident has the right to visitors who abide by Guest Procedures and House System rules and regulations. Residents are responsible for the conduct of the guests they bring into the residence halls. A resident may not entertain a guest in a room over the objections of a roommate. Visitors may not take up occupancy in a room. 2. Each resident has the right to peace, quiet, and public order in the House sufficient to provide adequate conditions for study and sleep. Each resident has a responsibility to respect the possession of this right by fellow residents. Additionally, residents are responsible for working to constructively address violations of this right. 3. Each resident has a right to representation, if not actual participation, in the making of regulations by students in the House, subject to reasonable procedures for enactment and amendment. Implicit in this is the right to adequate enforcement of the House rules. Rules and Regulations 1. Noise 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 individuality of all residents and their rights to make personal choices are respected, so long as those choices do not interfere with 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 others. A list of specific acts that come under the rubric of dangerous activities could never be exhaustive; however the following is a partial list: a. Possessing or using fireworks, firearms, other explosives, or weapons; b. Setting off false fire alarms. Tampering with fire extinguishers or other fire safety equipment; c. Playing with fire in any matter, whether or not any damage or injury occurs to person or property; d. Tampering with elevators; e. Physically attacking or threatening physical attack of other residents or visitors to the Houses; f. Throwing objects from the windows of the residence halls. The size, weight, and shape of such objects—and their potential for harm—cannot be subject to exhaustive debate. The Directors in the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing will judge such cases. The rule is: no object may be thrown from the windows of the residence halls; g. Obstructing the use of any residence hall door by tampering with locks or otherwise preventing free access or egress. Residents who engage in any of the acts listed above will be subject to serious disciplinary action, including the likelihood of being removed from a House or from the House System. 1. Alcohol in the Residence Halls The State of Illinois prohibits the consumption or possession of alcohol by persons under the age of 21, and the supply of alcohol to any person under the age of 21. It is important that each resident of the University House System be aware of the state law with regard to the consumption, possession, and sale of alcoholic beverages. The use of alcoholic beverages is not permitted in the common areas of the College Houses. Common areas include lounges, corridors, stairwells, study rooms, recreation rooms, community kitchens, entry-ways, and similar spaces. The use of University funds to purchase alcohol for students under the age of 21 is prohibited. Members of the housing staff may not purchase for or serve alcohol to students under the age of 21. The University expects each resident of the House System to be responsible for his or her own conduct and the consequences of that conduct. 2. Illegal Drugs The possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs is not permitted in the University House System. Residents in violation of this rule may face serious disciplinary consequences, including the likelihood of removal from the House System. 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 in any portion of a building used in whole or in part as a student dormitory that is owned and operated or otherwise utilized by a public or private institution of higher education" (Illinois HB 4174). As such, smoking is forbidden in the residence halls, including student rooms, lounges, lobbies, corridors and courtyards. The City of Chicago Clean Indoor Air ordinance prohibits smoking within fifteen feet of the entrance to any building, including residence halls and dining commons. House System residents are obligated to comply with the law. Residents who violate the law will be addressed by resident staff and are subject 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 disciplinary action. It is expected that visitors will remain in the company of their hosts. Visitors do not have the privilege of using House or hall amenities such as computers, game rooms, or laundry equipment, unless engaged in a shared activity with a resident. 2. Restricted Areas Residents are not permitted to go on the roofs of the residence or dining halls, or to any other areas which are designated as "off limits." Violating this policy is grounds for disciplinary action. In addition, the minimum penalty for violating this rule will be a fine of $50. Residents may also be fined for tampering with the physical plant of the residence halls including removing screens, exiting from secured alarmed doors, or tampering with electrical or phone systems, etc. Residents may not enter any residence hall room to which they are not assigned, unless they are the invited guests of the person(s) assigned to that room. 1. Pets Residents may not keep pets in any of the residence halls. This prohibition is imposed for reasons of cleanliness, health problems, and noise. Exceptions are made for fish in a small aquarium. The only other pets permitted in the residence halls are those belonging to Resident Masters, Resident Heads, and the Directors of Undergraduate Student 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 in the residence halls, when space is available, under reasonable limitations that protect the rights of roommates and the interests of 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 Undergraduate Student Housing. This includes but is not limited to distribution of information, electioneering or campaigning, solicitation of funds, or sales of products or services by residents or non-residents. Activity related to dorm-sponsored events such as signing up for House trips or Master’s events, or House fundraisers are not prohibited if conducted by residents or housing staff. 5. Posting Posters and flyers for House and hall activities, as well as those approved for a Registered Student Organization (RSO) are allowed on residence hall bulletin boards. Each House has at least one bulletin board that is reserved for the resident staff of the House. Postings may not be placed inside stairwells, inside elevators, on elevator doors, or on student room doors unless approved by the residents of that room. Flyers and announcements may neither advertise nor refer to the availability of alcohol at a specified event. If a posting contains obscene language and/or pictures, or if a posting is deemed to be offensive to a particular group or individual, the posting may be removed. 6. Posting and Solicitation in Dining Halls Approval for public communications made in the House System dining halls including but not limited to handbills and flyers, banners, table tents, oral announcements and performances is made by the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing. Information about the approval process is available on the Housing and Dining Services website. Enforcement of House System Rules and Regulations It would be illusory to assume that all conflicts and disputes which are likely to arise in the House System will be easily resolved by mutual understanding and agreement. Initial responsibility for settling disputes rests with individual residents and the elected House Councils. Residents are expected to attempt to resolve problems whenever possible before turning to the housing staff. The Resident Heads and Assistant Resident Heads, as University officials living in the residence halls, will strive to protect the rights of all residents by advising and assisting individual residents and House Councils. When 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. c. Register a formal complaint with the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing. Disciplinary Procedures The goal of the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing and the housing staff is to settle problems at the lowest possible level, and to institute formal disciplinary action only when necessary. Official 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 on House System Probation, the student violates House System rules and regulations or engages in disruptive activity in the House System, the student is usually required to move within the House System or to leave the House System altogether. House System probation is treated as an internal, House System matter. Records of probation are kept only within the House and the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing. 3. Visiting Restriction: The directors may restrict a resident from visiting particular parts of the House System because of behavioral problems. Similarly, students living outside the House System may be restricted or "banned" from all or a part of the System for their failure to abide by House System rules and regulations. Students who violate a visiting restriction will be assessed a fine and may face further disciplinary action. 4. Moves within or Removal from the House System: A resident who engages in seriously disruptive or dangerous behavior, or who violates the terms of House System Probation will be required to move within the House System or to leave the House System altogether. The decision will be made by one of the directors of the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing, usually with the recommendation of the Resident Heads. A resident who is required to leave a House or the House System is normally forbidden to visit in that House or in any part of the House System for a specific period of time, and is normally prohibited from returning to that house or to the House System as a resident before the next academic year. When a resident is required to move within the House System or to leave the House System, the student’s area Dean of Students is notified in writing of the action. If the resident is required to leave the House System and is a first-year student in the College, the College residency requirement for first-year students is waived, and the parents of the student are notified of the action. 5. Area Discipline: The Director of the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing can recommend to the area Dean of Students in a particular academic area that a student from that academic area be brought before the College, division, or school disciplinary committee in that area. If the area Dean of Students accepts the Director's recommendation, the student will be required to appear before such a disciplinary committee. Such a committee has the power to suspend or expel a student from the University. Review Process Required Moves within the House System A student who is required to move within the House System for 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 designee) and the student are given the opportunity to present their cases and to rebut the other's presentation. A majority of three votes in the Committee is required to sustain, overturn, or modify the original decision. The decision of the Review Committee is final and binding on both the student and the University House System. 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 convened as soon as possible after the student files for a review. (In the College, the review will be conducted by one faculty member of the Committee on College Discipline, a student member of the Committee on College Discipline, a Resident Head from the Housing staff and a representative from the Dean of Student's office) In conducting a review, the Area Disciplinary Committee will follow the procedures outlined in this manual (https://studentmanual.sites.uchicago.edu/page/area-disciplinary-system s) for a broad review. The Committee will not conduct a rehearing of the case, probably will confine itself to the written record, and will consider as grounds for review (1) that prescribed procedures were not 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). 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