Policies, Rules, and Regulations
All residents are expected to be familiar with and abide by the University of Iowa Policies and
Regulations Affecting Students, the Standards of Student Behavior in the Residence Halls, this
Residence Hall Guidebook, and the terms and conditions of the residence halls contract. Violations
of these rules are handled through the disciplinary procedures of the residence halls and/or
through the University.
University Housing & Dining policies may be amended at any time by the authority of the
director of the department. Amendments are effective upon approval by the vice president for
student life or dean of students and once the University Housing & Dining has made a reasonable
attempt to notify residents of the change.
Individuals who pose a clear and present danger to other residents are not eligible to live in
University housing. Registered Sex Offenders represent a clear and present danger and are not
eligible for University housing.
All residence hall room assignments and room transfers are made without regard to a
student's race, religion, sexual orientation, or nationality. Students of the opposite gender may not
occupy the same room.
Violence, Harassment, and Human Rights
The conduct regulations in the Residence Hall Guidebook specifically prohibit harassment, verbal abuse, physical abuse, and threats of physical abuse in the Residence Halls. Violence and harassment is not tolerated. When a case is reported and documented, severe sanctions will be imposed, including the possibility of Housing eviction and University suspension.
For more information about the scope of prohibited activity and the complaint process, please refer to the Policy on Violence and the University's Policy on Sexual Misconduct Involving Students, including Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. These policies are found online in the Policies and Regulations Affecting Students, 2011-12 at http://dos.uiowa.edu/policies/. Policies which protect students from sexual harassment in the classroom and elsewhere on campus are posted on this
same website.
Residents with questions about the Sexual Misconduct Policy are urged to contact the Sexual
Misconduct Response Coordinator at (319) 335-6200. For information about the Committee on
Human Rights, contact the Human Rights Committee Chairperson or the Office of the Vice
President for Student Life.
Residence hall staff members are mandatory reporters for violence and harassment. Whenever a resident assistant or hall coordinator receives information about conduct in violation of the Violence Policy or the Sexual Misconduct Policy, the staff member will forward the information to the Dean of Students and to the Sexual Misconduct Response Coordinator for review.
Standards of Student Behavior in the Halls
Living in residence halls is a community living experience where all members have certain rights and responsibilities.
Any resident who commits, incites, or aids others in committing any acts of misconduct shall
be subject to disciplinary action by University Housing & Dining and/or the University. This applies
to any resident regarding his/her own actions as well as student or non-student guests. Nonresident
students are subject to disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Dean of Students for
violating the rules listed below and for violating the Code of Student Life. Non-student guests found
violating resident hall policies may be banned from the residence halls or from campus.
- Unauthorized occupation or use of, or unauthorized entry into, any residence hall facility or
student room.
- Interference with the right of access to residence hall facilities or with any contractual
right of any person in residence halls.
- Individual or group activities within any area of the residence halls that causes a disturbance,
including hallway sports, inappropriate behavior, or behavior that threatens the rights and
safety of other persons and/or University property.
- Harassment, verbal or physical abuse, or the threat of physical abuse, including selfdestructive behavior, in the residence halls or at any University Housing & Dining authorized function or event, or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
- Failure to respond to a summons (verbal and/or written) from a residence hall staff member (including requests to meet to discuss alleged policy violations) or other University official and/or failure to follow directions from a UI staff member acting in the performance of his or her duties.
- Obstruction or disruption of disciplinary procedures, University Housing & Dining administrative procedures, or any other University Housing authorized function or event.
- Tampering with or the misuse of fire alarms (including sounding a false fire alarm), fire
extinguishers, fire hoses, sprinkler heads, or any fire equipment or limiting egress from the
buildings by tampering with exit signs and doors.
- Unlawful manufacture, distribution, sale, use, or possession of illegal, addictive, dangerous, or
controlled substances (including alcohol) on residence hall property. Empty alcohol containers
and drug paraphernalia are prohibited.
- Theft, vandalism, misuse, or misappropriation of University property or private property, or
possession of stolen goods, including the misuse of surveillance cameras.
- Possession or use of an item prohibited by the guns and weapons policy on page 16.
- Possession or use of an item prohibited by the explosive and combustible policy on page 12.
- Misrepresentation of identity or misuse of any identification card in the residence halls or
failure to show appropriate identification upon request by a residence hall or University staff
member.
- Misuse of room or building keys/proximity cards.
- Failure to follow emergency procedures (fire, tornado, etc.).
- Violation of quiet hours and/or courtesy hours as determined by residence hall units/floors
as approved by University Housing & Dining.
- Setting a fire or the possession or use of candles or any type of open-flame (including
incense) or open-filament device.
- Violations of the terms and conditions in the residence hall contract or policies and
procedures prescribed in the Residence Hall Guidebook.
- Conviction of any federal, state, or local crime committed on campus.
- Violation of a published University campus policy or a University Housing & Dining roommate contract.
Published University policies include, for example, the Policy on Violence, the University Policy
on Human Rights, and the Sexual Misconduct Policy Involving Students, Including Sexual
Assault and Sexual Harassment.
- Violation of the Resnet policy as described on page 36-39 and 36-37.
- Engaging in self-destructive behavior as described on page 33.
In addition to sanctions imposed under these rules, persons living in the residence halls are
subject to prosecution in civil or criminal court for their behavior.
Violations Warranting Eviction
The following violations are considered significant violations of community standards and would
normally result in a students' permanent suspension from the residence halls, regardless of
previous disciplinary history. These examples are not intended to be a complete list; residents
may be subject to eviction in other serious circumstances (see pages 34-36):
- Possession/consumption of drugs.
- Possession of a large amount of alcohol.
- Physical assault (including sexual assault).
- Possession of firearms.
- Intentionally setting a fire, falsely pulling a fire alarm or causing a fire alarm to occur.
Alcohol Policy
The University of Iowa Residence Halls are considered substance-free environments (page 27).
All students and guests, regardless of age, are not permitted to consume or possess alcoholic
beverages in residence halls. Any alcohol found will be destroyed and disciplinary sanctions,
including fines ranging from $200 - $700, imposed. Persons found in a room where alcohol is
present and/or being consumed are subject to disciplinary action and fine whether or not they were
drinking.
The presence of full or empty alcoholic beverage containers (bottles, cans, and cases) is
prohibited. This includes containers used as decoration. Severe sanctions, including the possibility
of immediate suspension from the residence halls, are imposed upon residents who provide alcohol
to others, host gatherings in their rooms where alcohol is served, or possess large quantities of
alcoholic beverages, even if there are no prior sanctions on record. In addition, these alcohol
violations may be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for disciplinary action, including
possible suspension from the University.
Students who violate University Housing & Dining policies and procedures while under the influence of
alcohol and/or drugs will be subject to disciplinary action on the basis of their offenses. Students
who are intoxicated in the residence halls may be subject to arrest. Residents who violate the
alcohol policy will be subject to a monetary fine.
Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests and persons in the company of their
guests. If their guests violated the alcohol policy, residents will be sanctioned for the conduct of
their guests and persons in the company of their guests.
Drug Policy
(Marijuana and/or Controlled Substances)
Illegal, addictive, dangerous, or controlled substances are not allowed on residence hall
property. Possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, use, manufacture, distribution, or sale of
illegal drugs is prohibited. Furthermore, any use of illegal drugs is considered by the University to
be self-destructive behavior. Persons found in a room where drugs are being used or present are
subject to disciplinary action whether or not they were engaging in the behavior.
In most cases, University of Iowa Police officers will be called to the scene if there is a
suspicion of drug use in the residence halls. All residents assigned to a particular room are subject
to sanctions for violating the drug policy if illegal drugs are found in the room. If your roommate is
involved in illegal activity, you are advised to call the University of Iowa Police and contact your
area/hall coordinator.
A resident found guilty of violating the drug policy will ordinarily be suspended from the halls
and will be required to complete a substance abuse program at Health Iowa. Residents who violate
the drug policy and are allowed to remain in halls will be subject to a fine of $300 - $700.
Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests and persons in the company of their
guests. If their guests violate policy, residents will be sanctioned for the conduct of their guests.
Students who violate University Housing & Dining policies and procedures while under the influence of
drugs will be subject to disciplinary action on the basis of their offenses.
A comprehensive list of applicable state and federal drug laws, legal sanctions, and health risks
of illegal drugs and alcohol are contained in the Policy Regarding the Use of Illegal Drugs and
Alcohol section of the Policies and Regulations Affecting Students which is distributed via e-mail to
all University of Iowa students each fall semester.
Gambling Policy
Residence hall student government associations and floor government boards may not
organize games of skill or chance where money changes hands. Hall government associations or
floor government boards organizing pools, drawings, or raffles can only do so when money is not
involved. All fundraisers must be approved by the Office of Residence Life programs staff.
The practice of illegal gambling among residents has a disruptive effect upon the residence hall
environment, and residents are expected to observe state laws governing games of skill or chance
are subject to discipline under the residence hall disciplinary policy. The Code of Iowa (Section
99B) regulates games between individuals for cash or credit, betting pools, raffles, and electrical
amusement devices, and strictly prohibits bookmaking.
In the event a resident is found to be violating state gambling laws in the residence halls,
criminal charges may be filed against the resident by the appropriate law enforcement agency, as
well as disciplinary action taken under the residence hall disciplinary procedure or the University of
Iowa Code of Student Life. In addition, residents who violate other conduct regulations (theft or
assault, for example) as a result of engaging in games of skill or chance will be subject to
disciplinary action on the basis of their offenses. Residents of legal gambling age are eligible to
participate in games of skill or chance conducted at licensed gaming locations off-campus.
ResNet Acceptable Use Policy
As a
student in theResidence Hall Network (ResNet), you will be connected to the campus
network and the global Internet. This connection is a privilege, not a right. The University expects
ethical and responsible behavior in the use of this network. That is, you are expected to be a good
Internet citizen. Don't participate in any illegal or disruptive activity that will negatively impact the
other users of the network.
Your use of all campus information technology resources, including this network, is subject to
The University of Iowa Policy on Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources, as well as to
all other applicable University policies and state and federal laws. In addition, the following
standards are in effect. This list is meant to be illustrative, not exhaustive.
-
Student is responsible for all activity originating from this connection. Student must take
reasonable precautions to prevent unauthorized use by others of this connection, and his/her
accounts, programs, or data.
-
Student should not engage in activities that
consume excessive amounts of network bandwidth.
-
Student must not modify or extend residence hall network services and wiring. This applies to
all network wiring, hardware, and in-room jacks. The only device you can connect is a personal
computer. You may not connect servers of any type, hubs, or network printers.
-
Residence hall connections are provided for individual use only. Student may not create
accounts on his/her computing system that provide campus network access for anyone else.
-
Residence hall connections are for University-related activities only. Student may not conduct
a commercial business via the residence hall connection.
-
Student may not run sniffers or any other software or hardware designed to intercept packets
or to disrupt the security or operation of the campus network.
-
Student may not participate in illegal activities such as software piracy-either the distribution
of copyrighted software or illegal attainment of software or other copyrighted materials-from
the residence hall connection.
-
Student may not host chat lines from computers
connected to this network.
At its discretion, the University may use its capability to examine network resources for
violations of this policy. Sanctions for violation of this policy may result in disconnection from the
campus network, other disciplinary action, or referral to external authorities.
Self-Destructive Behavior Policy
The University has a clear and distinct interest in maintaining a safe and sound educational
environment in the residence halls, where most first-year students experience for the first time life
on their own. A residential setting designated to foster student interaction and interdependence can
become disrupted by self-destructive behavior. Among the most disruptive forms of misconduct are
intentional attempts to injure oneself seriously, threats to do the same, and reckless behavior that
puts oneself or others in physical danger. Students who become incapacitated as a result of their
own actions and students who deliberately injure themselves are subject to University actions.
In light of the impact of self-destructive behavior upon the residential community, affected
individuals are encouraged to utilize counseling resources provided to students free of charge.
Residents interested in learning more about referral resources available on campus are welcome to
call University Counseling Services ((319) 335-7294), which keeps all inquires confidential.
Residents who engage in self-destructive behavior must accept responsibility for their actions
and are subject to disciplinary sanctions under residence hall disciplinary policy and the University
of Iowa Code of Student Life on the basis of their offense. In the event a resident with a recognized
mental disorder engages in self-destructive behavior, the University will take into consideration
before determining a response the resident's medical diagnosis, the gravity of the injury, the
impact of the behavior upon fellow residents, the appropriateness of reasonable accommodations,
and other pertinent factors. When a severe act of self-destructive behavior or an apparent threat of
serious harm occurs, the University reserves the right to notify the resident's parent, guardian, or
appropriate relative.
Smoking Policy
Under the Smoke-Free Air Act, smoking is banned on the entire University of Iowa campus
(first initiated on July 1, 2008). The use of smoking or smokeless tobacco products is prohibited in
residence hall student rooms and in public areas. Public areas include hallways, stairways,
elevators, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, etc. Students over 18 years of age may possess and are
allowed to store tobacco and legal smoking products but may not use them in the halls or on
campus.
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