Community Living Standards

There are four Community Living Standards that guide both our daily interactions with students and the formal Housing & Residence Life conduct system. The four standards are broken down into specific residential communities policies that residents are expected to abide by. These standards were developed to help provide a safe and secure community. Violations that compromise the success, safety, or security of residents may result in appropriate disciplinary sanctions, including up to contract termination and are considered violations of the Tulane Student Code of Conduct.

Residential Communities Policies

Residents are responsible for and/or prohibited from the following things:

1. Intellectual Environment

   You are responsible for creating an environment that promotes the academic mission of the university. This includes upholding the noise and visitation policies in the residential communities, and being held responsible for your visitors and guests' behavior.
   
   
   • Business: Running a business from your residential communities is prohibited.
   • Cohabitation or continual residing of two or more students who are not roommates is prohibited.Residents must notify their roommates at least 24 hours in advance of an overnight guest of the same sex.An overnight guest cannot stay more than 72 hours.
   • Gambling and sponsoring raffles or pools in or adjacent to residential communities is prohibited.
   • Guests: Residents may only host a maximum of 2 guests at any given time. Residents are also responsible for the behavior of guests or visitors and must escort their guests at all times.
   • Hall Sports: Playing of sports games in hallways or balconies, including but not limited to: basketball, bicycle riding, Frisbee, skate boarding, football throwing, running, Nerf activities, squirt gun/water fights is prohibited.
   • Instruments and/or Speakers: Use of amplified instruments in residential communities' rooms is prohibited. Placement of sound equipment or speakers in windows and common areas of the residential communities without the express permission of HRL professional staff is prohibited.
   • Loitering is not allowed in front of any residential communities' entrance or exit and can pose as a fire/safety hazard.
   • Noise: Quiet hours are from 9pm-8am Sunday through Thursday and 11pm-9am Friday and Saturday.24 hour quiet hours go into effect during final exam periods. Creating excessive noise which is disruptive to other students both inside and outside of residential communities is prohibited. Noise may be deemed disruptive if it can be heard through a closed door and/or two doors down.
   • Visitation: Residents are responsible for upholding and abiding by the visitation policy and hours in all residential communities.
     
     

2. Facility Issues

   You are responsible for promoting a clean and well-maintained living environment. It is expected that students will not damage or vandalize university property or remove property from its designated location in the residential communities. You are responsible for promoting and maintaining a safe and secure environment in the residential communities. It is expected that you will not prop open doors and you will adhere to fire safety guidelines.
   
   
   • Blocking Egress: Balconies, hallways, and stairwells must have a clear passage at all times.Hanging of beads, tapestries, banners, flags, sheets, or other items in a manner that blocks egress from the inside of a residential communities room is prohibited.
   • Damage: Damage or vandalism to university owned furniture or property is prohibited. Community damage will be shared among members of that specific community.
   • Elevators: Tampering with or misuse of University elevators. This includes, but is not limited to, over-crowding is prohibited.
   • Evacuation Procedures: In the event of a fire alarm or fire drill, all residents must evacuate the building, completely and immediately. Residents must remain outside until the "all clear" signal has been given by University Police or New Orleans Fire Department. Interference with or non-compliance with emergency evacuation procedures in a residential communities is prohibited.
   • Excessive Lockouts: Repeated lockouts due to not reporting a lost key or choosing not to carry key on self is prohibited. Students who are locked out of their room should go to their area service desk to check out a loaner key or receive a temporary access code/card and should return loaner keys and cards within 24 hours. Students will be assessed a $100 charge for lost keys or a $30 charge for lost access cards or failure to return loaner keys or cards within 24 hours. Students who require the use of a loaner key or a temporary key access code/card or need entrance into the building will have to complete an Emergency Unlock Form. All students must be possession of their room key and Tulane ID at all times. The first two lockouts are free of charge, however, any more than that will result in a charge to the student's Accounts Receivable. The charges are as follows: 3^rd Lockout is $20, 4^th Lockout is $40 and 5^th or more lockout is $50. After a student has reached their 4^th lockout they will be in violation of the Community Living Standards.
   • False Fire Alarms: Starting a fire, pulling a fire alarm without due cause, tampering with smoke detectors, falsely reporting a fire emergency to police or fire department, University administrators, and the unauthorized use or damage done to any emergency or safety equipment, are all prohibited. These are considered serious violations because of the risk they pose to the residential community's community. Interference with or non-adherence to emergency evacuation procedures in a residential communities is prohibited.
   • Fire Safety Equipment: Tampering with pull stations, smoke or heat detectors, fire extinguishers, sprinkler heads, or other life safety equipment is prohibited.
   • Furniture: Removal of residential communities' furniture from its original location is prohibited.
   • Hanging from windows and/or climbing: Hanging outside of or climbing from windows or balconies is prohibited.
   • Hanging Items: Hanging items such as flags, banners, or signs out of or obstructing residential communities' windows is prohibited.
   • Illegal use of emergency exits: Emergency exits are to be used during emergency evacuations. Any misuse of emergency exits is prohibited.
   • Installations: Installation of air conditioners, ceiling fans, wall shelves, hanging lamps, or other non-approved items in residential communities' rooms are prohibited.
   • Key Use and Access: Delivering, surrendering, or otherwise relinquishing possession of room or outside keys to an individual, or permitting the keys to be duplicated or modified is prohibited. Students are responsible for keys/access cards and should not lend or permit others to use their keys or Tulane ID at any time. Students should immediately report lost or damaged keys/access cards according to Housing procedures.
   • Occupancy Regulations: More than three times the designed occupancy in a residential community's room is prohibited.
   • Painting Rooms: Painting of residential communities rooms without prior approval from HRL is prohibited.
   • Pets: Possession of pet, except for freshwater fish (not exceed 10 gallons) and service animals for persons with a disability, is prohibited.
   • Postings: Posting materials on bulletin boards or other common spaces, with the exception of the area bulletin board, without approval is prohibited. University-sponsored and University-affiliated groups may submit materials directly to HRL. Groups and individuals are not permitted to post materials directly to residential community bulletin boards; instead, only HRL staff is authorized to post materials. Materials from non-affiliated groups are not allowed to be posted in the residential communities. Announcements (meetings, birthdays, etc.) using any media (chalk, paint, etc.) on residential communities property are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: walls and sidewalks. Individuals will be charged accordingly for any damages/clean-up costs incurred as a result of improper posting. Violators will be documented by HRL and posting privileges may be revoked.
   • Posting materials: Posting materials on the outside of room doors or in hallway with the intent to harm or incite others is prohibited.
   • Prohibited items and Fire Hazards: Use of non-approved appliances in residential communities’ rooms is prohibited. These items include, but are not limited to: any open flame source or flammable liquid, candles, incense, halogen lamps, octopus lamps, kerosene lamps, dartboards, open-coil heaters and cooking elements, waterbeds, hookahs, satellite dishes, grills (indoor and outdoor), hot plate, deep fat fryer, electric griddle, toaster oven, non-university microwaves and refrigerators, non-university installed A/C units, ceiling fans, any item described in the weapons section of the Student Code of Conduct, or pets (non-poisonous fish are acceptable if not more than one tank in a residents room with a maximum tank size of 10 gallons).  Additionally, posting flammable materials covering more than one third of total surface of the outside of residential communities’ room doors is prohibited.  Holiday decorations must not hang from or touch any light fixtures or fire safety equipment. Only three strands of lights can be linked together per electrical outlet, and live holiday trees are not permitted. Decorations should not block doorways or windows. Any organic materials used for holiday decorations (ex. pumpkins/jack-o-lanterns) must be disposed of in a timely manner to avoid damage due to decay.
   • Smoking: Smoking in a non-designated area in or adjacent to residential communities is prohibited.
   • Solicitation: Solicitation is prohibited within the residential communities lobbies, common areas, or door-to-door. Distributing printed materials in the residential communities is prohibited. Items must be approved by the Administrative Operations Manager of HRL. Area bulletin boards are provided in most communities for items to be posted. Items posted are subject to be taken down at the Area Director's discretion. If one is interested in posting throughout the building, you must receive written approval from the Administrative Operations Manager of HRL. If an area bulletin board is not available in your community, please speak with the Area Director of that area for suggestions on where you are allowed to post.
   • Storing Vehicles: Parking or storing a bike, motorcycle, or scooter in an unauthorized area, including but not limited: to stairwells, hallways, lounges, balconies, trees, plants, public seating fixtures, sign posts, electrical fixtures, railings is prohibited. All bicycles must be registered with the Tulane Police Department (TUPD) and properly display a valid Tulane bicycle registration sticker. Registration is required by the University. Unregistered bicycles will be removed by TUPD and may be returned to student upon registration.
   • Theft: Theft of university owned furniture or property is prohibited.
   • Throwing Objects: Throwing or shooting objects from windows or balconies is prohibited.
   • Trash: Failure to remove trash and/or recycling to designated trash container is prohibited.
   • Trespassing: Attempting to gain access or trespassing in a residential community when closed for break periods is prohibited.
   • Unauthorized Room Change: Moving to a residential community room without the written approval from an HRL administrator is prohibited.
   • Window Screens: Intentionally removing screens from windows is prohibited.
     
     

3. Civility

   You are responsible for respecting the rights of all others in the residential communities' and to act with civility at all times. Fighting, threats, and intimidation of any person for any reason will not be tolerated. You are responsible for developing and maintaining an atmosphere that promotes social awareness, social appreciation and appreciation and support of those who may be different from you (it is an expectation that you actively participate in conflict resolution).
   
   
   • Discriminatory or Inflammatory Language: Residents are to refrain from using discriminatory or inflammatory language, including, but not limited to: online, telephone, verbal, non-verbal, or written communications with the intent to harm or incite.
   • Failure to Comply: Residents must comply with any lawful order or reasonable request of a clearly identifiable University official acting in the performance of his or her duties in the enforcement of university policy. Residents must present their Splash Card upon request of a University official. These requests are expected to be honored.
   • Fireworks and Weapons: Residents are not permitted to possess or use any weapon, firearm, fireworks, or other explosives.
   • Furnishing False Information: Residents must disclose, to the best of their knowledge, full and truthful information to University officials. Residents shall not withhold or present false information with the intent to deceive, including but not limited to: names, dates and times, location or number of residents or guests, location, consumption, or possession of illegal, prohibited, or controlled substances, Splash Cards or numbers, telephone numbers, addresses, emergency contacts, or allergies to medicine.
   • Inciting or participating in a fight: Residents shall not incite or participate in a physical fight, regardless of reason. Fighting is defined as, but not limited to: inciting a fight through physical, online, sexual, telephone, verbal, non-verbal, or written communications, or fighting through hitting, striking, slapping, kicking, throwing or shooting an object, or contacting or attempting to contact any other person with the intent to harm.
   • Intimidation, Harassment, Bullying, and Threats of violence: Residents, students, HRL staff, and any other person are to be free from all forms of intimidation, harassment, and threats of violence, including, but not limited to: physical, online, sexual, telephone, verbal, non-verbal, and written communications.
   • Joint Responsibility: Students are responsible for the actions of people in their residence halls room. If a student is present in their own or any other residence hall room or area where university policies are being violated, they are subject to the same disciplinary action as the resident of that room. In some situations, this may also include violations that occur within an adjoining room in a suite, regardless of whether or not the student is present in the room in which the violations occur.
   • Sexual Conduct: Residents are to be free from sexual misconduct, intimidation, harassment, assault, or invasion.
   • Stalking: Residents shall not stalk any other person physically, online, by telephone, verbally, non-verbally, in written communications, or any other manner. Stalking is defined as, but not limited to: the intentional, unwanted, repeated contact or attention by the stalker to the victim. Residents must honor other's requests to stop undesired contact.
   • Theft: Residents shall not take or possess another's property without permission of owner. This includes, but is not limited to: property of a roommate, resident, any other individual, company, or Tulane University. Students are not permitted to remove property from community spaces or other residents' rooms.
   • Violation of University Policies and Government Laws: Residents must follow all university policies, city, parish ordinances, and state and federal laws.
     
     

4. Substances

   You are responsible for upholding federal, state, and local laws dealing with alcohol, tobacco (smoking is not permitted in any residential communities) and other drugs. Alcohol is not permitted for students less than 21 years of age, and illegal drugs are not permitted by anyone within the on campus communities.
   
   Alcohol is not allowed in any room in which the residents are under 21 years of age. Should one of the residents in a housing assignment be over 21, alcohol is allowed, but not made available in any shared space.
   
   
   • Alcohol Distribution: Sale or distribution of alcohol by a person over 21 years of age to a person under the age of 21 is prohibited. Sale of alcoholic beverages on campus, including indirect sales is prohibited.
   • Alcohol in Common Areas: Possession or consumption of alcohol in common area of residential communities is not allowed, including but not limited: to lounges, hallways, stairwells, balconies, laundry rooms, bathrooms, study areas, and courtyards.
   • Common Sources of Alcohol: Use of common sources of alcohol, including but not limited to kegs, party balls, and punch bowls are prohibited.
   • Drinking Games: Playing drinking games within residential communities is prohibited. The definition of drinking games includes but is not limited to: the consumption of shots of alcohol, liquor or alcoholic beverages, the practice of consuming shots equating to one's age, "beer pong", "century club", "dares" or any other activity involving the consumption of alcohol which involves duress or encouragement related to the consumption of alcohol.
   • Drugs: Possession, delivery, sale, use or manufacture of any illegal drugs or controlled substance is prohibited. This includes possession, delivery, sale, or use of prescription medication without a prescription or by distribution of medication to an individual other than the individual for whom the medication was prescribed.
   • Drug Paraphernalia: Possession of paraphernalia for intended or implied use of controlled substances or paraphernalia possessing illegal drug residue, including but not limited to devices and/or materials used to prepare, use, or cover up the use of drugs is prohibited.
   • Smoking Tobacco: in a non-designated area in or adjacent to residential communities is prohibited.
   • Underage Usage of Alcohol: Purchase, possession, consumption, or disruptive behavior due to public intoxication, of alcohol by a person under the age of 21 is prohibited.  No one over the age of 21 is allowed to have alcohol that is accessible to any person under the age of 21.

Download the Community Living Standards & Residence Hall Policies.

Download the Smoke-Free Campus Policy.

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