Policies and Procedures

Your choice to live within University housing brings with it exciting opportunities to meet new people and forge new friendships which enhance our experience at Richmond. At the same time, your choice to live in this environment requires each individual to accept certain responsibilities. The following policies and guidelines are designed to create and maintain a safe and comfortable living and learning environment for all at Richmond. These policies and guidelines are designed for the benefit of everyone within a diverse and multi-cultural student atmosphere.

We hope students respond positively to the guidelines presented in this manual. We believe that they are reasonable policies which will promote an enjoyable living environment for as broad a population as possible.

Quiet and Study Hours

‘Study Hours’ is the term used to describe the time when noise should be kept to a minimum and neighbours should be conscious of the fact that others may be trying to study along their corridor.

Study hours in University residences are between 8:00 pm and 12 midnight

‘Quiet Hours’ is the term used to describe the time when noise from within a student’s room, or noise from the corridor, will corridor will not be heard in student room.

Quiet Hours are from 12 midnight to 8:00 am

Noise occurs when people congregate in corridors and while people are talking on the telephone. It travels and echoes and the walls are quite thin. Please be aware of this.

As a general rule you should never make noise
that extends beyond your bedroom door.

Common rooms are available for students to socialise in a setting which does not interfere with other students who may be sleeping or studying.

Students living in satellite residences must also be conscientious of neighbours who live next door to your building. Some of these residences are located in quiet residential areas and disturbing noise from Richmond students reflects negatively on the University, and gives rise to University interest to intervene.

Security and Residence Life staff monitor Quiet Hours very closely and your co-operation is appreciated. It is expected that during daytime residence will be busy as people go about their business BUT YOU SHOULD STILL BE CONSCIOUS OF KEEPING NOISE TO A MINIMUM. Those students who repeatedly ignore these policies face disciplinary measures for the disruption and aggravation caused. Where excessive noise occurs or residents and/or rooms receive repeated verbal warnings an official WARNING will be issued. This will detail the time and date of the incident and allow residents to dispute it if they wish, with their own amended statement. A resident who receives 3 WARNINGS in any one semester will be asked to leave the University residence without refund of remaining room and board. This warning comes in the form of a ‘Residential Record’. A good faith determination by staff concerning residents and guests shall be conclusive.

Alcohol

The legal drinking age for alcohol in Britain is 18. Students of this age are allowed to drink on this basis. However, the University does not condone the effects of excessive alcohol use. Alcohol is not allowed in common areas such as corridors and common rooms. Students may drink in moderation in their own rooms in such a way that does not adversely affect others. Alcohol must be transported to student rooms in closed, sealed containers.

Parties and Gatherings

As a general policy parties are not permitted in University residences. Student groups and individuals may book classrooms and the Common Room for group activities through the Registrar’s Office and the Student Activities Office. Parties and gatherings involving alcohol require the approval of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Controlled Substances

The University enforces a strict drug policy in conjunction with British Law which prohibits both the recreational use and supply of any illegal drugs ranging from cannabis to harder substances such as cocaine and heroin. Richmond will not tolerate the use of any such substances on its premises. Richmond’s drug policy is outlined in greater detail in the Richmond Student Handbook.

Residence Life staff and Security will respond to any indication of use or possession of illegal substances and are authorised to carry out room searches where such activity is suspected or where the health or safety of the resident(s), other persons or property seem threatened.

Smoking

In line with UK law, smoking is not permitted in any enclosed areas of the University; this applies to all dormitory rooms, corridors and the common room.

Please respect the university’s no-smoking policy. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action of the following kind. Tampering with fire-related equipment and/or smoking in unauthorized areas will result in an automatic fine of £500 for the first offence, a second offence could result in loss of housing (if you live on campus) or dismissal from the university. Failure to evacuate the building during an alarm will also result in an immediate fine of £500. As smoking in enclosed areas is now also a violation of UK law, you could be penalized further by British police.

Visitors

When entering any University building, students are to show their Richmond I.D. which will confirm their status as a registered student. Students who wish to bring a friend or relative into a University residence, but they do not intend to stay overnight, must register their guest(s) in a Visitor's book at the Security/Reception desk.

This procedure provides the University information about who is in a building at any given time in line with Fire and Health & Safety requirements. Upon leaving the building, students must sign their guest(s) out in the same way. Students in satellite buildings without a Security/Reception desk must notify the Resident Director/Advisors of their building when they have a visitor. If the Resident Director/Advisor is not present, a written note should be left on the staff person’s door.

Overnight Guests

Students who would like to have an overnight guest have to complete a form. This procedure is designed to ensure that staff know of the whereabouts of people at any given time. Students should complete an ‘Overnight Guest Request form’ which is available from the Residence Life Office or from your Resident Director in satellite residences. A downloadable form is at the bottom of this page.

You must obtain written authorization from the
Residence Life Coordinator (or a Resident Director)
at least 24 hours in advance.

If you have roommates, you also need to have their signature(s) to show that they have agreed to act as a host for your guest. If there are different rules for a satellite residence, your Resident Director will inform you of the specific policies of your building. Please remember, requests at short notice may be denied. All guests will be issued with a temporary Guest Paper ID; the paper ID must be carried with the guest at all times during their stay at Richmond.

The University will hold you as the student responsible for the behaviour of your guests at all times. Any single guest may stay a maximum of 3 consecutive nights during the Fall and Spring semesters and 1 night during the summer sessions, and no more than one guest per room is allowed. Each resident is allowed a maximum of 7 guest nights total for the fall and spring semesters and 3 for the summer sessions.

Although there is no general restriction on the gender of a guest, certain areas of residences have been designated as "single sex" corridors, in this instance, you must find a friend of the other sex who will host your guest. For insurance purposes, each guest must be at least 18 years of age. At particularly busy periods in the semester, such as mid-semester break, the University reserves the right to restrict the overall number of guests within a particular residence. This policy is designed to recognise the right of students to welcome a friend or relative into their residence while retaining the right of the University to maintain safety and comfort for other residents. Overnight guests are not allowed during any exam period.

Litter/Damage

The University invests a lot of time in maintaining and improving the condition and appearance of its residences while understanding that communal living spaces are naturally more prone to “wear and tear" over a period of time. We all play our part in this process. Reasonable effort should be made to keep all public areas and student rooms neat and tidy. Garbage cans / litter bins are provided in and around all residences and it takes no extra time to use them properly. Residential common rooms are particularly likely to suffer from excess litter.

Damage to University property is taken very seriously. In recent semesters damage has occurred in bathrooms and shower rooms and on corridor walls. Disciplinary measures will be taken against those found to be responsible. The University reserves the right to charge students for collective damage where responsibility cannot be attached to any particular individual(s). Again, a good faith determination by staff concerning the assessment of individual or collective damages shall be conclusive.

Weapons

Weapons of any kind may not be kept in University residences. This includes such items as guns, bows and arrows, hunting knives, and ammunition. Laser pens used to highlight words for overhead projectors would also be considered a weapon when not used for their intended purpose. Such items will be confiscated by security.