Building Community

Housing’s commitment to developing good citizenship does not end at the boundaries of the residence hall. Residence hall students serve as ambassadors of our institution. Any alleged violation of housing or college policies may result in follow-up through the housing student discipline process or the college’s student discipline process, the results of which may jeopardize your housing agreement and/or status as a student at the college; may result in disciplinary sanctions; or may be subject to legal action.

Your rights as a resident include:

• The right to study and sleep in your room free from undue interference.
• The right to expect that your roommate and other residents will respect your personal belongings.
• The right to be free from intimidation, physical, and emotional harm.

Your responsibilities as a resident include:

• Demonstrating respect for all members of the community and yourself.
• Examining your own behavior when confronted by another and to work toward resolving conflicts amiably.
• Compliance with the policies outlined in this document.

The National Park College Office of Residence Life transitioned student conduct to a points-based system as a means of responding to most Residence Life policies. The point system was developed to make the disciplinary sanctioning process clearer, more consistent, and more predictable for students in on-campus student housing. Under the point system, a student found responsible for violating Housing policy will be assigned points and given an appropriate sanction. Should a resident not complete a sanction in the stated time frame, a hold will be placed on their student account until the sanction is complete.

The assessment of points and/or other sanctions will follow the conclusion of an administrative or judicial hearing process, in which a student is found responsible for alleged violation of Housing policies. Points are cumulative over the course of a student’s time in on-campus student housing. Previous violations are always considered before points and/or sanctions are assigned for violations. Higher point values may be assigned to repeat or more significant offenses. If through one incident or a series of incidents, a student accumulates a minimum of:

• 4 points, the student will be placed on a status of Disciplinary Warning in addition to any other assigned sanctions. The student's parent(s) or guardian may be notified.
• 8 points, the student will be placed on a status of Disciplinary Probation in addition to any other assigned sanctions. The student’s parent(s) or guardian may be notified.
• 12 or more points, the student may be suspended from on-campus student housing. The student’s parent(s)v or guardian may be notified.

A student may be a “missing student” if the student’s absence is contrary to his/her usual pattern of behavior and unusual circumstances may have caused the absence. Such circumstances could include, but not be limited to, a report or suspicion that the missing person may be the victim of foul play, has expressed suicidal thoughts, is drug dependent, is in a life-threatening situation, or has been with persons who may endanger the student’s welfare.

• Upon application, each student in housing is required to provide emergency contact information. If the resident is under 18 years old, they must provide the contact information for their parent or legal guardian. This information will be used in the event the student is determined to be missing.
• Students may update this information by contacting the Office of Residence Life.
• Missing students may be reported to the Department of Student Affairs or any housing staff member. Upon notification of a potentially missing student, safety officials will be notified and will begin an investigation of the situation that will include the following:
  • Conduct a welfare check in the student’s on-campus residence hall room.
  • Attempt to contact the missing student via phone numbers on file.
  • Contact online, call, or speak in person with known contacts such as roommate and friends.
  • Contact student employer, if known.
  • Contact the student’s professors to gather information about the student’s recent class attendance.
  • If the student has a vehicle, campus safety officials will attempt to locate the vehicle on campus.
• If the student cannot be located after reasonable efforts, a designated College official will then contact the student’s emergency contacts no later than 24 hours after the student has been suspected as being missing. If the investigation indicates that a student is missing, college will file a missing persons report with the Garland County Sheriff's Department.
• A student who is missing and is believed to be the victim of foul play, involved in a life threatening situation, has indicated suicidal threats or it is believed they will do harm to themselves constitutes an immediate response situation. Campus Safety will be contacted immediately and will initiate a report as well as take responsibility for notifying appropriate law enforcement agencies.

1. Advertising: The residence hall has designated community display areas where advertising materials may be displayed. Anyone wishing to use the community display areas should consult the housing staff. Advertising should avoid the use of obscene language and may not promote illegal behavior include the underage consumption of alcohol, marijuana, or other drug use.
2. Decorations: The use of any decorative items resulting in any damage to the residence hall will incur appropriate damage fee charges. Residents may decorate common areas after receiving prior approval from the Community Manager. Crafting projects with the potential to be messy are not allowed in or around the residence hall without advance coordination with the Community Manager. Residents may use decorative holiday lights in common areas with the coordination and approval of the Community Manager. Decorative lights may be used within students’ rooms but must not be attached to door frames, metal bed frames, windows, fire alarms, sprinkler heads or life safety equipment. All lights must be UL-listed.
3. Bicycles: Bicycles may be stored in a student’s personal residence hall room with the expressed permission of the roommate (this is a privilege and not a right). If stored in a room, the bicycle may not be hung directly from the wall, ceiling, or from any exposed structure such as light fixtures, piping, or smoke detectors.
4. Events: Loud, unruly, or alcohol-related events are not permitted in housing unless planned by housing staff for educational purposes. Large events are limited to the formal lounge and outdoor spaces adjacent to the building and require prior approval and reservation from the housing staff. The residence hall and its facilities (formal lounges, study rooms, etc.) are reserved for the use of the residents. The use of any part of the building by outside organizations, whether hosted by a resident or not, is limited and up to the discretion of the housing staff.
5. Furnishings: The following are not permitted: removing furniture from student rooms or public areas; removing any housing furniture or common area decor from the residence hall for any reason.
6. Public Areas: Hallways must always be kept free of obstructions. Sleeping in lounges or other public areas is not permitted unless it is in conjunction with an official housing-sponsored event. Exclusive use of these areas for group activities requires approval from housing staff.
7. Room Care, Sanitation, and Personal Hygiene: Students are responsible for maintaining health and safety standards in their assigned room. Students are expected to practice appropriate personal hygiene and to maintain an environment within their suite, room, and community that is sanitary. Perishable food items should be stored in sealed containers and/or refrigerated. Trash and food debris should be disposed of in the designated trash location.
8. Room Entry: Although Residence Life will make reasonable efforts to respect the privacy of a student’s personal suite, Residence Life reserves the right to enter with prior notice if possible, for purposes of inspection, verification of occupancy, improvements, or repair. Residence Life reserves the right of entry without notice in situations posing a threat to life or property, violation of policy and for such purposes as are reasonably necessary to preserve resident and community safety. Prohibited items in plain view may be confiscated at any time. Should a resident have any concern after a room entry they many follow up with the Community Manager to discuss any grievances.
9. Solicitation: Door-to-door solicitation in housing is not permitted. Commercial activity, solicitation, promotion, or advertising is not permitted in or around the building unless prior approval by the housing staff has been obtained. The only exceptions are activities permitted under the college or housing policies and/or those sponsored by college or housing staff.
10. Windows/Ledges/Roofs/Balconies/Walls: The following are not permitted: throwing, dropping, spitting, or spilling anything from windows (e.g. “breaking the plane”), or hanging property outside of room windows, scaling of building exteriors; accessing roof areas and displaying any images visible from the outside of the building.
11. Throwing Objects: Throwing any objects or material in any way originating from outside of the residence hall and directed at the residence hall is not permitted.
12. Loitering: Loitering in housing entryways, lobby areas, or blocking entry or exits is not permitted. Residents may not assemble in lobby areas; as such assembly may constitute a fire, health, or safety hazard.
13. Illegal Entry/Exit: Entering or exiting illegally, without authorization, or during non-contract periods without proper permission in the residence hall is not permitted. Propping emergency exit doors without authorization is not permitted. Nonresident guests using the laundry room is not permitted.
14. Lockouts: If a student needs to have a housing staff member let them into the building or unlock their suite or bedroom door to gain access to their space due to lost, misplaced, or forgotten keys the student may be assessed a charge. Excessive or inappropriate use of staff for lockout purposes is not permitted.
15. Keys: Keys will be issued to the student on arrival at the beginning of their occupancy period. Issued keys include bedroom key, mailbox key, and electronic fob. Unauthorized use, possession, or duplication of housing issued keys is not permitted. Keys are checked out only to assigned residents of each suite and bedroom and residents may not give their keys or electronic “fob” to anyone else, resident or non-resident, at any time. Lost keys should be reported immediately to the appropriate housing staff member. In each case in which keys are lost, new keys are issued, and the student charged.
16. Tampering: Tampering with any mechanical or electrical unit or unauthorized alteration of a system configuration within the residence hall is not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, elevator systems, locking systems, fire and life safety equipment, heating systems, lighting systems, ethernet connections, wireless routers, access points etc.
17. Pets: For the comfort of all residents, pets (animals), including visiting pets, are not permitted within the residence hall. Fish in aquariums (10 gallons or less), certified service animals, and approved assistance/comfort/emotional support animals are the only exceptions.
    • Students who wish to bring a service animal to NPC are covered by Title II of the ADA, and thus students may bring their service animals to campus – including Residential Life Facilities, classrooms, and other College facilities – without prior approval. However, students are required to reach out to the Disability Services Office on campus to ensure that their experience bringing the animal to campus is smooth. Additionally, students are also required to inform Residential Life that they plan to have a service animal living with them. Advance notice of a service animal for Residential Life Facilities may allow more flexibility in meeting a student’s needs
    • Students who wish to bring an emotional support/assistance animal into the residence hall as an exception to the pet policy must go through the reasonable accommodation process with the Disability Services Office. The Disabilities Service Office is responsible for evaluating whether to grant or deny requests for reasonable accommodations for students living in the Residence Hall including the ability to bring an Assistance Animal or Emotional Support Animal. Residents wishing to request an Assistance Animal as an accommodation MUST follow the Disability Services Office general procedures for requesting an accommodation. This request should be submitted, and the approval process completed prior to bringing the animal into the hall. Residential Life requires that the owner acknowledge and accept all the terms in the Assistance Animal Guidelines and Responsibilities. For more information, contact the Disability Services Office at (501) 760-6388 or email mandee.harper@np.edu.
18. Trespassing: Unauthorized presence in buildings, rooms, or restricted areas is not permitted.
19. Guest Visitation: Housing exists for students who are assigned to and pay for living accommodations. Students may not arbitrarily make their assigned housing available to anyone else at any time. It is a privilege not a right for a guest to be in housing. Authorized college, housing staff or representative acting on behalf both entities, (including local law enforcement and campus security officials) may request that a guest leave at any time if the guest’s behavior is inappropriate, in conflict with community expectations and housing, or college policies. During special occasions, limitations and/or restrictions on the guest visitation policy may be implemented for safety and building concerns.
    • A guest is defined as any person who does not live in a specific suite/room, including family members, parents or residents who live within the building.
    • An overnight guest is defined as any person not assigned to a room/suite and stays more than six hours and/or sleeps in the room/suite.
    • Violations may lead to a student accountability meeting. Residents are responsible for and will be held accountable for the behavior of their guests.
    • Residents must inform their guests of policies and procedures for Dogwood Hall and National Park College.
    • A guest can be denied permission to remain in the building or may be prohibited from future visits if they create a disturbance or violate any policies.
    • A guest can stay overnight no more than four (4) nights in a month, with (2) nights being consecutively.
    • Guests are not permitted to extend their visitation time via switching hosts within the building. All occupants of the suite must agree about whom, when and the number of visitors are allowed at one time. Violations of this policy may result to a student accountability meeting and appropriate sanctions.
    • Guest Plans: Room/Suitemate’s specific guest plans should be outlined by residents in the side-by-side agreements. With these plans, the shared concerns and wishes of everyone are of paramount importance in determining what is acceptable or unacceptable regarding hosting a guest.
      
      • Side-by-Side agreements are to be completed by all occupants of the suite at the start of their move-in date. The agreement outlines specific living arrangements and considerations for living in a shared space. Violations of the agreement should be reported to the RA for mediation and further documentation. Violating the terms of the agreement could result in a student accountability meeting and may be considered violation of residence hall policies.
    • Having a guest is a privilege that is secondary to a room/suitemate right to privacy. Residents may not exercise their guest privilege if doing so interferes with the rights of their room/suitemates or other residents of the building. Suspension of guest privileges for an individual, a floor, or an entire residence hall may be issued by Residence Life with just cause.
    • Minors are permitted to visit the residence hall, but to promote their safety and provide privacy for other residents the following restrictions must apply:
      
      • Non-residents under the age of 18 are not permitted to stay overnight.
      • Minors must never be left unattended for any period.
      • Residents who have minors visiting that disturb other residents may be asked to remove them from the hall.
      • Residents may not provide babysitting service in the hall. National Park College and Residence Life cannot assume responsibility or liability for minors visiting the residence hall.
    • Unauthorized Occupancy includes but is not limited to:
      
      • Being restricted from entering the hall for previous conduct or other reasons.
      • Not being enrolled in good standing with National Park College.
      • Not having a signed house license on file with Residence Life.
      • Having a guest present without consent from other occupants of the room.
      • Utilizing a key or other method to enter a room/suite to which the individual is not assigned
    • Cohabitation includes but is not limited to:
      
      • Guests that violate the overnight guest policy.
      • Living within the hall and not having a residence hall license agreement.
      • Keeping personal possessions (books, clothes, toothbrush etc.) in the room as if one lived in the room/suite.
      • Accessing the room or suite while the assigned occupants are not present