Within the community environment of University housing, certain guidelines are necessary to help ensure the rights of every individual. To a large extent, the protection of those individual and group rights is up to the student/resident. Each resident has the responsibility as a citizen in the residence hall community to stand up for his/her own rights. Rights such as privacy, rest, cleanliness, a safe environment and a positive academic learning environment remain important to the residence life program. Residents must work with the residence hall staff and peers toward the protection of those rights by following the policies and procedures outlined here.
The Association of College and University Housing Officers International (ACUHO-I) represents 800-plus institutional members and housing officers employed by colleges and universities globally. Saint Xavier University's Office of Residence Life subscribes to and supports the ACUHO-I Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities as adapted below.
Resident students have the right to:
- Express themselves creatively within established guidelines
- Expect enforcement of the housing agreement/contract
- Directly access staff who can provide assistance, guidance and support as needed
- Host guests within established guidelines
- Receive equitable treatment when behavior is in question
- Enjoy individual freedoms without regard to race, gender, national origin, ability, age, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation
- Participate in student governmental bodies and Residence Life committees
- Access individual and group educational and developmental opportunities in their living community
Resident students have the responsibility to:
- Know and adhere to rules and regulation of the University and Residence Life.
- Abide by all local, state and federal laws and ordinances
- Comply with reasonable requests made by staff or University officials
- Attend class
- Meet expected room and meal-plan payment schedules
- Comply with all building closings
- Uphold building security
- Monitor and accept responsibility for the behavior of guests
- Report violations of rules and regulations to the appropriate staff
- Respect the rights of others, as stated above
- Search for solutions to problems; start with your RA, and then, if necessary, bring residence hall problems to the attention of the assistant director; in an extreme case, problems can be brought to the associate director who will work with director on resolution
- Participate actively in self-governance
- Express themselves individually or by association with groups
- Participate in conduct proceedings to determine appropriate standards of behavior
- Contribute positively to the community by participating in educational and developmental activities
