Part 1.3c Individual and Community-Focused Policies

Students and their guests/visitors are expected to comply with the directives of Student Living staff and student leaders made while exercising their responsibilities. Student Living staff include professional and administrative staff. Student staff and leaders include Resident Advisors, Main Desk Assistants, Front Desk Assistants, and Community Ambassadors).

Student Living adopts the language found in the Terms and Conditions, Part 8vii.

For the current status of guest and visitor privileges, please review the Visitor Registration page.

Students living in University Housing may have individuals visit them in their residence in a manner that does not infringe upon the comfort and rights of other residents and maintains an appropriate level of safety and security in the residence halls and South Campus apartments. There may be special times of the year, such as semester opening, semester breaks, exam periods, semester closing, and summer sessions, when the privilege of hosting a guest/visitor may be restricted or modified, or when deemed necessary for safety, security, or public health emergencies.

When a student living in University Housing has someone visiting them in their residence, they are referred to as the Resident Host.

Types of Guests

There are two types of guests that a Syracuse University student can host:

Guests (SU Affiliated)

This includes currently enrolled/matriculated Syracuse University students, faculty, and staff and SUNY ESF students who do not live in the residential facility of the host student. These individuals do not need a guest pass, regardless of length of stay. However, they need to be signed in by their host upon entry into the residential facility using their SUID.

Visitors (Non-SU Affiliated)

External Visitors (“Visitors”). These individuals are not affiliated with Syracuse University at the time of the visit. Visitors include former, unenrolled, and non-matriculated Syracuse University students, family members, and friends. Visitors also include minors. To be in University residence hall, all visitors must carry a photo ID  regardless of their length of stay, including overnight. Minor visitors (age 16 and 17) must also have a visitor registration pass and parent/guardian permission form in their possession. Visitors to South Campus apartments must have a visitor pass (detailed below).

Acceptable forms of photo ID include the following: driver’s license, student ID from another school, non-driver’s ID, military ID, passport, and resident alien card. Bankcards, telephone cards, and credit cards are not accepted.

Minor Visitors:

• Visitors must be at least 16 years old; no person under the age of 16 is permitted to enter any University-owned or -operated residence hall or apartment without their parent or guardian present at all times.
• Visitors under age 16 may not stay overnight in a residence hall or South Campus apartment.
• Visitors between the ages of 16-17 years old must be related to the resident host and receive signed parent/guardian permission to visit the resident host by completing a Permission Form for Minor Visitors.
• Residents interested in hosting a minor visitor must meet with their Residence Director at least 72 business hours prior to the minor visitor’s intended arrival date to review the requirements and expectations.
• Minor visitor’s must carry their approval letter from Student Living, a copy of the visitor registration request, and the signed parent/legal guardian permission form. Both the visitor registration request and the signed parent/legal guardian permission form will be attached to the approval letter when it is sent by Student Living.

Expectations of Guests, Visitors, and Resident Hosts:

• Resident Hosts should communicate with their roommates and/or suitemates about their plans to have guests/visitors. Resident Hosts who wish to have overnight guests/visitors must have prior approval of their roommates/suitemates. Students who have concerns about the frequency a roommate/suitemate has had guests/visitors should contact their Residence Director or the Student Living main office.
• Resident Hosts are responsible for the behavior of their guests/visitors. A complaint will be filed against the Resident Host for alleged violations of the Student Conduct Code, Student Living Policies, or other University policies committed by their guests/visitors. Guests who are Syracuse University students will have a conduct complaint filed against them as well. SUNY ESF students will be referred to their Dean for Student Affairs.
• Regardless of the length of their stay, the guest/visitor is expected to abide by all University and Student Living policies, procedures, regulations, and standards. Violations may result in the immediate removal of the guest/visitor from Syracuse University property.
• All guests/visitors, including Syracuse University students, must be signed in at the main entrance by the student Resident Host with the Residence Community Safety Officer (RCSO). In order to sign in a guest/visitor, the Resident Host must have a valid SUID card.
• When the guest/visitor leaves the residence hall, the host must escort them to the lobby.

Guest/Visitor Duration:

1. Short-Term. Provided that there is no unreasonable interference with the rights of other students, a student resident may have a short-term guest/visitor at any time.
2. Overnight. An overnight guest/visitor refers to any guest/visitor spending all or a significant portion of the time from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in University Housing. The following applies to overnight guests/visitors:
   • No overnight guest/visitor will be allowed to stay for more than three (3) consecutive nights.
   • A Resident Host may not host overnight guests/visitors more than six (6) nights in any given calendar month.
   • No individual overnight guest/visitor may be hosted in University housing more than six (6) nights total in any calendar month.
   • No Resident Host may host more than two (2) overnight guests/visitors at one time.
   • No additional furnishings will be provided to accommodate the presence of guests, nor will any furnishings be removed from a student’s room or apartment.

Visitor Registration and Parking

Minor Visitor Registration

All minor visitors (16 and 17 year olds) must be registered and approved in advance of the visit with Student Living. Failure to register a minor visitor will result in a report being filed with the Residence Director of the residence hall, or at South Campus, in which the violation takes place; and, may result in the immediate removal of the visitor. Requests to register a 16- or 17-year-old minor visitor, must be made online by completing the Visitor Registration – Minor form at least 72 business hours in advance of the minor visitor’s visit and will require the Syracuse University student host to meet with their Residence Director prior to a pass being issued.

Passes for overnight visitors will be issued consistent with Visitor Duration Policy.

Visitors 18 Years of Age or Older

• Residence Halls: the visitor must present a valid photo identification to the RCSO at the residence hall’s main entry. The Resident Host must be present in order for the visitor to sign-in to the building.
• South Campus Apartments: The Resident Host must complete an online Visitor Registration form. Following the submission of the form, the Resident Host will receive a copy of the registration via email, which will serve as the visitor pass. In addition, the visitor must be in possession of a valid photo identification at all times. Requests for age 18 or over visitor passes should be made online at least two (2) business days in advance of the visitor’s visit.

How to Acquire a Parking Pass for a Visitor

Requests for overnight parking privileges should be submitted to Parking Services, located at 621 Skytop Road. Please visit the Parking and Transportation Services website to review the rules for permit issuance.

Students living in traditional residential halls may have knives in their residential space for the purpose of food preparation. Such knives may not exceed four inches in blade length. Pocket knives with blade lengths not exceeding four inches are also permitted.

Students living in South Campus apartments with kitchens are permitted to possess kitchen knives and utensils for the purpose of food preparation and consumption. Blade length restrictions do not apply.

The University’s weapons policy is found in the Student Conduct Code. Weapons, whether in use or solely for display, are not permitted in University housing. Students who have a weapon for personal use, hunting, etc., should contact the Department of Public Safety to learn of off-campus storage locations.

All students and their guests/visitors must adhere to New York State occupancy limits to help ensure the safety of all residents of the building. Therefore, occupancy limits for residential units are as follows:

• Residence hall rooms may have no more individuals than double the amount of assigned bed spaces (i.e., a double room may have 4 people total).
• South Campus Apartments may have no more than the following number of individuals in the unit:
  • 1-bedroom apartment: 4 people;
  • 2-bedroom apartment: 6 people;
  • 3-bedroom apartment: 8 people.

Student Living adopts the language found in Terms and Conditions, Part 8xi.

The residential living environment is designed to support the academic mission of the institution. Student Living recognizes that students living on-campus have varying schedules of commitments including, but not limited to, classes, internships, on- and off-campus jobs, student teaching, homework/projects, co-curricular activities, athletics, etc. This means that all students do not sleep and study at the same time. Therefore, the residential community has designated quiet and courtesy hours to support student success.

Quiet Hours are in effect each day to provide enhanced support for sleep and study as follows:

• Sunday – Thursday, 12 a.m. – 7 a.m.;
• Friday and Saturday, 1 a.m. – 8 am.

Courtesy Hours are in effect at all times outside the designated Quiet Hours. During Courtesy Hours, higher levels of noise are permitted provided that it remains at a level considerate of students who need to sleep and study.

During finals, 24-hour quiet hours are in effect for all residential communities from the first reading day through the last day of finals. Permissible items may be confiscated if they are found to be the source of noise concerns.

Student Living adopts the language in the Terms and Conditions, Part 8ii.

Student Living adopts the language in the Terms and Conditions, Part 17. In addition, if individual responsibility for damage to a common area cannot be determined, all members of a floor or living unit may meet to discuss how the community will pay for the cost of the damages. If a community is not successful in this process, all members of the floor or living unit may be assessed a prorated charge. This process is known as group billing.

Students should speak with their Resident Advisor or Residence Director regarding any living/roommate concerns before requesting a housing assignment change. Students seeking a room change should review the Room Relocation Request on the SL website. SL staff will work to address concerns raised by the student(s), which may include mediation and conflict resolution, room or building change, or other resolutions. Changing rooms without authorization from SL or Housing, Meal Plan, and ID Card Services is prohibited. Once completing the room change request form, students should expect a SL staff member to contact them via email within 72 business hours.

Student Living adopts the language in the Terms and Conditions, Part 8i.