Community Standards
Community Standards help ensure that all University Housing residents can live together while respecting the needs of their roommates and neighbors. Every resident shares the responsibility of knowing and understanding the residence hall community standards so everyone can live in a positive environment. A community that helps each member to achieve their personal and academic endeavors must be based on concern for the academic and personal achievement of your peers, mutual respect, and responsible action. This is possible when everyone makes a significant contribution to building this community.
You will also want to become familiar with the SOU Code of Conduct as it outlines the standards, expectations, rights, responsibilities, and prescribed conduct for every SOU student. Disciplinary action may be initiated by the university and sanctions may be assigned to any student or recognized student organization found participating in, attempting to participate in, or assisting in any violation of the community standards or policies listed within this document or the University Housing and Dining Contract.
Important Resources
The community standards listed in this document will help you understand what is allowed and not allowed while living in the residence halls. However, there are additional policies that apply to the entire SOU campus and all of its students–regardless if they live on or off campus. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with these policy documents too as they also apply to you while living in University Housing.
Code of Student Conduct
Students are expected to follow the policies outlined in Code of Student Conduct.
Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy
Students are expected to follow the policies outlined in Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Network, Email, & Wireless Internet
Students are expected to follow the policies outlined in SOU Computing Resources Acceptable Use Policy.
SOU University Housing Residential Community Standards 10-2022
Alcohol
The University Housing community standards with respect to alcohol consumption in the residence halls are as follows.
Residents and their guests that are under the age of 21 are prohibited from
- Possession or consuming alcohol on campus.
- Being in a university-owned campus housing space, including but not limited to a room, suite, apartment, or in-room common-area, where alcohol is being consumed.
- Possessing empty alcoholic beverage containers.
Residents and their guests that are over the age of 21 are prohibited from consuming alcohol in the presence of a minor.
All Residents and their guests are prohibited from:
- Consuming alcohol in common room spaces of university-owned buildings and campus, including but not limited to floor lounges, hallways, lobbies, public restrooms, offices, classrooms, parking lots, and all outside grounds.
- Possessing or using ‘beer bongs’, kegs, pony kegs, or other similar devices whose purpose is to facilitate rapid consumption of alcohol or to store large quantities of alcohol.
- Participating in drinking games of any kind on property or facilities that is owned, operated, or being used by the University.
- Being intoxicated to the point at which normal, independent functioning is compromised.
- Furnishing alcohol to minors in any way, including but not limited to selling it to, giving it away to, or making it readily available to any person under the age of 21.
For more information about the alcohol policies at SOU you can review the Alcohol and Drug Policy (SAD.002) and the Code of Student Conduct.
Cooking Appliances
Any heating or cooking device/appliance that has an open-coil or exposed heating instrument/surface is prohibited. Any heating or cooking device or appliance that does not have an auto-timer shut-off, insulated cord, and a circuit-breaker is prohibited. Any heating or cooking device/appliance that utilizes pressure to prepare food is prohibited.
Examples of such prohibited devices or appliances include, but are not limited to:
- Portable stove tops of any kind
- Toaster Ovens
- Electric skillets
- George Foreman or other electric grills
- Barbecue Grills of any type
- Instapots
- Hot plates
- Hot oil and Air fryers
- Bread Toasters (However, these are allowed in the kitchen areas of Madrone Hall)
Residents are prohibited from possessing and/or using their own microwave, refrigerator, and/or micro-fridge combination.
All cooking appliances must be stored in the kitchen or shared common area of a suite, and must be directly attached to grounded outlets when in use.
Electrical cooking appliances (except the university provided microwaves and micro-fridges) are not allowed in student rooms.
All appliances must be in good working order, used responsibly, and free of wiring defects.
Drugs
Residents and their guests are not to possess, distribute, or be in the presence of illegal drugs (including marijuana), drug paraphernalia (ex. bongs, pipes, or any other object that is used or known to be associated with drugs), or illegal drug activity. Additionally, possession, consumption, and/or furnishing prescription drugs not currently prescribed is prohibited.
Drugs and drug paraphernalia that is found on campus will be confiscated and destroyed by Campus Public Safety and/or the Ashland Police Department.
For more information about the drug policies at SOU you can review the Alcohol and Drug Policy (SAD.002) and the Code of Student Conduct.
Fire Safety Code & Regulations
During a fire alarm and evacuation the resident and/or any guests in the residential facility will close their room window, open the blinds/ curtains, and shut and lock the door when exiting the building for a fire alarm. Failure to evacuate a residential or dining facility under a general alarm or whenever directed to do so by a University official (including but not limited to University Housing student-staff, University Housing professional staff, or Campus Public Safety Officer) or a law enforcement officer or other authority may face student-conduct action and/or a possible fine from the Ashland Fire Department.
To avoid electrical shorts and outages a resident must use a multi-tap or extension cord that possesses ALL of the following qualities:
- Insulated (thick) cord,
- Circuit protection with breaker switch,
- Grounded (3-pronged) plug-in
Additionally, Fire safety is important to maintaining the wellbeing of all of our residents. Because of this the following is prohibited:
- Tampering with, playing with, intentionally or accidentally damaging fire safety equipment (including but not limited to pull stations, sprinklers, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, AEDs, and fire alarms), or in any way impeding the equipment from functioning properly
- Setting off a general and/or smoke alarm in a residence hall for false reasons.
- The storing of flammable/combustibles in liquid/gas form in the residence halls, including but not limited to propane, gasoline, or butane.
- The use of an open flame device, including but not limited to lighters, portable stoves, candles, hookah, and/or incense in or around any University-owned residential or dining facility. All candles should have removed wicks and show no sign of use.
- Hanging anything from the ceiling, including from the ceiling tiles, sprinkler, smoke detector, and/or fire alarm.
- Storage or hanging of decorations and other objects that:
- Block a sprinkler (if applicable),
- Block a fire escape egress, such as over a door or window,
- Is within eighteen (18) inches of the ceiling
- Is affixed directly to the ceiling itself
- Electric blanket that does not have an auto-timer shut-off, insulated cord, and a circuit-breaker,
- Heating pad that does not have an auto-timer shut-off, insulated cord, and a circuit-breaker,
- Space-heaters of any kind
- Fireworks of any kind
- Explosives or incendiary materials of any kind
- Halogen lamps
- Lava Lamps
- Electronic cigarettes/e-cigarettes/Vapes
- HoverBoards
For more information on how to respond to a building fire at SOU you can review the campus’ Emergency Preparedness expectations.
Noise Courtesy Hours Quiet Hours
To support a living and learning environment where all residents can study and sleep, residents and their guests shall keep their noise at a level which is not disruptive to others’ ability to study or sleep.
During designated Quiet Hours noise must be contained to a bedroom unit. Quiet Hours in the residence halls are as follows below:
- Sunday through Thursday, from 11:00pm to 8:00am
- Friday and Saturday, from midnight to 10:00am
- 24-hours of Quiet during the week before and during Finals Week
Courtesy Hours are 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During these times, noise must be kept at an acceptable level with courtesy towards one’s roommates, neighbors, and floor-mates. Residents and their guests are expected to demonstrate courtesy and consideration towards others at all times. If a community member requests a reduction in the noise, whether it is during or outside of the designated Quiet Hours, respect and compliance are expected.
Weapons and Ammunition
Weapons and ammunition are prohibited in the residence halls. Weapons, include but are not limited to:
- Firearms (ie. pistols, rifles, etc.)
- Guns of any type, including but not limited to:
- BB guns
- Paintball guns
- Pellet guns
- Potato guns
- NerfTM guns
- Airsoft guns
- Squirt/Water guns
- Martial arts paraphernalia
- Hunting weapons, including but not limited to all types of bows and/or arrows.
- Explosive devices and/or fireworks
- Knives longer than 3.5 inches, including switchblades and/or any folding/pocket knife and/or fixed blade knife. (Note: standard kitchen knives are permitted for use in a student’s assigned room.)
- Any device that produces a projectile through a barrel
- Any replicas of any of the above mentioned items
- Any object used to threaten, intend harm, or causes harm to an individual, including oneself.
For more information about the weapons policies at SOU you can review the Drug, Alcohol, and Weapons Policies and the Code of Student Conduct.