The University acknowledges the right of Resident to entertain friends and to have guests which can be restricted or removed based on the needs of the community. At all times residents are fully responsible for their guests/visitors and the actions of these guests/visitors. All non-residents of a building must be escorted by Resident of that building at all times. This includes members of the same sex. Visitors and/or guests, including Residents of the same building, must be accompanied by Resident of the room or apartment at all times while visiting the room, apartment, and/or other building extensions. Guests should never be left in a room or apartment alone and shall not make or permit any excessive noise or otherwise disrupt the comfort or interrupt the sleep of other Residents. By having a guest/visitor on University property, the Resident and guest/visitor both agree to hold University harmless against all claims for personal injury sustained by Resident and Resident’s guests/visitors in their use and enjoyment of the facilities.

A guest is defined as someone who you allow to be in your presence while in your residence hall and/or room and is a student (including non-residential students) of Arkansas Tech University. It is your responsibility that they abide by all related policies. Should a guest violate policy, it is the responsibility of the resident to report the violation and contact hall staff to assist in the removal of the guest. Should a guest violate policy and staff is not notified by the host, the host may be held responsible for the violation.

A visitor is defined as someone who you allow to be in your presence while in your residence hall and/or room and is not a student of Arkansas Tech University. It is your responsibility that they abide by all related policies. Should a visitor violate policy, it is the responsibility of the student to report the violation and contact hall staff to assist in the removal of the visitor. Should a visitor violate policy and staff is not notified by the host, the host may be held responsible for the violation.

Residents are welcome to have overnight visitors of the same sex, if receiving prior consent from room/suite/apartment mates. Visitors are limited to three (3) nights per semester. Visits greater than three (3) nights, even with breaks in between or in another resident’s room, are prohibited without written permission from the Coordinator. Residents may have a maximum of two guests and/or visitors at one point in time in their room. In a quad room the total occupancy must not exceed 6 with any combination of guest to resident ratio.

Guests are not permitted overnight without prior approval in situations deemed extreme by the Coordinator. Room and common area visitation policies must be abided by.

Visitation times in residence hall rooms and apartments, including apartment common areas, are from 9 a.m. until 11:59 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 24 hours from 9 a.m. Friday until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. Each resident is responsible for their guest/visitor and should escort the guest/visitor at all times while in the residence hall or apartment, including while entering or exiting the building. This applies to same sex and opposite sex guests/visitors. Same sex guests who live in the same building as their host or hostess are allowed visitation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week provided there is no cohabitation.

Residence Hall lobby visitation is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Guests/visitors must be accompanied by their host or hostess while visiting the lobby and when entering or exiting the building.

Children are permitted to visit the residence facilities; however, children are permitted to visit during visitation hours only, and they must leave by the end of visitation hours. Anyone under the age of 18 is not permitted to stay overnight. Children must be attended to at all times. They are not permitted to run up and down hallways, stairwells, or in public areas unattended. Residents who have children that disturb other residents may be asked to remove the children from the facility. Residents may not provide paid babysitting service in the halls. The Department of Residence Life cannot assume responsibility or liability for children visiting the residence facilities.

Each student has the right to sleep or study without unreasonable restriction in their own room at any time during the day or night. Excessive noise and disruption will not be tolerated in Residence Life facilities. If noise level should become excessive, you will be required to lower the volume. Additionally, students who opt to bring oversized speakers which create a continual noise disruption into Residence Life facilities will be given the opportunity to remove those speakers. Should they fail to do so, the Department of Residence Life reserves the right to confiscate the speakers.

• Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are in effect from 11 p.m. - 11 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 p.m. - 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Courtesy Hours: Courtesy hours are in effect when quiet hours are not. During courtesy hours residents are expected to keep noise down so it may not be heard more than 2 doors down or outside the apartment in the University Operated Apartments as to not create excessive noise in the hallways, common areas and outside the buildings.

Prolonged or excessive noise that may disturb the rights, comfort or convenience of other residents may be considered a policy violation. Noise from a room should not be heard more than two doors down the hallway or two doors down in a breezeway.

Each semester beginning two days prior to starting final exams, 24-hour quiet time goes into effect. This policy will remain in effect until the last scheduled exam.

All students are responsible for maintaining a clean and sanitary living space in both their assigned room and the common areas. Resident rooms and apartments should be kept clear of trash, food waste, and clutter to prevent unpleasant odors and avoid attracting pests. In addition, residents are responsible for maintaining clear pathways for exit in case of emergency.

Residents should remove their personal trash from the building to the proper trash receptacles. Residents may not dispose of room trash in public bathrooms, lobbies, or other receptacles that are not the designated building trash receptacles. Trash may not be left in hallways, breezeways, lounges, bathrooms, stairwells, etc. Littering or throwing objects from windows is prohibited and the University reserves the right to impose a charge for violations of this provision as well as any littering by Resident.

Occupying a vacant space within a unit is prohibited. At any time, the space may be needed for another resident.

Fires and open flames are prohibited in residence halls and apartments. Fires caused through negligence may result in disciplinary action and damage charges. Students should use extreme caution when cooking and never leave cooking food unattended.

Smoking in a University owned housing facility is considered a fire safety violation. Candles (lit or unlit), incense, and open flame decorations are fire hazards and are not allowed in any housing facility. Burning such items in your residence hall or apartment is strictly prohibited. Candle warmers are not permitted; however, scented wax warmers using a low-wattage light bulb (such as “Scentsy” warmers) are permitted. Storage of any flammable or explosive items is strictly prohibited on or about the premises. Failure to observe this policy will result in disciplinary action.

Activating the fire alarms, panic alarm system, or the emergency blue light system under false pretenses or tampering with fire safety equipment is a state and local violation of the law. This includes, but is not limited to, tampering with, damaging, or disabling smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinkler heads, and fire door closing mechanisms. Disciplinary action, as well as criminal action, may be taken against individuals who violate this policy. Activating a fire alarm system due to smoking, vaping, or burning incense and/or disabling a fire alarm system to avoid detection of those or other activities in your residence hall room or apartment will result in disciplinary action.

A fire drill is conducted at least once per semester for each Residence Life facility. All persons in the building must participate in the fire drill and evacuate the building. Residents who do not comply with this regulation are subject to disciplinary action. Students should consider any fire alarm real and evacuate the building immediately.

Misuse of technology, theft, or abuse of computer resources, including unauthorized access to or alteration of files; use of another individual’s identification or password; interference with the work of students, faculty, or University officials; sending obscene, abusive, or otherwise disruptive messages; interfering with the normal operation of University computing systems; or violating copyright law through illegal file-sharing or downloading. Please see the DMCA Violation Policy here and in Article III, Section D.

In order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all persons on property owned or controlled by Arkansas Tech University, the following guidelines are established to control domestic animals on University property. Domestic animals are defined as any dog, cat, or other animal, including reptiles, that are intended to be a pet or companion for a person. 47 Domestic animals are not be permitted within the buildings or on property owned or controlled by Arkansas Tech University, with the exception of domestic animals specifically trained and certified to provide assistance to persons with disabilities. These animals must be registered with the Office of Disability Services. The only exception to this policy is for Jerry the Bulldog, official campus ambassador for Arkansas Tech University.

For information on approved assistance and service animals in University Operated Housing Facilities, see the Emotional Support Animal Policy and Service Animal Policy.

Items that compromise the safety and security of Residence Life facilities or the students that reside within those facilities are prohibited. Residence Life reserves the right to deem an item unsafe.

Firearms, ammunition, explosives, and weapons are prohibited. (See Firearms, Explosives, Weapons above.) Additionally, storage of combustible materials, such as gasoline, lighter fluid, or paint thinner, is not permitted in Residence Life facilities.

Hot plates, suntan lamps, halogen lamps, motion lamps (such as “lava” lamps) or any lamp that requires heat in order to function, tattoo guns and/or needles, window unit air conditioners, any open coil appliances (toasters, toaster ovens, etc.) electrical space heaters, and any appliance that could “melt down” if left unattended are prohibited regardless of UL approval. UL approved appliances with fully enclosed heating elements and/or electrical wiring are permitted.

Air fryers, Insta Pots, and Ninja cookers are only allowed in the University Commons Apartments.

Lighting and appliance wiring should not exceed one extension cord per electrical outlet. Use of multiple socket plugs, running extension cords under carpeting and direct splicing in the electrical outlet are prohibited. Extension cords must be UL approved. If a surge protector (e.g., multiple socket extender) is being used, it is required to be UL approved and have an on/off switch.

The possession, use, or storage of self-balancing scooters/hoverboards inside Arkansas Tech University buildings and facilities is prohibited.

Washing vehicles and performing mechanical work on vehicles is strictly prohibited.

Use, possession (including ingestion), and/or distribution of alcohol, alcohol containers (empty or populated), being present at a gathering in which a reasonable person would be aware alcohol is present and/or passive participation, and illegal substances or public intoxication are strictly prohibited. This regulation pertains to any person, regardless of age, student status, or position held within or outside of the University. To avoid any possible misunderstandings, empty alcohol containers (including boxes) are not permitted in Residence Life facilities.

Discovery of alcohol will require immediate disposal of the beverage in your presence by a Public Safety Officer as well as disciplinary action.

Students requiring staff or medical assistance due to alcohol consumption may be subject to disciplinary action.

Use of any tobacco product including, but not limited to, smoking, use of electronic cigarettes, vapor pens (with or without tobacco products), nicotine pouches, dipping, or chewing tobacco is prohibited.

Illegal drugs, including the use, possession, manufacturing, distribution, or being found under the influence of marijuana, inhalants, narcotics or other controlled substances and paraphernalia, except as expressly permitted by law, are prohibited. Improper use, possession, or distribution of legal drugs and/or prescription drugs without a prescription is prohibited.

Use or possession of marijuana, including medical marijuana used or prescribed under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016, is strictly prohibited on campus. Any such use or possession is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Specifically, Act 740 of 2017 provides that the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016 does not permit a person to possess, smoke, or otherwise engage in the medical use of marijuana on the grounds of a college or university. The University may notify parents or guardians of students under age 21 who are found to be in violation of this policy.