Residential Guidelines

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Quiet & Courtesy Hours

Residential communities are intended to provide an environment that is conducive to studying and sleeping. In order to maintain an acceptable noise level, staff and students are expected to be respectful of others and should confront noise problems when they occur.

Quiet Hours

Sunday through Thursday nights from 10 p.m. – 8 a.m.

Friday and Saturday nights from 12 a.m. – 8 a.m.

During quiet hours all noise (e.g. music, TV, conversation) should be contained inside a student room with the door closed. Noise in the hallways, stairwells, and lounges should be kept to a minimum. Students are encouraged to talk with those violating quiet hours before requesting the assistance of a staff member. Students violating quiet hours may be given a warning and further violations may lead to other conduct action.

Outside of quiet hours, courtesy hours are in effect. During courtesy hours students should be especially respectful of others in the hall. If you are trying to study or sleep, you may ask people to be quiet. If you are asked to turn down your music or quiet down, you are expected to comply.

As members of the Gettysburg College community, students are expected to adhere to the Borough noise ordinance by refraining from the production of loud volumes of noise. All audible noise outside the halls must cease (at minimum) between 11pm and 6am every day, Violators may be subject to College conduct action as well as Borough fines. For more detailed information about the Borough noise ordinance, visit the Gettysburg Borough website.

Guests

College housing is provided for the exclusive use of Gettysburg College students as assigned by the Office of Residential Education. Visitors may be allowed to use residential facilities within the following guidelines:

  • In order for a student to host a guest in their room, the student must ask all other roommates for permission to host a guest. Students are not able to host a guest unless all other roommates agree to allow the guest into their space.
  • Visitors are permitted for only three consecutive days and totaling no more than 8 days in a one month period. No student is authorized to permit use of College housing facilities (including rooms) for any visitor, either student or non-student, when such use becomes a source of complaint to the roommate(s), members of the floor/residence hall, or College staff.
  • The host student has complete responsibility for all visitors. Students accused of violating this policy may be subject to conduct action. If visitors violate College policy, the host student will be held responsible and is subject to conduct action. The visitor, either student or non-student, may be removed from College housing and/or prohibited from returning to campus.
  • Guests must register their vehicle at Campus Safety.

Animals in the Residence Halls

Gettysburg College does not allow animals in residence halls, even as guests of family or friends. The only exceptions include non-carnivorous fish, certified service animals, and approved emotional support animals (ESAs). ESAs are approved by the College through the disabilities accommodation process. See “Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.” Gettysburg College’s policy regarding Animals on Campus is found in the Community Standards.

Members of the residential professional staff who live in residence halls controlled by the College may request permission from the Director of Residential Education to have a pet(s) reside with them. If approval for a pet(s) is granted, these pets will not be permitted in administrative or classroom buildings unless they are certified service animals.

Life Safety Inspections and Violations

Campus Safety's Life and Fire Safety Unit performs residence hall and fraternity full-scale Health and Safety (H&S) Inspections two times a year, once during winter break and once during the summer months prior to the start of each fall semester. Life and Fire Safety building inspectors conduct regular inspections of residential hall and fraternity common areas throughout the academic year. Full-scale building/hall inspections are announced. Not all common area inspections are announced. Students are required to read and comply with the Residential and Fraternity Guidelines which include life and fire safety rules and regulations for residential buildings.

The inspections include, but are not limited to, a visual examination of electrical cords, sprinkler heads, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and other life safety systems. In addition, each room will be examined for the presence of prohibited items (e.g., sources of open flames, such as candles; non-surge protected extension cords; halogen lamps; portable cooking appliances in non-kitchen areas; etc.) or prohibited activity (e.g., smoking in the room; tampering with life safety equipment; possession of pets; etc.). This inspection will also include a general assessment of food and waste storage and cleanliness of the room.

Additionally, each apartment kitchen is equipped with a fire extinguisher for student safety. This extinguisher must be inspected each month to ensure it is in good working order and mounted properly. Life and First Safety inspectors will check these fire extinguishers monthly to ensure they are in good working order.

Fire Alarms

Campus Safety should be called immediately at 717-337-6911 (x6911) for all fire alarms. Two emergency evacuation drills are held each semester to ensure that all students are familiar with evacuation procedures. Anytime a fire alarm sounds everyone must evacuate the building and remain outside until you are notified that it is safe to return by a Campus Safety Officer or Residential Education staff member. During an evacuation, residents are to follow emergency procedures including any Residential Education staff member instructions.

Prohibited Items and Prohibited Conduct

As a residential college, it is important for students to maintain their residential space in a way that promotes health, safety, and community. As a result, there are certain items and behaviors that are not permitted in the residence halls. Students are responsible for the items contained and the events that occur in their rooms.

Prohibited Items

  • Guns, firearms, knives longer than three-inches, or weapons of any type, including BB and pellet guns
  • Candles and/or incense (lit or unlit)
  • Room-heating devices, including all space heaters, kerosene or oil lamps, and alcohol burners. Space heaters provided by Facilities Services to accommodate temporary heat concerns are permitted.
  • Gasoline-powered items, such as motorcycles, mopeds, or parts thereof
  • Pressurized tanks (e.g. helium tanks)
  • Flammable and/or combustible liquids and/or chemicals including gasoline and charcoal
  • Grills of any type (with the exception of Foreman-style grills in apartments)
  • Fireworks, smoke bombs, sparklers, etc.
  • Drug paraphernalia and illegal drugs
  • Animals or pets of any kind (with the exception of certified service animals, approved emotional support animals, and/or non-carnivorous fish)
  • Electrical appliances with an exposed heating source (e.g. toaster ovens, toasters, hot plates, air fryers). Apartments are limited to one such appliance to be kept in the kitchen.
  • Overloaded electrical receptacles, faulty extension cords, halogen lamps
  • Light dimmers, ceiling fans, or any other device that replaces, adds to, or interferes with any room apparatus
  • Excessive furniture that blocks or restricts egress
  • Three-section couches
  • Waterbeds and beds other than twin size (unless provided by the College)
  • Dartboards and darts
  • Nails, hooks, double-faced adhesive tape, LED light tape, or other items that will damage walls
  • Live trees
  • Personal lofts
  • Halogen lamps
  • Small electrical cooking devices (e.g. toaster ovens, toasters, hot plates, air fryers). Apartments are limited to one such appliance to be kept in the kitchen.
  • Overloaded electrical receptacles
  • Faulty or old extension cords
  • Portable washers, dryers, and dishwashers
  • Mini refrigerators with the exception of the microfridges provided by the College
  • Air conditioners with the exception of approved units that are provided and installed by the College through the disabilities accommodation process
  • Microwaves other than the College-provided microfridges in non-apartments (Apartments are limited to one microwave which would be provided by the student(s) living in the apartment.
  • Portable cooking appliances in non-kitchen areas.
  • Nails, screws, hooks, staples, adhesives such as duct and packaging tape, LED light tape, or other items that will damage walls and flooring
  • Dartboards and darts
  • Excessive furniture that blocks or restricts egress
  • Three-section couches
  • Waterbeds and beds other than twin size (unless provided by the College)
  • Live trees
  • Personal lofts
  • Attaching hammocks to the interior or exterior of any College building

Note: The preceding list is not all-inclusive; any item that is a threat to public safety may be removed. In addition to confiscation, violators may be subject to conduct action.

Prohibited Conduct

  • Smoking inside any residential space; this includes the use of electronic cigarettes and vapes (Smoking must occur at least 15 feet away from any building.)
  • Draping or placing objects, including fabric, over lighting fixtures, smoke detectors, or fire sprinkler systems
  • Hanging stringed lights on the exterior of buildings without the advanced, expressed, written consent of the Office of Residential Education
  • Wrapping or placing wires or stringed lights in the area of beds
  • Lending keys to others; copying keys; or possession of keys that are not authorized for your use
  • Water fights, ball playing, bike riding, or similar activities which may cause harm to persons or property
  • Storage of bicycles in stairwells or hallways
  • Storage of personal items such as sports bags/equipment, furniture, or suitcases in stairwells or hallways
  • Throwing any items into or out of windows
  • Altering, tampering, or dismantling any door closure or propping open any exterior door
  • Solicitation of goods or services
  • Painting, wallpapering, or similarly decorating individual rooms or common areas unless prior approval is given by the Office of Residential Education and Facilities Services
  • Repairing any damages to walls, ceiling, or floors
  • Removal or replacement of light bulbs in ceiling fixtures that have not been approved by Facilities Services 
  • Removal and replacement of shower heads and installation of water filtering devices
  • Removal, destruction, disassembling, or altering of room furniture
  • Removing screens from windows
  • Installation of privately owned air conditioners
  • Installing wall partitions or paneling
  • Modifying or tampering with circuit breakers or any part of the electrical system
  • Installing and subscribing to a cable or satellite TV provider
  • Installing personal locks or chains on doors or windows
  • Sleeping in public areas of the residence halls by residents and/or guests
  • Entering the Quarry pond, including wading, swimming, and ice skating
  • Vehicle maintenance on college property
  • Flushing of wipes, both flushable and non-flushable brands