Living In Community Policies

Respect – One of Tarleton’s core values is respect. Residents are responsible for complying with instructions and directions of University officials (including RLs) or law enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties. Residents adhere to the policies and community standards as a form of respect for the members within the community.

Common Spaces – Common spaces are for the use of all community members and all residents will: maintain the
cleanliness and sanitation of common spaces, maintain the safety and security of the residential facility, and remain fully
clothed within the common spaces.

Hall/Building/Apartment Meetings – A general meeting of all residents is held during the first week of classes in the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as throughout the academic year. Residents are expected to attend hall/building/apartment meetings. Meetings are conducted by Residence Life staff to distribute information, answer questions, and handle various issues. Students are responsible for all information distributed and discussed during these meetings.

Courtesy and Quiet Hours – Courtesy and Quiet Hours have been established to provide periods during which noise and
other disturbing activities are kept to a minimum to allow residents a peaceful time to sleep and study. All residents are
expected to be mature and considerate of their neighbors’ right to a peaceful living environment

Final Exam Periods – Quiet Hours are in effect 24 hours a day throughout all University Housing during final examination periods each semester. The final exam quiet hours begin at 6 p.m. on the last official class day and continue through the close-down of all residence halls and apartments. Realizing that individual academic demands and personal schedules vary,
students should always honor requests by others to minimize noise. Residents who do not comply with courtesy or quiet hour policies will be subject to disciplinary action by the Residence Life staff or Student Conduct.

Visitation – Visitation times apply to all guests and all areas of each residential facility (rooms, units, lobbies, common spaces). Visitation hours, in common spaces, may be extended beyond visitation hours for university sponsored events.

All guests must be escorted into and out of the residence halls by the assigned resident (host). Any unaccompanied guest must enter and exit the residence hall/apartment through the main entrance and wait in the lobby for the assigned resident (host) to escort them further in to the residence hall. All visitors must have the approval of the room/suite mate(s) to be present in the residence hall rooms. Some events or time periods might require a sign-in procedure for guests. If a sign-in procedure is established, all residents and guests must comply with the established procedure.

The visitation schedule in all residence halls and apartments is as follows:
Sunday – Thursday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.
Friday – Saturday 24 Hour Visitation

Overnight visitors will not be allowed to stay more than 3 nights within a month.

Room Occupancy – Residence hall rooms or units can not exceed the occupancy deemed safe by the Fire Marshall. Assigned residents (hosts) must control their room/unit to ensure that the community is a safe and comfortable space for residents while guests are present. Hosting a large quantity of guests, within a room or unit is not conducive to fire safety or to courtesy /quiet hour policies and is subject to referral to Student Conduct.

Guest Policy – A guest is defined as any person visiting a campus housing facility who is not assigned to live in the facility or room they are visiting. Each guest must have a host and be escorted into and out of the residence hall they are visiting. A guest without a host will be escorted from the residence hall. Guests are expected to comply with the policies, rules, and
regulations governing Residence Life and Student Conduct. The host resident is responsible for his/her guest’s behavior. Hosts are responsible for guest disruptions or behaviors that cause discomfort, annoyance or nuisance to any other resident of the hall. Guests must be accompanied by the host resident in all community facilities/amenities being utilized by the guest. Tarleton students attending hall events are guests of event hosts during the community event.

Any guest, regardless of gender, must have the approval of all residents of the room. All guests must be out of the building at the end of designated visitation hours. All guests under the age of seventeen must be preapproved by the Residence Hall
Director. Guests are not permitted to stay in the residence halls or University apartments more than three nights a month. Violation of the guest policy may result in referral to Student Conduct.

Alcohol, Drug, Smoking and Tobacco Policies – Tarleton State University is committed to providing a safe, healthy, work
and educational environment for all students, staff, and visitors on campus. Tarleton State University is a smoking, tobacco and drug-free campus.

Alcohol and other Drugs – It is a violation of university policy for students or guests to possess or consume alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs within the residential facilities housing primarily first year students: Hunewell, Hunewell Annex, Heritage, Legends, Legacy, Centennial and Honors Hall. Residents in all first-year residence halls, regardless of age, may not possess any alcohol products.

Empty alcoholic beverage containers, including shot glasses, may not be displayed in residence hall rooms or apartments, even as a decoration. Violation of this policy will result in administrative or disciplinary action.

Ferguson, Texan Village, Traditions North & South, Integrity, and Texan Hall residents, of legal drinking age, may store and consume alcohol in their residential space under the following conditions:

• The student must have a copy of their valid state-issued ID on file with the front office of their Residence Hall or Apartment complex.
• Students may only consume alcohol inside their apartment or room common area; alcohol consumption outside, on the balcony and around the community common areas is strictly prohibited.
• Alcohol MUST NOT be made accessible to minors in the apartment at any time. Alcohol can not be stored in the common space if any roommates or suitemates are under the legal drinking age.
• Residents are responsible for their guests’ behavior and all guests are subject to university guidelines and policies. Guests who are 21 years of age and older can consume alcohol in the resident’s room or apartment.

Drugs, Smoking, E-Cigarettes, and Smokeless Tobacco – Tarleton is a smoke and tobacco-free campus

• Tobacco and any tobacco products, including vapes, are prohibited in the residence halls.
• Possession or use of any illegal drugs is prohibited on the University campus.
• Taking or having possession of prescription medication, without a prescription, is prohibited on the University campus.

Pet Policy – Pets are strictly prohibited in University Housing with the exception of fish in a properly maintained aquarium (no larger than 10 gallons). Students considering having an aquarium with fish should be aware that ALL electrical items must be disconnected during break periods. Aquariums containing anything other than fish are prohibited. Violators of
the pet policy are subject to a $60.00 fine and restitution for damages.

Emotional Support Animal – Students who reside in campus housing, upon review and approval of an Accommodation Request, may keep an emotional support animal, commonly known as an ESA, in the residential living unit provided specific expectations and requirements are met and agreed to by the ESA-owner-resident before the pet is permitted to be present in campus housing. The process begins with the student submitting an Accommodation Request in the housing portal through Duck Trax. The need for an ESA must be genuine and be documented in a letter from the owner’s medical provider. After the Accommodation Request is submitted, reviewed and notification of approval has been received, the student must show proof of veterinarian vaccination documentation and the reviewed and signed Emotional Support Animal Guidelines Owner’s Responsibilities in Campus Housing document. An ESA differs from a service animal. A service animal is trained to
perform a specific function, task or “work” related to the person’s disability. A service animal does not need to be registered with an office or department at Tarleton State University. ESA ownership in campus housing requires responsibility on the part of the ESA-owner. The ESA is only permitted inside campus housing and may not enter a dining facility, academic building or any campus facility other than campus housing. Failure to adhere to Emotional Support Animal Guidelines Owner’s Responsibilities in Campus Housing may result in disciplinary action, restrictions or even exclusions.