Residence Hall Policies

It is often said that approximately 80% of the learning by students during their college years takes place outside of the classroom. Much of this happens during interactions that take place between students in a residence hall. This handbook provides guidelines to make your stay in the residence halls comfortable. Included in this handbook you will find two sections of hall information. The first section consists of housing information that all students should be aware of and the second section lists policies and procedures as well as the disciplinary actions that may be taken for not following them. You will also find a list of people who play key roles and a list of offices to contact for more information or assistance in a variety of situations.

Diversity is the heart of Gallaudet’s community. People with diverse backgrounds bring differing styles of communication and living and new perspectives. In the residence halls at a small university such as Gallaudet, you will find a number of people with interests similar to your own. You will also find people who are more different than you expect. The diversity of appearances, beliefs, communication, and expectations is captivating, brilliant, and sometimes intimidating. Diversity offers a wide ‘curriculum’ of situations and occasions that fosters personal growth. This is why we, at the Office of Residence Life and Housing, work hard to create an environment in which friendships with all people, similar and dissimilar, can flourish. The aspiration of the Residence Life and Housing staff is to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding, where a student’s rights to a safe, clean, and comfortable home are respected.

We realize, of course, that even with these statements in place, conflicts may occur. While the residence hall environment can be a place that offers great opportunities for growth, it can also be challenging. The Office of Residence Life and Housing attempts to create and cultivate an environment which allows room for growth in the wake of conflict. We do this by encouraging respect for the rights of the individual weighed against the rights and interests of the community as a whole. Our preferred approach to developing responsible behavior by and among students is through balanced participation of all involved. We work to enhance student learning that offers creative opportunities for growth and empower those involved to resolve the immediate situation and make better future choices. Additionally, we work to develop the capacity of the community to collectively solve its problems. The more you, as a resident, can get involved with the people in your hall, fellow students, and staff, the more you will grow with your peers and have a positive experience in the residence hall and with the University.

As members of the University community, students have certain responsibilities and obligations, including satisfactory academic performance and responsible social behavior. Students assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the University’s function as an educational institution. To fulfill its functions of imparting and gaining knowledge, the University retains the right to maintain order within the University and to address, through proper disciplinary procedures, conduct that adversely affects the University community or the University’s pursuit of its educational objectives.

Student conduct is not considered in isolation within the University community but as an integral part of the educational process. Developing citizenship, respect for others, and responsible social behavior are part of the University’s commitment to the education of the whole person. It is expected that student behavior will reflect well on self, bring credit to the University, and to contribute positively to student and University life. This includes upholding all published University policies, rules, and regulations. It is clear that in a community of learning, the willful disruption of the educational process, destruction of property and/or interference with the orderly processes of the University, or with the rights of other members of the University community, for example, cannot be tolerated. Ignorance of a rule or regulation will not be an acceptable defense, so we urge you to become familiar with the Student Code, Residence Hall Policies, and the conduct expectations of Gallaudet University students in general.

The most updated version the Student Code of Conduct and all Residence Hall Policies can be found in the online Student Handbook.