Community Living Standards - A Guide to Residence Hall Regulations

Residence Halls Community Living Standards

Section Contents

A series of specific guides to good social standards in the Residence Halls are included below. Obviously, it is neither possible nor desirable to outline specifically all of the expectations and etiquette of residence hall living. Rather, the individual should recognize their responsibility towards themselves, their fellow students and the total college community.

Certain actions of an individual, which might be perfectly desirable in private living arrangements, are impossible in a residence hall situation where so many people live closely together. (An example of this would be the restriction on pets, certain types of furniture in rooms, etc.)

Legal and ethical standards are not different in the college community than anywhere else. Racism, sexual harassment, harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated. 

Students must not justify anti-social/offensive actions as “college pranks,” even though in other circumstances, they would be recognized as more serious. We expect our Residence Hall Students to be good neighbors and respect the personal and property rights of fellow students, the College and the community. The College will not ask civil/criminal authorities to give any special consideration to students.

The Dormitory Corporation reserves the right to enter/inspect rooms for health, safety and maintenance reasons. This includes the right to enter a student’s room and/or suite, or any other area, whenever there is reason or cause to believe that there exists therein a danger to person or property or a violation of College and/or Residence Hall rules which may have the potential of negatively impacting on the educational goals of yourself, others, or the College.

The College reserves the right to reassign a resident to a different room when their conduct has jeopardized others' right to a safe or quality living and learning environment.

Failure to comply with Residence Hall Regulations or the Code of Conduct will result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Code of Conduct.

Alcohol

In compliance with New York State law and because most of our residents are under the legal drinking age of 21, alcohol is strictly prohibited in all Residence Halls and on Dormitory Corporation property, regardless of age.

  • Prohibited Items: Alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beer containing any alcohol content, empty alcohol containers, and alcohol-related paraphernalia (e.g., funnels) are not allowed—this includes items kept for decorative or sentimental purposes. Confiscated items may lead to disciplinary action.
  • Presence Equals Participation: Students found in an area where alcohol is present will be considered in violation of policy, regardless of whether they were consuming. In group situations, it is not possible to determine individual involvement, and all present may be held accountable.
  • Behavioral Expectations: Any disruptive or inappropriate behavior resulting from alcohol use may result in disciplinary sanctions, educational interventions, or both.
  • Please see the Residence Hall Rules and Regulations section for specific sanctioning information.

Candles/Incense

The use or possession of incense and candles is prohibited. These are fire hazards. Any student found in possession of or burning a candle is subject to judicial proceedings.

Courtesy Hours

When quiet hours are not in effect, courtesy hours are. This means residents should keep noise at a reasonable level so it doesn't disturb others. If someone is being too loud, anyone affected has the right to ask them to quiet down. RAs and staff will only step in if a complaint is made. Repeated violations may result in fines, probation, loss of privileges (like removal of speakers), or other consequences.

Drugs

New York colleges and universities, including Mohawk Valley Community College, receive federal funding through Title IV in the form of student financial aid. As a condition of accepting these funds, the College is required to certify that it complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA). The federal government regulates drugs through the Controlled Substances Act. Thus, to comply with the DFSCA and avoid losing federal funding, the College prohibits all marijuana use and students may be subject to conduct action for its use anywhere on campus or in the Residence Halls, regardless of New York state laws permitting such use for adults.

Note: Incidents involving quantities greater than 3 ounces or 24 ounces of concentrated cannabis will result in increased sanctions, including, but not limited to Residence Hall dismissal.  Possible Legal Action. 

The use or possession of illegal drugs (this includes cannabis), including pharmaceutical drugs without a medical prescription, misuse of personal pharmaceutical-OTC (Over-the-Counter) drugs, or drug paraphernalia is prohibited. Paraphernalia includes any item specifically manufactured or routinely used for drug use or other items that are commonly known to be used as part of drug use, at the staff’s discretion.

Students’ involvement with drugs in the Residence Halls will not be tolerated. Individuals involved in using, possessing, or selling drugs on Residence Hall property are subject to judicial procedures, including, but not limited to dismissal from the Residence Halls, and will be subject to the standard Room, Board and Fee Refund Policy. Students who are found in an area where drugs are present are considered to be involved in usage by implication. In a group situation, it would be impossible to ascertain the level of involvement of each individual. The student may be subjected to criminal charges.  Please see the Residence Hall Rules and Regulations section for specific sanctioning information.

Drug/Alcohol Overdose Policy

If deemed necessary, Residence Hall Staff or DPS may contact emergency medical services for assessment of any student displaying signs indicative of alcohol/drug overdose. In cases where it is necessary to implement this procedure, the student will be responsible for all related costs. Note: For more information, see the Amnesty and Good Samaritan policies located in the Code of Conduct.

Guest and Visitor Policy-Residence Hall:

The primary purposes of the Residence Halls are to promote an environment that promotes academic success and a residential community. 

Guests and Visitors, defined below, will be allowed in accordance with the below policy.

Visitor: A visitor is any person who does not reside in any of the MVCC Residence Halls who is visiting someone who does reside in the Residence Halls between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. (not overnight)

  • A visitor pass is not required.
  • A visitor must be hosted by a resident at all times.
  • Visitors must depart from the residence halls no later than 10 p.m. Failure to depart by 10 p.m. as required will subject the visitor to loss of visiting privileges.  
  • All non-MVCC student visitors must be a minimum of 17 years of age, unless accompanied by Parent/Guardian.

Guest: A guest is any person who does not reside in any of the MVCC Residence Halls  who is visiting someone who does reside in the Residence Halls after 10 p.m. 

  • A guest must obtain a Guest Pass from the Bellamy Hall Office, available Monday - Friday from 10am - 5pm and 7pm - 11pm and Saturday and Sunday from 7pm - 11pm.

Guest Guidelines:

  • All Guests must be a minimum of 18 years of age OR a minimum of 17 years of age IF they are currently a residence hall student at another college (Verification Required).
  • A Legal (Federal, State or Military issued) Photo ID, which verifies age, name and address, is required from the guest.
  • Two guests per time per resident.
  • The guest must carry their Guest Pass and their Photo ID at all times.
  • Guest must be in the presence of their host at all times.
  • Guests are valid for up to 72 hours.  
  • A new guest pass cannot be issued until five days have passed from the end date of the most recent guest pass used by the resident or guest.
    For example, if your last guest pass ended on a Sunday, you would be eligible to request a new pass starting on the following Friday.

Any student who is inconvenienced by a guest or visitor, or who is aware of a continuous violation, is encouraged to discuss the issue with the other residents and/or may submit a written complaint.

Any guest/visitor involved in policy violations or who fails to cooperate with Residence Hall or College Staff may be asked to leave immediately. Guests unable to produce a pass will be removed from the premises. The resident is responsible for the actions of their guest/visitor(s).

A resident must not allow any person to remain in their room unattended without their roommate’s permission.

Current Residence Hall Students: The MVCC Residence Halls are a community.  A resident who resides in one of the MVCC Residence Halls is welcome to visit other Residence Halls in accordance with the below guidelines:

  • A Residence Hall student who is inconvenienced by another Residence Hall student staying overnight in their room for more than 3 consecutive nights may file a complaint with a Resident Director.  Overnight is defined at 1 a.m.
  • A Residence Hall student who enters a residence hall that they do not reside in after 10:00 p.m. must sign in with the Night Security Assistant at the entrance of the building. 

Squatter Policy: A squatter is a non-residence hall student who remains in a Residence Hall room, or various rooms, for greater than one week. Any resident(s) who allow a non-residence hall student to be a squatter is subject to a fine equivalent to the daily room rate, as appropriate. Other sanctions may apply.

Lewd Acts

Acts of lewd or indecent behavior are not acceptable in the Residence Halls and will be considered grounds for disciplinary action. Such behavior violates the standards of respect, safety, and shared responsibility that are essential to maintaining a positive and inclusive living environment. Lewd acts may include, but are not limited to, public nudity, sexual activity in shared or public spaces, indecent exposure, or behavior that is sexually explicit, offensive, or disruptive to others. These actions can cause discomfort, emotional distress, or a sense of unsafety for those who witness or are subjected to them, and they undermine the wellbeing of the entire community.

Maximum Occupancy

For safety reasons, no more than the following number of people, including room occupants, can be in a room at one time.  Students may request to exceed this limit by contacting a professional staff member in Bellamy Hall Office.

  • Any double occupancy room: 8
  • Any single occupancy room: 6
  • Total number in a Bellamy Hall Suite: 21

Motorcycles

All motorcycles, motorbikes and motorized vehicles must be kept in the student parking area designated for the Residence Halls. Parking of motorized vehicle/item next to any building is strictly prohibited. Violators will be ticketed and towed. No motorized vehicle/item may be placed in the interior of any building. It is a very serious fire hazard and will not be tolerated.

Musical Instruments and Amplifiers

The use of musical instruments and amplifiers in the Residence Halls is permitted on a limited basis and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis due to the wide variation in volume and potential disruption to the community. Residents are expected to be respectful of quiet hours and shared spaces. Traditional drum sets are not permitted under any circumstances. Excessive noise or repeated disruptions may result in restrictions on use or disciplinary action.  

Pets

Residents may only keep fish in small tanks, limited to 2.5 gallon or less, and only species that do not require heaters, filters, or lighting. These low-maintenance pets must be cared for responsibly and pose no risk to the health or cleanliness of the room. No other animals or aquatic species are permitted in the Residence Halls. Failure to comply may result in removal of the tank and disciplinary action.

Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals are not pets.  Policies and procedures regarding ESA’s are available by contacting the Residence Life Office.

Quality of Life - Cannabis

Residence Halls are a student’s “home away from home” and policies are in place to provide each student with an atmosphere that is conducive to sleep, study and engagement. With changing personal philosophies on cannabis and legislative change, it has become clear that a personal decision by one person to use cannabis can negatively impact another person’s right to a quality living experience in the Residence Halls. This includes, but is not limited to, triggering adverse health effects such as headaches, asthma, and allergies.  Like many other examples, situations that might be perfectly fine when not living in a community setting are not appropriate when you do live in a community setting.  A person who decides to smoke cannabis off-campus is expected to take steps prior to returning to campus to remove the smell from their person.  There are products on the market, such as Cannabolish, that are specifically designed to reduce cannabis odor.  Other steps such as cleaning paraphernalia, body and hand washing, removal of coats prior to smoking, ventilating your smoking location, etc. may help eliminate the odor.  Excessive cannabis odors in the Residence Halls are a violation of the Code of Conduct Quality of Life policy and students who are in violation of this policy will be subject to judicial faction.

Quiet Hours

Quiet hours are established in order to ensure a residence hall environment that is conducive to study and sleep. It is up to all residents to help enforce quiet hours in their community. It cannot be expected that staff will hear all noise. With everyone’s cooperation, we can ensure a proper study atmosphere in the halls. When a student’s door is closed, the noise volume from within is not to be potentially disturbing to other students. All residents are encouraged to bring headphones or earbuds for their music. During quiet hours, students, out of respect for fellow students, are required to keep noise to a minimum, including loud talking, music, televisions and door slamming. Excessive noise that can clearly be heard outside of a closed room door is considered a violation.

Quiet hours are:

  • Sunday through Thursday: 10 p.m. - 10 a.m.
  • Weekends: Saturday, 12 a.m.-Saturday, Noon; Sunday, 12 a.m.-Sunday, Noon

Quiet hours extend to the area outside the Residence Halls. Due to the disturbance caused by noise close to the buildings, excessive noise outside the residence halls during quiet hours is prohibited.

Residents may file a formal complaint by contacting any Residence Life Professional Staff member.

24-Hour Quiet Hours: “Extended Quiet Hours”

At the discretion of the Residence Hall Staff, quiet hours will be extended during the end of the semester during final testing and projects. During 24-hour quiet hours, violators will be subject to judicial action.

Room Changes

Students are not permitted to change rooms on their own. All room changes must be approved in advance by a Residence Director (RD). If you are interested in a room change, please visit the Bellamy Hall Office to meet with an RD and begin the approval process. Unauthorized room changes are not allowed and may result in disciplinary action.

Scooters, E-Bikes, Hoverboards, E-Skateboards, Etc.

No e-Bike, e-Scooter or similar item with a lithium-ion battery is inside the Residence Halls nor in any non-designated exterior location.  No exceptions. Violation of this fire code will result in the loss of housing privileges.

Designated Location: These items may be placed in the exterior bike rack at your own risk. 

This directive is issued by the State of New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

Smoke, Vaping and Tobacco Free Policy

Smoking and all tobacco and tobacco-related products are prohibited in and outside of the Residence Halls.  MVCC is a Tobacco-Free Campus.  All tobacco-derived or containing products including but not limited to cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, vape pens, cigars, cigarillos, hookah smoking products, pipes, clove cigarettes (kreteks), bidis, smokeless tobacco, and oral tobacco (smokeless, chew, snus, and snuff) are prohibited. This policy does not extend to tobacco cessation products. Violations will be treated as violations of Student Conduct Regulations.   

A typical initial sanction for violation of this policy in a Residence Hall room is $10.  Additional violation would result in increased sanctions. In the event that other policies are violated, such as covering a smoke detector, while violating this policy, the person would be subject to judicial procedures for those policies in addition.  Any person who activates the fire alarm due to use of any above product will be responsible for any fine the College receives from the City of Utica and will be subject to judicial action.

Solicitation/Commerce

No student is to use or permit their room to be used for any commercial purpose, except as approved by the Dean of Student Life. Solicitation in the Residence Halls is strictly limited as a protection to those living in the halls. All solicitors must have written permission from the Dean of Student Life before they may approach students. Please do not deal with anyone unable to produce proof that they have permission and report any such person to Residence Hall Staff or Public Safety at once.

No piercing or tattooing activity is allowed in the Residence Halls.

Sports

Interior: All sports are strictly prohibited within the Residence Halls (i.e., lounges, rooms, suites, stairwells, etc.). Any activity of this nature may be destructive to property and a nuisance to your fellow residents.

Exterior: Rollerblades, roller-skates, manual scooters, skateboards and similar items must be used in a responsible manner and only on campus sidewalks and in such areas the college may designate. Anyone using these items on MVCC property must at all times give right of way to pedestrians and shall travel at a reasonable, safe and prudent speed. No one is allowed to be on any stairway, bench, table or any other Residence Hall property with the above items.  Please see eBike, etc. policy in this section for important guidance on lithium-ion batteries.

These items are not to be used or worn in the Residence Halls. Students are responsible for cost of any damage caused by violating this policy. Football (except Flag) and any type of boxing is prohibited on Dormitory Corporation property.

Any activity, which in the opinion of the Residence Hall staff has the potential of injury or damage, is prohibited. 

Theft

Residents are responsible for the care and security of their personal belongings. Individuals are liable for any loss or damage to their property, except in cases where legal negligence by another party can be clearly established. To protect against loss, all residents are encouraged to maintain adequate insurance coverage.

Residence Hall students are automatically enrolled in a personal property insurance policy. Instructions for filing a claim can be found on the MVCC Housing website.

All thefts or suspected thefts must be reported to MVCC Public Safety immediately (AB 106). While students always have the right to contact local law enforcement, this should ideally occur after informing Public Safety.

To help prevent theft and loss, students are encouraged to follow these safety measures:

  • Keep your room door locked at all times, even if leaving for a short moment.
  • Record serial numbers of valuables and keep the list in a secure location.
  • Do not loan out your room key or student ID to others.
  • Avoid displaying expensive items in plain view from windows or open doors.
  • Report suspicious activity in the Residence Halls immediately to Public Safety.

Taking simple preventative steps and being aware of your surroundings can significantly reduce the risk of theft or property loss.

Weapons, Flammables, Chemicals and Explosives

Use, storage, fabrication, or possession of firearms, explosives, fireworks, flammables, and noxious chemicals1 or other items that could be considered or simulate a weapon, except where authorized by the College, is prohibited. In addition to above, this regulation includes, but is not limited to, Taser guns, BB/pellet guns, laser guns, bows and arrows, throwing stars, brass knuckles, unauthorized knives2, straight edge razors, or ammunition.

1 Possession of a self-defense spray is authorized as allowed under New Your State Penal Law Section 265.20(a)(14) and must follow New York State Codes, Rules and Regulations Section 54.3 Requirements. Any person who possesses such self-defense spray in the Residence Halls must disclose it to the Residence Life Office, in writing, within 12 hours. Failure to do so will be considered a violation of Code of Conduct CR 17.

2 The only acceptable knives are small manual pocketknives or small kitchen knives. No blade may exceed 3”.  Knives utilized as part of a Culinary Arts class are only allowed in that class and in transit directly to and from that class. In the event they cannot be safely secured in a private vehicle when not in class, please consult with instructor for proper on-site storage. Residence Hall students may also contact Public Safety for assistance with safe storage. 

  • No one shall possess or use any spring loaded or air-powered “weapon”/item which is capable of producing a projectile that can or may cause injury or damage.
  • Paintball guns and paintballs are strictly prohibited.

Any item used for educational purposes that can be considered a weapon must be registered with Public Safety and checked there.

Windows/Room Screens

Removal/damage to windows of screens or placing any object outside the window is prohibited. No screen, except the small access mini screen in Bellamy Hall windows, is to be raised and no safety mechanism in place may be disengaged or modified. Leaning/jumping/entering/exiting out of any window is prohibited. For safety reasons, window glass cannot be covered. Sitting on any windowsill is prohibited. Neither ID Cards nor any other item may be transferred from one person to another through a window.