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 Conduct and Items

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 Conduct

In addition to conduct already outlined in the Student Handbook these actions are also prohibited.

Interior

  • Draping or placing objects, including fabric, over lighting fixtures, smoke detectors, fire sprinkler systems, or modifying room/building systems in any way
  • Painting, wallpapering, or similarly decorating individual rooms or common areas unless prior approval is given by Residential Education and Facilities Services
  • Repairing any damages to walls, ceiling, or floors
  • Removal or replacement of light bulbs in ceiling fixtures
  • Removal or replacement of shower heads and installation of water filtering devices
  • Removal, destruction, disassembling, or altering of room furniture
  • Removing screens from windows
  • Installing wall partitions or paneling
  • Modifying or tampering with circuit breakers or any part of the electrical system
  • Installing personal locks or chains on doors or windows
  • Installing cable, internet, or satellite TV equipment
  • Flushing of any items that are not meant to be flushed including flushable wipes
  • Storage of any items in stairwells, hallways, or common rooms

Exterior

  • Modifying temporarily or permanently the exterior of a building without prior consent from Residential Education or the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life (OSAGL)

Security

  • Lending, using, copying, or possession of keys that are not authorized for your use
  • Altering, tampering, blocking or dismantling any door closure or lock
  • Intentionally leaving keys in door locks
  • Propping open any exterior door
  • Using windows for entry or exit of a building
  • Accessing any unauthorized space including mechanical rooms, roofs, and balconies or other areas not intended for student use

Horseplay/Roughhousing

  • Water fights, ball playing, bike riding, or similar activities inside which cause harm to persons or property
  • Throwing any items into or out of windows

Use of Ladders

  • Students living in College Houses or College-owned fraternity houses may use and store ladders that are six feet in length or less when fully extended. If a student needs a longer ladder, they must contact Campus Safety who will provide the ladder and supervise the use of it at their discretion.
  • Students in all other College-operated student housing may only store and use step stools with a maximum of two steps.
  • Students living in privately-owned fraternity houses may use and store ladders as permitted by the Housing Corporation that manages the facility.

Prohibited Items

Animals

  • Animals or pets of any kind (except certified service animals, College approved emotional support animals, and/or non-carnivorous fish in a fish tank 3 gallons or smaller)

Appliances

  • 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.
  • Grills of any type (except Foreman-style grills in apartments) without approval by OSAGL or Residential Education
  • Using electrical appliances with an exposed heating source (e.g. toaster ovens, toasters, hot plates, air fryers) in residential rooms. These items must be used in appropriate kitchens but can be stored in residential rooms.
  • Portable washers, dryers, and dishwashers
  • Mini refrigerators except the MicroFridges provided by the College
  • Air conditioners except 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.)

Flammables

  • Lit candles and/or incense
  • Pressurized tanks (e.g. helium tanks)
  • Flammable and/or combustible liquids and/or chemicals including gasoline
  • Fireworks, smoke bombs, sparklers, etc.

Weapons

  • Guns, firearms, knives longer than three inches, or weapons of any type, including any item that appears to look like a firearm or uses compressed gas or spring to shoot a projectile (airsoft, paintball, orbeez etc)

Furniture

  • Excessive furniture that blocks or restricts egress
  • Waterbeds and beds other than twin size (unless provided by the College)
  • Any personally constructed furniture to include lofts, stages, bars not approved by the College
  • Attaching hammocks to the interior or exterior of any College building
  • Equipment meant for outside use such as pools, hot tubs, or other items. These items can be stored in a room but not used inside.

Motorized Vehicles

  • Gasoline-powered items, such as motorcycles, mopeds, or parts thereof

Vegetation

  • Live trees

Network Devices/Technology

  • Overloaded electrical receptacles or faulty extension cords
  • Light dimmers, ceiling fans, or any other device that replaces, adds to, or interferes with any room apparatus

Décor

  • Nails, screws, hooks, staples, or other items or actions that will damage walls, ceilings and flooring

The College may make reasonable exceptions to these policies based on medical, religious and other accommodations. Exceptions will be evaluated based on the impact to the College and other residents.

Equipment and Rentals

Use of equipment must approved by the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • The equipment requires stakes to be put into the ground. Approval of such equipment will depend on the College’s ability to complete a PA1 call to confirm no underground utilities will be damaged by the staking. The state of Pennsylvania requires at least 3 business days’ notice to complete this assessment and appropriately mark the location. When possible, equipment should be secured with sandbags or another appropriate weight to reduce the need to put stakes into the ground.
  • Use or installation of the equipment requires the modification or alteration of a College facility, grounds, or other College property including but not limited to anchoring equipment to a structure or digging holes. Approval of such equipment will depend on the long-term impact any such modifications would have on College property.
  • The equipment is being rented. Contracts for rental equipment should be provided to the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life before they are signed for review. Approval of such equipment will depend on whether the rental company carries appropriate insurance and if the terms of the contract can be met by the renters and the College.

The College may stop the use of equipment or modify how the equipment is being used if one or more of the following criteria are met:

  • Use of the equipment violates College policy or any applicable ordinances or laws.
  • Use of the equipment poses a reasonable ongoing threat to student safety or the safety of the community as determined by a designated College official.
  • Use of the equipment could reasonably cause significant damage to College property as determined by a designated College official.