Living in Community

The Office of Residence Life strives to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to scholarship and personal growth and development. Students who reside on campus live in a community with their peers and are entrusted with the responsibility of challenging and supporting each other in a respectful, cooperative, and communicative fashion. Residence Life staff strive to support the learning that takes place in and outside of the classroom and address the needs of the APU residential community, encouraging students to define their values and beliefs, explore their interests, express their gifts and personal leadership abilities, formulate questions and pursue answers, and learn to fellowship with others within the context of community.

Toward that end, all residents must respect and comply with lifestyle expectations and all university policies and procedures, including the following:

Accountability in Community

All residents are expected to respect and remain accountable to all community expectations, university policies, and procedures. The accountability process within Residence Life is designed to help students develop a living and learning style that is consistent with the Christian standards of Azusa Pacific University. These standards help create an environment that is respectful of individual rights and freedoms, one where all are free to pursue academic excellence, and one that brings glory to God.

It is our intention to hold community members accountable to these standards through disciplinary action that is redemptive and respectful to individuals. Residents involved in disciplinary action may be subject to sanctions involving restrictions, fines, and/or housing license agreement termination.

Students wishing to appeal any Residence Life disciplinary action must do so, in writing, to the executive director of residence life within three school days of the date of the written decision.

The appeal shall consist of one or more of the following exclusive grounds for appeal:

New Information: There is new and significant information that has not yet been considered. Information would be considered “new” if it was discovered after the student’s hearing.
Excessive Sanctions: Sanctions imposed are excessive to the violation(s) relative to sanctions imposed for similar violations under similar facts and circumstances as determined by the Student Standards of Conduct.
Procedural Irregularity: e.g., the student did not have opportunity to present information at the hearing.

Guidelines for the letter of appeal:

Students must submit a written appeal to the supervisor of the judicial officer or designee within three school days of the date of the written decision. Written appeal must reflect the guidelines as listed in the following point.
The petition must include:
- Names of the parties involved
- Clear statement of the nature of the appeal (must consist of one or more of the following exclusive grounds):
  - New information
  - Excessive sanctions
  - Procedural irregularity
- A narrative of incident including:
  - Why it occurred
  - How it occurred
  - Where it occurred
  - Who was present
  - The information on which the appeal is based
- The desired outcome

The supervisor (or designee), may, in response to the written appeal and upon review of all information and testimony presented, revise or confirm an earlier disciplinary process. The decision of the appeal may be made with or without meeting with students. After a decision has been reached, the student will be notified in writing by the supervisor. Decisions made in the appeal process are final and may not be addressed through the “Grievance Process” set forth in the catalog.

Only in case of sexual misconduct issues, both the complainant and the respondent will have the right to appeal the decision made through the process. Decisions made in the appeal process are final and may not be addressed through the grievance process.

The associate dean of students (or designee), may, in response to the written appeal and upon review of all evidence and testimony presented, revise or confirm an earlier disciplinary action.

Ideally, personal growth and development are encouraged most when each member of the community uses self leadership and shares the responsibility to care enough about others, to confront them in an appropriate manner. Therefore, residents are encouraged to hold one another accountable to community and university standards. Resident advisor, graduate resident coordinators, and area directors will provide guidance, support, and direction in this process.

Community Meetings

Residents are expected and required to participate in living area meetings conducted by Residence Life staff members. Meetings are primarily called to discuss, promote, and educate residents about events or community issues and concerns. Because of the importance of these meetings, failure to attend a “required” meeting may result in disciplinary action. Please report scheduling conflicts with one’s Residence Life staff member and schedule an alternate meeting.

24-Hour Courtesy

The right to study and sleep supersedes the privilege to entertain oneself or others. A “24-Hour Courtesy” policy upholds the university’s commitment to providing an environment where students may experience academic success. Noise, which is audible beyond the confines of one’s room/apartment, is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action. Students are free to have radios, stereos, televisions, etc. in their rooms, but the amplification should be controlled so that neighbors both inside and outside of the building are not disturbed. Speakers must not face or be placed in windows. Failure to keep the noise level of sound equipment reasonable may result in removal of the equipment from the student’s room.

The resident advisor, graduate resident coordinator, or area director reserve the right to confront and address what they deem to be excessive, disruptive behavior that is disrespectful to others, in the immediate outside vicinity of the living area (e.g., courtyards, sidewalks, entryways). Individuals and groups may be asked to leave the area.

Room Decoration

Realizing that the display of certain items may be considered offensive and disrespectful to some community members, the university requires the use of discretion concerning the “content” of the pictures, posters, or written materials displayed in rooms and hallways. Decorations inconsistent with university philosophy may not be displayed. This includes sexually oriented or suggestive items or depictions (including “soft pornography”) or any other material that presents the human body in a degrading manner, occult materials, and alcohol, drug, and tobacco advertisements or paraphernalia. Illegally obtained street signs are also prohibited. The final interpretation of whether a decoration/posting is inappropriate will rest with the area director. Residents possessing any materials that the university deems questionable may be asked to remove such items from their rooms.

Room/Apartment Entry and Search

The Office of Residence Life and the Department of Campus Safety reserve the right to enter students’ rooms to ensure community health and safety, confirm assignments and room conditions, and assess violations of the Residence Life Policies and Procedures, the Undergraduate Community Expectations, and the Graduate and Professional Student Community Expectations.

Entry and search: All residential units are the property of Azusa Pacific University under the control of the Board of Trustees. Responsibility for immediate supervision lies with the university administration. It is the policy of the university to ensure students such privacy in their rooms as may be consistent with the basic responsibilities of the institution to fulfill its educational functions and to conduct its day-to-day operations. The entry and search policy is intended to protect both the integrity of the student and the university.

The responsibilities of the university require a right to enter into students’ rooms for the following reasons:

To ensure maintenance and general repair within the room.
To address an emergency or health risk.
To ensure the room is vacant during fire drills.
To provide for the health and safety of all residents (includes inspections).
To turn off stereos, radios, alarm clocks, and other items which are bothersome to others.
To investigate, when reasonable cause exists, possible violations of university regulations.

All room searches by Student Affairs personnel must be approved by at least one of the following: the dean of students, the associate dean of students, the director of Residence Life, or their designate, except in the case of an immediate and clear emergency involving danger to safety and health. There are two basic situations which precipitate room search: 1) A clear indication that the established code of student conduct or health and safety regulations are being violated; or 2) emergency situation occurs which make it necessary for a staff member to search a room for a particular item, such as a discarded prescription bottle or a telephone number or address.

If a staff member should enter a room and notice in plain sight evidence of a violation of university policy, federal, state, or local law, he/she may take that evidence and refer the incident to the university or civil authorities.

Rooms may be searched upon reasonable suspicion of contract violation or concern for health or welfare. The occupant or occupants may be informed of the reasons for any room search.

When it is necessary for authorized university personnel or their agents to search a student’s room without the occupants present, two staff members should be present. A student who believes this policy to have been violated may appeal directly to the Dean of Students or their designee. The appeal should be in writing and presented to the associate dean of students within 10 days of the occurrence.

Visitation

Each living area has visitation privileges for its residents. This enables students to interact with one another for academic or social purposes. The privilege permits guests of the opposite sex in one’s room or apartment. These visitation and guest privileges may be revoked at any time to any and all parts of a living area. The area director reserves the right to terminate an open-night visitation in apartments or residence halls due to excessive, disruptive behavior, disrespect for others, or any other circumstance deemed a hindrance. Main lounges in residence halls are open 24 hours a day to give students a common area in which to interact. Listed below are the different parameters for visitation in each of the living areas:

Adams, Engstrom, and Trinity Halls

Sunday–Thursday, 12–10 p.m.
Friday–Saturday, 12 p.m.–12 a.m.

Shire and University Village

Sunday–Thursday, 9-12 a.m.
Friday–Saturday, 9-1 a.m.

Guests

Guests must abide by all community policies and expectations. With the approval of roommates, guests of the same sex may stay overnight in the student’s room or apartment for no more than three nights (separate or concurrent) each semester during the academic year. This ensures that an environment conducive to study, privacy, and the personal needs of all residents is maintained. For guests of the opposite sex, arrangements can be made with friends in another living area. Under no circumstances may couples lay in bed together, nor may opposite-sex guests be in any state of undress or utilize floor, apartment, or room showers while visiting a resident/living area. Campus residents who allow a nonresident (student or nonstudent) to remain in their rooms/apartments longer than the acceptable guest policy of three nights without receiving clearance from the area director and/or the Office of Residence Life are subject to judicial action; the resident may be permanently barred from campus housing, charges may be incurred, and additional disciplinary action may be taken. Residents will be held accountable for their guests’ actions.

Under no circumstances may a guest visit or reside in APU campus housing areas unattended; an APU student (who is assigned to the actual room/apartment/building in which the guest will be visiting) must host them.

Visitation and guest policies remain in force during school holiday, exam, and summer housing periods. Failure to comply with these policies may result in termination of housing privileges and/or further judicial action, including suspension or dismissal.

Solicitation

The residential community seeks to promote an atmosphere that is sensitive and respectful to the needs of students. The living-learning environment should be a place where one cannot only seek out opportunities for involvement, but also for privacy and freedom from constant interruptions and disturbances. Therefore, no one is permitted to sell or operate any type of business in a university living area without prior approval from the director of Residence Life (or designee). This includes door-to-door contacts, flyer or coupon distribution, “party” sales; residents as well as non-residents; young children as well as professional salespeople. Any requests for exceptions to this policy must be submitted in writing to the director of Residence Life.

Thefts

All students should take precautions against thefts. Most thefts that occur in the residential units occur as CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY when students leave their room with the door unlocked or leave their laundry unattended in the laundry room. Most thefts can be prevented by eliminating these situations. Students are advised to keep room doors locked at all times. As a service to students, Campus Safety officers will post notices on open doors to assist students in remembering to keep their room doors locked and may lock the door.

If a theft does occur, students should report it immediately to their area director and the Department of Campus Safety. Students may also assist by notifying Campus Safety personnel immediately of any suspicious people on campus.