Residence Life: Safety & Security

The Office of Residence Life is committed to providing students with a safe and secure environment where they can grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically with others in the hall. There are numerous policies and procedures in place to ensure safety and security in the residence halls; but it is important that every student be aware of their surroundings and make good decisions about their own personal safety and that of the community. A residence hall is only as safe as everyone in the community makes it!

Property Loss & Insurance

The University of Portland shall not be liable for loss or damage to personal property in student rooms, laundries, storage rooms, or other public areas. It is the responsibility of students to keep their rooms locked at all times. It is recommended that a private insurance policy covering personal property loss by fire, theft, vandalism, or other casualty be obtained by students at their own expense to cover such loss.

Building Access

Access to residence hall public areas is permissible during hours the buildings are open. Public areas include lobbies, lounges, and public area restrooms. Residential living areas may be entered only by residents of the building and their guests. During open hours, access to a building by non-building residents occurs only after signing in with the front desk worker. To sign in, one must present a valid ID and identify the person in the building who will be visited. Building residents must show their student ID to the front desk worker upon entering the building.

Building Security

To best insure the safety of our residents and their possessions, the propping of exterior doors is not allowed except when specifically allowed by a University official (for move-in, for instance). Any damages occurring as a result of the door being propped will be billed to the individual responsible for the propped door. If it is not possible to find the person who propped the door, the floor, wing, or hall will be fined for each exterior door that is propped.

Intervisitation

The University respects residents' right to privacy and so provides for visiting between men and women in the same private room during the following hours:

The reasoning behind these hours is twofold. (1) To foster respect for the study, privacy, and sleeping habits of other community members. (2) To provide a more safe and secure environment within the hall. Visitation hours are a privilege that may be changed by the hall director in response to inappropriate behavior. Overnight or extended visitation violations may result in a resident being asked to move off campus.

Fire and Life Safety

During the fall semester, residence life staff members will do fire and life safety inspections of every residence hall room. Students will be notified as to when these inspections will take place, and will be required to allow a staff person entrance to the room for inspection. If the students are not at home, the room will be inspected and a note will be left indicating the status of the room. Should a violation be found, the student will receive a letter indicating what the violation was, and will be expected to meet immediate compliance. If the violations have not been corrected after an unannounced re-inspection, fines will be issued.