Hall Safety | University of Portland

Hall Safety

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

Residence hall front doors are locked at all times; residents can gain access to their own hall 24 hours a day by swiping their student ID card at the entrance.

Building Security

To best ensure 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 the following intervisitation hours:

Monday-Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to midnight

Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Sunday & University Break Periods: 10:00 a.m. to midnight

During these hours, men and women may visit in the same private room. The reasoning behind these limited 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.