Housing Policies

Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures

The Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures specifies the regulations and standards that have been established for students by the University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees. It also describes your responsibilities as a University student and your rights under federal, state, and local law.

All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures and their individual responsibility.

Residential Handbook

The Residential Handbook (PDF) is a comprehensive reference for everyday life on campus. The handbook is available online or from Panther Central. If you can’t find an answer to your question in the handbook, contact Panther Central.

Summary of Key Policies

The following brief summaries are not comprehensive statements of the University’s policies on each topic. You should refer to the relevant policy in your copy of the Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures.

Alcohol

In accordance with Pennsylvania state law, you must be 21-years-old or older to possess, consume, or transport alcoholic beverages in University housing buildings. All alcoholic beverages must be registered with the desk attendant, and the amount registered per person per week is strictly regulated.

Residents are responsible for their actions and the actions of their visitors should any damages or injuries result during or after the consumption of alcoholic beverages in University housing. See the Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures for the complete alcohol policy.

Damages

You are financially responsible for damages you cause to University property. If a reasonable investigation cannot attribute damage to one or more individuals, financial responsibility may be assigned to your entire living unit.

Harassment

All students have the right to be free from harassment and discrimination based upon but not limited to factors such as sexual orientation, color, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, handicap, marital status, age, or veteran status. Individuals and groups can be targets of harassment, and it can occur via telephone, mail, e-mail, or face-to-face.

Victims of harassment should immediately report the incident to their resident director, the Division of Student Affairs (412-648-1006), or the Office of Affirmative Action (412-648-7860).

Quiet Hours

Students are required to observe Quiet Hours in residence halls as follows and are expected to maintain a level or reasonable quietness at all other times:

Sunday–Thursday, 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Friday and Saturday, 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Smoking

The entire campus of the University of Pittsburgh is smoke free, including residence halls and apartments.

Substance and Drug Abuse

Student use, possession, distribution, or sale of narcotics, dangerous drugs, hallucinogens, or controlled substances is prohibited in all University buildings. Also, student possession of drug paraphernalia that can be linked to drug activity is prohibited. See the Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures for the complete substance and drug abuse policy.

Visitors and guests

You must establish with your roommate(s) your room visitation hours between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Monday. All visits are subject to the following regulations:

You and your visitors must present photo identification each time you enter the residence hall.
You must sign in, sign out, and escort your visitors the entire time they are in the building.
You are not permitted to entertain children under five years of age without permission from the resident director.
You are not permitted to entertain persons under the age of 16 (unless accompanied by a parent) without permission from the resident assistant.
You may have no more than five visitors at one time.

Extended guests may remain in your room between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., Monday through Friday, with the approval of your roommate(s). The following conditions also apply:

You must complete an extended guest form before 2 a.m.
Your guest must present proper identification to the desk attendant.
You must sign in, sign out, and escort guests at all times within the building.
You may have no more than two extended guests at one time.
Any one extended guest may stay not more than three weekdays during the first half of a month and not more than three weekdays during the second half of a month.
Any one resident may not have more than three extended guests weekdays during the first half of a month and not more than three extended guests weekdays during the second half of a month.
You may not exceed 30 extended visits in any given term.

See the Student Code of Conduct and Judicial Procedures for the complete visitation policy.