Student Conduct/Community Standards

The enforcement of such standards must protect the rights, health, and safety of members of that community so they may pursue their educational goals without undue interference. Sanctioning is used to promote the guidelines put forth by the University. The use of sanctioning is not punitive or retaliatory. The goal of sanctioning is for students to gain perspective and insight into their indiscretions, making the moment educational.

Freedom is meaningless unless responsibility is also present. The responsibility to secure and respect general conditions conducive to learning is shared by all members of the St. John’s community. Students must assume a significant role in developing and enforcing University regulations so that they might be better prepared for the responsibilities of citizenship. It is the intent of St. John’s to establish the necessary guidelines to support and advance the educational and religious aims contained in our Catholic and Vincentian mission without undeservedly restricting or diminishing the University experience for students.

Thus, integrity, wisdom, and empathy are among the most important characteristics adhered to throughout the administration of student conduct standards. The goal to be realized through the disciplinary process transcends the confines of the University and radiates into the community. The goal is to influence students to espouse the core values of truth, love, respect, opportunity, excellence, and service throughout their daily lives as productive members of a larger community.

General Provision

The educational experience at St. John’s University is intended to promote academic excellence and personal growth within a healthy learning environment.

We strive to instill the University’s Core Values—Truth, Love, Respect, Opportunity, Excellence, and Service—and to encourage the development of character and fortitude to live by these values. In such an environment, it is essential that students learn to look critically at their behavior and to accept responsibility when their behavior violates the policies and precepts of conduct at the University. The system for determining alleged violations must be fair and should involve students. Ultimately the system of discipline at St. John’s University is designed to promote a healthy learning environment and to promote human dignity and potential.

The Student Conduct Process is designed to resolve instances of alleged violations of University policies and regulations, and to investigate matters of student conduct in a manner that reflects the Vincentian tradition and the educational mission of St. John’s University. This process is applicable to all students and student organizations, as defined below. Students and student organizations are responsible for their actions as well as the actions of their guests while on the St. John’s campus, and sanctions may be imposed on the host when the guest violates the Student Code of Conduct.

This Student Conduct Process pertains to University discipline for non-academic infractions. It is not exclusive and does not preempt or preclude independent disciplinary action that may be taken against any member of the University community, including (but not limited to) student organizations, student committees, student employees, and athletic teams. This student conduct process uses a “preponderance of the evidence” standard to determine responsibility for alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct.

The University Code of Conduct and the Student Conduct Process and Sanctioning Guidelines can be found online here.

The following policies are specific to the residential facilities and immediate surrounding areas:

1. Bicycles and Motorcycles: Bicycles and motorcycles are not allowed in the residence halls. They may not be stored in building common areas, such as lounges, stairwells, recycling rooms, etc. Bicycles may be stored on bicycle racks provided in designated areas around campus. Riding of bicycles or scooters in the residence halls is strictly prohibited. The University reserves the right to remove bicycles parked or blocking access inside or outside any building. Motorcycles or other gas-powered vehicles or engines may not be taken inside any residence facility. Hoverboards, drones, and segways are also not allowed within the residence halls or apartments. E-mobility devices (skateboards, scooters, bicycles, etc) that are powered by lithium ion batteries are not permitted in the residence halls. The charging of lithium ion batteries to power these devices is not permitted within any University building.
2. Decorations: All decorations must be of nonflammable materials and may not cover or block exits, exit signs, lights, fire extinguishers, or ceilings. Decorations may not be attached to any fire safety equipment, including sprinklers. Neon signs may not be displayed publicly.
3. Fire Safety: Additional violations of the fire safety policy include, but are not limited to having any wall or ceiling coverings or treatments including, but not limited to, wallpaper, paneling, tapestries, fabrics, nettings, stickers and partitions; having ceiling fans, waterbeds, electric or kerosene space heaters, propane or charcoal grills, or any type of liquid gas tanks, plywood sheets, decorative wood shingles, particleboard, combustible fabrics, cork, and other flame- and smoke-propagating materials; using corridors or stairwells for storage; blocking or obstructing windows, heating and ventilation units, plumbing, lighting fixtures, automatic sprinkler systems, and thermostats; possession and/or use of candles, incense, hotplates, uncovered halogen lamps and toaster ovens, television aerials and dishes, radio transmitting and receiving equipment, cinder blocks and bricks, and refrigerators over a certain specification (more than four cubic feet).
4. Furniture: The furnishings provided by the University may not be removed from assigned rooms. Furniture must not be tampered with or dismantled and all furniture must be left in the room/suite to which it has been allocated. Non-issued University furniture, wall-to-wall carpeting, and carpet tiles are not permitted.
   • Residents will be billed for any missing items from their room/suite. Lounge furniture may not be removed from the common areas/lounges. Furniture moved around within a suite/room must be returned to the original setup that was there when student checked-in.
5. Garbage: Residents are responsible for removing trash from their apartments/rooms/suites to the designated collection areas on a regular basis. At no time should garbage/trash be left in hallways or common areas. In the dining facility, students are expected to take their trays and garbage to the appropriate receptacle.
   • Goethals Residents are expected to comply with the rules of the Department of Sanitation of New York (DSNY) to avoid any fines. Residents are responsible for disposing trash into the proper receptacles and taking the receptacles out on the designated collection days for the DSNY. Residents are responsible for returning the receptacles to their designated areas after the garbage has been collected. For more information, please visit the DSNY web site at nyc.gov/sanitation.
6. Health and Safety: St. John’s University reserves the right to enter a student’s room for the purpose of maintaining safety and security standards, and to enforce health regulations. Inspections occur to keep suites/rooms in livable and safe condition. Inspections may occur at any time. Formal inspections of all rooms/suites will occur during breaks and end-of-semester closings. In addition, informal inspections will take place every other month. These inspections are unannounced. If any conduct violations are observed during health and safety inspections (i.e. alcohol, drug paraphernalia), the student will be subject to the student conduct process.
7. Kitchens: Cooking facilities are located in each residence hall. The units include ovens, stoves and refrigerators. Following use, residents immediately must clean kitchens.
8. Noise:
   1. Quiet hours are essential to an atmosphere that is conducive to study and good community living. Quiet hours are defined as a time when noise should be contained within a room/suite. No noise should emanate into, or be created in any common areas, indoors or outdoors. Quiet hours are Sunday through Thursday (11 p.m.–7 a.m.) and Friday through Saturday (midnight–10 a.m.).
   2. Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
   3. Outside noise (i.e., music, people speaking, etc.) in the residence facilities that is loud enough to be heard inside any building is prohibited, unless it is a University-sponsored event.
   4. During final examinations, quiet hours are extended to 24 hours a day.
   5. Students are not permitted to place stereo speakers in their windows or into the hallways.
   6. Musical instruments and stereos are allowed, but must be used in compliance with courtesy and quiet hours guidelines. These items may not be used outside unless permission has been granted for a special event.
9. Painting: Students are not permitted to paint their residence hall rooms/suites.
10. Prohibited Items: Prohibited items that are found will be confiscated.

11. Room Change: Students are not to conduct room changes without following the procedures listed in the Residence Life Handbook on page 22 under Room Change.
12. Social Gatherings or Events: Residents are expected to respect the privacy of other residents at all times.Gatherings of more than double the number of room/suite occupants are prohibited. Social gatherings and events may be held in the area lounge, when registered with and approved by the residence director.Groups using space without proper approval may be asked to leave and may be denied access for further events.All gatherings and events must be in accordance with Residence Life policies and procedures. Hosts of social gatherings or events may be held responsible for the behavior of their guests.
13. Sports: Sports activity is prohibited inside the residence facilities, in common areas, rooms/suites, hallways, stairwells and entryways.This includes, but is not limited to, bouncing or throwing balls, skating, hacky-sacks, Frisbee, as well as the prohibition of any outdoor recreational activities that could be injurious to facilities, grounds, people or possessions (i.e., hardball sports, water guns, etc.). Sports activity must also not obstruct walkways within the Residence Village.
14. Windows: Students are not to tamper with or remove the window screens, fixtures or limiters in any window.Items are not to be thrown from or dropped from windows.Windows should not be opened further than the prearranged setting.Students may not hang anything from their windows.