When you move into a University Housing facility at Boise State University, you have chosen to become a part of a unique community. This community is made up of a group of diverse individuals, here to pursue common educational goals, who have come together to share a wide variety of experiences.
The most important part of a positive community, however, is YOU!
You will have many opportunities for self-direction and experience, but you must balance the rights that you have as an individual in the community with the responsibilities you have to the other members of the community. You will make two important discoveries while in a group living situation. First, you may have more individual freedom than previously experienced. Secondly, you may find that the more confined living arrangements and stringent academic demands require greater self-control and individual discipline than ever before.
The following information explains some of your “rights” – what you are entitled to as a student living in University Housing and some of your “responsibilities” – what is expected of you as a member of the University Housing community.
RIGHTS
• Right to a safe and secure living environment.
• Right to a reasonably peaceful and quiet space to sleep and study.
• Right to privacy and proportionate use of your housing in terms of space and time.
• Right to be free of unwanted guests in your living space.
• Right to choose your means of recreation and relaxation.
• Right to confront another’s behavior that infringes upon your rights.
• Right to the assistance of a University staff member when you need help with a problem.
• Right to know what is acceptable and not acceptable in the residence halls/suites.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Responsibility to keep your room and/or suite clean.
• Responsibility to respect the rights of others.
• Responsibility to observe quiet hours; keep stereo and voices at reasonable levels, and remind others that you expect the same.
• Responsibility to let your roommates know of preferences for sleep and study and work through any differences together.
• Responsibility to discuss visitation in your personal space, the hours it is acceptable to have guests, and appropriate behavior while
in your space.
• Responsibility to know and abide by the policies, regulations, and laws of the State of Idaho and Boise State University.
• Responsibility to examine your own behavior as well as being reasonable and mature when confronted yourself.
• Responsibility to notify community members or staff of your problem in a timely manner and cooperate with them to help you find a solution.
• Responsibility to read the information in the Student Code of Conduct, in this University Housing Handbook, and your Boise State Residence Hall Agreement, which has been reprinted in this handbook.
Each member of a community must balance their rights and responsibilities in order to thrive and succeed in any group-living environment!
We encourage you to think about these rights and responsibilities, talk about them, and make them a part of what you do during your stay here. You can increase the likelihood that these rights will be honored through thoughtful discussion and open communication with roommates, floormates, and other residents. The exception to this would be when an individual’s personal choices affect the community as a whole in a negative way, for example alcohol use, noise, drugs, cleanliness, etc. Our goal is to help everyone succeed at the University. The guidelines in this handbook and in the Boise State Student Code of Conduct are designed to further these goals. You and your community may choose to add other rights and responsibilities to this list as well. This discussion should take place throughout the year as your community develops stronger bonds. We hope you will invest in yourself and your community. This investment will pay off! The University Housing staff is available and wants to help you accomplish
