Within the Community

• All animals, except for fish, are prohibited in residence halls. This exclusion includes frogs, turtles, geckos, and other tank dwelling animals. Possession of fish tanks over 10 gallons is prohibited.
• No animals are allowed to “visit” residence halls at any time.
• The prohibiting of animals in residence halls does not apply to students with documented disabilities requiring the use of a service or approved assistance animal.
• Students requesting a service or assistance animals should contact  Accessibility Services at 740.593.2620. Assistance animals may not be brought into the residence halls until the approval process is complete.
• If an unauthorized animal is found in the residence hall, hall staff will ask for the animal to be removed from the building. If the animal is not removed, the student may be referred to the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility. Hall staff may contact Environmental Health and Safety to assist in the relocation of the animal.

• Ohio University provides wireless coverage in all residence hall rooms. Wired connections (Ethernet ports) are not available.
• Installation of personal wireless devices that interfere with the university’s wireless network is prohibited. Any wireless device installed by a student that interferes with the Ohio University’s wireless network will have its network port disabled and the owner of the device will be asked to remove the device. Students in violation may be referred to the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility or have their hall internet privileges revoked.
• Items emitting a wireless signal (printers, game consoles, etc.) should have wireless broadcasting set to Off. If you experience issues using the wireless network in your room, please contact the Office of Information Technology at 740.593.1222.
• Ohio University may restrict the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing on the campus network (e.g., Bittorrent). P2P software may only be used for legal sharing of non-copyrighted material. All other uses of P2P software will result in the loss of network privileges. Unless you are certain that you are using the software legitimately, it is important that you remove the P2P software from your computer before connecting to the Ohio University network. Many of these programs will share copyrighted files without your knowledge. If these programs are not removed, those computers will be automatically removed from the university network.

Residential students must comply with all face covering policies set forth by Ohio University.

Failure to comply with legitimate directives of Ohio University officials, including Housing and Residence Life staff, law enforcement, or emergency personnel in the performance of their duties is prohibited. This includes failure to identify oneself when so requested. 

For more information consult the Code of Conduct .

Due to fire safety, the following activities and items are prohibited:

• Starting a fire, activating a fire alarm without due cause, or falsely reporting a fire to university or emergency response officials is prohibited.
• Tampering with, destroying, damaging, covering, or misusing emergency or safety equipment (e.g., exit signs, smoke/heat detectors, microwave Safe-T Sensor, fire extinguishers, or sprinkler heads) is prohibited. Covering or disconnecting fire alarms, smoke detectors, or sprinkler heads for any reason. If this is found in a room, OUPD will be notified.
• Tart warmers, candle warmers, and candles are prohibited. Candles are prohibited even when not lit.
• Failure to evacuate or reentering into a building without authorization by university or emergency response officials during a fire alarm or drill.
• Students should immediately report any suspected problem with their smoke detector or other fire safety equipment to Facilities Management or hall staff.
• Students should contact Ohio University Policy Department if they see or suspect a fire. 

Noises like music, TV, and conversations in a shared community can make studying or sleep challenging. Residents must keep their noise at an acceptable and courteous level at all hours of the day.

• Unacceptable noise defined as “any noise that can be heard outside of the residence hall rooms or exterior community spaces” is prohibited. This includes yelling, pounding on walls, windows and floors, amplified sound, playing musical instruments, and bass from subwoofers.
• Noise that interferes with the study or sleep of others is prohibited.
• Failing to comply with quiet hours is prohibited.

Quiet hours are defined as: 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, 12 a.m. (midnight) to 10 a.m. Friday-Saturday, and 24 hours during the week of finals.

Under Ohio law, when a person pays to play a game of chance (including poker) in hopes of winning a prize, the game qualifies as illegal gambling, unless the tournament organizers meet specific criteria and follow specific rules contained in the Ohio Revised Code.

For more information consult the Code of Conduct .

Sexual misconduct, abuse, harassment, exploitation, intimidation, stalking, retaliation or coercion is prohibited.

Students have multiple options when coming forward about any instance of sexual misconduct:

• Students may reach out to a member of the hall staff. Hall staff members are mandated reporters who will notify the  Office of University Equity and Civil Rights Compliance (ECRC) of any instance of sexual misconduct. This reporting will result in ECRC reaching out to connect the student(s) with supportive staff and resources for future steps.
• The Survivor Advocacy Program (SAP) provides free services to all student survivors and co-survivors of Ohio University, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation or when/where victimization occurred. Appointments are student led and students are never expected to disclose more details than they are ready to share. All staff in SAP are licensed professionals who are not required to report instances of sexual misconduct to Ohio University’s Equity & Civil Rights Compliance (ECRC), law enforcement or any other investigating party. SAP advocates will inform students of their reporting options and assist students with the reporting process, should students wish to report the incident(s) themselves.
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) provide students with free mental health and well-being services. Information shared in counseling is confidential and cannot be disclosed without prior written consent in most cases. 

For more information consult the Code of Conduct .

OHIO is a smoke and tobacco free campus. This policy encourages a green and clean environment, prepares our students for other tobacco-free environments in their future, and can be a source of OHIO pride in supporting a major wellness initiative.

Smoking and vaping of any kind, including e-cigarettes (e.g., JUUL), is prohibited in residence halls, in entryways, on South Green Catwalks, or within 25 feet of residential facilities.

The use of tobacco or smoking products is defined as, “all nicotine, tobacco-derived or containing products, and plant- based products including, but not limited to, cigarettes (e.g., clove, bidis, kreters), electronic cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos, hookah-smoked products, and oral tobacco (spit and spit less, smokeless, chew, snuff).”

Personal possession and use of cannabis under certain circumstances for those over the age of 21 is now allowed in the State of Ohio. However, as required by federal law, the Ohio University policy on cannabis will not change. You cannot use or possess any form of cannabis including recreational or medical anywhere on Ohio University property or University-Sponsored events. 

The physical location of a smoke and tobacco-free campus is defined as facilities, property, and grounds used to carry out the mission of the university. This will also extend to sidewalks adjacent to university buildings and grounds in keeping with the city policy of property owners’ responsibility for sidewalks. Smoking and tobacco use in personal vehicles on university property will not be allowed.

For more information see the Tobacco-Free Initiative webpage.

• Unauthorized motorized vehicles outside of designated parking zones are prohibited. Motor vehicles in unauthorized parking zones will be ticketed or towed at the owner’s expense.
• Maintenance of motorized vehicles in residential communities is prohibited.
• Motorcycles are prohibited on residential greens, in university garages, and in the residence halls.  Motorcycles must be registered with  Transportation and Parking Services  and parked in designated motorcycle parking areas.
• Electric scooters, electric bikes, and hoverboards are prohibited in the residence halls.