Community Guidelines

Living in a close environment presents unique challenges as well as opportunities. The process of developing your community must be based on listening, reasoned discussion, mutual respect, and negotiation. The policies outlined within this handbook are designed to ensure peaceful coexistence and personal freedom. We encourage you to discuss group living with your roommates, suitemates, and/or residential staff to establish whatever policies or limitations–within the established parameters–your group may feel appropriate (e.g. a vote to set quiet hours). 

Many of the policies outlined throughout this handbook are centered around three core categories:

1. Health and Safety

2. Property, Property Loss, or Damage

3. Serious Disruption of the Educational Living Environment

Health and Safety:

MassArt is responsible for establishing policies and procedures with regard to the Heath and Safety of students, faculty, staff, and guests of MassArt. Throughout this handbook, you'll see examples of policies and procedures that have been developed to protect students and the community against incidents or behaviors that may jeopardize their physical, mental, and emotional health or safety. There is a need to impose certain restrictions on individual behavior for the common good of the community.

Examples of his include: limiting access to buildings and requiring IDs to access, employing Public Safety Officers, performing semesterly health and safety inspections, and other policies intended to keep the campus community safe.

Property, Property Loss, or Damage:

MassArt is responsible for keeping its property and the property of members of the campus community safe and free from damage. People expect to live, work and learn in a place where their belongings are relatively safe and secure. While it is understood that no community can be totally risk-free from incidents that cause property loss and damage, MassArt expects that all community members share in the care and protection of personal and community property.

The Educational Living Environment:

For large groups of people to live successfully together, each community member must respect the needs and rights of others. The establishment and enforcement of rules that foster and encourage a proper campus living environment are necessary for the efficient and successful operation of every residence hall. All residents should remember that they are responsible for their own behavior and their guests' behavior. By abiding by the outlined expectations, they not only protect their rights, they also protect the rights of others.

Rights versus Privileges:

Within the residence hall community, guidelines for social conduct are based on mutual respect. It is important to know the difference between your rights and the privileges associated with living in MassArt housing. For example, it is your right to ask a roommate to moderate their noise if they are being too loud. It is a privilege to have guests in the building/room. If any right or privilege is violated, you may be subject to a disciplinary hearing. Responsibility for proper conduct is placed upon the student, not the college.