Prohibited Conduct & Prohibited Items

Alcohol is not permitted in the residence halls for anyone under the age of 21 years old. Additionally, alcohol is not permitted at any time in Smith Hall, regardless of age. Residents who are of legal drinking age in the Artists’ Residence or the Tree House who wish to possess/consume alcohol within the building must first register with their respective Residence Hall Director. Only one open container per 21-year-old is allowed. All residents are expected to cooperate when asked by staff members to show identification. 

All guests follow the same guidelines as the host resident and are the responsibility of the host resident. Guests are not allowed to bring alcohol into any building regardless of age. All residents under the age of 21 who are in possession of, consume, and/or are in the presence of an alcohol policy violation will be subject to disciplinary action. If you enter any of the residence halls when intoxicated, your safety becomes the responsibility of the staff. Public Safety and or a member of the Residence Life staff will not compromise your health and safety. You may be denied entry to the building and asked to remain at the security desk until a Public Safety Officer and/or a member of the Residence Life staff determines a course of action. 

Potential violations include, but are not limited to the following examples:

• Entering the building intoxicated or under the influence. 

• Involving staff and/or Administration during the consumption of alcohol within the residence halls and/or on MassArt property. 

• Minors in possession of and/or consuming alcohol within the residence halls. 

• Providing alcohol to minors. 

• Underage residents possessing empty alcohol containers that could reasonably be assumed to have been consumed within the residence halls. 

• Hosting an illegal gathering, offering underage residents and/or guests alcohol in your apartment and/or room or allowing underage residents and/or guests to consume alcohol in your apartment/room. 

• Being present where a violation of the alcohol policy is taking place.

• Possessing or consuming alcohol without first registering with the respective building Residence Hall Director. 

• Having more than one (1) open container per resident of legal drinking age. 

• Excessive consumption that involves an administrative assessment and/or hospitalization. 

• Refusing to show staff proper identification of legal drinking age and/or being otherwise non-compliant.

The use, possession, or distribution of any non-prescription drug or controlled substance within the residence halls is prohibited. Returning to the Residence Halls under the influence of any non-prescription drug or controlled substance is also prohibited. Additionally, any paraphernalia that could reasonably be assumed to be used in relation to controlled substance abuse is not permitted. Violations will result in confiscation, disciplinary action, and if appropriate, civil/criminal action. 

MassArt offers no safe environment for, or protection of, any individual subject to criminal investigation for the use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs, and cooperates with the authorities.

Potential violations include, but are not limited to the following examples:

• Entering the building under the influence of non-prescription drugs or controlled substances. 

• Involving staff and/or Administration during the use of drugs within the residence halls and/or on MassArt property. 

• Possessing, consuming and/or distributing non-prescription drugs or controlled substances within the residence halls. 

• Hosting an illegal gathering, offering underage residents and/or guests non-prescription drugs or controlled substances in your apartment and/or room or allowing underage residents and/or guests to use non-prescription drugs or controlled substances in your apartment/room. 

• Being present where a violation of the Illegal Drug policy is taking place 

• Use of non-prescription drugs or controlled substances that involves an administrative assessment and/or hospitalization. 

• Refusing to show staff proper identification and/or being otherwise non-compliant.

MassArt prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment. Such behaviors are contrary to the mission of the College and will be addressed through the policy against discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation contained in the Equal Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, and Title IX Plan and within the Student Code of Conduct. 

Any member of the MassArt community who believes they are a victim of discrimination may file a complaint in accordance with the processes outlined in the Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Affirmative Action Plan.

Complaints may be submitted online at https://massart.edu/reporting-your-concerns. 

The Equal Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, and Title IX Plan prohibits sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or retaliation as defined under Title IX, and outlines the process for resolution of reports. 

MassArt strongly encourages anyone who experiences sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or retaliation to report the incident so that the College can provide support and pursue an appropriate resolution. 

Reports may be submitted online at https://massart.edu/reporting-your-concerns. 

Resident Students are expected to abide by all Fire Safety Regulations while in on-campus housing. Refer to the Fire Safety Expectations page for additional information. Residents may not cover or otherwise tamper with safety equipment in any residence hall setting.

Because of the potential for noise, damage to the building, and personal injury, the hallways and the public areas of the residence halls are not to be used for playing sports (including skateboarding, bicycling and rollerblading). 

Water pistols are also prohibited. Use of water pistols can damage life safety equipment/trigger false fire alarms. Residents must restrict sporting activities to appropriate outside areas. 

In order to create an environment conducive to studying and individual well being, residents should refrain from creating loud or unnecessary noise at all times. Noise, including music and TV, should be confined to an individual’s room. You should be aware of the effect your noise has on others. If noise can be heard outside a suite door, it may be a violation. Items may be confiscated if they continually create a nuisance within the community. 

Quiet hours include the quiet room, TV lounge, and workroom areas. If you are bothered by noise, you should speak with the individual(s) creating the noise. Residents should honor the request of another resident to restrict their noise. Ask your Residence Life staff for help only when a request to reduce the noise level has gone unheeded. Courtesy hours are in place 24/7. 

Quiet Hours are as follows:

• Sunday through Thursday: 10:30pm — 8:00am 

• Friday and Saturday: Midnight — 8:00am

Smoking and/or the use of tobacco products, including any system designed for nicotine delivery (e.g. e-cigarettes, vaporizers, or inhalers), is prohibited in all residence hall rooms, apartments, and common areas.

Weapons, firearms, and facsimile weapons or firearms are banned from MassArt including the residence halls. Any person found with a weapon or facsimile will be reprimanded, removed, and/or expelled from the residence hall. This decision will be made by the Dean of Students and Director of Housing and Residence Life in accordance with student conduct procedures. 

Weapons include, but are not limited to: firearms, BB guns, air rifles, knives, switchblades, swords, brass knuckles, martial arts weapons, explosives, fireworks, bows and arrows, and facsimile versions of the aforementioned items. 

Firearms of any type, assembled or disassembled, ammunition, knives, machetes, javelins, martial arts devices, clubs, or any device that can be considered hazardous to the welfare of members of the college community are strictly prohibited on campus. 

Any violation of state laws or city ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, possession, concealment, or use of firearms, cutting instruments, explosives, incendiary devices, or other deadly weapons may result in prosecution and will be subject to disciplinary action, up to, and including, dismissal from MassArt.

No bicycles (including folding bicycles) are allowed in any MassArt Residence Halls. Bike racks are located in the Artists’ Residence underground parking garage, and in the Vancouver Street bike cage. If you would like access to the bike cage or are looking to park your bike in the garage, you must first register your bike with MassArt’s Public Safety Office. 

Electric bikes/scooters/skateboards/or similar are prohibited in all residence hall spaces.

Batteries associated with e-bikes/scooters/skateboards/or similar are not allowed to be charged within the Residence Halls.

Pets, other than fish, are not allowed in the residence halls.

Fish must be contained in properly maintained tanks of a no more than 5-gallon capacity. Fish may not remain in the residence halls during College break periods where the resident is not present. 

For accommodations regarding service and/or emotional support animals, please contact Student Accessibility Services via email at student.accessibility@massart.edu or by visiting their website for more information.