Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• University College is subject to the same community rules and regulations as anywhere else. Avoidance of excessive noise is in the interest of all members of the community. Reasonable quiet must prevail in the residential parts of the College 24 hours a day

• All residents are required to regulate their own behaviour in terms of noise that interferes with other residents’ rights to study or sleep at any time. This is especially necessary between 11.00pm and 8.00am

• If a resident is disturbed by noise between 8.00am and 11.00pm, they are encouraged to approach the person responsible for the noise directly and have an open and informal conversation to resolve the issue. They may also contact the Resident Tutor/Youth Worker on duty or the Dean of Students, depending on the time, especially if the problem is not solved by a conversation

• Disturbing noise is defined as: ‘noise deemed annoying and/or excessive, such that it could disturb a College resident’. Decisions about whether a noise disturbance has occurred (and whether there is any reasonable justification) will be made by Resident Tutors/Youth Workers, with support and review by the Dean of Students as appropriate

• Disturbing noise can result from music, loud laughter, yelling, partying in rooms, unnecessary banging of doors, etc. Excessive noise from speakers directed out of windows is not acceptable, particularly during quiet hours. Residents with a taste for loud music are required to use earphones, use the dedicated music rooms/spaces, or risk losing their privileges to have music equipment and instruments in their room

• Residents are expected to monitor noise at all times and to go to a venue outside of the College if they feel their behaviour may disturb other people. 

All noise issues will be reported to the Dean of Students or documented in the duty log and, where appropriate, dealt with by the Dean of Students under the Code of Conduct. 

To assist you in abiding by this policy it is suggested that you:

• Keep doors shut and close them gently

• Use earphones when listening to music

• Be considerate of others when moving in corridors

• Catch up with friends in the dining hall and common rooms, rather than in corridors

• Utilise the music or band rooms

• Plan to gather at venues outside of College if you want to avoid noise limits

• Tell your friends and neighbours when they are being noisy to help each other avoid causing disturbing noise. 

• ‘Quiet Hours’ are to be observed throughout the College between the hours of 11.00pm and 8.00am. Annoying, offensive or excessive noise during Quiet Hours can be considered as a breach of the Code of Conduct. If a person is disturbed during these hours, they are encouraged to approach the person responsible for the noise directly and have an open and informal conversation to resolve the issue in the first instance

• If they are not comfortable doing this during those hours, or if the noise continues, the Resident Tutor or Youth Workers on duty should be contacted to manage the situation. Generally this only requires a reminder. If the noise continues, the Youth Workers or Resident Tutor on duty should be contacted again, and will escalate the issue if necessary

In the interest of maintaining an atmosphere that accommodates the higher study loads of students during SWOTVAC and exam periods, there will be a Zero Tolerance policy with regard to noise in the College. Zero Tolerance means no disturbing noise is acceptable at any time of the day or night, except where a reasonable justification exists. If residents are unsure if there is reasonable justification, they should err on the side of caution. 

Students may remain in College beyond the date of their last exam, and until their contract end date so long as they are considerate of other students during the examination period. Residents who cause disruptions to other residents during exams may be asked to leave the College immediately if they are found to have breached the Zero Tolerance policy, regardless of whether they have finished their exams. This will be at the discretion of the Dean of Students in consultation with the Head of College. 

The Student Club organises between three to four official College parties (or ‘terns’) during the year, with agreement of the Dean of Students and Head of College. These include one after Commencement Dinner, a mid-year party during the first week of semester two, and one following the Valedictory Dinner. A fourth College party may be approved by the Dean of Students and Head of College after consultation and with reasonable justification. 

College parties are only for UC residents. 

The Heads of Colleges have agreed on procedures to be adhered to at all College parties and there is an intercollegiate policy outlining these agreements. This policy can be found in a library of intercollegiate policies on the website. 

Parties in resident rooms are not allowed. 

The official College definition of a party is a gathering of people where the noise is disruptive to others. If you would like to arrange a gathering or private celebration, we ask that you do so offsite. 

If the person/people responsible is known, the matter could be dealt with in three different ways 

1. A total accident – generally the College will cover the associated costs. 

2. Accident, but reckless/stupid behaviour – the person/people responsible will pay for the total cost of repair or replacement 

3. Intentional damage – the person/people responsible will pay for the total cost of repair or replacement and in addition will be dealt with under one of the Code of Conduct stages of consequence. 

Any damage to College property, wilful or accidental, must be reported. If the person/people responsible is not known, the College will charge the Student Club for the total cost of repair or replacement. It is then a matter for the Student Club Executive if they wish to pursue this further with a group of people or the student body as a whole. 

All residents should be aware of the College’s expectations when it comes to communications and postings and use of social media.

The College encourages constructive and courageous conversations in all forms, but expects its residents to be respectful of all points of view and refrain from personal attacks or dissemination of discriminatory, defamatory, or offensive information.

University College will act to remove posts or images on its communications channels which

• Cause, or are likely to cause, offence.

• Are considered racist, sexist, or discriminatory

• Are obscene or use graphic sexual language

• Are defamatory

• Are for any other reason, likely to cause harm or distress

• Are posted for commercial purposes

• Promote inaccurate, inappropriate, or harmful advice

 Offensive and inappropriate communications (via messaging apps, emails, phone etc) and postings on social media or around the College will not be tolerated. Immediate steps will be taken to have the offensive matter removed.

Any resident found to be responsible for such posts or communications will be subject to the processes and sanctions within the Student Code of Conduct.

Discrimination, harassment, bullying, victimisation and sexual misconduct offences will be dealt with under the Sexual Harassment and Sex Based Harassment and Bullying Policies 

Please refer to the University College website for access to all policies.