Visitors & Events

Guest Policy

Day Guests

Day visitors may be at EWH between the hours of 9am and 9pm. 

All day guests should be with the person who has invited them whilst they are here. No guests should be let into EWH without being accompanied by an EWH resident. Any guest who is disturbing the peaceful living or studying environment for any EWH resident or neighbour will be asked to leave at WEPO staff discretion.

Overnight Guests

You are permitted to have temporary guests at Ephraim Williams House on a temporary and infrequent basis. Each student may invite a guest for up to a maximum of five nights per term. However, no more than two overnight guests may be in residence at any one time in any building, due to fire regulations. The same guest cannot be accommodated on consecutive nights by two or more different EWH residents. 

No more than 4 guests can be accommodated overnight on any one night throughout the three buildings of EWH. Students must request to host an overnight guest using this form at least 3 business days in advance of the visit. Earlier requests are more likely to be approved, as requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Director of Administration will write to you to approve or deny the request based on how many guests we have at any one time, and whether the student's roommate has approved the visitor. Overnight visitors will be provided with an air mattress, bedding, and towels for their stay. Any items damaged or lost will be charged to the WEPO student host at the following rates:

• Air mattress: £80

• Duvet: £30

• Duvet Cover: £15

• Fitted Bottom Sheet: £15

• Pillow: £20

• Pillow Case: £15

• Pillow Protector: £15

• Bath Towel: £15

• Hand Towel: £10 

During term breaks, you may be entitled to host additional guests. The number of guests to which you are entitled will depend on:

1. 1. How many requests for 'term break guest nights' are made

   2. Whether your roommate or another EWH resident will allow you to use his or her bed for a guest if they are away traveling

   3. Whether or not there is staff available to provide linens, approve requests, etc.

In every instance, the number of term break guests you are entitled to will be at the Director of Administration's discretion. Requests for term break guests should be made no later than the end of 7th week of the term before the break. Requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Any overnight guest causing a disturbance to EWH residents or our neighbours will be asked to leave at WEPO staff discretion.

Party Policy

While the dining room is often used as an eating and study space (especially during the day and weeknights), this space and the common rooms can be used to host gatherings. There is a lovely upright piano in the Dining Room which pianists are welcome to use – please be noise conscious to staff and students, especially during office hours or after 9pm. When you have a social gathering (especially on weeknights), please respect your classmates who might be studying or working hard to finish a paper.

Should you wish to host a small social gathering on the premises of Ephraim Williams House at which alcohol is consumed, the following regulations adapted from the Williams College party policy will apply: 

• Bulk alcohol containers (kegs, spirit dispensers etc.) are not permitted for any gathering on the premises. 

• Fun Com has a budget to enable students to organise social events. In the past, these events have met with more success than parties at the complex. These funds have been put to good use in the recent past to purchase food and supplies for early evening barbeques, punts on the river, etc. to which Exeter guests have been invited. All social gatherings funded by the Programme’s Fun Com budget, whether on or off campus, must be discussed with and approved by the Director of Administration at least one week in advance of the proposed event. Funds cannot be used to purchase alcohol.

• All Williams students are members of the Exeter JCR (Junior Common Room). They thereby enjoy all the privileges of participating fully in Exeter student life including parties on the main Turl Street campus. Note that Williams students are also subject to Exeter’s rules, as well as those of Oxford University. Failure to abide by those rules may result in the withdrawal of your Oxford status and thus end your participation in the Programme. 

• Unless paid for by the individual or group of individuals responsible, any damages to College property occurring as a result of a Fun Com social gathering will be paid from the Fun Com’s social budget allocated for the support of such events.

• Any WEPO staff member reserves the right to terminate social gatherings that are excessively noisy or unruly, extend beyond the stated ending time, or violate the above policies in any way.