Residence Hall Policies

All exterior entrances in residential communities are secured 24 hours a day via card access systems and/or doors that automatically lock. Undergraduate students access residential communities using their UD OneCard, which serves as their official access credential.

Residential students are granted 24/7 access to their assigned residence hall exterior doors, room and/or suite, laundry facilities and other designated common areas, during the academic term(s) in which they hold an active housing assignment.

Students are responsible for maintaining possession of their assigned room key(s), UD OneCard and any other university-issued access devices at all times. These items are considered university property and are issued for individual use only.

The following actions are prohibited and constitute a violation of this policy:

• Lending, duplicating or sharing a room key, UD OneCard or access device
• Possessing or using a key or access device not issued directly to the student
• Failing to be in possession of an assigned room key
• Entering a residence hall using another individual’s UD OneCard
• Allowing access to non-residential students or guests without a proper escort by a residence hall student
• Bypassing or tampering with security systems, including but not limited to tailgating, propping doors or interfering with locking mechanisms

Guests (see Guests and Visitation Policy) are only permitted within the residence hall of the residential student that is hosting them and must be escorted at all times. The host student is responsible for the behavior of their guest(s).

Students may be held accountable for any misuse of keys or access devices, including unauthorized entry, safety concerns or damage to facilities. Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or the assessment of associated costs, including, but not limited to, the cost of changing door locks when deemed necessary to maintain community safety.

Residents of the University of Delaware residence halls who are under the age of 21 are prohibited from possessing any alcohol containers within the residence halls, including unopened, partially consumed and/or empty containers of alcohol. This includes items kept for decorative purposes or retained after consumption of the contents. Prohibited containers include, but are not limited to: 

• Beer bottles, cans and/or boxes
• Wine bottles and/or boxes
• Liquor bottles

Display of Alcohol Memorabilia and Paraphernalia

• If you are under the age of 21, you may not possess or display any alcohol-related paraphernalia. This includes any items used for the rapid consumption or simulation of alcohol use—such as funnels, pong tables, shot glasses, drinking game materials or similar items.
• If you are under the age of 21, empty alcohol containers (including bottles, cans, cardboard cases and any boxes or packaging that previously contained alcohol) are not permitted in the residence halls. These items are considered indicators of alcohol possession and/or consumption and will be addressed as a violation of this policy regardless of the student’s age and/or intent.
• Any alcohol containers or paraphernalia found in violation of this policy are subject to confiscation by RLH staff. Furthermore, RLH staff will discard any full or empty alcohol bottles, cans or boxes that are confiscated.

Animals are not permitted in residence halls, except as provided below. 

• Service Animals/ Emotional Support Animals: Students with disabilities who reside in University residence halls may have a service animal or an emotional support animal (ESA) if they are approved for a disability-related accommodation by the Office of Disability Services (DSS) in accordance with DSS policy. For more information and to apply visit DSS – Housing Accommodations.
• Puppy Raisers of UD and other Service Raisers/Service Animals-in-training: Residents who wish to participate in the Puppy Raisers of the University of Delaware (PROUD), Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) or other approved Puppy Raising Resident Student Organizations, must first receive approval from RLH designated staff prior to the animal entering any University residence hall.  Contact the building Residence Hall Coordinator to coordinate the steps required to receive approval to allow any such animal-in-training into a university residence hall.
• Fish: Residents are permitted to have fish in the residence halls with the following limitations: only one (1) fish tank per room is permitted and the fish must be kept in an aquarium with a capacity less than twenty (20) gallons.  

Birds, reptiles, snakes and/or spiders are not permitted in university residential facilities. 

The University reserves the right to request the removal of any animal from the residence halls, including any service animal and/or emotional support animal, for any reason, including, but not limited to: a potential or actual threat to the safety of others; disruptive conduct; damage by the animal to University property; and, the failure by the resident to properly care for the animal in accordance with established guidelines

The use, installation or operation of personal surveillance, monitoring or recording devices—including but not limited to Ring cameras, security cameras, nanny cams, smart doorbells, audio recorders or similar devices capable of capturing video, images or audio for the purpose of monitoring individuals or spaces—is prohibited in university residential facilities.

This policy does not prohibit the normal and customary use of webcams, computer or phone microphones or similar built-in devices for personal communication or academic purposes, such as participating in virtual classes, video conferencing, FaceTime, Snapchat, Zoom meetings or other real-time communication platforms, provided these devices are not used to monitor or record shared or public spaces without consent.

Prohibited Uses of Cameras and Recording Devices

Residents may not:

• Install or use cameras or recording devices inside their room or apartment if they capture footage beyond the individual’s private living space.
• Install devices that record or monitor shared or public areas.
• Record audio or video of other individuals without their knowledge or consent.
• Use surveillance devices for monitoring roommates, guests, staff or community activity.

Note: Even devices marketed for “personal security” or “package monitoring” (e.g., Ring doorbells) are prohibited due to their recording capabilities.

In a shared community space, all residents need to have equal opportunity to use the lounge furniture at all times. Sleeping in lounges or common areas is prohibited. Lounge furniture is intended for the public use of all residents and their guests and must always remain in its designated spaces.

Moving university furniture from assigned areas to other areas of the building, including common spaces and/or student rooms, is prohibited. Residents are also responsible for keeping the communal space clean and orderly.

Students shall not, through act or omission, assist, facilitate or knowingly allow another student, individual or group to commit or attempt to commit a violation of residence hall regulations or the Student Code of Conduct.

Examples of complicity include, but are not limited to:

• Being present where alcohol, drugs or other prohibited items are present, regardless of personal use
• Allowing guests to violate policies without addressing or reporting the behavior
• Permitting others to store prohibited items in your room
• Remaining in an environment where policy violations are occurring, even if claiming “I am not involved”
• Failing to remove oneself from a situation where a policy violation is occurring and/or failing to report a known violation of this policy, when it is reasonable and safe to do so

Residents and their guests are expected to contribute to a safe, respectful and responsible living environment.  Any behavior that disrupts the community, interferes with others’ ability to sleep, study and/or live comfortably or which hinders university staff members from performing their duties, is prohibited.

Disorderly conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Engaging in excessive noise or disruptive behavior in rooms, suites, hallways or common areas.
• Engaging in verbally or physically aggressive, intimidating and/or hostile behavior toward other residents, guests and/or university staff.
• Creating unrest, unsafe or unhealthy conditions and/or unnecessary disturbances within the residential community.
• Failing to comply with reasonable directions or guidance provided by Residence Life and Housing staff.
• Escalating or contributing to conflict within the community.
• Creating public disturbances, including shouting, banging on doors or congregating in a manner that interferes with others’ ability to access spaces.
• Disrupting university operations within the residence halls.

The possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs, controlled substances or drug paraphernalia is strictly prohibited in all university residence halls and surrounding premises. This includes any items used or intended for drug consumption, such as pipes, bongs, grinders or vaporizers.

While the possession and use of marijuana may be legal under Delaware state law, marijuana is prohibited in all university-owned or -operated housing. This includes, but is not limited to, residence halls, apartments, lounges, common areas and outdoor areas immediately adjacent to residential facilities.

The following are not permitted in university residence halls:

• The possession, use, distribution or growing of marijuana
• Marijuana in any form, including smoking, vaping, edibles, oils or concentrates
• Marijuana paraphernalia (e.g., pipes, bongs, grinders, vape devices)

This policy aligns with federal law and university regulations to ensure a safe and healthy residential community.

The Tobacco-Free Policy is a university policy and tobacco use is prohibited on all university property.  In accordance with state and federal law, the possession and/or use of tobacco products, as defined below, is prohibited for any individual under the age of 21 in university residence halls.  Tobacco products, including but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, vapes, hookahs, smokeless tobacco and related paraphernalia. 

The use of lighters, matches or any other open flame ignition devices are prohibited in any university residence hall. For more information, please refer to Fire Safety.

Residents and their guests are expected to comply with all university and legal regulations regarding drugs and tobacco use.  The failure to comply with this policy may result in referral to the Office of CSCR for possible disciplinary action and sanctions in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

Any drugs, drug paraphernalia or tobacco products found to be in the possession of residents and/or their guests in violation of this policy are subject to confiscation by university and/or RLH staff. Confiscated items may or may not be returned to the resident and may be disposed of at the university’s discretion.

Tampering with elevator equipment, prying open or propping open elevator doors, jumping up and down in an elevator and/or accessing prohibited areas related to the elevators, is unsafe and prohibited.

Additionally, any student found vandalizing and/or tampering with the operation of an elevator(s) will be responsible for all costs to repair the damage to the elevator(s).