Visitation Policies & Guest Registration
Guests
A guest is defined as any individual who is not a resident of the room, suite, or apartment that they are visiting while on campus. This includes other students, residential and commuter, non-students and family members. Catawba College students are responsible for their guests at all times. This also requires you are with your guest for the duration of their stay at Catawba College and that they have picture ID on them at all times. In addition, your guest must follow the same policies and rules outlined in the Student Resource Guide. A violation of such policies outlined in the handbook will result in your guest being removed from campus and you being held accountable through the student judicial process. All students must record their non‐Catawba enrolled student guests through the online Guest Registration Form, especially if their guests are staying overnight in a residency hall.
Overnight Guests
An overnight guest is defined as any guest who will be present in a resident's room between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. Overnight guests are limited to two (2) consecutive nights, preferably on a weekend, and no more than 10 nights per semester. If you invite an overnight guest, you must first make sure that your roommate/suitemates agree. All overnight guests must be at least 16 years of age. Students residing in freshman residence halls should refer to the policy Freshman Building Policy listed below for additional restrictions.
Please note that cohabitation is not permitted in the residence halls. Cohabitation is defined as visitors residing with a resident for more than seven (7) nights in a calendar month. Guests may not give the impression of living in a space by having food, drawer space, closet/wardrobe space, belongings in the bathroom or possess a room key. Any resident found having an individual (other than a roommate/suitemate assigned by the Office of Housing and Residence Life) living with them is subject to disciplinary action.
Acceptable Guest Behavior
Hosting guests on campus is considered a privilege and may be suspended or revoked at any time. Residents are expected to accompany their visitors at all times in common areas of the residence halls and other campus facilities. Students should only host visitors that can respect college policies, maintain a respectful presence on campus, and should not have any outstanding social or legal issues. Non-student guests are not provided any measure of protection or rights while on campus and all disputes, issues or incidents may be referred to the appropriate local authorities for resolution through the legal processes. Students will be held responsible for their guest's behavior on campus.
Significant penalties will be assessed for violations of the residence hall visitation policy, including, but not limited to, the following:
- 1st Offense: Written Warning
- 2nd Offense: $50.00 fine and 10 hours of Community Service
- 3rd Offense: $100.00 fine, 20 hours of Community Service and loss of visitation rights
Visitation by Children
Catawba College works hard to provide residence halls that meet the needs of college aged students and that provide a healthy living and learning community. The residence halls are designed for use by adult college age students. All overnight guests must be at least 16 years of age. Children under the age of 16 may visit between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Children should never be left unattended and are the responsibility of the resident at all times. Residence hall rooms may not be used to baby-sit children, especially infants and toddlers.
Visitation Violation Policy
The administration may suspend or revoke residence hall visitation privileges individually, by room, suite, floor or building in response to violations of the policy or to protect the residence hall community. If you are found to be in violation of the visitation policy, you will be subject to referral to the college conduct administrator. Sanctions can include fines, college service, loss of visitation privileges and suspension/expulsion from the College. In addition, residents will be held responsible for their guest's violation of college policy as well as state and federal laws. The right of privacy must be maintained and visitation will not be permitted without the consent of all assigned students within a common living area of the residence hall. No resident shall be obligated to give up access/use of their room or bed in order to acquiesce to the visitation desires of their roommate(s)/suitemate(s). A student's right to study, sleep and maintain control over their personal belongings takes precedence over the privilege of others to host guests. If complaints arise from roommates or others in the community, the resident(s) hosting the guest is expected to cooperate and make compromises to resolve the situation.
Freshman Building Policy
Students residing in freshman buildings are permitted to host visitors in the residence hall during predetermined hours. Visitors in residence halls with community bathrooms should never enter the restroom if they are of a different gender than the residents of the building/hallway. Because the freshmen residence halls are primarily designed as double occupancy rooms without private sleeping areas, students may not host guests (boyfriend, girlfriend, or other casual intimate relations) during non- visitation hours or overnight.
Visitation Hours for Woodson and Salisbury-Rowan Residence Halls:
- Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
- Friday – Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Upperclass Building Policy
Students residing in upper class buildings are permitted to have guests in their rooms 24 hours a day, as long they are escorted/or with their host at all times. Residents who entertain visitors are expected to maintain standards of appropriate group living behavior. The right to privacy will take priority over the privilege to entertain a guest. Each roommate/suitemate/apartment group should discuss and agree upon appropriate visitation hours for their living space. If at any point any member of that living space wishes to reevaluate and/or make changes to the agreed upon policy, the other member(s) of that living space are expected to cooperate and amend the policy.
