Residential Life Policies
Residential Life Philosophy
Valparaiso University is by design a residential university. It is our belief that residence halls provide living and learning experiences that lead to students’ growth and development and enhance their total educational experience. For this reason, Valparaiso University has a three-year residency requirement. All incoming undergraduate students are expected to reside in campus housing for six (6) semesters (specific exemptions to this policy are determined by the Office of Residential Life). Living in a residence hall is also a privilege, and as such, this privilege may be revoked whenever doing so is in the university’s best interests.
Valparaiso University is by design a residential university. It is our belief that residence halls provide living and learning experiences that lead to students’ growth and development and enhance their total educational experience. For this rIn the residence halls, students are encouraged to take the responsibility for determination and self-enforcement of hall policies. Within each community, students are expected to work together in a spirit of mutual respect and confront one another when appropriate. Efforts are made to develop communities by interest and personal choice; to encourage educational, social, and recreational functions; and in many ways to provide the climate for growth. To help achieve these goals, the university provides professional residential learning coordinators (RLCs) and student resident assistants (RAs).
Student Senate Regulations for University-Operated Residence Halls
The Student Senate has been given responsibility for a system of internal regulation for the residence halls. This system allows residence halls to determine their hall policies within guidelines established by the Student Senate. At the beginning of the fall semester, the RLC and RAs are responsible for organizing and directing the affairs of the residence hall until the House Council and Student Conduct Board are elected and functioning. After that time, they serve as advisors to ensure that the residence halls function according to university policy.
The RLC and RAs of each residence hall, in conjunction with the Student Senate, will conduct hall elections no later than the third week of the fall semester. The hall president may be chosen at large or by the elected House Council. Corridors may elect their representatives before or after the residence hall election. Each residence hall begins the year using the constitutions for House Council and Student Conduct Board that the Student Senate approved during the previous year.
Policy Categories
Policies can be found in the linked categories below.