12.1.12. Residence Life

The office of residence life fosters the academic, social, cultural, and personal growth of students in a caring, comfortable, and challenging residential community of diverse students. The office of residence life maintains a residential community of high quality engagement that supports a vibrant co-curricular life within an urban liberal arts environment.

For additional information about residence life policies and regulations, visit http://reslife.oglethorpe.edu/.

12.1.12.1. Membership in the Community

As members of the Oglethorpe campus community, residential students have a specific set of rights and responsibilities. Residence life policies and regulations are designed to give a clear understanding of what is expected of Oglethorpe University residents. It is important to recognize that a large number of individuals live together in a residence hall. This density of people creates a special need for being aware of how one’s individual actions can have a direct effect on others and easily influence the environment of the entire hall. With these ideas in mind, the office of residence life has established a number of guidelines intended to give students a standard by which to live and learn together.

12.1.12.2. Responsibilities of Community Living

As an important member of this residential community, each student has the responsibility to:

  • Verbally express his/her/their views to the person(s) involved, should the student feel his/her/their rights have been violated.
  • Treat other residents with respect and consideration and grant them their individual rights.
  • Understand all policies and regulations necessary for the hall and University community to function.
  • Tell the truth and be honest in all interactions with the community.
  • Respond to all reasonable requests from fellow residents.
  • Respond to and cooperate with all Oglethorpe University and residence hall staff members at all times.
  • Take responsibility for personal and community safety, i.e. do not misuse safety equipment, do not prop open security doors and do not lose, loan or forget room keys or Petrel Pass.
  • Accept responsibility for his/her/their behavior and that of his/her/their guests at all times.
  • Recognize that public areas and their furnishings belong to everyone and that abuse of or removal of items from those areas violates the rights of all community members.
  • Report all maintenance issues to the appropriate person in a timely manner.

12.1.12.3. Residence Life Staff

The residence life professional staff members fall under the supervision of the vice president for student affairs. These staff members are student affairs professionals who work and in some campus live on-campus. They are trained and experienced in residence hall operations, supervision of RAs, and guiding RA programming. They are the office of residence life’s spokesperson in any situation that may arise in the residence halls, and they enforce University and residence hall policies. Feel free to speak with the professional staff about any problems, ideas, and/or suggestions you may have regarding residential living.

Resident assistants (RAs) are students that live and work in the residence halls. They are hired by the office of residence life to help students who live in the residence halls and are the most visible members of the residence life staff. Since each RA lives directly in the building, he/she is attuned to residents’ particular needs and problems. RAs go through an extensive selection and training process and are, therefore, helpful in dealing with all types of problems and situations. RAs also plan programs and activities, hold hall meetings, enforce policies and refer maintenance/housekeeping work orders to the physical plant.