Residents are responsible for their guests’ actions. The residence hall visitation policy at Hendrix is one that promotes growth of the personal and social responsibilities of each student. By allowing the residents to determine the visitation arrangement best suited for the residence hall, the College recognizes an environment of responsible choice as a fundamental premise of College policy.

At the beginning of the fall semester, residents within each individual residence hall will have the option to adopt either a limited visitation policy or an open visitation policy. Adoption of a visitation policy must occur during the third week of school and will be administered by the Residence Life staff. A 3/4 majority vote of all residents is required to adopt the open visitation policy. Unless and until residents vote to adopt Option II, Option I will be in effect. A neutral (not directly connected to the hall) Residence Life staff member will be present to explain both options and discuss community standards involved with each option before the vote takes place. The decision to switch options may take place after the second floor meetings. A petition for reconsideration of the options must be signed by 1/4 of the hall’s residents to call a vote. A 3/ 4 majority vote is necessary to change options. The detailed descriptions of visitation policy options are as follows:

Option I: Limited Visitation

The residence hall submits to the Office of Residence Life a proposal regarding its visitation hours. The hours requested in each proposal must fall within the following parameters: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Option II: Open Visitation

Students under this option may entertain their guests with the ordinary freedom of private living. There will be no restrictions on the time within which this visitation option may be exercised. However, in order to stay more than three continuous nights, overnight guests must obtain permission from the Office of Residence Life; acts of inconsideration and cohabitation are violations of the visitation policy. Visitors will use the restroom facilities of the hall specifically set aside for guests.
A roommate’s right to free access to the room at all times must not be restricted by visitation. A roommate must not be deprived of the right to privacy, study time, or sleep because of a guest. Thus, all students wishing to entertain a guest must always have the permission of their roommate(s). Such courtesy must always be extended to roommates. If a roommate feels his/her right to free access of the room is being violated, he/she should contact the appropriate Residence Life staff member as in any other roommate conflict situation.