Providence College Student Code – Providence Noise Project

Providence College Code of Student Conduct

Providence College (Elmhurst)

Office of Community Standards
Office Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (401) 865-1339
E-mail: communitystandards@providence.edu
Reporting procedure: PC has no specified process for residents to report student noise

The Office of Community Standards is responsible for administrating Providence College’s disciplinary procedures, and “is dedicated to its educational role of holding students fairly and appropriately accountable.”

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs / Dean of Students
Office Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (401) 865-1782
E-mail: deanofstudents@providence.edu

Providence College restricts living off campus to students in their senior (usually fourth) year. But depending on the projected occupancy of dorms for undergraduates required to live on campus, it may allow sophomores to apply to live off campus for their junior year. Any non-senior must have permission from the Office of Residence Life & Housing to live off campus.

Among the questions that sophomore (second-year) PC students are asked when applying to live off campus the following year are:

Why is living in off-campus housing important to you?
Please acknowledge that you understand the RI social host laws [regarding serving alcohol] and the city of Providence Public Nuisance ordinance and will abide by them if granted permission to reside off-campus.
What plan do you have to maintain and respect the off-campus community environment? Please describe specific ways you will demonstrate respect for the neighboring community.

The text directly below in gray is excerpted from the Providence College website:

Expectations of Students Living Off-Campus

Students living off-campus are expected to take responsibility for upholding the dignity and character expectations of Providence College students, as outlined in the Student Handbook, as well for obeying all local and state ordinances and laws as outlined in the Rhode Island Tenant Handbook. Key ordinances and state laws include the Providence Public Nuisance city ordinance [actually links to the Noise Project’s municipal laws page] and state of RI social host laws.

The text in the gray box below is excerpted from the student handbook.
(Italics, underlining, and bold formatting has been added for emphasis.)

Disorderly Noise and Quiet Hours

Noise

Residence halls are primarily a space supporting student academic, spiritual, and social success. The expectation is that our residence halls will be reasonably quiet at all times. All residents have the right to read, study, and sleep free from any undue noise. Residents should consider [any] noise that can be heard outside of a room, suite, or apartment to be intrusive to the community and be prepared to reduce sound levels.

 • The general noise level within the hall must be such that it does not interfere with the rights mentioned above.

 • Noise, particularly sustained, must not be readily audible within the private living quarters of other students.

 • Instruments or amplification devices (including, but not limited to, subwoofers and speakers) may not be used in the residence halls to produce excessive volume. The Office of Residence Life & Housing and / or Public Safety may confiscate this sound equipment if students are repeatedly addressed for noise disturbances using these devices.

 • Noise emanating from within one residence hall must not be audible within any other residence hall or Providence College building.

 • No amplified sound is permitted at outside events without the prior permission of the Director of Student Activities or the Director of Residence Life & Housing or his/her Designee.


Quiet Hours

Quiet Hours are defined as a period during which noise and intrusive behavior must be kept at a respectful minimum. “Quiet Hours” are as follows:

 • Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 • Quiet Hours are in effect Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.
 • Quiet Hours are in effect on Friday and Saturday from midnight to 10 a.m.
 • 24-hour Quiet Hours are in effect during reading days and exam periods.


“[T]he standards established for members of the Providence College community exceed those within the society at large. The Code of Conduct goes beyond what is simply required for public order — it also incorporates what is good, just, and developmentally appropriate for the individual and for the College community.”


Jurisdiction

Providence College has established standards of conduct to govern student behavior both on-campus and off-campus, including but not limited to behavior at college-sponsored activities and events. Each student is required to engage in responsible social conduct that reflects positive credit upon the College community and to model good citizenship in any community. ... The Director of Community Standards shall decide whether the Code of Conduct shall be applied to behavior occurring off campus on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, conduct constituting a violation of city, state, or federal law may result in disciplinary action.

Violations of any standard of conduct near or at the end of the [senior] academic year may result in a loss of privileges, including the ability to participate in senior-week events and activities, award ceremonies, and / or commencement exercises. Egregious violations may result in suspension, dismissal and / or the withholding of a diploma.


5) Disruptive or Disorderly Conduct; Breach of Peace.

    c) Disruption of normal College operations and / or infringement on the rights of other members of the College community.

    e) Any behavior resulting in the persistent interruption of a reasonable level of peace and quiet.

    f) Off-campus behavior that is disorderly and disruptive to others in the community or the neighborhoods surrounding the College. Refer also to “Good Neighbor Policy” (below).

    g) Failure to comply with the directives of college officials, Office of Public Safety, and / or law-enforcement authorities.

    h) Bringing disrepute upon the College.


19) Violation of any federal or state law, or local ordinance or regulation.


21) Good Neighbor Policy.

While living, traveling, or socializing within the neighborhoods surrounding our campus, all students are expected to be mindful of their duty to treat neighbors with dignity and respect. Peaceful co-existence with neighbors can be achieved when students act in a manner that accounts for the fact that student schedules typically differ from those of their neighbors, many of whom have made long-term commitments to the neighborhood.

The City of Providence has an ordinance that defines “public nuisance” as a gathering of 5 or more persons engaged in any illegal activity that creates a substantial disturbance to a significant portion of the neighborhood. Students who are listed as residents of a property designated by Providence Police as a “public nuisance property” are in violation of the College’s Good Neighbor Policy.

On a case-by-case basis, the College can determine that students who are listed as residents of a property not designated as a “public nuisance property,” but who nonetheless create a nuisance or pose a substantial risk of harm, are in violation of the College’s Good Neighbor Policy. “Illegal activity” includes, but is not limited to:

 a) Excessive noise or traffic.
 h) Disturbances of the peace.

Students found responsible for violating this section of the Code of Conduct will receive appropriate disciplinary sanctions, to include parental / legal guardian notification.