Rhode Island College (Elmhurst) — Student Handbook
Dean of Students Office
E-mail: deanofstudents@ric.edu
Phone: (401) 456-8355
Location: Donovan Dining Center Room 009
Reporting procedure: Anyone who witnesses or is aware of an apparent violation of the Code of Conduct should report it to the Dean of Students as soon as possible. Reports can be submitted verbally or in writing, but the latter is preferable to both the school and residents, so they can retain a copy of their report.
Of the four primary Providence-based institutions of higher learning, RI College (RIC) has the least amount of public-facing information regarding its policies relating to noise. The excerpts below are taken from the student handbook, and don’t specifically mention any conduct that causes excessive noise. We are seeking further clarification from the college administration.
According to RIC information online, in February 2024 it had about 4,300 undergraduate students seeking degrees. Unlike the other schools, it has no requirement to live on campus but doing so is “highly encouraged for both academic and personal success.” RIC’s website says it houses up to 1,198 students. (To live on campus, students must be enrolled full-time.) There is no mention of off-campus housing, though clearly 3,000+ RIC students live somewhere other than on campus.
Below is information on regulations that students are required to follow regarding their impact on the community. Note that the text in gray boxes is from RIC’s website or public documents, and that underlining, italics, and / or bold formatting have been added for emphasis.
“It is the expectation of the College that all students shall be responsible for their conduct from the time of admission through graduation ... The Code of Conduct shall apply to prohibited conduct by a student whether the conduct occurs on or off campus.”
“As members of the Rhode Island College community, students ... have a responsibility to uphold [the] Code of Conduct as well as adhere to federal, state and local laws. The Dean of Students shall make the determination on what constitutes a violation of the Code of Conduct and shall establish the specific code violation(s) as appropriate.”
RIC’s student handbook defines a complainant as “Any person who is alleged to have been subject to another student’s misconduct. In the absence of a student complainant, the College is the complainant.” This would seem to omit a resident of the area around the RIC campus as a potential complainant. However, as noted directly below, it also says “any individual” may report a code violation. The Residential Life section below also specifically mentions “the rights of others” and ”the community,” although these appear from context to refer to students and staff on-campus.
Reporting Code Violations
Any individual who is witness to or becomes aware of an alleged violation of the Code of Conduct should promptly report the conduct to the Dean of Students or designee. Reports may be submitted verbally or in writing, however, written reports are preferred. Reports should be submitted as soon as practicable because delays in reporting may result in the College’s inability to collect sufficient information, which may limit the College’s ability to adjudicate the alleged violation.
SECTION III: RESIDENTIAL LIFE & HOUSING
Consistent with the mission set forth by the College, Res[idential] Life maintains that a residential living environment conducive to academic, social, and personal growth depends on the willingness of its members to act responsibly and also with good citizenship. This can be achieved in an atmosphere of personal self-discipline, guided by the principle of respect for the rights of others and of the community. By choosing to reside in College housing, residents agree to adhere to all College policies, procedures, and expectations, including the policies, procedures, and expectations set forth herein, as well as the Student Code of Conduct and the Conduct Review Process. All residents are expected to read, familiarize themselves with, and at all times adhere to the Code. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary sanctions.
The short paragraph below was the only RIC information we could find online that mentioned noise, and it seems to refer to students on-campus:
Quiet Hours / Noise Policy
During the hours of 11:00 pm – 9:00 am on Sunday thru Thursday and 12:00 am – 9:00 am on Friday and Saturday, residents must refrain from making any excessive noise.