K. Noise Issues

Middlebury College seeks to promote the quiet, comfort, and health of the College community and residents of the town of Middlebury. Students should neither cause nor condone excessive amounts of noise, but should strive to be considerate and respectful of others.

The following guidelines have been adopted to ensure that Middlebury students respect the peace and safety of their neighbors, inside and outside the premises of the College.

1. Education

I. Room Change Policy

At Middlebury College, we base our residential system on the principle of community living. We value the benefits and challenges of learning to live with other people. By interacting with people of different backgrounds and interest, community members form rich relationships. A residential community of roommates, hall mates, and friends prepares students to be involved in local, national, and international communities and to face the challenges of difference in a diverse world.

H. Off-Campus Living Policy

1. The College permits a limited number of seniors to live off campus. Permission is granted by a process coordinated by the Office of the Dean of the College. Special students must live off campus and are not included in the total number. The number of off campus residents is based on our commitment to the residential nature of the College and an evaluation of the rental market in the town of Middlebury.

G. Entry into Residential Rooms

1. Emergency Entry

The Department of Public Safety is authorized to enter a student's room in the event of emergency circumstances, such as fire, fire alarm, fire drill, an immediate threat to life, a call for help, or what reasonably seems to be a dangerous situation. If time permits the Department of Public Safety should first seek authorization from the dean of the College or the Commons dean before entering a student room to deal with an emergency. (See Special Room Inspection, 5. below.)

E. Academic Interest Houses

In 1991, the Residential Life Committee, the Student Government Association, and the Community Council recommended creating, in addition to the existing foreign language houses, a limited number of academic interest houses. Academic interest houses are houses in which residents pursue a common academic interest and share the fruits of that interest with the campus community.

1. Purpose

The purpose of academic interest houses includes:

a. promotion of the academic interests;

B. Commons System

The goals of the Commons System are to build a sense of community by creating more opportunities for meaningful relationships among students, faculty, and staff; to develop programs and events that enrich the Middlebury College experience; and to give students a greater voice in determining the nature of the intellectual, social, and residential life of the College.

A. Principles for Residential Life

The following are the guiding principles for residential life at Middlebury College, as adopted by the Community Council in 1991 and presented to the Board of Trustees in March 1991.

1. Students at a residential college are part of a community of learners. Residential life supports and complements the academic programs and educational mission of the College.