The Office of Residence Life at St. Mary's University is a component of the Student Development Division and is shaped by Marianist traditions. Residence Life provides residence halls that are communities which develop students' life skills and personal responsibility and serve as transitional environments to future roles and service to society.

Shaped by Marianist Traditions

The Marianist family includes members of the Society of Mary (founded in 1817 by Father William Joseph Chaminade), the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (founded in 1816 by Adele de Batz de Tranquelleon) and various communities of lay men and women. Being shaped by Marianist traditions means educating students as individuals; fostering awareness of personal values and moral responsibility; invoking a dialogical family spirit; and creating a community of faith.

Provide Residence Halls that are Communities

Residence halls must provide a physical environment in which community can grow. Within the Marianist tradition, a community is viewed as an extended family. The community within the residence halls offers a variety of different relationships among various populations. The community includes and is supported by staff, faculty, administrators, family and friends. Respect for individual differences and the understanding of diversity are key elements in development of community in the residence halls at St. Mary's University.

Develop Students' Life Skills and Personal Responsibility

Living on campus provides many opportunities to discover and develop one's own gifts and talents. The Office of Residence Life works with residents to cultivate these gifts and talents into life skills. Residents will face challenges of personal responsibility as they mature into independent adults. Embracing the University's academic endeavor to create students who are intellectual and critical thinkers, the residence halls provide a challenging, yet supportive environment for the residents' development and growth.

Serve as Transitional Environments to Future Roles and Service to Society

The residence halls are but a foundation to a life beyond St. Mary's University. Residents will discover a variety of leadership opportunities that will become essential for future roles. Involvement in service experiences offered to residents will enable them to become integral, contributing members of society.

Cultural Diversity in the Residence Halls

St. Mary's University is a diverse community of people from varied racial, ethnic and class backgrounds, national origins, religious and political beliefs, and physical abilities. The Residence Life Office believes that accepting one another and the protection of human dignity enriches life at St. Mary's in activities, in programs, in the classroom, and in everyday experiences. The goal of the Residence Life Office is to create an environment of community and individual respect where differences are appreciated and celebrated.

Residence Hall Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

Each person, as a resident of the St. Mary's University residence halls, possesses certain individual rights and responsibilities which must be held in high regard. This section is intended to define the minimal expectations of rights and responsibilities of all residents without placing constraints upon the rights of other residents. Each resident has the right to engage in those physical, educational, spiritual, and social pursuits that are a necessary part of university life. However, these rights carry with them certain responsibilities to ensure the rights of others. Included with these responsibilities is being a positive and productive community member.

The Primary Rights of an Individual Include:

• The right to read and study, free from undue interference in one's room. Unreasonable noise and other distractions inhibit the exercise of this right.
  
  
• The right to sleep.
  
  
• The right to one's belongings.
  
  
• The right to free access to one's room.
  
  
• The right to a clean environment in which to live.
  
  
• The right to due process. In exercising this right, the student further holds the right to be free from fear of intimidation, physical and/or emotional harm, and without the imposition of sanctions without due process.

Secondary Rights of the Individual Include:

• The right to personal privacy. This does not mean that residents may refuse to have a roommate or to work within the mediation system to solve roommate problems.
  
  
• The right to host visitors. With this right goes the understanding that visitors must respect the rights of all residence hall students and adhere to all residence hall regulations.
  

Any misuse of these rights is subject to review and action according to the St. Mary's University Code of Conduct as outlined in the Student Handbook. However, the process of mediation involving students and the residence hall staff, should also be considered as a means of solving conflict. As alternative to the conduct system in certain instances, students may request to participate in mediation through the campus Mediation Center.