Visitation & Overnight Guest Policy

Visitation & Overnight Guest Policy 

- Updated August, 2023

Visitation & Overnight Guest Policy         

The Office of Residential Life’s Visitation & Overnight Guest Policy was developed to protect Residents’ rights to security, privacy and comfort and to prevent unauthorized persons from entering the campus and/or staying overnight in the residence halls.   The Visitation & Overnight Guest Policy is suspended during the first two (2) weeks of each new semester. Guests may not be approved during winter break and summer sessions. The Office of Residential Life can adjust, extend or suspend visitation and overnight guests as needed.  

Resident’s Responsibilities for Hosting a Guest                                                                      

  • Host Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guest(s) at all times. A Host should be with their guests at all times while in their building. A Host’s roommate has the right to free access and privacy of their room. Therefore, the Host must carefully discuss visitation with their roommate(s), so that everyone has a clear understanding of preferences, expectations, rights and need for privacy.  

  • Violations of the Visitation & Overnight Guest Policy may likely result in the suspension of visitation privileges for a specified period, among other possible disciplinary actions; subsequent violations may result in longer restrictions of visitation privileges or suspension from the residence halls.  

  • Hosts are allowed no more than two (2) visitors at any given time. High volume of guests in the building can result in the limiting of guests allowed entrance into the building at the discretion of Office of Residential Life staff and/or University Police.  

 

Visitation Policy       

A Visitor is defined as any person who does not reside in the hall, but they wish to visit. The Office of Residential Life professional staff and/or University Police can suspend visitation to any residence hall for safety or security concerns.  

RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS (Hall to Hall Visitation)  

A “Hall to Hall” Visitor is defined as a current Resident student wishing to visit another Resident student in a residence hall other than their own. A “Hall to Hall Visitor” wishing to visit can do so by having their Host sign them in and providing a valid SUNY Old Westbury ID to the Office of Residential Life staff at the front desk located in the residence hall during designated times. All Visitors must sign in every time they enter the residence hall and sign out every time they leave. All visitations must be in compliance with the Residence Hall Roommate Agreement. Residents have the ability to update or make changes as necessary to accommodate all residents within the room.  

COMMUTER STUDENTS  

A Commuter Student wishing to visit a Resident in the residence halls can do so between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. by having their Host sign them in and providing a valid SUNY Old Westbury ID to the Office of Residential Life staff at the front desk office located in the residence hall. All Visitors must sign in every time they enter the building and sign out every time they leave. Commuter Students may not enter the building while the RA Office is not staffed. Commuter Students must leave the Residence Halls by 12:00 a.m.  

NON-AFFILIATED INDIVIDUAL  

A Non-Affiliated Individual (friends, parents, and relatives, etc.,) wishing to visit a Resident in the residence halls can do so between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. by having their Host sign them in and providing a proper photo identification to the Office of Residential Life staff at the front desk office located in the residence hall.  All Visitors must sign in every time they enter the residence hall and sign out every time they leave. If an RA is not present in the office, the Resident should call the RA-On Duty number. Non-Affiliated Individuals may not enter the building, while the RA Office is not staffed Un-Affiliated Individuals must leave the Halls and campus by 12:00 a.m.  

UNDERAGE GUESTS 

An Underage Guest is any person under the age of 18 wishing to visit a Resident in the residence halls. All underage guests must be pre-approved by the Office of Residential Life before entering the residence halls, regardless of the time of day. Residents wishing to have an Underage Guest in the residence halls must submit a request to their RHD (Resident Hall Director) by 5 p.m., two (2) business days before the date of the Underage Guest’s visit. Approved Underage Guests can visit a Resident in the residence halls between 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Underage Guests may not enter the building while the RA Office is not staffed.  

 

Overnight Guest Policy  

Residents are limited to one (1) Overnight Guest per night. The maximum number of Overnight Guest visits per resident is four (4) nights per month.   

  • Any Overnight Guest is defined as a Non-Resident person who is in a Resident student’s room after 12:00 a.m. (midnight).  

  • An Overnight Guest is permitted only after obtaining an approved Overnight Guest Pass.  

  • All Overnight Guest Pass applications must be agreed upon by the Host’s roommate(s) through signed approval. 

  • Overnight Guests will not be approved during the first two (2) weeks of the semester and final exam periods.  

  • Overnight Guests may not be approved during winter break and summer session.  

  • Each Overnight Guest has a limit of four (4) nights overnight in the residence halls per thirty (30) calendar days regardless of Host.  

  • Overnight Guests under the age of 18 will not be approved for overnight passes and must leave at designated times as indicated above.  

  • * In collaboration with the SUNY Old Westbury Athletics program, there is a separate pre-approved process for the Overnight Athletic Guest Program.  

Residents wishing to host an Overnight Guest must complete an Overnight Guest Request Form. Approval from the roommate(s) must be obtained before the issuance of the Overnight Guest Pass. Once registered, the Overnight Guest’s name will be provided to University Police for placement on the Overnight Guest List.  

  • The form must be completed and approved by the RHD by 4p.m. two (2) business days before the date of the Overnight Guest (i.e., requests for an Overnight Guest on Friday night should be submitted by 4 p.m. on the Wednesday beforehand).  

  • An Overnight Guest Pass will be issued to the Overnight Guest when they initially enter the residence hall of their Host Resident. Overnight Guests are required to carry the Overnight Guest Pass at all times. The Overnight Guest Pass must be produced upon request by any member of the University Police Department, Office of Residential Life Staff, or SUNY Old Westbury staff member for the duration of their stay. Overnight Guest Passes must be claimed by 11:30 p.m. at the RA Office of the building where the Host lives. Overnight Guest Passes cannot be issued after this time. 

  • Any Resident found responsible for hosting Overnight Guests without permission may face strict sanctions including the possibility of immediate suspension from the residence halls. Areas not designated for sleeping (lounges, hallways, suites, etc.) may not be used for sleeping by anyone.  

 

Residence Hall Visitation Procedures  

  1. In the Woodlands residential community, a Visitor passes the first sliding door and comes to the front desk and awaits their Host. In the Academic Village residential community, a Visitor comes to the Bolivar Hall RA Office with their Host. 

  1. Visitors must present valid physical photo identification: Current Resident students and Commuter’s Student Visitors will show their valid SUNY Old Westbury ID for identification. Non-affiliated Guests must show state/other government photo identification. 

  1. Office of Residential Life Staff will complete the Visitor’s Log with the Visitor’s information.  

  1. Visitors and Hosts will notify the Office of Residential Life staff upon exit.  

No Visitor (hall to hall or otherwise) shall be allowed to enter any residence halls without following the above steps. This process must happen every time a student enters and exits the building. Failure to do so is a violation of the SUNY Old Westbury Code for Student Conduct.  

** Please note the Office of Residential Life can suspend the  Visitation and Overnight Guest Policy as needed due to extenuating circumstances**