Guest Procedures

Guests are allowed in the halls as long as they comply with all Residence Life policies and procedures and do not disturb the normal operation of the building.  Guests must carry the appropriate valid identification on them at ALL times and have access to their approved Guest Registration email if residing on campus after 10:00 PM. Guests must remain with their resident (host) at all times.  Residents will be held accountable for the behavior and/or actions of the guest(s).

Each registered guest is allowed to stay on-campus no more than three (3) nights (consecutively or not) within a seven (7) day period. A night begins and ends at 10:00 PM. RCNJ residents are allowed to host up to two (2) guests at any given time. Guests may not move from host to host to stay on-campus more than three (3) nights.

Current RCNJ residential students do not need to be registered as a guest. All residents are responsible for their guests.

The College automatically assumes that all residents within a shared housing unit (room/suite/apartment) agree to permit their roommate, suitemate, or apartment-mates to register guests in their shared housing unit, without having to provide prior acknowledgment of those guests. However, residents have the right to opt-out of this automatic Guest Registration by contacting their Resident Assistant to facilitate a roommate/suitemate/apartment contract. As with any roommate/suitemate/apartment contract, if someone violates the terms of the contract, staff in the hall/area office must receive a formal complaint before they can act upon it. It is important to note that once a complaint is received for a particular room/suite/apartment, all residents of that space may lose guest privileges until they come together and a contract is developed.

It is essential that students adhere to the Occupancy Limit for Residence Units Policy for the assigned room/suite/apartment. It is the responsibility of roommates/suitemates to alert the host of the guest of any issues or concerns they may have concerning any guests or the amount of guests entering their room/suite/apartment. It is recommended that students have open conversations with roommates/suitemates about guest expectations.

*Currently Enrolled commuters with current RCNJ IDs may use their IDs. If a commuter is not found on the list, they will need to provide another form of acceptable identification.

Adult Guests (18+)

An Adult Guest is defined as anyone who is age 18 years or older and not assigned to an on-campus student residence room, suite, or apartment.

Examples of Guests:

• RCNJ Commuter Students
• RCNJ Former Students
• Non-RCNJ Students
• Non-RCNJ Family Members

These individuals need to complete the Guest Registration process if visiting on campus after 10 PM and can be registered any night of the week. All guests must remain with their hosts at all times. Guests must have access to the approved Guest Registration email and a valid form of identification.

Minor Guests (Under age 18)

A Minor is defined as a person under 18 years of age. Minor Guests are only permitted to visit on the weekends (Friday-Sunday).

Minors over the age of 14 must provide a current high school identification card. All other forms of acceptable Identification listed above will be sufficient as well.

Failure to adequately supervise guests who are minors may result in disciplinary action or termination of minor visitation privileges.

All guests, regardless of age, must abide by all Ramapo College rules and local, State, and Federal regulations and laws.

Guest Registration Availability and Submission

In order to have a guest(s) after 10 PM, the resident (host) must register their guest(s) by completing the Guest Registration Process at any Guest Registration kiosk in the Residence Halls. Guest Registration will be monitored daily by Public Safety and Residence Life Staff.

No one may use the guest procedure to evade paying proper residence hall charges.  Guests may not move from host to host in order to stay on campus for more than the duration the policy states. Students and guests who are found to be in violation of these procedures will be documented by the Residence Life Staff or Public Safety Officers. Students who violate the Guest Policy may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and may be subject to campus restriction ban.  Individuals, such as runaways or others fleeing lawful parental authority, are not permitted as guests.

NOTE: Depending on the situation, the College reserves the right to change or limit guest procedures.  Guest privileges will be revoked if actions impede the teaching and learning processes that are at the heart of the College’s mission.  Guests’ personal behaviors should conform to the wishes of all the residents in the room/suite/apartment.  It is the host’s responsibility to report the misconduct of guest(s) to the Department of Public Safety or Residence Life staff immediately. Any guest who may be in violation of a College Policy or impede the teaching and learning process that are at the heart of the College’s mission, may be asked to leave campus immediately and/or issued an immediate campus restriction ban.

Guest Restrictions

There are designated times throughout the year when guest privileges are more restricted in order to assist with Residence Hall operations. Below is a listing of these times and guest expectations and procedures.  Residents who reside on campus may not use their residency to allow others to circumvent paying for housing.

Guest Parking Procedures

Guests are allowed to bring their vehicles on-campus. Guests who will be parking a car on campus overnight will be required to compete the parking permit prompt on the kiosk after completing the Guest Registration process. Once a parking permit has printed, it must be placed on the dashboard of the car so the printed side can be visible from outside of the vehicle.

Guests may only park in designated Parking Lot D.

If a guest is only interested in visiting the campus for a couple of hours during the day, they should visit the Public Safety Booth at the front of the College for a day parking pass.

Guest Transportation Procedures

Guests are welcome to use both the RCNJ Shuttle and the NYC Port Authority Bus.

RCNJ Shuttle

They must be with their host at all times. All guests should have their Guest Registration Form available when riding the RCNJ Shuttle; they may be asked to present it. If a guest is using the RCNJ Shuttle to arrive from the train station, the host must be onboard the RCNJ Shuttle to meet him/her. The times and destinations for the RCNJ Shuttle are located on the Ramapo website.

NYC Port Authority Bus

Their ticket must be purchased with their host’s Ramapo ID at Roadrunner Central. A guest is not required to present a Guest Registration Form to ride the NYC Port Authority Bus.

Prohibited Residents

Prohibited residents are persons who visit residents’ rooms for long periods of time (for more than three days within a given week) or whose visitation violates the Guest Procedures in any way.  Unregistered guests are considered “prohibited.”

If the Office of Residence Life staff, officers from the Department of Public Safety, or other College officials find someone who is living in a campus residence, but who is not authorized to be there, the “host” student (or students) may be charged the regular housing charge for the “guest” and the “host” may be charged with conduct violations.  Violators may be fined and/or face judicial action.

Residents who are aware of a person(s) living on-campus without authorization or who is violating the Guest Policy, should notify their residence hall office staff as soon as possible. College Staff will be checking the Guest Registration database on a regular basis to ensure that all residents and guests are complying with the Guest Policy.

Occupancy Limit for Residence Units Policy

The following guidelines have been established to define Ramapo College’s occupancy limit for each residence unit (room, suite, and apartment) within our Residence Halls and Apartment Complexes. Occupancy limit is defined as the maximum number of persons permitted within a housing unit at any time, including residents assigned to the unit.

The chart below lists the occupancy limits:

Should College Staff observe the number of persons present in a residential unit exceeding the occupancy limit, it will lead to an immediate dispersal of the gathering by having all persons not residing in the unit vacate the space. The incident will be documented and referred to the Office of Student Conduct for disciplinary action. Please also see related policies: Alcohol, Cannabis, Other Drugs, and Good Samaritan Policy (Link).

Outdoor Congregations:

In addition to interior occupancy limits, the following guidelines are in place for exterior areas: Obstruction of the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on College premises or at College-sponsored or supervised events or activities is prohibited. Additionally, congregating in front of buildings/apartment entrances, stairwells, and balconies/landings is prohibited. Individuals or groups who obstruct the free flow of others will be instructed to clear the area and may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for disciplinary action.

CURRENT STUDENT HOUSING WITHDRAWAL FORM

• All students who wish to withdraw from housing must complete this form, as well as a check-out receipt and exit survey.
• Students who voluntarily withdraw from housing, students who are administratively withdrawn from housing or students who lose housing as a result of a judicial sanction must reapply for any future housing requests, as their guaranteed housing status is no longer in effect. Once a student is withdrawn from housing, they are considered a commuter student.
• Students who withdraw from housing and later decide they would like to return to housing must reapply by submitting a commuter housing application and a $200 non-refundable housing deposit. This application may be obtained by e-mailing reslife@ramapo.edu.  The  $200.00 non-refundable housing deposit must be submitted to the Student Accounts Office.  Once your application is received and your deposit is paid, your name will be added to the commuter list. Please note: housing is not guaranteed.
• Before students submit a housing withdrawal form, all belongings must be removed from their room/suite/apartment. Any personal items left in their room/suite/apartment will be considered abandoned and will be discarded. Once a withdrawal form is submitted, it goes into effect immediately.
• Students will be responsible for all housing charges until they have officially completed all check out procedures and withdrawal processes. Students who do not properly follow the check out procedures will be charged a $75 fee for an improper check-out.
• No refunds will be issued for housing or dining plan changes after the 50% refund deadline. Please review the academic calendar on the College website for refund deadlines.
• Requests for forwarding mail will be honored for two weeks (first class mail only).  In order for students’ mail to be forwarded, they must fill out forwarding address labels (contact hall/area office for details). After two weeks, mail will no longer be forwarded and will be returned to sender.
• Students who have been granted an approved Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) must obtain and submit a Temporary Withdrawal Form by emailing the Office of Residence Life.  Although, students are guaranteed housing, we are unable to guarantee specific housing assignments.  The students’ age as well as credits (on file at the time of placement) will be taken into consideration.
• Students who are withdrawing from housing for Military obligations or a Study Abroad program through Ramapo College must submit a housing withdrawal form and  a Temporary Withdrawal Form if they wish to return to campus housing.  This form must be submitted  to the main Office of Residence Life.  Although, students are guaranteed housing, we are unable to guarantee specific housing assignments.  The students’ age as well as credits (on file at the time of placement) will be taken into consideration.
• Housing deposits are non-refundable and will be forfeited.  Students are encouraged to review their account on-line within four business days to see if the forfeited housing deposit has created a balance on their account or increased a current balance.

Withdrawal Form