Guest Policies

2012-2013 Residence Hall Handbook (PDF)

The links below are in the process of being updated with information for 2012-2013 to match the Residence Hall Handbook above.

• Guest Access
• Guest Limits
• Responsibility for Guests
• Guests Without Photo ID
• Parent and Family Member Guests
• Sabbath Holidays
• Group Gatherings
• Guests who are Minors
• Babysitting Policy

For the purpose of this policy, a "guest" is defined as any non-Barnard student.  All Barnard students (regardless of whether they live in BC or CU housing) may enter any Barnard residence hall at any time after presenting a valid Barnard ID (with current semester validation sticker on it) to the Access Attendant (AA).  Barnard residence halls include Elliott, 601 West 110th Street, Cathedral Gardens, Plimpton, 600, 616, and 620 West 116th Street, Sulzberger & Tower, Brooks, Hewitt, and Reid Halls. 

Any CU students who live in Barnard residence halls may enter the hall in which they reside at any time as long as they have a specific Barnard residence hall sticker for, and present their CU ID to the Access Attendant.  CU students who wish to enter any Barnard residence hall of which they are not a resident must be signed in as a guest at all times by a resident of that building.

The intent of guest privileges is to allow for reasonable visitation by a resident’s friends- not long term or live-in visitors.  In fairness to those paying the room fee, repeated visits by the same guest are strongly discouraged and may be denied.  The guest policy applies to all resident students,including those who live in single rooms.  Barnard students who live in campus owned or operated residence halls (as listed above) may sign-in guests to their own residence hall only.  For example, if you live in the Quad and are visiting someone in 600, you may not sign a guest into 600.  The College reserves the right to suspend or terminate an individual’s guest privileges.  The Residential Life staff may be called upon to help resolve problemsregarding guests.  Residential students are forbidden from giving their keys and/or ID card to another to use in order to gain entry into a residence hall.

Guest Access

The guest is required to notify the host that they are present in the lobby and waiting to be escorted.  The resident must come down to the front desk with their ID to register the guest at the front desk and to escort the guest into the building.  Guests are required to leave a photo ID at the front desk until such time as their host escorts them back to the desk to be checked out.  A photo ID is defined as any identification card with the individual’s photo and full name present on the card.  If the type of ID presented has a visible expiration date, it is expected that the ID be current in order for our staff to accept it.  Credit cards are never accepted as a form of ID, nor are non-photo identification cards.

Guest Limits

Each bedroom within the residence halls has a limit to the number of people that may be present at any point in time, regardless of the activity within the room/suite.  For the purpose of this policy, the suiteroom or common area within a suite is not considered when calculating the maximum occupancy of a given suite or bedroom.  Each bedroom has a maximum occupancy equal to the number of assigned residents times three.  For example, if you live in a double, then you are permitted to have a max of 6 people, including yourself, in your room at any point in time.  If you live in a single, you are permitted to have a total of three people, including yourself, in your room at any point in time, etc.

Responsibility for Guests

At the time the guest enters the building, the host accepts responsibility and liability for the actions of their guest.  The host is expected to escort the guest at ALL times the guest is inside of the building.  Students are responsible for their guests’ behavior at all times and for ensuring that guests comply with all Barnard College policies.  In addition, the Barnard student host assumes the consequences for violations and/or damages incurred by their guests, and are subject to disciplinary action by the college due to the behavior of their guests.  All students share responsibility for maintaining a sense of community in their residence hall.  This includes greeting and inquiring about anyone unfamiliar to them.  Arrangements for having visitors must be negotiated and mutually agreed upon by roommates and/or suitemates.

Guests Without Photo ID

Any guest who does not have appropriate identification to present to the Access Attendant will be asked to complete a form providing identifying personal and emergency contact information.  Once approved for entry, the host must leave their ID at the front desk along with one copy of the Inadequate ID form.  The guest is required to carry their copy of this form with them at all times while in the residence hall.  If student guests repeatedly attempt to gain entry without appropriate identification, the student’s guest privileges may be suspended for a period of time.

Parent and Family Member Guests

Parents or family members who come to visit the student are expected to participate in the same registration process as all other guests.  For visitors who are minors and are within the guidelines of the Minors Policy, the parent can vouch for the minor who may not have any identification.

Sabbath Holidays

Residents who observe the Sabbath and therefore do not carry their keys for religious reasons (Friday sundown through Saturday sunset and on religious holidays) should sign up online for the campus-wide Sabbath Observer list.  When entering residence halls on the Sabbath, the observant student must give the Access Attendant their name and seven-digit Barnard ID number.  The Attendant will check the resident name and number against a campus-wide roster of Sabbath observers.  Only those persons whose names are on the roster will be allowed to proceed.  If a Barnard (or CU resident of a Barnard residence hall) student’s name is not on the Sabbath list, they should contact the Residential Life & Housing office in 110 Sulzberger in order to be added to the list.  Only Barnard and Columbia students living in Barnard residence halls will be placed on the roster.  Only keys and an ID may be left at the front desk area – no other personal items will be held.  Students must request the Sabbath key box from the AA – it will not be kept on top of the desk in plain sight.  Students must accept full responsibility for any key(s) and/or ID left at the front desk.  All guests of Sabbath observers must be met by the resident and be signed in by the desk staff.  If the guest is also a Sabbath Observer, they will not be required to leave an ID, but must properly check-in with the desk staff.  Sabbath Observers may not leave a personal guest list at the front desk. 

If you have religious access needs not accommodated in this policy, please speak to the Residential Life & Housing office (110 Sulzberger) to request alternate arrangements.