Rhodes College values all community members, including those outside our gates. The College strives to build positive, respectful, and civil relationships with our community neighbors to ensure positive, open streams of dialogue.
Rhodes students, whether living on or off campus, should be respectful of the people who live in the neighborhoods surrounding Rhodes. We are committed to reducing quality of life concerns such as loud noise, abusive behaviors (i.e., fighting, bullying, etc.), harassment, underage drinking, and drug abuse, which may negatively impact life on and off campus.
Quality of life concerns included but are not limited to:
- High-risk behavior and large parties where alcohol is provided to guests
- Vandalism and theft of property;
- Excessive noise in the community that exceeds city ordinances;
- Driving while impaired or taking other risks while behind the wheel;
- Fighting and harassing behaviors;
- Failing to dispose of trash.
If a student is living in an off-campus residence with one or more other students or non-students and the residence is found by the College to be violation of the Good Neighbor Policy or other policies and regulations or to be adversely affecting the College’s relationship with the neighboring community, all Rhodes College students who are residents may be subject to corrective action through the College’s Community Standards process, even if the conduct of an individual resident cannot be specifically identified.
Any Rhodes College student residing off campus is encouraged to engage with their fellow community members/neighbors:
- Introduce yourself: Get to know your neighbors. Introduce yourself to them when you first move in or early in the semester and exchange contact information.
- Respect your neighbors’ lifestyle: Depending on your neighborhood, there may be other students, working adults, or families with young children living near you. Be aware and respectful of your neighbors’ daily schedule and remember that they may have to work, get up early the next morning, or have young children at home.
- Keep the noise down: Abide by the City of Memphis noise ordinances and avoid creating loud noises that may disturb your neighbors.
- Keep your yard/residence neat and picked-up: Practice proper yard maintenance and ensure you pick up any litter from your yard or the area around your residence.
- Park your car(s) in appropriate spaces: Learn the acceptable and legal places for parking at your house or apartment. In particular, it is a violation of a City of Memphis ordinance to block a sidewalk or driveway with a parked vehicle.
- Be responsible when hosting gatherings: Let your neighbors know in advance if you are planning a social gathering at your house. Keep the number of guests at a manageable level, determine a time for the gathering to end, and have plenty of trashcans available so guests can discard their litter as they leave. Remember that all tenants of the house or apartment are responsible for behavior that occurs on the premises.
- Communicate: Invite your neighbors to contact you if there are any problems at your house and discuss concerns with your neighbors as soon as they arise.
Be familiar with state and local laws and Rhodes College policies regarding behavior, alcohol, and drugs.