Department of Residence Life

The Community Standards Board is made up of various members of the GCU community, including, but not limited to, community standards coordinators, resident directors, students and other staff.

For more information, contact us at [email protected].

When a resident is fined, staff members will document, in detail, their reasoning for placing the fine on the student’s account. The Residence Life Disputes Committee has access to details regarding the charge and uses those details to determine if a fine is to remain in place, reversed or adjusted.

If their fine is disputable, students fined by Residence Life have 30 days to dispute the fine via their housing portal.

The Residence Life Disputes Committee is made up of three to six professional staff members who review and determine if a fine should be removed or adjusted. Part of the review process is looking at documentation submitted by both students and professional staff members. If necessary, the Disputes Committee will seek further clarification by contacting the staff member who initiated the fine. Similarly, the committee may resort to investigating the room in question. If visual inspection is needed, the committee could be permitted to enter a residence to inspect rooms fined for carpet damage, excessive cleaning, thermostat tampering, etc.

Residents should expect to hear from the Residence Life Disputes Committee within 30 days of sending an appeal claim. This allows the committee the necessary time to properly investigate and review all documents. Upon completing their investigation, any decision made by the committee regarding the dispute is final. If a disputed claim is denied, the student must contact their student services counselor to pay the fine. If approved, the student should allow up to 30 days for the fine to be removed from their account.

Learning Outcomes

 1. Each Grand Canyon University Student will be able to:

• Access the Community Standards.
• Explain the rationale for the Community Standards.

 2. Each student who is involved in the conduct process will be able to:

• Describe the impact of their decisions on themselves and others. 
• Describe their thought process leading to their decisions.
• Identify strategies to contribute to their communities.
• Assess their contributions to communities.

It is our desire that students at GCU will feel respected through the conduct process as they have the opportunity to have a community standards professional walk with them though the process.

C.A.R.E. Model

• C - Communication
  We will communicate collaboratively with each student. Our goal in this process will be to hear the student, bring clarity to the situation and provide meaningful feedback regarding sanctioning.
• A - Actions
  We will demonstrate that God cares for the student and will encourage them to understand how their actions affected them personally and those around them.
• R - Responsibility
  We will encourage the student to accept responsibility for their actions and complete their sanctions in a timely manner.
• E - Education 
  We will educate the student during the Community Standards Process by helping them understand the Community Standards, encouraging ongoing self-reflection and personal growth and guiding them to contribute positively in their relationships and communities.

• Alcohol and Drugs
  GCU is a dry campus, which means alcohol, bottles, cans, containers (filled/empty) and paraphernalia are prohibited. Consumption or storage of drugs or alcohol is a violation.
• Smoking and Fire Alarms
  GCU's smoking and fire alarm policy helps keep all resident areas safe.
• Visitation
  GCU has a strict visitation policy that helps ensure living areas are safe and comfortable for all residents living in a dorm room or apartment.
  
  For complete information about the Community Standards, please see the University Policy Handbook and search for "community standards" to find the appropriate section.

The Community Standards Process is required for students who violate the Community Standards. For complete information about the Community Standards Process, please see the University Policy Handbook.

Appeals will be accepted based on specific requirements. Students have only a certain amount of time from being informed of their sanctions to make a verbal or written appeal. Complete the appeals form online. 

For complete information about appeals, please see the University Policy Handbook.

Renter’s insurance at GCU is recommended. Learn more about Grad Guard Renters Insurance.

• Coffeemaker without hot plate
• Iron (with auto-off function)
• Microwave** (not exceeding 1,000 watts) - Rental program available for a microwave-fridge combo (new students only)
• Refrigerator** (smaller than 4.5 cubic feet) - Rental program available for a microwave-fridge combo (new students only)

** To avoid overloading electrical circuits, only one refrigerator and one microwave are permitted per room in each suite. Three total refrigerators and microwaves allowed (the living room counts as a "room"). We strongly encourage residents to reach out to their roommates/suitemates to coordinate who brings which shared items (refrigerator, microwave, etc.).

Note: Fryers (included but not limited to electric, oil and air fryers) and pressure cookers (stovetop and electrical) are NOT allowed in residence halls or apartments.

Appliances with open heating elements (toasters, coffee pots with exposed hot plates, waffle makers, etc.) are not permitted in the residence halls, but are permitted in the apartments.

• 3M tabs and/or adhesive clay (no screws, nails, tacks, etc.)
• Desk lamp (no halogen lamps)
• Floor rug
• Pets (fish and small turtles only)
  • Fish tank (smaller than 10 gallons) 
• Pictures/posters
  • Obscene/inappropriate material is not allowed
• Plants
  • Fresh cut Christmas trees are not allowed
• Wax warmer/diffuser 
  • Open heating sources such as candles, incense, wax warmers with open heating element, etc. are not allowed

• Laptop
• Non-wireless printers (wireless printers will interfere with GCU Wi-Fi)
• Television

• Coffee table/side table/nightstand
• Portable hall furniture (folding chair and/or inflatable furniture)

Note: Bed risers or loft kits, personal beds/mattresses, portable hot tubs and waterbeds are NOT allowed in residence halls or apartments.

Larger furniture (futons, couches, loveseats, kitchen tables, TV units/consoles, etc.) are not permitted in the residence halls, but are permitted in the apartments.

• Backpack
• Bed sheets (extra-long twin)
• Bike, bike lock, scooter, longboard, etc.
• Blankets
• Comforter/bedspread
• Cleaning supplies (cleaning wipes, disinfectant spray, vacuum, toilet and shower cleaner, toilet brush, cleaning cloths)
• Cups/plates/bowls/flatware
• Dish soap
• Fan
• First aid kit
• Hand soap 
• Kleenex
• Laundry supplies (detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets) and hamper/basket
• Medical insurance cards
• Passport or state-issued ID
• Plunger
• Power strips and extension cords (UL/ETL-approved)
• School supplies (notebooks, binders, writing utensils, index cards, post-it notes)
• Toilet paper
• Toiletries
• Towels
• Trash can
• Vacuum/dust buster
• Wagon
• Water bottle

Note: You may need to purchase a shower curtain depending on your living area.

• Alcohol or alcohol paraphernalia (GCU is a dry campus)
• Amplified instruments
• Firearms or weapons (including knives and decorative items)
• Fireworks (illegal on campus)
• Fog machines
• Gas/propane grills
• Halogen lights
• Humidifiers
• Illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia (including hookah pipes, vape pipes, electronic devices and all other smoking devices)
• Items containing mercury
• Knives longer than four inches
• Temporary wallpaper (potential fire hazard)
• Vapes, e-cigarettes, vape/e-cig paraphernalia and tobacco smoking products
• Wood pallets (potential fire hazard)
• Combustible paints, liquids or solids

Note: For more information on approved/un-approved items, visit the University Policy Handbook.