Policies

Policies

Communications, Canvassing, Solicitation, and Flyering

House-wide communication tools such as websites, newsletters, and listservs are intended as means to share opportunities for participation in educational events and programs. We reserve the right to limit what is sent out via these channels.

 

Canvassing

Canvassing or solicitation for funds, sales, or subscriptions in University buildings is prohibited unless written permission is granted by the building administrator. Soliciting or selling goods and services in areas of the residential buildings not designated for such purposes is not permitted. Permission to raise funds or conduct sales in designated areas of the campus to support the activities of student groups may be granted by the Office of Student Life Activities and Facilities in accordance with the Campus Vending Policy.  [https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/canvassing/]

 

Solicitation

Residents, visitors, guests, and campus organizations may not conduct or solicit commercial business in the residential buildings.  Solicitation is defined as any activity designed to advertise, promote or sell any product or commercial service or encourage support for or membership in any group, association or organization and includes door-to-door canvassing.  This includes leafleting under room doors and similar unapproved marketing efforts.  Soliciting/selling includes conducting a business in a University residence such as baby-sitting, beer distribution or selling such items as food, raffle tickets, magazines, candy bars, etc. [https://residential-services.business-services.upenn.edu/policies]

 

Posting in the College Houses:

For reasons of sustainability and effectiveness, the College Houses have transitioned primarily to digital communication instead of paper flyers. If you have a digital item you would like to to distribute, email chas@collegehouses.upenn.edu and attach a copy; approved items will be conveyed to the Houses for inclusion in their weekly newsletters (generally sent on Mondays or Tuesdays.)

The remainder of this policy covers physical posting within the Penn College Houses. Posting elsewhere in the University is covered by the University Poster Policy. Posting on floors or in lobbies requires the approval of each House Office.  Postings and notices in these areas are reserved for the College House, CHAS, Residential Services and Facilities.  Any exceptions to this may only be granted by College House staff.   

Open posting by students and groups is available only in certain locations and on designated public boards:

  • Du Bois: upper lobby bulletin board
  • Kings Court English: boards facing mailboxes on first floor; board near bike rack; boards on ground floors facing elevators
  • High Rises (Harnwell, Harrison, and Rodin): residential floors including roof top lounge on the designated side of the elevator bays
  • Lauder: Dining center bulletin board
  • Quad (Fisher Hassenfeld, Riepe and Ware):  all exterior (courtyard) bulletin boards

    There is no open posting at this time in Gregory, Gutmann, Hill, and Stouffer College Houses.

Public Posting guidelines:

  • Leafleting on or under doors and soliciting are prohibited within all residences
  • No more than one or two copies of a poster may be placed on an open board and should be promptly removed when information is outdated. 
  • Posters should not exceed the size of 11 x 17 inches
  • Posters may not be placed on top of existing posters
  • Posters must clearly identify the organization or event sponsor
  • Posting is not allowed in stairwells and elevators
  • Do not attach to walls in any way that causes damage to the paint or surface

* Think before you post.  College Houses defend the right of free speech and expression on campus and actively promotes the civil exchange of ideas. In the spirit of the latter aim, students are urged to reconsider creating and distributing posters or flyers containing material or language that could be construed as malicious toward or dangerous to other responsible members of the University community.  

** Unauthorized posters may, at the discretion of residential staff, be removed. In all cases, the above policy will be implemented within the framework and spirit of the Code of Student Conduct, which defines the general rights and responsibilities of student citizenship in the Penn community, and where appropriate, the Charter of the University of Pennsylvania Student Disciplinary System, which sets forth the processes for disciplinary action against students and organizations. Pursuant to the Code of Student Conduct (Sec. III.d), "the content of student speech or expression is not by itself a basis for disciplinary action," and no posters shall be prohibited or restricted solely on the basis of their content, except when they may violate other applicable laws or regulations.

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