Most parents of Southern University students residing in dormitories support the implementation of a revised visitation policy allowing students to have visitors, according to a survey by the Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research.
A brief four-question survey was developed to assess parental opinion regarding Southern University’s residence hall visitation policies. The revised plan allows students to have visitors Sunday-Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight and on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The survey was mailed to 688 of 2,673 of the parents of students living in residence halls during fall 2002 and 81.3 percent who responded supported the new policy. As of February 2, 150 parents responded.
The current policy, which has been compared to the policy of other universities in Louisiana and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities, only grants student’s visitation on designated days while other universities have daily hours.
“In addition to offering quality education and an environment conducive to learning, we are also ready to listen to and act upon the concern of the students, as well as play a role in their social growth,” said Raymond Downs, vice chancellor for student affairs.
In the survey, parents were asked for their input on the student visitation policy and changes they felt needed to be made.
“Students should be free for visitation any time of day or night,” said one parent polled.
Other parents felt that the revised plans would promote promiscuity and pre-marital sex.
“I am not sending my daughter to college to entertain male guests in her room. If this plan is implemented, I guarantee that unplanned pregnancies, abortions, and the drop our rate for female students will soar,” said one parent. ” As administrators you are required to make the best decisions–which are not always the most popular ones.”
Student Government Association President Steven Sumbler and a committee of five university officials drew up the proposal and if approved by the Southern University Board of Supervisors, will be implemented next fall.
“The visitation policy for residential students is a constant issue expressed by students,” said Sumbler. “It looks like we have finally a plan that will work.”
Although the new policy will allow the opposite sex to visit in male and female residential halls, there are strict rules that students must adhere to have guests.
According to the proposal, the rules include:
– Only second semester freshman with 15 or more credit hours and upperclassman will be allowed to have guests.
– A student must check a guest into the residence hall by completing the visitation log with the following information: name, room number, guest’s name, and time in.
– Resident may not have more than two guests at a time
– Room checks may be held during visitation hours
– Residents and their guest are expected to dress appropriately
Resident hall directors can cancel visitation at their discretion. Visitation will also be prohibited during scheduled home football games, homecoming activities, and midterm and final exam periods.
“If students adhere to the policy, I think it will work,” said Kim Mitchell, a senior psychology major from Monroe.
Many students like senior mass communications major Morgan Burke feel that a revised visitation policy is well overdue.
“LSU has visitation,” said Burke. “Why can’t we? We are all grown.”
According to Tiffany Collins, senior residence assistant at Louisiana State University, residents are allowed to have guests from 1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“We usually don’t have any problems,” said Collins. “However, it is up to the students to make it work.
The proposal will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on March 28. Sumbler and members of the committee encourage students to come and support the plan.
PARENT SURVEY RESULTS
Would you be in favor of the described student visitation policy?
81.3% – Yes
18.0% – No
0.7% – No Response
If you voted “No,” would you be in favor of a similar policy with the following changes?
32.4% – The same days but fewer hours
2.9% – The same hours but fewer days
44.1% – Both fewer hours and fewer days
20.6% – Policy not acceptable with suggested changes
If the student visitation policy were modified, would it influence your decision to allow your child to remain at the university or to send other children to the university in the future?
28.7% – Yes
60.0% – No
11.3% – No Response
Survey by the Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional
