How are the Entrances to University Residence Halls Secured?

University residence halls are locked 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Residents gain access through one main entrance for each residence hall via their access card which also serves as their Gallaudet University identification card. These cards are issued by the Department of Public Safety.

Residents may enter their own residence hall with their access card 24 hours a day, and their access to other residence halls is permitted from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

How Do Residents Gain Access to their Rooms in University Residence Halls?

Keys are issued to residents for entrance into their rooms/suites. In residence halls with public restrooms in their wings, the room key is able to gain access to the restroom in the wing.

What is the Guest Policy?

Gallaudet University permits guests in the residence halls as long as they are escorted by residents. Guests are defined as off-campus students and visitors who are not members of the University community.

All guests of residents must sign in, state who they are visiting, and provide a valid picture identification card to residence hall staff upon entry:

  • The visitor's information will be logged in by the staff on duty;
  • Upon registration as an overnight guest, an overnight pass will be issued to the guest;
  • The overnight pass is required to be carried at all times and must be surrendered at departure.

Off-campus visitors are defined as anyone who is not a registered student at Gallaudet, Gallaudet students who reside off-campus, or students who are attending the Clerc Center, regardless of their age, except when the student is registered to stay with a parent or legal guardian in Visitor Housing.

How are Residents Informed About Safety and Security?

All Gallaudet University students, whether they live on-campus or off-campus, receive information through the following:

What Other Security Features are Available in University Residence Halls?

All entrances and exit doors are monitored 24 hours a day/7 days a week via cameras connected to the front desk offices and the Department of Public Safety.

In addition, panic buttons have been installed in each room of the Ballard Residential Complex and the Living and Learning Residence Hall 6, as well as every residence hall office. These buttons are for the use of emergency summons only. When a panic button is pushed, a signal goes directly to the Department of Public Safety, facilitating an immediate response.