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Blackfriars Hall > Behavioural Expectations for Students Joining Our Accommodation

Behavioural Expectations for Students Joining Our Accommodation

All students who join Blackfriars are also members of the University of Oxford, and will need to follow the rules and regulations of both.

 

1) The community you are joining

Living in Blackfriars accommodation means helping to create a safe, respectful environment where everyone can rest, study, and feel at home. Oxford University expects all students to be courteous and considerate to others, upholding an inclusive student life even when personal views differ.

Blackfriars manages student housing in line with the UUK/GuildHE Student Accommodation Code of Practice (“The Student Accommodation Code”), which sets standards for safety, repairs, wellbeing access, and a living environment free from anti-social behaviour.

 

2) Behavioural expectations in shared living

Please do:

  • Be considerate about noise, especially at night and early morning. (The UUK Code emphasises maintaining a pleasant, safe residential environment.)
  • Keep shared spaces (kitchens, bathrooms, corridors) reasonably clean and usable for others.
  • Follow all relevant safety information (e.g., fire procedures) displayed for your building.
  • Read and, where necessary, respond to any communications from the accommodation team or other members of Blackfriars staff especially on matters of community wellbeing, security, and health and safety.
  • Be respectful and mindful of the possible impact on others in all interactions, on and offline. (Blackfriars’ and the University’s guidance highlight dignity, civility, and respect.)

 

Please don’t:

  • Create unreasonable disturbance (e.g., persistent loud music, shouting in corridors). The Blackfriars Accommodation Licence covers disruptive behaviour and how it is addressed.
  • Damage or misuse property or facilities.  This is also covered in your licence agreement.
  • Engage in harassment or bullying. Blackfriars Hall does not tolerate harassment; there is a dedicated policy and student procedure for reporting and support.

 

3) What Blackfriars considers “anti-social behaviour”

Anti-social behaviour is behaviour in or around accommodation that unreasonably interferes with others’ peace, comfort, health, safety, or property, or breaches your accommodation licence.  For example: repeated loud noise levels that cause disturbance, vandalism, misuse of shared areas, or behaviour that risks safety. Blackfriars students are subject to discipline for non-academic misconduct.  Cases may be referred to the Senior Dean, and no-contact arrangements can be used to help manage disputes.  Blackfriars reserves the right to ask students to change rooms where required, or to take other action as outlined in your licence agreement.

The Student Accommodation Code expects providers to ensure a living environment free from anti-social behaviour and to manage complaints fairly and transparently.

If the conduct involves harassment (including sexual harassment), Blackfriars’ Harassment Policy and Student Harassment Procedure apply.  Specialist support is available to students.

 

4) How to raise concerns (and where to get support)

  • Tell us early. You can contact the Hall’s welfare or accommodation team by phone, email, or in person (or via an authorised representative). We will listen, outline next steps, and help you access support.
  • Get independent advice. The Oxford SU Advice Service offers impartial guidance on processes and options.
  • Use Blackfriars Hall and University support. At Blackfriars, you can speak to any member of the welfare team or senior staff, speak to our Harassment Advisors, and access Oxford’s Welfare and Wellbeing hub that includes the Counselling Service, Disability Advisory Service, Peer Support, and the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service.

 

5) How Blackfriars resolves issues (from informal to formal)

Blackfriars aims to resolve concerns early and proportionately, with welfare support throughout. Our approach aligns with the University of Oxford’s conduct framework and Blackfriars’ non academic disciplinary procedures.

  1. Early, informal steps. For low level issues (e.g., noise, shared space problems), we usually start with supportive conversations or mediation and may agree a behaviour plan. This reflects good practice in student housing and higher education.
  2. Interim measures if needed. Where appropriate, the Hall (or the University, if the issue sits in the University context) may implement no contact arrangements or proportionate access restrictions to safeguard students while a matter is reviewed.
  3. Formal investigation (serious or repeated anti-social behaviour). You and the other party will receive a written outline of the concerns and process. Evidence is gathered impartially, and decisions are made on the balance of probabilities and confirmed in writing with reasons and next steps.
  4. Outcomes are proportionate. These may include formal warnings, behaviour agreements, mediation outcomes, or accommodation related measures (e.g., relocation or restrictions), and, where relevant to University jurisdiction, referral to the Proctors for University level action.
  5. Appeals and closure. You will be told how to appeal outcomes under the appropriate procedure. Blackfriars keeps a confidential audit trail that is subject to our data protection policies for students, and confirms when a case is closed, following its confidentiality guidance (exceptions apply only for serious/imminent risk).

 

6) Harassment and sexual misconduct

If a report may involve harassment or sexual misconduct, we will explain your options under the Harassment Policy and Student Harassment Procedure, and signpost the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service (confidential, specialist support, including ISVA). You can seek support without having to make a formal report.

 

7) How this links to University of Oxford rules

  • You are subject to both college/PPH and University regulations. The University’s Student Conduct pages explain how non-academic misconduct is handled and when the Proctors may be involved.
  • The University’s Non-Academic Disciplinary Procedure sets out fair process principles (notice, investigation, representation, decisions, and appeals) that inform the way serious cases relating to members or facilities of the University are managed.