Study Spaces, Quiet Use, and Presence Fields

The Campus includes spaces and systems intended to support study, preparation, reflection, active participation, and orderly use of shared areas. These include quiet-use spaces, Sanctums, temporary study grace, Presence Beacons, Lodge Beacons, and inactivity systems that help the University distinguish active participation from unattended presence.

These systems should be understood together. The Campus is designed to recognize meaningful participation while preserving spaces for academic work and respectful gathering. A pupil who is attending a class, taking part in a Lodge activity, joining an approved event, or using a study area properly may be recognized by Campus systems. A pupil who is absent from the keyboard for an extended period may be moved aside or excluded from certain rewards until active participation resumes.

Study and Quiet-Use Areas

Study areas on Campus exist to support the academic life of apprentices and magisters. They may be used for reading, writing, organizing notes, preparing for classes, reviewing lesson material, or taking a pause between scheduled activities. Some quiet-use areas may also support particular Campus systems or access expectations, and pupils should follow posted instructions where they appear.

Sanctums provide a more personal form of academic retreat within the Campus. They are intended for study, writing, organization, creative work, and reflection, and they carry their own expectations for rental, design, furnishing, privacy, and technical use. Pupils who hold or visit a Sanctum should review the information provided on Campus before using the space in a way that affects its purpose or appearance.

The University expects quiet-use areas to remain orderly and purposeful. Pupils should avoid unnecessary noise, disruptive effects, large gatherings, intrusive attachments, or conduct that changes the character of a space meant for academic focus. Where a space is being used for study, pupils should give others the benefit of an environment that supports concentration.

Presence Beacons

Presence Beacons are Campus systems that create a temporary participation "field" (an area of effect) for approved gatherings. When active, a Presence Beacon recognizes eligible non-Faculty armguard wearers within its range and may award Progress Credit at set intervals. These beacons are designed for group participation, not solitary reward collection.

A Presence Beacon may be activated by Faculty, by a pupil with sufficiently high Campus Standing, or by Lodge Leadership meeting the stated Campus Standing requirement. Activation also requires a minimum number of non-Faculty pupils with current armguards nearby. This requirement ensures that the beacon is being used for an actual gathering rather than as an individual reward tool.

While active, a Presence Beacon may also renew temporary study or presence protection for eligible participants. This helps support legitimate group activity by preventing ordinary inactivity systems from interrupting pupils who are present for a gathering but may not be moving frequently. The protection exists only in connection with the active field and should not be understood as permission to leave oneself unattended for reward purposes.

Presence Beacon rewards depend on eligible participation. Pupils should be nearby, properly equipped, and taking part in the activity for which the beacon has been activated. Attempting to benefit from a Presence Beacon while absent, disruptive, or outside the purpose of the gathering may result in correction of records or other administrative action.

Lodge Beacons

Lodge Beacons are located within the Lodge halls and support Lodge-specific participation. A Lodge Beacon provides a parcel-local Lodge boon while active, recognizing eligible members of the corresponding Lodge who are present in the Lodge area and wearing current armguards.

Lodge Beacons are connected to the strength of their Lodge Patron and may vary in active duration, pulse interval, and reward according to the relevant Patron tier. When active, they may award eligible Lodge members a combination of Progress Credit and Wizcoins, depending on the current tier and system settings. They may also renew temporary presence protection for eligible Lodge members while the boon is active.

Activation of a Lodge Beacon is limited. Faculty may activate or reset beacons as needed. Lodge Leadership may activate a beacon only when the requirements are met, and the system may require another same-Lodge armguard wearer nearby before activation proceeds. This safeguard reinforces that Lodge Beacons are meant to support Lodge gathering and participation, not private use by a single leader.

Pupils should treat Lodge Beacons as part of Lodge life. Their purpose is to encourage members to gather, participate, and strengthen their connection to their Lodge within the wider University environment. Beacons should not be activated casually, used to reward absence, or treated as a substitute for meaningful Lodge activity.

Away From Keyboard and Inactive Presence

The Campus recognizes that pupils may need to step away briefly during ordinary use. At the same time, the Campus is a shared environment, and prolonged inactive presence can interfere with active spaces, participation systems, event flow, and the fair recognition of Campus activity.

For this reason, the Campus may use systems that identify extended inactivity. A pupil who appears inactive may receive a notice and a grace period before any action is taken. If the pupil remains inactive after that grace period, the system may relocate them to a designated lounge or holding area so that active Campus spaces remain available for use.

Clearing Inactive Status

A pupil who has been relocated for inactivity may return to ordinary Campus participation once they are active again. Movement or other recognized activity in the designated area may clear the inactive status, allowing the pupil to resume normal use of Campus systems.

While a pupil is marked inactive, certain participation rewards, relay benefits, or recognition systems may not apply. This protects the integrity of Campus Standing and other participation records by ensuring that recognition remains connected to active involvement rather than unattended presence.

Study Grace and the Study Pass

The Campus may provide limited study grace for pupils who need a protected period of quiet work without ordinary inactivity relocation. The Study Pass is one such tool. It grants a temporary period of grace from ordinary AFK relocation for eligible pupils and is intended for focused academic use. A Study Pass is a one-use Campus item that provides 30 minutes of study grace. It requires Campus Standing Tier 3 or higher, remains active for its set period, gives notice when five minutes remain, and expires at the end of the grace window. Once the pass expires, ordinary inactivity protections resume.

Expectations for Presence Fields and Quiet Use

Pupils using study spaces, Sanctums, Presence Beacons, Lodge Beacons, or quiet-use areas should maintain an atmosphere appropriate to academic and community life. This includes keeping attachments and effects modest, avoiding disruptive objects or sounds, respecting the boundaries of personal spaces, and following posted expectations.

Presence fields are not reward fountains. They exist to support recognized gatherings, Lodge activity, classes, lectures, study periods, and other approved forms of participation. Pupils should be present in good faith, equipped with current Campus tools, and attentive to the purpose of the space or activity.

Visitors to another pupil’s Sanctum or quiet area should remember that invitation does not change the purpose of the space. These areas are not intended for public gatherings, performances, disruptive recreation, or unrelated display. They exist to support academic life and should be used accordingly.

The Campus depends upon pupils treating shared and personal spaces with maturity. Quiet-use policies, inactivity systems, beacons, and study grace tools all serve the same purpose: to preserve an environment where pupils can learn, gather, prepare, and participate without the disorder that comes from unattended presence or careless use of academic space.