Important Health and Safety Resources and Policies

Student Handbook
Important Health and Safety Resources and Policies

Important Health and Safety Resources and Policies

Information and Resources

Well-Being at Mount Holyoke

Students are expected to engage and respond to faculty, administrators, and other staff members of the College when contacted.

Occasionally, concern for a student’s health and well-being may give rise to a “wellness check.” Wellness checks are most typically managed by the Office of Residential Life, Public Safety and Service or a member of the Division of Student Life. Such visits are intended to observe a student’s well-being and discuss any concerns the student may be managing. The wellness check is not—by itself—a disciplinary measure, however circumstances surrounding the wellness check may give rise to disciplinary consequences if a violation of College policy is determined to have occurred. Students are expected to engage with the individual(s), including student members of Residential Life, who is conducting the check.

A student whose well-being, actions, or conduct results in three (3) related wellness checks within a six (6) week period will be required to participate in a medical or mental health evaluation to assess their readiness to continue participating in the semester.

Throughout their time at Mount Holyoke, a student may experience temporary situations that impact their ability to fully engage in the life of the College. Resources are available to any student needing assistance during these times. You can find more information at https://embark.mtholyoke.edu/dsl/care-/.

Campus resources include, but are not limited to:

Health Services
- See mtholyoke.edu/health for more information.
Counseling Service
- For more information about the Counseling Service and for links to national resources and emergency support options, go to mtholyoke.edu/counseling.
Public Safety and Service
Be Well
Office of Residential Life
Office of Community and Belonging
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Faculty advisor
Disability Services
Department of Athletics
Compliance

Social media is a great way for students to communicate, share thoughts and ideas, be social, and engage in productive and constructive dialogue. It can also be used in ways that cause harm and distress to others.

While the College may not control websites, social media and other venues in which harassing communications are made, when such communications are reported to the College, it may engage in a variety of means to address and mitigate the effects and help connect students with law enforcement when appropriate.

Members of the community are encouraged to be good digital citizens and to refrain from online misconduct, such as feeding anonymous gossip sites, sharing inappropriate content social media, disrespecting privacy, or otherwise using the ease of transmission and/or anonymity of the internet or other technology to harm another member of the ��챬�� community.

The Honor Code Council encourages you to be responsible and think before you post:

Consider how to make your discourse constructive and/or positive.
When responding to posts, comment on the idea, not on the person. A good rule to follow: if you wouldn’t say it to them in person, don’t say it online.
Be inclusive in conversation, consider all viewpoints before you share (think who you are talking to). How can you make this a learning experience?
Think about your digital footprint and ask yourself ...
- What would you want your future employers to see?
- How will you feel about this in 10 or 20 years?
Recognize that social media is a snapshot of someone and what they have chosen to share. There is always more to the person than to the profile. Don’t compare yourself to the snapshot you see.
Look at the privacy settings and consider who you want to be seeing what you post and share.
Social media never really goes away, even with the most private settings. Don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want to be shared or associated with later. Don’t rely on others to keep your information private.
Remember the honor code: I will honor myself, my fellow students, and ��챬�� by acting responsibly, honestly and respectfully in both my words and deeds.
We are all part of an incredible community: Don’t use social media to tear others down, think about how you can lift them up.

If you have a concern about posts you have seen or feel that someone has violated the honor code with their post, you can notify the Honor Code Council by submitting the .

Key Policies

No Contact Orders (NCOs) are directives to students by select campus administrators or their designees that restrict the contact and/or communication between or among designated parties. No Contact Orders are not considered to be disciplinary actions and do not become part of a student's conduct record. However, failure to abide by a No Contact Order may result in disciplinary action and could result in disciplinary sanctions and a conduct record.

On a small campus, a No Contact Order could inadvertently prevent one or both parties from accessing educational opportunities, so such orders are not automatically granted when requested. The College will consider all facts and circumstances that may be relevant to whether a No Contact Order should be issued, including, but not limited to, the following factors:

There are allegations, threats or evidence of physical violence.
There are allegations, threats or evidence of emotional abuse or harassment.
There is a substantial risk of emotional harm from continued contact between the students.
The NCO is requested in good faith by all students affected.
There are allegations of serious College policy violations.

All NCOs will be mutual. In other words, any student(s) on one side of an NCO is prohibited from contacting any student(s) on the other side of the NCO.

“Contact” includes, but is not limited to, direct or indirect communication in person, through others, by email, text messages, social media-based messages and postings, and other forms of communication.

Additional Protective Measures

When deemed necessary by the College, NCOs may include additional protective measures or other terms specific to the safety, well-being or other needs of students subject to the NCO. Any additional terms will be stated in writing in the NCO. Additional protective measures or other terms need not be reciprocal. They may include, but are not limited to the following:

Restricting a student from being in close proximity to another student.
Restricting a student’s access to certain campus locations, including where another student lives.
Restricting times and/or locations for use of College facilities.
Restricting that students not be enrolled in the same academic course(s).
Restricting that students not participate in the same cocurricular activities.

No Contact Orders do not guarantee that designated students will avoid sightings or passing interactions on campus or in the local community, and incidental contact will not be considered a violation of the No Contact Order. The College expects that all parties will be intentional and thoughtful in working to avoid contact.

Interpersonal Conflicts

Students who have interpersonal conflicts that do not raise concerns for safety or potential policy violations will not be granted No Contact Orders. It is expected that students requesting NCOs do so in good faith. NCOs are issued at the College’s discretion and the College may decline to issue an NCO where it determines safety is not at risk.

Students with conflicts for which an NCO is not appropriate should pursue other forms of conflict resolution and may contact the Office of Community Standards or Ombuds Office for assistance.

No Contact Order Administrators

NCOs may be issued by the following ��챬�� administrators or their designee:

Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students
Assistant Vice President of Student Engagement & Executive Director of Residential Life
Director of Student Involvement
Associate Dean of Students & Executive Director of Community & Belonging
Director of Community Standards
Associate Director of Residential Life
Residential Life Area Coordinators
Director of Civil Rights
Assistant Vice President for Compliance

No Contact Order Review

The College reviews No Contact Orders at the beginning of each academic semester. No Contact Orders may remain in effect until graduation or withdrawal of at least one of the designated students, unless the No Contact Order is modified or rescinded by the College in writing. A student seeking the modification or rescission of a No Contact Order shall make such a request to the administrator who issued the original No Contact Order. Students may request that contact restrictions be lifted after an appropriate sustained period of compliance. Such decisions will be made in consultation with the administrator who issued the No Contact Order. The class schedules of students with NCOs are checked before the start of each term to determine whether students have registered for the same classes. The issuing College Administrator will contact the involved students with any concerns.

When No Contact Orders are administered as an interim measure through the College’s Sexual Harassment Policy or Nondiscrimination & Anti-Harassment Policy, alleged violations will be resolved under that policy.

NCO Violations

Any violations of NCOs are subject to disciplinary action under the College’s policies. Retaliation is strictly prohibited. A violation of an NCO by a student who requested it may result in revocation of the NCO. If you believe someone has violated an NCO, please report it to the College Administrator who issued it. If at any point you feel your safety is in jeopardy, contact Public Safety and Service at 413-538-2304.

To request a No Contact Order, contact one of the campus administrators listed above.

��챬�� centers wellness within all aspects of community life, and, in doing so, calls upon students to balance individual autonomy in decision-making with collective community impact, including making personal choices regarding the use of alcohol and/or other drugs. The College emphasizes the duty of each community member to be knowledgeable, thoughtful and responsible, with the goal of minimizing risk to self and others. ��챬�� does not condone the illegal use or legal misuse of alcohol and other drugs. As such, the College expects all faculty, staff, and students to be familiar with local, state and federal laws, as well as the College’s policies governing substance use, and to consider the penalties and risks that can result from violations of these.

With the help of the Be Well program, the College strives to provide education regarding alcohol and drug use that is grounded in principles of harm reduction and is evidence-based in its approach. The College likewise encourages those with concerns about their own or others’ difficulties with alcohol and/or other drugs to seek confidential and private assistance through Counseling Services. In emergent situations, the College prioritizes seeking support, and outlines such in our Amnesty Policy, included below.

As part of the College’s commitment to supporting the individual student and collective campus community, meeting both of those entities where they’re at in their values, beliefs, and choices, the College aims to cultivate and provide:

Information and education for all students to make informed, intentional and individualized choices regarding the use of substances.
An atmosphere that respects said individual choices and is free from coercion for those who elect not to use alcohol and drugs.
A community that actively engages in practices that reduce harm done to individuals and groups as a result of alcohol and drug use.
Confidential and effective guidance and counseling for students seeking support related to substance use.

In compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, ��챬�� has developed the following policies in an effort to foster an environment that promotes academic exploration alongside a healthy and dynamic social life. To support the health and wellbeing of all community members, ��챬�� does not allow the unlawful manufacturing, sharing, use, or possession of drugs or alcohol on campus or at any College-sponsored events, whether they’re on or off campus.. Any student who violates these policies may face disciplinary action. Please note that the College cannot and will not protect any members of the campus community who have broken local, state, and/or federal law. The College also wishes to emphasize that a key component of making informed and responsible decisions regarding alcohol and substance use is familiarizing oneself with the policies and laws that govern such behavior.

Massachusetts State Law Concerning Alcohol and Other Drugs
State and Federal Law Concerning Alcohol:

A person must be 21 years of age or older to purchase, possess, consume and/or transport alcoholic beverages. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages by any persons under the age of 21 years of age is prohibited and can result in federal, state and local sanctions.
Purchasing or participating in any arrangement to procure alcoholic beverages as an underage individual is a crime and subject to a fine of $300.00.
Misrepresenting one's age or utilizing a false identification card or license (i.e. the use of a fake ID) to purchase alcoholic beverages is in violation of state law and is subject to a fine of up to $300.00 or imprisonment of up to three months.
Furnishing or purchasing a drink for someone under the age of 21 is a crime subject to a fine of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
For drivers 21 years of age and older, the legal limit is .08%. There is a “zero tolerance” for blood alcohol level in drivers under the age of 21 in the state of Massachusetts, and any alcohol level greater than .02% is considered over the legal limit.
Possessing an open container of alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle is subject to a fine of no less than $100 or no more than $500.
No person may serve alcoholic beverages to anyone who is obviously inebriated. Doing so may result in civil liability for injuries caused by the intoxicated individual.

State and Federal Law Concerning Controlled Substances:

Federal, state and local sanctions for unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs range from probation to fines and imprisonment.
Massachusetts has criminal penalties for the misuse of controlled substances or drugs that include the misuse of controlled prescription medication that was not prescribed to the user; using one’s own controlled substance prescription medication in ways other than prescribed; or the non-medical use of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medication. In general, narcotic and drugs with greater potential for addiction carry higher penalties.
Distribution, manufacturing, or possession of drugs with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of an elementary, vocational or secondary school is a very serious crime in Massachusetts and carries a mandatory minimum two year sentence in prison if convicted. Be advised, almost the entire ��챬�� campus falls into the legal definition of a school zone.

Town of South Hadley Bylaws Concerning Alcohol and Other Drugs

Open Containers: No persons may consume alcoholic beverages of kind, nor possess or transport any open container containing alcohol (including cans, bottles or containers of any kind) in a public building or on public property, including, but not limited to, town sidewalks, streets, parking lots, parks, cemeteries or schools. Violations of this bylaw are subject to a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $300 by the South Hadley Police Department.

��챬�� Policy Concerning Alcohol and Other Drugs

The presence, possession or use of kegs or other communal open container (e.g. punch bowls, multi-gallon coolers, etc.) by individuals or groups other than in a registered, approved fashion is prohibited on the College campus.
Persons 21 years of age and over may use alcohol in the privacy of their rooms providing all guidelines governing guests, noise and appropriate behavior are followed.
In situations in which there is a mix of students under the legal drinking age and of legal drinking age living together in the same space, underage status supersedes those 21 and over and therefore students may not serve or host alcohol in their residence hall room.
Consumption of alcohol in unapproved areas (e.g., residence hall communal space, stairways, corridors, elevators, bathrooms, kitchens/Golden Pears, dining rooms, laundry rooms, academic buildings, etc.) is subject to disciplinary action.
Possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in public/common areas or on the grounds of the College, except at registered events or licensed facilities.
All student groups are also held to the Alcohol Policy and Guidelines for Student Events, which can be found in the .
Events with alcohol must follow College guidelines and relevant policy. Students 21 years of age and over are permitted to possess and/or consume alcohol in residence hall common spaces only in pre-approved, registered circumstances that adhere to the Party Registration Policy.
Students are not permitted to possess drug paraphernalia of any kind (including pipes, bongs, hookahs, etc.); prohibited substances and paraphernalia may be confiscated and disposed of by Public Safety.
As outlined in the Smoke- and Tobacco-Free Campus policy, smoking cannabis, tobacco, vaping instruments or related devices that produce smoke or vapor are not permitted in campus buildings. Cannabis in all forms is not permitted on campus.

Medical and Recreational Cannabis Policy

While Massachusetts has instituted legislation which allows for the controlled use of medical and recreational cannabis in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, ��챬�� students, staff and faculty are not permitted to possess and/or use any form of cannabis on ��챬�� property or at College-sponsored events. Federal laws outlined by the Controlled Substances Act have classified cannabis as a controlled substance, which prohibits the use, possession and/or cultivation of cannabis. ��챬�� must comply with the Drug-Free Communities and Schools Act, as well as the Drug-Free Workplace Act, which requires a drug-free campus environment, or risk losing federal funding such as financial aid.

Any student, staff or faculty member who violates ��챬�� policy prohibiting the use and/or possession of illicit drugs (including medical or recreational cannabis) on campus may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please note that, in accordance with Massachusetts and federal law, it is also illegal to consume cannabis in any form in public or on federal land. Those who violate the law can face a fine.

Amnesty Policy

The health and safety of students is of primary importance to the College. The College provides amnesty of the disciplinary process for students who request medical assistance for themselves; for another person; and for whom medical assistance was provided. When alcohol and/or drugs are involved, students are encouraged to take proactive and reactive steps to ensure their own health and safety, as well as that of their peers. In order to encourage students to seek time-sensitive care in an alcohol- and/or drug-related emergency, students who actively seek help or medical assistance for themselves or others will not be subject to disciplinary sanctions for the violation of using alcohol or drugs or of providing alcohol or drugs to the student they have assisted in obtaining treatment. Students may, however, be found responsible for violations outside of drug/alcohol use and/or distribution of drugs/alcohol, if identified and applicable (e.g. destruction of property, violence, etc.).

Medical emergencies pertaining to substance use can include unconsciousness or unresponsiveness, disorientation or confusion, slow breathing, vomiting and cool or pale skin. In the event of a medical event of any kind, immediate action should be taken to notify emergency resources (if on-campus call Public Safety at 413-538-2304 or 911 if off-campus) for assistance. If medical assistance is deemed necessary, the College expects the student to make choices that prioritize their health and safety, such as accepting transportation to the hospital for medical attention.

Following Amnesty, the student(s) involved will meet with the Be Well Director or designee and will have the opportunity to review the incident, ask questions and/or engage in further education to support future informed decision-making. The goal of Medical Amnesty is to center student wellbeing and to encourage those involved to engage in meaningful reflection and education. As such, Medical Amnesty is not intended to be used repeatedly. While Amnesty may apply in subsequent cases, it is at the discretion of the Director of Community Standards or designee. Additional educational or supportive measures may also apply in this case. Note: Medical Amnesty does not preclude or prevent action by relevant legal authorities.

Sanctions for Violations of the Campus Alcohol and Drug Policies

The College empowers all members of the campus community, including students, staff and faculty to observe the aforementioned laws and policies pertaining to alcohol and drug usage in an effort to center personal and collective wellbeing and safety. Those who violate these policies and/or laws will be asked to take accountability for their actions. Further, they should understand that possible outcomes may include disciplinary action, personal liability, fines and/or imprisonment as applicable under state, federal and local laws. The following College sanctions, as dictated by the Office of Community Standards, are determined with the goal of promoting personal accountability, education and understanding of harm or potential for harm due to a student’s respective violation(s).

Note that there may be instances in which the parent, guardian or emergency contact of a student will be notified in response to intoxication, specifically when a student is transported to the hospital due to intoxication. This communication is in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and is done with the intent of providing support for a student’s health and safety. Students are encouraged to review the College’s Policy on Parent Notification and review/update their Emergency Contacts regularly.

Additionally, students are prohibited from attending class under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Such behavior is deemed by the College as unsafe. Students suspected of being under the influence of substances will be asked to leave the classroom and such an incident would warrant staff/faculty to document the behavior and actions taken. Students may be referred to Counseling Service for additional support in this instance.

Violation

1st Offense

2nd Offense

3rd Offense

Possession and consumption of alcohol under age of 21 (including evidence that consumption has occurred, such as empty bottles).
Open container.
Possession of alcohol or drug paraphernalia associated with dangerous consumption.
Providing alcohol
Intoxication.
Possession/ use of illegal

drugs or probable cause to believe there was use.

Meeting with Director of Community Standards.
AOD-focused Educational Steps

Meeting with Director of Com munity Standards.
AOD-focused Educational Steps
Disciplinary probation
Possible parent or guardian notification.

Meeting with Director of Community Standards.
Parent or guardian notification.
Disciplinary Probation.
Possible housing probation and suspension.
Possible withdrawal.

Selling/distributing illegal drugs.

Meeting with Director of Community Standards.
AOD-focused Educational Project
Parent or guardian notification.
Disciplinary probation.
Possible withdrawal or suspension.

Meeting with Director of Community Standards.
Parental notification.
Withdrawal or suspension.

Violations regarding alcohol or drugs will be counted as a second offense when a first offense of either policy is already on the record.

The record of each offense remains on file with the College for seven (7) years following the incident.

The OneCard is the official physical identification card for ��챬�� students. Lending or duplicating OneCards issued by ��챬�� is prohibited. In Safford and Creighton halls, a resident’s OneCard is their room key. All Mount Holyoke students must carry their OneCard at all times and provide it to College personnel (e.g., area coordinator, public safety officer, residential life student staff, etc.) upon request.

In an incident or event that causes an interruption to campus life and services, MHC students and employees may be asked to present and or required to visibly display their OneCard. If your OneCard is lost or stolen, please report it to Public Safety and Service and/or the Technology Help Desk immediately. Please visit the OneCard Services page for more information about OneCard. Students are not allowed to loan their OneCard to visitors or other students.

In an effort to promote public health and make campus welcoming and accessible to all, smoking is prohibited on the ��챬�� campus. “All smoking” includes all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, all forms of smokeless tobacco, vaping and electronic cigarettes, tobacco and tobacco products, and any substance burned for the purpose of inhalation. This explicitly includes cannabis, which is already prohibited by law anywhere within the College boundaries. The College encourages students, staff, faculty and community members to make choices that reflect respect for one another, as well as practice active bystanderism to educate in instances where this policy is not being followed For more information on the College Smoke and Tobacco-Free Policy please review the full policy at /policies/smoke-and-tobacco-free-campus.

Safety Policies

On occasion during the academic year, adverse weather conditions call for the delayed opening, early closing or cancellation of classes, programs, activities or services. In such cases, the College employs several methods to ensure the campus community is notified:

��챬�� weather line: 413-538-2330
��챬�� website: mtholyoke.edu
my.mtholyoke for students, faculty and staff
Community email announcements
��챬��’s official Facebook
TV: Channel 22 (WWLP), NBC TV affiliate; and Channel 40 (WGGB-TV), ABC affiliate

Our goal is to have a decision about any campus inclement weather delays made and posted immediately, or by 6:30 a.m. when the decision is made overnight.

Many factors go into the decision regarding opening and closing with primary consideration resting with the safety of students and employees.

Campus entrances, walkways and parking lots are cleared to provide broad access for the community. Priority is given to walkways, ramps, parking lots and building entrances that provide access to individuals with disabilities. Anyone encountering a barrier due to adverse weather, such as fallen tree limbs, snow or ice should contact Facilities Management at 413-538-2012 to report the location and condition of the barrier. Facilities Management is available between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. After hours, call Public Safety and Service at 413-538-2304.

Individuals with specific routes, pathways or entrances of concern should speak with the Section 504 Coordinator, contactable at 413-538-3642 or via email at section504coordinator@mtholyoke.edu.

The College has adopted a “weather team” to monitor weather forecasts with the potential of significant impact to campus. The constitution of the team is broad, including the president of the College, the Office of the Dean of Faculty, Human Resources and the Section 504 Coordinator.

Hazing is a serious offense and a direct violation of the ��챬�� Honor Code, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and federal law under the Stop Campus Hazing Act. It will not be tolerated in our community of trust. Hazing undermines the safety, dignity and integrity of the College and its members.

All reported cases of suspected hazing will be seriously investigated with a fair process. For more information on the College Anti-Hazing Policy please review the full policy at /policies/anti-hazing-policy.

All bicycles on campus must be registered with Public Safety and Service. Registration is free and can be done Monday–Friday, 9 am–3 pm at Public Safety and Service. The registration decal will expire upon the student graduation date or no longer than four years from the original registration date.

All bicycles on campus must be stored in approved residence hall locations and secured to a bicycle rack. If the bicycle is outside, it should be secured to an outside bike rack.

Bicycles may not be secured to fire hydrants, trees, parking signs, ramps or railings or left in the path of egress in any building on campus.

Bicycles left over the summer that have expired decals or are not registered will be considered abandoned and will be confiscated and discarded.

Any bicycle in violation of the College’s bicycle policy or that is unregistered will be confiscated, and, if not claimed within 30 days, discarded.

More information about Bicycle Registration and safety at:
/directory/departments-offices-centers/public-safety-and-service/services-offered-public-safety/bicycle-registration-and-safety

It is a violation of the honor code to refuse to leave during the fire drill, to partake in negligent behavior leading to a fire, or to engage in hazardous behavior such as possessing and/or using candles and incense or obstructing the sprinkler system. Students must assume responsibility for the behavior of their guests in residence halls and can be fined and held responsible for guests’ violations of these policies. For a list of approved and prohibited items, please refer to the campus packing list: .

If you have disability-related concerns about fire alarms, fire drills, and/or emergency response support, please contact Disability Services.

You can review the full fire safety in the residence halls policy here: /policies/fire-safety-residence-halls.

You can review all College Fire and Life Safety information here:

The College is not responsible for, nor will it pay any claims for, damages to student-owned vehicles resulting from falling ice, snow, tree limbs or any other natural occurrence or event on its property or elsewhere, whether the possibility of such an event is warned against or not. The College is not responsible for, nor will it pay any losses, claims or damages to student-owned vehicles resulting from vandalism, collision or other acts by any person, other than damage caused directly by its employees. More information is available at the parking office: mtholyoke.edu/directory/departments-offices-centers/parking-office. Policy violations or non-compliance with parking rules and regulations may be addressed primarily by the Office of Public Safety and Service using the process and procedure set out by that office.

Officers of the ��챬�� Department of Public Safety and Service are sworn police officers of the commonwealth of Massachusetts under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 22C, Section 63, and in that capacity exercise police powers, including the power of arrest on campus.

Public Safety and Service officers may conduct searches of persons and their immediate surroundings in the course of making an arrest to seize weapons that might endanger the officer. They may also enter a student’s room without permission when pursuing a fleeing suspect. Persons arrested by Public Safety and Service officers will be searched and their property inventoried as a matter of department policy. Evidence or information about any illegal items obtained from an inventory search subsequent to an arrest may be used against the arrested individual.

Public Safety and Service officers may search student rooms, vehicles or possessions for evidence of a crime with a valid judicial search warrant. Public Safety and Service officers may enter a student room without permission in response to an emergency such as threatening life or health situation or threat to the property of the College and/or campus community member. Should Public Safety and Service see evidence of a crime in plain view, they are under a legal duty to seize the evidence and, if appropriate, make an arrest.

Public Safety and Service officers have a legal duty to seize any illegal items in plain view when they are located in a space where the officer has a right to be present. Officers have a right, and are expected, to patrol all public and common areas of the College. The procedure for seizing items under the plain view doctrine will be done in accordance with federal and state laws. The College may take still and video photographs of serious incidents and disasters to preserve a record. The director of Public Safety and Service or designee will determine the need for such evidence and documentation.

Officers patrol the residence halls as a part of their regular duties, usually limiting their patrols to the main floor and outside doors. However, they have the right to patrol and are responsible for the entire building. Specific incidents and requests may result in increased patrols of the floors of the halls to ensure the safety of the residents. During the course of residence hall parties and at other times, officers may patrol and inspect all public areas.

No student shall make unauthorized entry on or into any College facility, building, office, attic or roof or other College property without permission or in instances where the person knew or should have known that such access is restricted. This includes trespassing, propping or unauthorized use of alarmed doors for entry into or exit from a College building; and the possession, duplication or use of keys to College facilities. Further, no student shall enter or remain in a private room, office, or restricted area under control of another student, faculty member or College official.

In accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269 Section 10 (j), weapons are prohibited on the grounds of the College with the exception of law enforcement officers duly authorized to carry such weapons. No person shall be permitted to carry firearms or other weapons, concealed or not concealed, with or without a concealed weapon permit, while on properties owned or controlled by the College or in the participation of a College-related course, activity or other business off campus.

For the purposes of this policy, the term “weapons” includes, but is not limited to: firearms of any nature or description, including shotguns, rifles, pistols and revolvers, paintball guns or BB/pellet guns; firearm replicas; ammunition; martial arts-type weapons; explosives including fireworks, smoke grenades and paint bombs; bows, crossbows, arrows; slingshots; switchblade knives, double-edged knives, or hunting (pocket-style) knives with a blade length of 3 inches or greater; swords; pointed metal darts; (unauthorized) pepper spray; or any other destructive device or instrument that may be used to do bodily injury or damage to property. In addition, items that may be used as weapons, whether or not they fit the definition above, will be subject to seizure.

Because these weapons may pose a clear risk to persons and property on the campus, violation of the regulations may result in administrative action from the College and/or prosecution under the appropriate state or federal laws.

No firearm or ammunition is permitted on the ��챬�� campus. This prohibition includes the possession of all firearms, whether or not a lawful permit might have been issued under the law for ownership, possession, or use. This policy is consistent with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 269, and Section 10(j).

Missing Person Policy and Procedure

This policy is intended to establish formal notification procedures for students who reside in Mount Holyoke Student housing and are reported as missing, as required by the Higher Education Act as amended by the (HEOA), effective October 1, 2010.

A student is considered missing when Mount Holyoke Public Safety and Service has determined the student to be missing. Concerns that may give rise to a missing student investigation may consist of but are not limited to:

Medical or health related problems;
The student has not regularly attended classes and has not been seen elsewhere;
A Mount Holyoke official has made an inquiry of concern;
A parent, roommate, or suitemate of the student has reported such disappearance due to irregular contact with the student;
Residential Life staff believes that a student may be missing based upon absence from the residence or other information received by staff.

While an unexplainable absence of more than 24 hours gives rise to heightened concern, a student may be determined to be missing even if the student has been absent from the campus for a period of less than 24 hours.

Each student living in student housing has the option to identify an individual to be contacted by the university no later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined missing.

Only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers, acting in furtherance of a missing person investigation, may have access to missing student contact person information.

Students residing in on-campus housing or affiliated properties will be notified that their emergency contact information will also serve as their missing student contact information, unless the student directs otherwise.

If a student is less than 18 years of age and not emancipated, their custodial parent or guardian will be called in addition to the emergency contact(s).

*Contact is contingent upon the correct emergency or missing student contact information being made available by the student.

If a student is suspected of being missing, then the reporting party will typically first notify Residential Life or Division of Student Life staff.

Staff that receives a report that a student is or may be missing, or who suspects that a student is missing, will initiate the missing student notification protocol, which includes an attempt to gather information regarding the student’s current whereabouts. Staff will also immediately contact Public Safety and Service for consultation and to convey any report staff has received that a student is missing.

If staff cannot immediately locate the student suspected of being missing, then staff will also report the suspicion that the student is missing to appropriate administrators and to the key campus partners.

Public Safety and Service will actively conduct an investigation to determine the status of any student reported to be missing or suspected of being missing. The investigation will be conducted pursuant to established police procedures. Public Safety and Service will provide relevant updates to the reporting staff and key campus partners. Steps taken to find a student may include:

Gathering all essential information about the person (description, clothes last worn, where subject might be, with whom they might be, vehicle description, etc.) and every effort will be made to make contact directly with the student or their designated contact(s).
An up to date photograph may also be obtained to aid in the search.
Information about the physical and mental wellbeing of the individual will be obtained
Appropriate campus staff will be notified to aid in the search for the individual
Notifying and working with other law enforcement agencies
A thorough search of all campus buildings, grounds, and parking lots may be conducted.
Class schedules will be obtained and a search of appropriate classrooms will be conducted.

If Public Safety and Service makes a determination that the student has been missing for more than 24 hours, then the College must notify the missing student contact of this determination. If such a missing student is less than 18 years of age and not emancipated, then the parent(s)/guardian of the missing student must also be notified. The College may notify the missing student contact if the student has been determined by Public Safety and Service to be missing for a period of time less than 24 hours if circumstances warrant.

When the student is found, professional staff will contact the student and inform them of support services available on campus. In certain situations, Residential Life staff may consult with the Vice President of Student Life/Dean of Students office to determine if additional follow up is needed. This support should also be offered to any other students (e.g. roommates, friends) affected by the incident.

If the search for the missing student is deemed unsuccessful, the Vice President of Student Life/Dean of Students and other Division of Student Life staff members, will decide what further action(s) should be taken.

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Animals on Campus

The College has established the animals and service animals policies to provide for the health and safety of ��챬�� students, faculty, staff and visitors; for the protection and enjoyment of the College’s property; and for the responsible management and operation of the College.

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