Access to Campus Buildings and Grounds
The College has the right to restrict access to campus grounds, academic and administrative buildings, and residence halls, which are open to faculty, staff, students, and invited guests. Building hours are posted, and unauthorized individuals may be asked to leave. Public Safety has the authority to issue trespass notices to unauthorized people, which is usually done upon receipt of a complaint, and to arrest anyone returning to campus after receiving such a notice.
Residence halls are always locked; each student is issued a key to her room and access card (which is also the College student ID) to the outside door. Residence hall student room doors and windows are provided with locking devices. Most academic buildings are secured and closed between 2:00 am and 6:00 am. Public Safety checks that only people with authorization are in buildings after hours. Some academic buildings have nonpublic hours for members of the community. When a building has nonpublic hours, the outside doors are secured and members of the community (who have been authorized) can use their access card to enter the building until closing time. Visitors and others may be asked to leave College buildings during nonpublic hours.
During College recesses (low occupancy periods, holidays, etc.), all building hours are subject to change. Both academic and administrative buildings are generally secured at 6:00 pm on weekdays and closed on weekends and holidays during recesses. The card access privileges are limited in residence halls that are closed during recesses. During these periods, Residential Life distributes to students who remain on campus information about safety protocols and specific emergency procedures.
Security Considerations in the Maintenance of Facilities
Security is very important in the maintenance of campus facilities. The College’s Department of Facilities Management processes repair orders on a priority system that places safety and security items as most important. Trees are cut back from lights, outdoor lighting is checked weekly, and shrubs are cut back from building entrances and paths on a regular basis. These items are also reviewed annually during the campus lighting walk. Members of the community are invited to join the directors of public safety and physical facilities as they walk the campus reviewing lighting, blue-light phone needs, and other security considerations.
Access to Campus Programs
Mount Holyoke College is a member of the Five College Consortium (Amherst, Smith, and Hampshire Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts) that shares some faculty, programs, and services. Students from the Five Colleges regularly attend member institution programs, classes, events, etc. Additionally, the campus welcomes visitors and guests to many programs and events.
Access to Campus Residence Halls
College residence halls are for Mount Holyoke students and their guests. While there are no formal identification policies for guests, with the exception of residence hall events, individuals may be asked for identification by residence hall staff or other College officials. Guests who do not identify themselves and are not in compliance with College rules or regulations may be asked to leave campus or be trespassed. Residence hall doors are always locked. Guests use access phones outside the main door to contact their hosts who will then come to the door to allow access.
All guests must be escorted by their hosts, except while on the floor of their hosts. Guests must be escorted to other floors in the hall. In the case of coed bathrooms, guests need to request permission to enter. Guests must abide by the regulations of the residence hall and the larger campus community while they are on campus. People who are not registered Mount Holyoke students are welcome as short-term guests of a registered student in accordance with the policy of the residence hall.
Additionally, the College has guest rooms for rent at the Willits-Hallowell Center. Two on-campus guest suites are also available for visiting faculty. Contact the Office of Residential Life for information about these spaces.
All guests need to be escorted through-out the hall during residence hall parties.
Each residence hall will be given the responsibility to develop policy modifications per residence hall floor or spontaneous events or special weekends as members of the community deem appropriate. Policy modifications must be consistent with current community standards.
Off-Campus Student Organizations
Mount Holyoke College does not have any recognized off-campus student organizations (such as social sororities) or student organizations with off-campus housing facilities.
Public Safety Procedures and Crime Prevention
The Department of Public Safety is actively involved in student life on campus, providing security information, planning, and training for large events such as orientation, spring weekend, commencement, and reunions, as well as sporting events and various College assemblies.
Public Safety works with campus organizations to clarify roles, relevant campus policies and state laws, and behavior expected from participants. In addition, public safety officers are available to present crime prevention programs on such topics as self-defense, alcohol and drug awareness, and sexual assault. Each year the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Residential Life provide seminars on crime prevention; such programs are also offered to faculty/staff departments as well.
Additionally, the Department has a full complement of crime prevention, personal safety and victim/witness assistance information available on its Web site.
