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
Title IX

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 Mount Holyoke College 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 Mount Holyoke College 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: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?MountHolyoke&layout_id=4.

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 or agreed to 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.
Requiring that students not be enrolled in the same academic course(s).
Requiring 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 Residential Life staff or Ombuds Office for assistance.

No Contact Order Administrators

NCOs may be issued by the following Mount Holyoke College 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 and Housing Operations
Associate Director of Residential Life
Residential Life Area Coordinators
Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Title IX Coordinator or Deputy Title IX Coordinator
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 Gender-based and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based 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.

General Principles

Mount Holyoke College centers wellness within the campus community and understands that each student makes their own choices regarding whether or not to engage in the use of alcohol and/or other drugs. Thus the College emphasizes the responsibility of each community member to be law-abiding, knowledgeable and thoughtful about any decisions regarding alcohol and drug consumption. The College expects all faculty, staff and students to become familiar with the state and federal laws and with the College’s policies governing substance use as well asand to consider the penalties and risks that can result from violations. The law puts major responsibility, and therefore liability, on both the person who serves and/or the person who buys the alcohol, and the penalties for both the individual and the institution are very severe.

With the help of the Be Well program, the College strives to provide comprehensive information regarding alcohol and drug use so that and urges all community members can make educated and informed choices regarding their own use of substances. The College encourages those with concerns about their own or others’ difficulties with alcohol and/or other drugs to seek confidential assistance through Counseling Service. As part of our commitment to a safe and holistic campus environment, the College strives to 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 of coercion for those who elect not to use alcohol and drugs.
A community that actively reduces harm done to individuals and groups as a result of alcohol and drug use are minimal and where problem behavior is reduced.
Confidential and effective guidance and counseling for students seeking support related to substance use.

The following policy outlines the importance of the health and safety of students, compliance with state and federal laws regarding the use, possession, purchase, sale and distribution of alcohol and drugs, and highlights the College’s educational mission to inform students so they can make responsible life choices regarding their use of substances.

Alcohol and Drug-free Environment

In compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, Mount Holyoke College has developed this policy in an effort to provide a healthy environment by preventing the harmful misuse of drugs or alcohol within the College community and in response to the federal drug-free legislation. The Drug-Free Schools and Campus Act, which became law in December 1989, mandates that institutions of higher education adopt and implement a program designed to prevent the unlawful possession, use, dispensation or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students and employees. The College is required to provide certification to the Department of Education that such a program is in place.

Mount Holyoke College prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of controlled substances and alcohol by any member of the faculty, staff or student body on College property or at any College-sponsored function, whether on or off campus, and requires the cooperation of the entire campus community in its pursuit to maintain a drug-free environment in all aspects of campus life. At certain sanctioned College functions, alcoholic beverages may be allowed but will be appropriately monitored.

Any student who violates this prohibition, or who does not cooperate with the College in its attempts to maintain a drug-free environment, may face disciplinary action and may be required, as a condition of continuing the faculty/staff/student relationship with the College, to enroll at their own expense in a substance abuse counseling and treatment program.

In addition, the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires that any employee (including student employees) working at Mount Holyoke College who is convicted under a criminal drug statute for conduct in the workplace must report this conviction to the College no later than five days after the conviction. Workplace in this instance is defined as a site for the performance of work done in connection with a particular federal grant or contract. Once the College is informed of such a conviction, the College is required by law to notify the federal contractor or grantor within 10 days after an employee’s conviction or within 10 days after it has actual knowledge of such conviction, whichever is earlier. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with resources available in the area for substance abuse, counseling and treatment.

Alcohol Policy Guidelines

Mount Holyoke College’s Alcohol Policy is guided by and abides by law outlined by the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the town of South Hadley, Massachusetts. The acquisition, possession, transportation, consumption and distribution of alcoholic beverages is governed by statute and regulation. For full text of the law, please see malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter138.

A person must be 21 years of age or older to purchase, possess, consume and transport alcoholic beverages.
Use or possession of alcoholic beverages by any persons under the age of 21 years of age is prohibited.

Additionally, the College upholds the following standards specific to our campus community:

The presence, possession, or use of kegs by individuals or groups other than at a registered, approved event 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.
Consumption of alcohol in unapproved areas (e.g., residence hall public space, stairways, corridors, elevators, bathrooms, kitchens, 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.
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.

All student groups are also held to the Alcohol Policy and Guidelines for Student Events, which can be found in the RSO Handbook.

Drug Policy Guidelines

Members of the College community are expected to follow applicable federal and state laws regarding the use of controlled substances. For the purposes of this policy, controlled substances include medications (prescription or over-the counter) not used as indicated or prescribed, illegal drugs, and chemical substances not used for their intended purpose. Federal, state and local sanctions for unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs range from probation and forfeiture of property to fines and imprisonment.

The use, cultivation, manufacture, sale, distribution, and/or possession of drugs or controlled substances in violation of federal, state, or municipal laws is prohibited by the College and is not permitted in the residence halls, on any College property, or while on College business.

Violations of the drug policy include but are not limited to:

Possession or use of illegal drugs.
Use of a controlled prescription medication that was not prescribed to the user; or using one's own controlled substance prescription medication in ways other than prescribed.
The non-medical use of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications.
Failure to report the use, cultivation, manufacture, sale, distribution, and/or possession of illegal substances on any College property to a College official.
Knowing presence during the use of illegal drugs or the misuse of substances.

Enforcement of the Alcohol and Drug Policy

The College entrusts all members of the campus community, including students, faculty, and staff to observe the laws and policies pertaining to alcohol and drug usage in an effort to cultivate a safe, holistic environment. Those who violate these policies and/or laws will be asked to take accountability for their individual or collective actions. Further, they should understand that possible outcomes may include disciplinary action, personal liability, fines and/or imprisonment. Students who violate state or federal laws will not be protected by the College and their actions may be subject to civil or criminal complaints. Mount Holyoke College will not intervene on an individual’s behalf with campus, local or state law enforcement authorities.

Violations of the alcohol and drug policies including dangerous or disruptive behavior that may arise with of alcohol and/or drugs misuse will be handled by the usual general judiciary procedure under the honor code. Students may receive sanctions ranging from written warnings to suspension or expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense and community impact.

Medical Amnesty Policy

The health and safety of students are of primary importance. Students are encouraged to take steps to ensure their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of their peers. Students who choose to consume alcohol are expected to consume it in moderation to avoid compromising personal safety. The College acknowledges that there may be times when students may face medical emergencies involving alcohol and drug use. Therefore, immediate action should be taken when a person’s health and safety are threatened or appear to be in jeopardy.

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, do not hesitate to notify emergency resources (if on-campus, Mount Holyoke College Campus Safety, 413-538-2304) 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.

In an effort to encourage students to seek time-sensitive care in an alcohol- or drug-related emergency, the College has developed this Medical Amnesty Policy to remove concerns about disciplinary action. Students who actively seek help or medical assistance for themselves, or when concerned about someone else’s use of alcohol and other drugs, will not be subject to disciplinary sanctions.

The College provides amnesty of the disciplinary process for students who:

Request medical assistance for themselves.
Request medical assistance for another person.

When responding to such alcohol and drug violations, the College will consider the student’s decision to request medical assistance, view the act of seeking medical assistance as a reflection of responsible action. Thus if it is determined that the Medical Amnesty Policy applies, the students involved will not be subject to violation of the policy, nor will they receive a violation on their disciplinary record. In follow-up with the student granted medical amnesty, the student will meet with the Be Well director or designee to have an opportunity to review the incident, ask questions and/or engage in further education to support future good judgment.

Medical Amnesty applies only to the possession or consumption of alcohol and/or other drugs. It does not preclude disciplinary sanctions pertaining to other violations such as providing alcohol to underage individuals, violating event policy, assault, property damage or sale or distribution of illicit substances.The goal of Medical Amnesty is to center student wellbeing and, as such, is not intended to be used repeatedly. The College views repeated incidents as a serious health risk and disruption to the community. While amnesty may apply in subsequent cases, it is at the discretion of the Dean of Student or designee. Additional educational or supportive measures may also apply. This provision does not preclude or prevent action by Public Safety and Service or other outside legal authorities.

Sanctions for Violations of the Campus Alcohol and Drug Policies

Violation	1st Offense	2nd Offense	3rd Offense
Possession and consumption of alcohol under age of 21. Open container. Possession of alcohol or drug paraphernalia associated with dangerous consumption. Dispensing alcohol. Intoxication. Possession/use of illegal drugs or probable cause to believe there was use.	Meeting with Residential Life. AOD-focused Educational Steps	Meeting with Residential Life or a dean in the Division of Student Life. AOD-focused Educational Steps Disciplinary probation Possible parent or guardian notification.	Meeting with a dean in the Division of Student Life. Parent or guardian notification. Disciplinary Probation. Possible housing probation and suspension. Possible withdrawal.
Selling/distributing illegal drugs.	Meeting with a dean in the Division of Student Life. AOD-focused Educational Project Parent or guardian notification. Disciplinary probation. Possible withdrawal or suspension.	Meeting with dean of students. Parental notification. Withdrawal or suspension.

Alcohol and Drug Policy Definitions

Possession: The evidence that alcohol consumption has occurred (e.g., empty beer bottles) or drug consumption has occurred (e.g., bong, pipe, etc.).

Intoxication: The College considers intoxication requiring medical assistance or a medical transport to the hospital as a potential health emergency. 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.

There may be instances in which the parent/guardian will be notified in response to intoxication, specifically when a student is transported to the hospital due to intoxication. Please refer to the College’s Policy on Parent Notification.

The College prohibits students from attending class under the influence of alcohol or drugs and identifies such behavior 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. As a follow-up students may be referred to Counseling Service for additional support.

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

Related Policies — Massachusetts State Law on Alcohol:
malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter138/Section34.

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

The Higher Education Amendments

On October 7, 1998, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 became effective, making specific amendments to the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (20 U.S. C. 10920 and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)(20 U.S. C. 1232g). The following outlines the significant changes to these acts that influence the alcohol and other drug policies at Mount Holyoke College and all other private and public schools that receive federal funds.

The Amendments to the Campus Security Act expanded the scope of the reporting requirement. It must not only report arrests but also record the number of people referred for campus disciplinary action for liquor law violations, drug-related violations, and weapons possession.

FERPA generally provides that information about students be protected from disclosure. Generally, the student’s educational record is protected from disclosure. The Higher Education Act of 1998 added a provision that indicates that FERPA cannot prevent a school from releasing information to a parent or legal guardian regarding the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance by a student, if the student is under the age of 21 and the institution determines that the student has committed a disciplinary violation with respect to such use or possession.

Medical and Recreational Use of Cannabis Policy

Massachusetts has instituted legislation under Massachusetts Act (Chapter 369) “An Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana” which allows for the controlled use of medical cannabis in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Thus, citizens of the commonwealth may legally obtain a medical cannabis registration card from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. However, Mount Holyoke College students, staff and faculty who legally possess a “medical marijuana registration card” are not permitted to possess and/or use any form of cannabis on Mount Holyoke College property or at College-sponsored events.

In addition, the commonwealth of Massachusetts through 935 CMR 500.00 has legalized the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes to individuals at least 21 years old. Although Massachusetts law permits the use of medical and recreational cannabis, Federal laws outlined by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) have classified cannabis as a controlled substance, which prohibits the use, possession and/or cultivation of cannabis. Therefore the use, possession, cultivation or sale of cannabis in any form violates federal law. Mount Holyoke must comply with the Drug-Free Communities and Schools Act (DFSCA) (20 U.S.C.1011i; 34 C.F.R part 86) as well as the Drug-Free Workplace Act, which requires a drug-free campus environment. Institutions of higher education such as Mount Holyoke must comply with the Drug-Free Communities and Schools Act regulations or risk losing federal funding such as financial aid.

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

Additional Information on Alcohol and Drug Use

Serving Alcohol

No person shall receive a license or permit who is under 21 years of age. Whoever makes a sale or delivery of any alcoholic beverage or alcohol to any person under 21 years of age, either for his own use or for the use of his parent or any other person, or whoever, being a patron of an establishment licensed under section 12 or 15, delivers or procures to be delivered in any public room or area of such establishment if licensed under section 12, 15, 19B, 19C or 19D or any area of such establishment if licensed under said section 15, 19B, 19C or 19D any such beverages or alcohol to or for use by a person who he knows or has reason to believe is under 21 years of age or whoever procures any such beverage or alcohol for a person under 21 years of age in any establishment licensed under section 12 or procures any such beverage or alcohol for a person under 21 years of age who is not his child, ward or spouse in any establishment licensed under said section 15, 19B, 19C or 19D or whoever furnishes any such beverage or alcohol for a person under 21 years of age shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.

For the purpose of this section, the word “furnish” shall mean to knowingly or intentionally supply, give, or provide to or allow a person under 21 years of age except for the children and grandchildren of the person being charged to possess alcoholic beverages on premises or property owned or controlled by the person charged. (See M.G.L., Ch. 138, ¶34.)

Serving Alcohol to Intoxicated Persons

Any person licensed to serve alcohol may not serve intoxicated persons. To do so may result in civil liability for injuries caused by the intoxicated person. (See M.G.L., Ch. 138, ¶69.)

Alcohol and/or Drugs and Driving

Transporting alcohol: It is unlawful for a person under 21 years of age to knowingly drive a car with alcohol in it or carry alcohol on their person unless accompanied by a parent.

Conviction is punishable by mandatory suspension of driver’s license for 90 days. Punishment also includes a fine of not more than $50 for the first offense and not more than $150 for a second or subsequent offense.

Open Container in a Motor Vehicle

It is unlawful for a person to possess an open container of alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of any motor vehicle. The passenger area is defined as the area designed to seat the driver and passengers while the motor vehicle is in operation and any area that is readily available to the driver or a passenger while in a seated position, including, but not limited to, the glove compartment. Violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500. (See M.G.L., Ch. 90, ¶ 24I)

Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence

If arrested, the driver will be detained by the police and read their rights. The vehicle will be towed and the driver taken in a police cruiser to the police station for a breathalyzer test. Refusal to take this test will result in automatic suspension of license for 120 days.

If the breathalyzer test registers over .05 but below .08 the driver will be held, but there will be no presumption of driving under the influence.
If the test registers .08 or over, the driver will be held, and there will be a presumption of driving under the influence. The driver will be kept in the police lockup until bailed out. Upon arraignment, the license of the defendant having a breathalyzer of .08 or above is immediately suspended for 90 days.

For persons under 21 years of age, there will be a presumption of driving under the influence if the test registers over .02. The driver will be kept in the police lockup until bailed out. Upon arraignment, the license of the defendant will immediately be suspended for 180 days. Drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 who refuse or fail a breathalyzer test must complete a Youth Alcohol Program (Y.A.P.) and suffer a 180-day license suspension. In addition, the law mandates a fine dedicated to the Trust Fund for Head Injury Treatment Services; allows out-of-state convictions to be used to calculate repeat offenses; and allows a court to look back ten years to calculate repeat offenses. For more information regarding offenses, including first–fifth offense conviction information, see M.G.L., Ch. 90, paragraph 24.

Homicide by Motor Vehicle

Anyone who operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and who operates that vehicle recklessly or negligently so as to endanger and who, by any such operation, causes death shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two and one-half or more than 15 years and a fine of not more than $5,000. Punishment also includes suspension of license for 15 years with first offense and lifetime suspension with subsequent offense.

Drug Enforcement Laws

An Act Providing for Drug-Free Schools

Effective July 11, 1989, anyone convicted of dealing drugs within 1,000 feet of an elementary, vocational, or secondary school faces a mandatory two-year prison sentence. It will not matter whether the dealer knew they were near a school, whether it is a public or private school, or whether the school is in session. The law pertains to drug distributors, manufacturers, or persons possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute it. A fine of up to $10,000 may also be imposed but not in lieu of the two-year term of imprisonment.

An Act Providing for Suspension of a License to Operate a Motor Vehicle upon Conviction of Violation of the Controlled Substance Act

This law provides that a conviction of any drug offense shall result in the loss of the right to drive for a period of up to five years. A minor who does not yet have a driver’s license at the time of their conviction can lose the right to obtain a license until reaching age 21.

An Act Further Regulating the Misuse of Driver’s Licenses and Identification Cards This law makes a broad spectrum of activities related to false identification cards or licenses punishable by a fine or imprisonment. These activities include, but are not limited to, making, using, or carrying a false identification card or license; using the cards or license of another; and furnishing false information in obtaining a card or license. In addition, a conviction on any of these charges will result in an automatic one-year suspension of the license to drive.

In an effort to promote public health and make campus welcoming and accessible to all, smoking is prohibited on the Mount Holyoke College 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 https://www.mtholyoke.edu/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:

Mount Holyoke College weather line: 413-538-2330
Mount Holyoke College website: mtholyoke.edu
my.mtholyoke for students, faculty and staff
Community email announcements
Mount Holyoke College’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.

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: https://embark.mtholyoke.edu/orientation/packing-tips/.

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: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/policies/fire-safety-residence-halls.

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

https://offices.mtholyoke.edu/ehs/fire-and-life-safety

Hazing is a serious offense. The College encourages students to report such offenses promptly. Hazing is prohibited by both Commonwealth law and the Mount Holyoke College Honor Code, and will not be tolerated in this community of trust. 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 https://www.mtholyoke.edu/policies/anti-hazing-policy.

In accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269 Section 10j, 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 Mount Holyoke College 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).

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.

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:
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/directory/departments-offices-centers/public-safety-and-service/services-offered-public-safety/bicycle-registration-and-safety

Officers of the Mount Holyoke College 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.

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 Higher Education Opportunity Act (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.

Mount Holyoke College policies are subject to revision without notice.

Animals on Campus

The College has established the following policy to provide for the health and safety of Mount Holyoke College 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.

A reasonable pet policy, focused on owner responsibility, supports the quality of campus life inside and outside of buildings while minimizing the use of resources on avoidable cleanup and repairs. Beyond the obvious concerns for property maintenance and personal welfare, it is hoped that these regulations will foster an atmosphere where all can enjoy the College’s facilities in a comfortable and relaxed setting.

The College’s properties are private. The pet policy is consistent with Massachusetts law, which holds that a dog’s owner is responsible for the behavior of the dog.

Scope

This policy applies to all persons on the College campus or in College programs and all animals, subject to policy exceptions.

Pets are not allowed inside College buildings, including student housing. This prohibition does not apply to:

Service animals accompanied by their owner or handler, subject to the College’s Service Animal Policy.
Emotional support animals (ESAs) permitted in student housing as an accommodation for a disability.
Trained therapy animals that are providing therapy services for students in approved offices.
Animals brought to campus for approved College-sponsored events, e.g., “Pet-a-Pet.”
Rental housing in which pets are permitted by the terms of the lease or rental agreement.
Research animals.
Working animals owned by the College.
Horses stabled or in other equestrian facilities owned by the College.

The following rules apply to the College property outside of buildings:

Pets must be leashed and under control at all times. Pets may not be tied up and left alone outside buildings or elsewhere on College grounds.
Pets are not allowed on the athletic fields or in gardens at any time, even if leashed.
Persons with pets must have the means to remove any pet waste (fecal matter) and must pick up and properly dispose of any pet waste left by the pet on Mount Holyoke property.
Persons with pets must immediately clean up or repair any incidental damage caused by the pet (including digging damage). Cleanup or repairs should be thorough enough so that no work is created for College staff or inconvenience is caused for members of the College community or visitors.
- If the damage cannot be cleaned up or repaired by the person in control of the pet at the time the damage is caused, the damage should be reported immediately to Public Safety and Service.
Pets are not permitted in any College-owned vehicle. This prohibition does not apply to service animals accompanied by their owner or handler, subject to the College’s Service Animal Policy.

A person who has an animal on campus (including in College housing) is financially responsible for property damage caused by their animal such as the cost of repairs, replacement or cleaning of facilities or furnishings and for any injury caused to other persons by the animal.

Public Safety and Service will handle violations of this policy for visitors by informing guests of the policy and referring cases to the town animal control. Employees will be referred to human resources. Students will be referred to our community standards process. College employees who observe policy violations are encouraged to inform individuals of the policy and inform Public Safety and Service if necessary.
In the case of an employee, the individual’s supervisor will give the violator a verbal warning that will remind them of the rules and their specific violation. If the violation continues, the person’s supervisor may give the violator a written warning that will inform them of the seriousness of the infraction. A written warning may also be given if an owner refuses to clean up or be responsible for incidental damage.
In the case of non-employees, Public Safety and Service will give a verbal warning and notification of the policy. The pet and the pet’s owner may be excluded from campus.

Incidents of animal bites should be reported to Public Safety and Service immediately. The incidents will be investigated on an individual basis by a Public Safety and Service officer who will work the town’s animal control.

The scope of this policy [https://www.mtholyoke.edu/policies/service-animals] is to set forth the College’s policy, guidelines and requirements with respect to the admittance and use of service animals on its campus or in other College programs. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The work or task the animal has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.

The policy applies to any service animal whose user or handler is participating in the College’s programs or activities or who is on the College’s campus, including College housing. This policy includes students, employees and third parties. The policy applies to all service animals, including working service animals, service animals-in-training and service puppies.

This policy does not apply to other animals on campus, including pets, emotional support animals, horses brought onto campus as part of the College’s equestrian program or research animals. See Related Policies for references to these policies.

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