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Thayer Facilities Use Guidelines & Policy

Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth ("Thayer") is comprised of multiple facilities, located on Dartmouth's main campus in Hanover, NH and on the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center campus in Lebanon, NH. The following describes guidelines and policies for the use of Thayer buildings and facilities across both campuses.

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Guidelines for Thayer Facility Use

Cummings Hall, MacLean Engineering Sciences Center, Class of 1982 Engineering and Computer Science Center, and the Williamson Translational Research Building at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center are, in many ways, our "home away from home" since we spend such a large portion of our waking hours here. As with our home, we make every effort to make it a place that is friendly, comfortable, and safe. With your help we can continue to keep our buildings a safe place to pursue studies, work, and socialize.

Please take a few minutes to review this list of security actions and incorporate them into your daily routine at Thayer.

  • Who to Contact

    Jon Stark, Thayer’s Director of Facilities and Safety, is your primary contact for building security-related issues. Jon can be reached via email or by calling +1 (603) 667-3399. You may also contact Dave McDevitt, Associate Director of Facilities, with any security-related issues. Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Holly Wilkinson can also serve as an additional resource for any student conduct-related security issues.

  • General Safety and Awareness

    Become aware of who is normally in the building and note routine activities that occur. This is especially important if you are at Thayer after most faculty and staff have left for the evening. If you notice unusual behavior or unauthorized use, please report the incident immediately to Dartmouth’s Department of Safety and Security at +1 (603) 646-4000 and to Jon Stark the following day. If you believe reporting the incident can wait until the next day, please contact Jon Stark first thing in the morning and he will take appropriate steps at that time.

  • Building Hours and Access

    The DartCard ID gives all currently registered students, faculty, and staff access to required buildings and some laboratories. Do not share your DartCard ID with others, such as campus visitors, non-Thayer students, or food delivery staff.

    The exterior doors to Cummings Hall, MacLean Engineering Sciences Center, and Class of 1982 Engineering and Computer Science Center are locked everyday, from 10pm to 6am, and during Dartmouth-observed holidays. During those hours, buildings are accessible to students, staff, and faculty with their DartCard ID. Loading dock doors are locked after Thayer’s normal hours of operation, which are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

  • Building Security

    Do not prop open exterior doors at any time. If you find a door propped open, whether interior or exterior, remove the obstruction and close the door. This may inconvenience the person who propped the door, but it will be performing a much greater service to the entire Thayer community. In addition, do not prop open doors for food delivery staff, as this is against Dartmouth College policy. Proper procedure is to meet the food delivery staff member at the door.

    Make sure doors completely shut behind you after entering the building or rooms after passing through. Doors to laboratories that require punch codes should always remain locked after hours.

    In addition, please make sure all windows are closed and locked, especially on the ground level, for security and energy conservation.

  • Unauthorized Entry and Use

    Unauthorized entry and/or use of facilities is a violation of the Dartmouth and Thayer codes of conduct. Unauthorized locations include all locked spaces (for non-key holders); the Mshop, instrument room, copy center, and related facilities after posted hours of operation or when locked; closed research labs (without permission); and private offices other than your own. Many laboratories pose serious safety risks for untrained users.

    Defeating locks or security cables, and entering through windows are serious violations which may result in disciplinary action, possibly including suspension.

    Unauthorized use of equipment, computer files, accounts or passwords, and unauthorized possession of door keys or codes are also serious violations of conduct.

  • Reporting Unauthorized or Unsafe Activities

    If you see unauthorized or unsafe activity at Thayer, in particular in a laboratory or a shop that could endanger the safety of others, please report the activity immediately to Jon Stark and Holly Wilkinson. If you notice unauthorized use or unsafe activity after hours, or in the event of an emergency, please report the incident immediately to Dartmouth’s Department of Safety and Security at +1 (603) 646-4000 (Emergency: +1 (603) 646-3333 or x63333 from a campus phone).

Policy on Animals in Thayer Buildings

No animals are allowed in Thayer School of Engineering buildings with the exception of service animals, in accordance with the Dartmouth Assistance Animal Policy. Under that policy, a "service animal" means "any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the person’s disability. The provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship does not constitute work or tasks for the purpose of this definition. Species other than dogs or, in some cases, miniature horses, are not considered service animals for the purpose of this definition of a service animal."

For further guidance, undergraduate engineering students should contact Student Accessibility Services by email or by phone at +1 (603) 646-9900.

Thayer graduate students should email Holly Wilkinson or call +1 (603) 646-3483. Thayer employees should email Thayer’s Director of Human Resources or call+1 (603) 646-3091.