Metadata
Title
Health and Safety
Category
general
UUID
e1344d3c74684bdcb67681ba8988c691
Source URL
https://dso.college.harvard.edu/policies/health-and-safety
Parent URL
https://dso.college.harvard.edu/hosting-an-event
Crawl Time
2026-03-09T03:30:53+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Health and Safety

Source: https://dso.college.harvard.edu/policies/health-and-safety Parent: https://dso.college.harvard.edu/hosting-an-event

Fire Safety

Review Harvard's emergency policies and procedures and take precautions to reduce the risk of fire.

Prohibited Items expand_more

The following items are prohibited in the Houses, Dudley Community, and first-year dormitories:

Additional policies and guidelines for first-year students are published on the Yard Operations website.

Use of Electrical Equipment expand_more

Your House Building Manager or Yard Ops may request inspection by Facilities Maintenance electricians of any electrical device brought to the College. If Facilities Maintenance declares the device unsafe for any reason, you must remove it from College housing immediately.

Emergencies expand_more

Preparing for Emergencies

Emergency Procedures

If You Find a Fire

  1. Sound the alarm by activating the nearest fire alarm pull station and call the Fire Department at 911 from a safe location.You can also call 617-495-5560, the University Operations Center, who will notify the Fire Department, HUPD, a University fire safety mechanic, the Building Manager, and other key personnel.\
  2. Alert your neighbors only if you can do so without delaying your exit.\
  3. Leave the building immediately, close doors behind you as you exit the building and proceed to the designated emergency evacuation meeting location.\
  4. If you have information on how the fire started or how the alarm was activated, report it to the Fire Department.

Do not try to put out the fire. Use your common sense. Your safety is more important than property.

If the Alarm Sounds

Do not delay evacuation or assume that this is a false alarm. Immediately begin to exit the building.

  1. Feel the door. If it is hot, do not open it. Stay in your room. Put a towel or blanket (preferably wet) under the door to keep the smoke out. If your telephone works, call the Cambridge Fire Department at 911. Also call the Harvard University Police Department at 617-495-1212 to let them know where you are. Attract attention to yourself. Hang a sheet or something out the window.\
  2. If the door is not hot, open it slowly. If smoke and heat fill the hall, close the door, stay in your room, and call for help.\
  3. If you can safely leave your room, take your key and close your door behind you. Exit by the nearest clear exit stairway. Do not use the elevator – it may fail in a fire or be automatically recalled to the ground floor. Failure to leave when an alarm sounds, unless there are safety reasons for not doing so, is a punishable offense.\
  4. If you encounter smoke on your way out, stay low and crawl if necessary. You are more apt to find breathable air close to the floor. Cover your nose and mouth with a wet towel or wet handkerchief, if possible.\
  5. Go to the predetermined emergency evacuation meeting location so that you may be accounted for.

Do not attempt to reenter the building until the Fire Department gives permission to do so.

Carbon Monoxide expand_more

Carbon Monoxide

Select rooms may be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Instructions

The carbon monoxide alarm will sound four quick “chirps” every few seconds, indicating that carbon monoxide is present.

  1. Everyone in the immediate area of the alarm must immediately move to fresh air outdoors. If anyone is experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, call 911 or Harvard University Police Department, 617-495-1212.\
  2. If there are no symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, call the University Operations Center, 617-495-5560, for instructions and assistance. Remain outside until directed by the Police or Fire Department that it is safe to re-enter the building.

Building Security and Access

As a resident of the Harvard College community, you are reminded to:

Crime prevention tips

Obscene or Harassing Telephone Calls

The placement of an obscene or harassing telephone call is a criminal offense, punishable to the full extent of the law in the courts. It is treated as a serious disciplinary issue within the College.

Contact Harvard University Police if you receive such a call.

Resource Conservation

As a Harvard College student, you play a key role in University efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move toward an environmentally sustainable campus.

\ Student cooperation and leadership in areas of energy use reduction, solid waste reduction and recycling has and will continue to help further FAS environmental stewardship goals for Houses, Dudley Community, and dorms.

Environmental Responsibility expand_more

Students living on campus are urged to integrate resource efficiency and environmental responsibility into your daily life in the Houses and dorms. You are expected to:

Other community standards include: using computer power management software; purchasing energy-efficient appliances; taking only as much food as you will eat in the dining hall; and using warm or cold water rather than hot for most laundry loads.

Harvard Green Campus Initiative

Maintenance and Energy Conservation expand_more

Report all building maintenance problems to your Building Manager’s office for your House or dorm. If there is a security guard on duty in the House when the problem occurs, the security guard should be notified. After hours, and if the Building Manager is not available, or in cases of serious emergency, the problem should be reported to the Harvard Control Center at 617-495-5560.

All students are urged to be especially mindful of energy consumption as energy costs are a significant portion of annual room fees. The following simple actions will reduce energy consumption:

Never turn radiator valves all the way to the “off” position or leave windows open during cold weather, since you may be held responsible if pipes freeze because of these actions.

Recycling expand_more

Recycling is mandatory in Cambridge

You must bring all trash and recyclables to the designated recycling area in each House, Dudley residence, or dormitory, and should do so regularly throughout the term. Materials should be sorted into trash, mixed paper, commingled container, and battery receptacles. Composting is recommended and encouraged in dormitories.

In addition to recycling, you are encouraged to reduce waste by purchasing and printing carefully and reusing paper, mugs, furnishings, and other equipment. Direct benefits of recycling to students include contributing to University financial savings which can be translated into student programs, raising Harvard’s standing in national recycling competitions, forming sound habits for the future, and contributing to a cleaner and healthier world.

For questions about recycling and waste reduction please call the University Operations Services Recycling Hotline at 617-495-3042 or refer to the University Operations Services Recycling & Solid Waste Removal website.

Responsible Social Events

Harvard College is committed to supporting a residential and educational community that is culturally, intellectually, and socially enriching for our students.

A healthy and satisfying social life is an important aspect of the undergraduate experience and plays a vital role in developing the bonds of friendship, collegiality, and community. While alcohol may have a place in social activities, its role is ancillary to the mission and purpose of our residential and educational community. The College encourages students to socialize and interact with each other in safe and healthy ways:

Alcohol Event Policies and Procedures

Private Parties in the Houses expand_more

  1. Students who are 21 years of age or older are permitted to possess, store, and consume alcohol in their assigned rooms.\
  2. Students who wish to host private parties with alcohol must 21 years of age or older. If the private party is to be held in a suite, the hosts must be residents of the room in which the private party will be held.\
  3. All private parties must be registered with and approved by the House. Houses may determine the deadlines and means of submitting registrations provided the following minimum requirements are met:
  4. Student hosts must meet with their tutor prior to hosting their first private party of the academic year.
  5. Student hosts must demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of strategies to create safe social environments as well as their understanding of the applicable laws and policies governing alcohol, including responsibilities for social hosts.
  6. Student hosts must acknowledge responsibility for compliance with all applicable laws and policies.\
  7. Private parties are by personal invitation only. When choosing how many students to invite, a host should be mindful of the number of students permitted to be present in the suite at one time (see section 11 below). Advertising is prohibited. Use of social media is only permitted in the context of private and directed invitations. (e.g. private messages on Facebook, direct message on Twitter).\
  8. Host(s) of private parties must be present for the entire event, monitor the event, and make sure there is no underage or unsafe drinking.\
  9. Ample water, non-alcoholic beverages, and food must be provided for the duration of any private party or event at which alcohol will be available.
  10. Water and non-alcoholic beverages must be as visible and accessible as the alcoholic beverages that are being served.
  11. Adequate food also must be provided.
  12. Alcohol may not be served at an event until water, non-alcoholic beverages, and food are also available; alcohol may not be served if the water, non-alcoholic beverages, or food become unavailable.\
  13. The amount of alcohol purchased must be scaled for the reasonably anticipated number of attendees of legal drinking age.\
  14. Activities that promote high-risk drinking, such as excessive and/or rapid consumption of alcohol, particularly of a competitive nature, are not permitted. It is expected that hosts will plan parties where drinking is not the central activity.\
  15. Tutors or other House residential staff will check in at least once throughout the course of each private party.\
  16. If a tutor has concerns that a private party is not being managed well, then the tutor will speak with the host(s) about the concerns, require that the host(s) resolve the concerns, and check the event again after a short time. If the concerns are not properly addressed, then the tutor will take steps to shut down the event.\
  17. Private parties are limited to the number of students that can be safely in the suite, as determined by the House.\
  18. House common spaces may be used by student residents who wish to host private parties, at the discretion of the House, where the architecture of student suites makes them unsuitable for private parties, In such cases, the rules provided in this section apply.

Social Events on Campus expand_more

  1. For the purpose of this policy, “social events on campus” mean any organized functions held in House common areas (e.g. Junior Common Rooms, Dining Halls, Grilles) or non- residential facilities (e.g. the Student Organization Center at Hilles, Ticknor Lounge) where alcohol is served.\
  2. All social events on campus must be registered and approved. See Additional Policies and Procedures Related to Specific Types of Social Events for specific registration and approval requirements.\
  3. Alcohol is generally permitted only at social events that are limited to members of the Harvard community and their escorted guests. In certain limited circumstances alcohol also may be permitted at day or evening events that are open to the public, but only with prior approval of the Dean of Students Office. Alcohol is never permitted at late-night social events that are open and advertised to attendees beyond the Harvard community.\
  4. Age Verification, Alcohol Service, and Monitoring
  5. Proper verification of age is required at social events on campus where alcohol is served.
    • Acceptable identification for age verification of Harvard affiliates is a valid state or government ID accompanied by a Harvard University ID.
    • Failure to have both of these pieces of identification will result in a request for additional forms of ID, and may result in the denial of alcohol service.
    • Non-Harvard guests must show at least two forms of ID, one of which must be a valid state or government ID.
  6. A “best practices” system for making sure that alcohol is provided only to those who are of age must be established and implemented. One such system is to identify those who are 21 and older by a non-transferable identifier (e.g. wristbands).
  7. Social event attendees will not be served more than one alcoholic beverage at a time.\
  8. For social events on campus with alcohol that are hosted by student organizations, Houses, or College offices or centers, a Student Event Services (SES) Team (comprised of TIPS – Training for Intervention Procedures – trained bartenders) must be engaged to handle both age verification and the service of alcohol. With the approval of the Dean of Students Office, College offices or centers may choose instead to use a licensed and insured vendor to provide bartending service.\
  9. In the case of small House events where attendance is limited only to the residents of the host House, either a member of the House residential life staff or a member of an SES Team may handle age verification. A member of the SES Team, the House residential life staff, or the student organizers (provided they are of legal drinking age) may serve the alcohol.\
  10. Throughout the duration of all social events on campus, those in charge of age verification and alcohol service must continue to monitor and ensure that alcohol is not provided to students who are under 21 and that students who are of legal drinking age are not over-served. If any non-compliance is not corrected, then the event will be terminated.\
  11. In the case of House events, member(s) of the House staff must be present for the duration of the event. If a staff member has concerns that the event is not being properly monitored (for example, IDs are not being checked to identify those who are over or under 21, alcohol is being provided to those under 21, or alcohol is being consumed by those under 21), the staff member will speak with the host(s) about these concerns and ensure that the identified issues are corrected.

Quantity and Types of Alcohol expand_more

  1. The amount of alcohol purchased must be scaled for the reasonably anticipated number of attendees of legal drinking age.
  2. With the approval of Faculty Dean or authorized designee for House events and College staff for other campus events, kegs are generally permitted in the Houses and at College events, although they continue to be banned at athletic facilities and athletic events. Students must comply with all House or other protocols for registration, storage, and disposal of kegs.
  3. Only beer, wine, and malt beverages may be served at social events on campus. These beverages must not have an alcohol content that exceeds 12% ABV.
  4. “Bring Your Own Beer/Booze” (BYOB) events are not permitted. All alcohol served at an event must be purchased and provided by the event host(s).

Serving Times expand_more

The service of alcohol at social events on campus may not last longer than five hours. With the exception of events that are two hours or less, last call must occur 30 minutes prior to the scheduled conclusion of the event and alcohol service must end 15 minutes prior to the scheduled conclusion of the event.

Advertising expand_more

  1. Printed and electronic posters for social events on campus may mention alcohol, provided they use the following specific and approved language:\ “Non-alcoholic beverages available. Beer 21+”\ “Non-alcoholic beverages available. Beer and wine 21+”\
  2. Only the Dean of Students Office may approve variations to this standard language for campus-wide advertisements, regardless of where the event is to be held. A House may approve variations to the standard language for events to be held within the House and advertised only within the House. Advertisements may contain no other references to alcohol, including without limitation: price of alcoholic beverages; types of beers, wines, or mixed drinks available; or photos or logos of alcoholic beverages.

Licenses expand_more

Other Regulations expand_more

  1. Activities that promote high-risk drinking, such as excessive and/or rapid consumption of alcohol, particularly of a competitive nature, are not permitted. It is expected that hosts will plan parties where drinking is not the central activity.\
  2. Alcohol companies, services, or distributors may not provide support (i.e. monetary, gifts in kind, products) for social events on campus.\
  3. To comply with fire safety regulations, events in spaces without Certificates of Inspection may not exceed capacity of 49 persons.\
  4. Police security is required when the event is open to the broader Harvard College community and may otherwise be required at the discretion of the Faculty Dean, Resident Dean, or DSO.

In addition to the policies and procedures set forth above, the following policies and procedures also apply to certain social events with alcohol.

Small House Committee and House Events expand_more

Examples: Stein Clubs, Happy Hours, House Dinners

Large House-Sponsored Events expand_more

Examples: Formals, House Dances, House Theatre

Student Organization Events expand_more

House Formal Pilot Permitting Mixed Drinks expand_more

The College will continue to permit mixed drinks (drinks containing hard liquor) to be served at House formals held on or off campus. The following conditions must be met: