House Rules & Regulations

Building Hours

All buildings are open and staffed from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm weekdays during the academic year and 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays during the summer. After hours, access is by ID card only.

Student Study and Lounge Areas

The best measure of whether a building qualifies as green may not be the solar photovoltaic array on the roof or the ground-source heating and cooling system, but whether people enjoy being there. If a building is not popular, is not liked, does not have social capital, it’s not going to work. On those grounds, the early evidence suggests that Kroon Hall works. The bright open spaces on the top floor of the building have become the hub of student activity and a central location for environmental activities across the university. The Knobloch Environment Center, with its high-vaulted ceiling, 55-foot-high glass wall that overlooks a grassy quad and provides abundant natural light, and comfortable seating, has changed the social dynamic of the school and itself has become integral to the success of events that it hosts. The student-run BYO Cafe ("Bring Your Own Mug") provides socially responsible coffee and fresh baked goods to the ever-hungry YSE community. On the ground floor, the Ordway Learning Center has ample space for quiet study, contains over a dozen study carrels, two meeting rooms, several computer stations and access to a wireless network, all the while providing views of the building’s south courtyard.

The lounge and kitchenette on the first floor of Sage Hall are also available for student use for rest and relaxation. Please help keep these areas as clean as possible by picking up after yourself. This room is open for study, group meetings, etc.

Classroom Use

Seminars and small meetings may be held in the classrooms when they are not in use for classes or faculty or administrative committee meetings. All rooms must be reserved by completing the room request form on the School’s intranet For further assistance, contact Joan McDonald in the Dean’s Suite in Kroon Hall or at joan.mcdonald@yale.edu, 203-436-8240.

Security

It is important to realize that the School is located in an urban environment in which crime is not uncommon. We at YSE are deeply concerned about your safety at the School. YSE has a Safety and Security Committee, and its members include YSE faculty, staff and students; a Student Safety Subcommittee, co-chaired by the committee chair and a student co-chair, meets monthly and deals with all aspects of student safety.

Your Yale ID has been coded to give you entry to all YSE buildings. Please contact facilities at facilities.yse@yale.edu or 432-2099 if your ID does not work on any of the doors.

Please observe some basic security considerations: Never leave your personal property—and especially a laptop computer—unattended, and always check to see that doors are locked when you leave a building after hours. Also, please check that windows, especially at ground level, are locked.

For more information, see Yale’s Public Safety website: publicsafety.yale.edu.

Weapons Policy

No illegal weapons, toxic substances, or illegal substances are allowed on YSE property or at school events.

Alcohol Policy

Members of the Yale School of the Environment (YSE) bring to the community varying backgrounds, attitudes and experiences with regards to the use of alcohol. Both the consumption and the non-consumption of alcohol play an important role in our school’s culture, and activities and events where alcohol is served must be attentive to all members of our community.

As a community of adults, the responsible consumption of alcohol has a place within our common life. Nevertheless, in view of the importance of promoting and encouraging the responsible use of alcohol at YSE, the liability issues connected with alcohol service and consumption, and the need for full compliance with Connecticut state law, the following policies and procedures have been adopted by YSE and are in effect.

A YSE sponsored event is any event organized at YSE where school funding is being used to supply food and drink. This includes school-funded conferences.

  1. In accordance with Connecticut state law, alcoholic beverages may be dispensed and served only to individuals who are 21 or more years of age and may not be dispensed and served to any intoxicated person. Though most members of the YSE community are 21 or over, any underage students, spouses, or guests attending a YSE sponsored event may not be served.
  2. Beer and wine are the only alcoholic beverages that may be served and consumed at YSE sponsored events. Mixed drinks or other "hard" alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
  3. Only one alcoholic beverage at a time may be served to an individual.
  4. Alcohol that is dispensed and served on the YSE campus must be consumed within the room or area in which the YSE sponsored event is being held; taking open containers of alcohol to other rooms or areas is not permitted unless prior permission has been granted. For purpose of policy, ‘YSE campus’ includes all YSE buildings, forests, courtyards and surrounding grounds.
  5. All alcohol served at YSE sponsored events shall be procured by YSE community members or by caterers. Attendees may not bring their own alcohol to any YSE sponsored event.
  6. Whenever alcohol is being served at YSE sponsored events, appropriate quantities of non-alcoholic beverages such as juice, lemonade, soda (not just water and seltzer) and a substantial amount of food must be available. For YSE sponsored events, fifty percent of the budget for food and drink must be spent on food and non-alcoholic drinks. Potato chips, pretzels, or any other sort of ‘snacks’ are not considered ‘substantial’ food.
  7. YSE sponsored events and approved externally sponsored events where alcohol will be served to 50 or more guests must include the use of a TIPS or Rserving certified server or licensed caterer. The Office of Student Affairs has the right to limit the amount of alcohol that is being purchased and/or served at any such event.
    • Alcohol that is purchased with YSE funds for YSE sponsored events with over 50 people must be dispensed and served by a server who is of the following:
      • Certified by TIPS or a similar organization.
      • Not a current YSE student with the exception of TGIF events.
      • Can remain on duty for the entire length of time that alcohol is served.
    • A reasonable charge may be collected at some YSE sponsored events to cover the cost of attendance including food, alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages.
    • Alcohol that is not consumed at the end of an event must either be removed by the vendor or secured in a locked designated location.
    • The sponsoring student group or organization will be held responsible for any physical damages to Yale property as a result of the event or conference.
    • YSE funds may not be used to fund private parties, whether or not alcohol is served.

The goal of the YSE Alcohol Policy is to ensure the safety and security of all individuals attending conferences and events held at YSE. In those instances in which an individual appears to be intoxicated, YSE encourages members or the community to assist each other and also their guests, either by contacting the Yale Police (203-432-4400) or Yale Acute Care (203-432-0123) if the person's condition appears serious. You may also help to arrange transportation home by calling the Yale Safe Rides (203-432-6330).

Please see the information on helping an intoxicated person - https://aod.yalecollege.yale.edu/get-help