Background
Yale University has a long-standing commitment to provide a campus that is safe and secure for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Behavior that is threatening, harassing, intimidating or in any way dangerous or violent is strictly prohibited and will result in serious action by the University. While no large organization is immune from acts of violence, clear policies and procedures help reduce the likelihood of such events and guide appropriate responses to situations that do arise.
Policies to Promote a Safe Campus
It is University policy that:
- Access to the University’s property is limited to members of the University community and their guests and invitees, and to those authorized to be on campus property.
- All students, staff and faculty on campus must present a valid Yale ID card at the request of any University official.
- The University reserves the right to enter and inspect its property and work areas.
- all newly hired staff, post-doctoral associates and fellows, employees of vendors, and consultants who receive I.D.s, and casual employees must undergo background checks.
Prohibition of Weapons
The University specifically prohibits the possession of weapons by any faculty or staff member, student, or visitor while on University-owned or controlled property, whether or not the owner is licensed to carry such weapon. This ban includes keeping a weapon or transporting it to another location. With the exception of all sworn police officers and detectives of the Yale University Police Department in accordance with the standard operating procedures of the Department„ employees are prohibited from carrying a weapon while performing services for the University on or off University premises. Other law enforcement professionals must have the permission of the University Police to carry weapons on campus. Weapons may include, but are not limited to, guns, ammunition, electronic defense weapons or “stun guns,” knives, explosives and similar substances, crossbows, swords, or similar items with the potential to inflict physical harm. Disarmed weapons and simulated weapons which could reasonably cause apprehension are also prohibited.
Possession of unlicensed or illegal weapons at any location may be grounds for discipline. Appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination or expulsion in the case of a student, and/or criminal proceedings will be taken against persons who violate this policy.
Examples of Prohibited Behaviors
Among the behaviors prohibited by University policy are verbal or non-verbal threats, electronically communicated threats, threatened use of a weapon of any kind, physical intimidation (hitting, shoving, etc.), stalking, sexual harassment or assault, vandalism, arson, or any other dangerous behavior that undermines the safety and security of the Yale campus.
Reporting Threats or Violent Behavior.
All members of the Yale community have the responsibility to report threatening or violent behavior, whether that behavior is exhibited by faculty, staff, students, or visitors.
If there is an immediate threat of violence, call 911 right away. If you don’t have a phone, use one of the blue light emergency phones on campus. Those at the West Campus or other locations not in New Haven should dial 911.
If the threat of violence is not immediate, please notify one of the following:
- Yale Police 203-432-4400 (24 hours a day)
- A supervisor
- Human Resources through the Employee Service Center (203) 432-5552) or your HR Business Partner
- Yale University Hotline via phone 877-360-YALE or online. The Hotline allows for identified or anonymous reporting.
- Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility.
- Office for Post Doctoral Affairs (203-432-5275 for Central campus/203-785-3735 for Medical campus)
- Dean’s Office in your school
- Head or Dean of Residential College
- Dean of Student Affairs
If you are unsure of whom to call, additional information about possible offices and contacts can be found here. Alternatively, please consult with your Human Resources partner, the Yale University Hotline, or the Employee Service Center.
Notification Expectations
Members of the University community are expected to notify Yale Police whenever a legal order of protection is granted which mentions the University property or involves a member of the University community. Victims of domestic violence who believe the violence may extend into the University community are also encouraged to notify Yale Police. Appropriate efforts will be made in all cases to protect the privacy and sensitivity of the information provided.
Responsibility of University Managers
University managers are expected to escalate immediately to their HR Business Partner or the Yale Police Department signs of hostile le and potentially threatening behavior that could jeopardize the safety of a member of the Yale community while on our campus.
Retaliation Prohibition
Retaliation against any member of the community, acting in good faith, who has made a complaint of threatening or potentially violent behavior, is a very concerning violation of this policy and will result in serious disciplinary action and/or academic suspension or expulsion.
Response to Threatening, Intimidating, or Violent Behavior
The University will take seriously all reports of threats, engaging the necessary expertise as appropriate. The range of actions taken in response may include removal of dangerous persons from the premises, arrests, discipline up to and including termination, academic suspension or expulsion, legal action (such as restraining orders), provision of added security measures, mental health referrals, and other actions as necessary and appropriate.
Employee, Faculty, and Family Well-Being Support
Yale’s Well-Being Benefits support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being, of our employees, faculty and families, including confidential and professional mental health support.