DATE:

June 27, 2003

TO:

Deans, Graduate and Professional Schools
Department Chairs, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Department Chairs, School of Medicine

FROM:

Stephanie S. Spangler, M.D.
Deputy Provost for Biomedical and Health Affairs

RE:

Minors in University Laboratories

As the summer approaches, I am writing to ask that you remind your faculty of the Yale University
policy and procedures regarding the presence of minors in laboratories (copies attached). The
University adopted this policy in order to meet obligations imposed by both state and federal
regulations. The University’s procedures are intended to assure compliance with the policy while
optimizing students’ laboratory experiences and minimizing disruption in the University’s research
activities.
Please note that this policy pertains to the presence of minors in all University-based research laboratory
settings. While the participation of minors in field work falls outside the scope of this policy,
investigators are responsible for the safety of minors in field work settings and are therefore encouraged
to consult the Office of Environmental Health and Safety and my office if they have questions regarding
the appropriate participation of minors in these University activities.

cc:Jon Clune
Penny CookElan Gandsman
Andrew Hamilton
Susan Hockfield
Pierre Hohenberg
Suzanne Polmar
Sara Rockwell
Carolyn Slayman
Business Managers, School of Medicine
Chairs’ Assistants and Business Managers, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

POLICY GOVERNING THE PRESENCE OF MINORS IN YALE UNIVERSITYLABORATORIES

1. No person under the age of 16 may enter a Yale laboratory unless he/she is participating in an
organized educational program sponsored by his/her school or municipality and approved by theChair of the Yale FAS Department or the Dean of the Yale School where the program will takeplace; the Office of Environmental Health and Safety; and the Office of New Haven and State
Affairs.
2. No person between the ages of 16 and 18 may enter a Yale laboratory except:a.

As part of a group or individual educational program approved in advance by the Chairof the FAS Department or the Dean of the School where the program will take place andthe Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

ORb.

As part of a relationship in which a Yale faculty member or researcher is acting as amentor to the young person, the young person will not be present in a Yale laboratory formore than five hours a week, and the young person’s activities in the laboratory havebeen approved by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

3. All persons under the age of 18 who enter a Yale laboratory must complete all required safety
training, must adhere to all restrictions imposed by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety,
and must be supervised at all times.
4. Participants in the educational and mentoring programs described in 2a and b may not be paid
according to an hourly, weekly, or monthly rate, but they may receive a lump-sum stipend approved,in advance, by the Department of Human Resources. Persons under the age of 16 may not receive
any type of payment in connection with their presence in a Yale laboratory.
5. Yale faculty members sponsoring minors shall be responsible for obtaining all authorizations
required under these rules.

April 30, 1999

PROCEDURES FOR IMPLEMENTING POLICY GOVERNING THE PRESENCE OF MINORSIN YALE UNIVERSITY LABORATORIES

1.

If an individual faculty member or the Chair of a School of Medicine Department wishes tobring a minor into his/her laboratory or department for an educational program as describedin section 2a of the policy, the faculty member should submit to the Chair of his/her Department (inthe Faculty of Arts and Sciences), the Dean of his/her School (in schools other than Medicine), or
the Director of the Office for Scientific Affairs (in the School of Medicine) a request that provides
the name and age of the student and describes the educational intent of the proposed experience. The
Chair/Dean/Director should review the request for educational appropriateness and forward a copy
to the Office of the Deputy Provost for Biomedical and Health Affairs (Room 208, 1 HillhouseAvenue) with a statement that the proposed activity represents an approved educational program ofDepartment/School. This document should be copied to the Office of General Counsel and the Officeof Environmental Health and Safety. Upon receipt of the document, the Office of Environmental Healthand Safety will make sure that appropriate laboratory inspections are performed and that the faculty
member is alerted to any measures that must be taken to assure the safety of minors in the laboratory.

2.

If the Chair of an FAS Department or the Dean of a School wishes to bring a minor into
his/her laboratory for an educational program as described in section 2a of the policy orwishes to implement a department- or school-wide program that includes educational
opportunities for minors, he/she should submit a request that provides the name(s) and age(s) of
the student(s) and the educational intent of the proposed program to the Deputy Provost for Scienceand Technology. The Deputy Provost for Science and Technology will review these requests andforward them to the Deputy Provost for Biomedical and Health Affairs, copied to the Office ofGeneral Counsel and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, with a statement that theproposed activity represents an approved educational program.

3.

If a faculty member, Chair, or Dean wishes to mentor a student under the age of 18 as
described in section 2b of the policy, he/she should follow the notification “pathways” outlined
above but need include in his/her request only the name and age of the student and the commitmentthat the mentoring experience will require the student to be present in the laboratory no more than
five hours per week. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety and the Associate GeneralCounsel must receive copies of these requests as well as those for programs described in section 2a.

April 30, 1999