Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College is a private Ivy League university located in Hanover, New Hampshire. Founded in 1769, Dartmouth  was established before the American revolution and is the ninth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Originally intended  to convert and civilize the indigenous to Christianity and British attitudes, Dartmouth, in early days, chiefly trained Congregationalist ministers. Over the years it has evolved into a prominent research university now known as a first rate center of wide ranging higher education, currently in the forefront of climate change research.

The undergraduate liberal arts curriculum, includes 40 academic departments and inter-disciplinary programs offering 57 majors in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. In addition to the undergraduate college, Dartmouth houses Geisel School of Medicine, Tuck School of Business, Thayer School of Engineering, and Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. Strong affiliations with Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center, Rockefeller Institute for Public Policy, and Hopkins Center for the Arts are celebrated. Student enrollment of about 6,400 marks Dartmouth as the smallest university in the Ivy League. Highly competitive undergraduate admissions accepted only 8.7% of applicants for the Class of 2022.

Hanover, New Hampshire, a picturesque New England town, above the Connecticut River, is 125.8 miles from Boston, Massachusetts and 9 miles from the Lebanon, New Hampshire Municipal Airport. Dartmouth’s campus consists of 269 acres centered around a 5-acre college green. Campus buildings vary in age from the 1820’s to new 21st century structures. Over 3,000 students live in college housing in nine residential dwellings spread out across campus.

Campus buildings toured in view of wheelchair accessibility included:

The initial group of four, providing the heart of Dartmouth’s student life emphasis. The Class of 1953 Commons, Sarner Underground, Robinson Hall, and Collis Hall/Student Center.

CLASS OF 1953 COMMONS, home to Dartmouth’s newly renovated central dining hall, (see photos) is a red brick building which has a ramp accessible front entrance,  with an easy flowing pitch, sturdy metal handrails on both sides at an acceptable height and push button power doors, simple to move through.

SARNER UNDERGROUND, a spot to relax and listen to music, is located  in the basement off the back left side of the class of the Class of 1953 Commons building. Leading to the entrance is an easy to navigate concrete ramp with a manageable pitch, with sturdy metal handrails on both sides. The front door is clearly marked with an automated push button box.

ROBINSON HALL, home to the Native American Program, the Student Wellness Center, Outdoor Programs, Greek organizations, and Residential Education is a red brick building surrounded by firm smooth tarmac and concrete pavement. At the back entrance is a door clearly marked with a handicapped sign. This door however, is not automated.

COLLIS HALL/STUDENT CENTER, is a large red brick and stone building across from the green, forms the center of student life at Dartmouth. It is accessible, after  five concrete steps with 2 sturdy metal handrails. Once at the top of the steps one finds a wide concrete ramp with friendly pitch and sturdy metal handrails on both sides. Several handicapped signs provide guidance. The front entrance has an automated push button. The back entrance is not handicap accessible. 5 concrete steps and 3 metal handrails lead to a wide metal door that is not automated. The building has an elevator.

McNUTT HALL/UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS/COMPUTER STORE offers 2 handicapped parking spaces. The back entrance to McNutt Hall is the best approach for smooth going.  The accessible back entrance has a long concrete ramp with a friendly pitch and 2 sturdy metal handrails. Handicapped signs mark the direction to the automated push button door. The front entrance of McNutt is not handicapped accessible. A curb with no curb-cut leads to five granite steps with 2 sturdy handrails. The door is large, but has no automated push button.

PARKHURST HALL, office of the President, the Board of Trustees, Dean of the College, Office of Institutional Diversity & Equity, Sexual Respect, and other institutional offices, is located across the street from the top left side of the green. The front entrance is not handicapped accessible with ten steps with 2 sturdy handrails. Your best bet is the back entrance follow the concrete sidewalk around the building. The walkway is sometimes smooth, sometimes not. At the back there is a old rough concrete ramp with a friendly pitch and 2 sturdy metal handrails. The door has an automated push button and a call box.

BLUNT ALUMNI CENTER has two handicapped accessible parking spaces out front, plus a smooth concrete walkway leading to the building. The front entrance is a large door with an automated push button. To the right side of the door is a large Dartmouth Campus map, with helpful phone numbers.

SILSBY, is  known for its Smart classroom with moveable seating that allows students to easily form groups and collaborate. Outdoors, to the side of the building, close to the entrance, are two handicapped parking spaces. Nearby are several smooth level concrete walkways leading to four doors. Two of the doors have automated push button boxes. A handicapped sign on one of the doors shows a wheelchair lift accessible via this entrance/exit.

Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy is a large red brick building with two entrances/exits. Close by is easy access street parking with one handicapped accessible space. The back entrance has a long wide brick pathway that leads to five large granite steps straddled by 2 sturdy metal handrails. Moving from back entrance to front entrance is a bumpy brick walkway. Before long there are smooth concrete pavers that lead to a long rough concrete gravel ramp of friendly pitch with sturdy metal handrails on either side. All this leads to a large door with an automated push button. Off the back side of the ramp is a concrete set of steps flanked by 2 metal handrails.

CARSON HALL, housing student affairs, administrative offices and Department of History, is a large new brick and concrete building with easy access off-street parking. Approaching the main entrance,  a smooth concrete walkway leads to nine large granite steps with strong metal handrails on either side. To the left of the steps is a long smooth granite ramp with a friendly pitch and sturdy metal handrails on both sides. Leading to the front door are smooth granite pavers. At the front entrance is an emergency call box, and a fully automated push button box. Once inside the floor is smooth level tile, easy to navigate. A large sign reveals directions to the Berry Elevator, which travels to all floors. Down the hallway to the left is a lounge with several cushioned chairs and pedestals at reasonable heights. Just past the lounge are two large fully automated push button doors. Further down the way is the Novack Cafe which has tables and chairs at user friendly heights, and a trouble free floor. Close by are two drinking fountains at accessible height. The 36” wide bathroom door is easy to navigate, though it does not have a push button box. The bathroom sinks have easy to turn handles, and sink counter height is wheelchair accessible. Toilet height is acceptable, with grab bars on either side. The back entrance/exit of Carson has four large doors with automated push button boxes, an emergency call box within 15 feet, and a smooth walkway.

HALDEMAN CENTER/KEMENY HALL, home to Math and 3 Humanities departments, is a large three story brick building. Approaching the back entrance one finds a long wide concrete pathway with a friendly pitch. Next there is a level pad of fairly smooth bricks leading to an automated push button door. At the Haldeman front entrance there are 2 handicapped parking spaces. A concrete curb cut opens to smooth sidewalk that leads to a brick landing. The front two doors are fully automated, with an emergency call box within five feet. On the opposite side of Haldeman is a larger parking area with three handicapped parking spaces.

EL HAJJ MALIK EL SHABAZZ #32.5  is a red brick residence. Leading up to the front entrance is  smooth level sidewalk. The green front door has an automated push button box. There is an emergency call box to the left of the door.

CHINESE LANGUAGE HOUSE #36 has a white clapboard exterior with long smooth level sidewalk leading to four steps with 2 sturdy handrails. On the left front side is a long smooth concrete walkway leading to a concrete ramp with a very easy pitch. The front door has neither  automated push button, nor call box.

LATIN AMERICAN/LATINO AND CARIBBEAN HOUSE has a white clapboard exterior with green shutters. Leading up to the front entrance is a tarmac walkway and four concrete steps with 2 sturdy handrails. At the front left side of the house is a long smooth tarmac ramp with a friendly pitch. The front door has neither automated push button box, nor emergency call box.

GEISEL MEDICINE/DEAN’S OFFICE is a one story old red brick building. Easy access can be had from a massive parking lot with several handicapped spaces, plus a few designated spaces for ZIPCARS. The left side of the building has smooth concrete pavers in great shape

leading to eight granite steps with sturdy metal handrails on either side. There is a level concrete pathway which leads from one side of the building to the other, flowing towards a friendly pitched concrete ramp with 2 sturdy metal handrails. This entrance has an automated push button box, but no emergency call box.

1 ROPE FERRY ROAD, a part of Geisel Medical, is a old red brick building with white trim. There is a curb cut with access to a large parking lot with the first space designated for handicapped parking. A smooth walkway leads to the front entrance. There are eight concrete steps with sturdy metal handrails on each side. The front door does not have an automated push button box, ramp access, or call box.

5 ROPE FERRY ROAD, also a part Geisel Medical,  is a two story pink stucco building. There is easy access to the parking lot via a large curb cut. The lot’s first parking space is clearly marked for handicapped parking. A smooth level slate walkway leads to the wide front entrance with its automated push button box.

DICK’S HOUSE INFIRMARY provides easy access to a large parking lot with several  handicapped parking spaces. Dick’s House is more accessible via the side/back entrance accessed by smooth level concrete walkway. This entrance has a clearly marked automated push button box, and call box. Inside the front door is an elevator connecting all 3 floors, plus a ramp on the first floor. Although this building offers a level concrete walkway around the front entrance, there is no ramp access, nor automated push box, and there is no call box. Six granite steps with a sturdy metal handrail on either side lead to the front door.

11 ROPE FERRY ROAD, a three story white building with green shutters, provides easy access via a large parking lot which has several spaces clearly marked with handicapped parking signs. There is a smooth level concrete walkway leading to an easy flowing wood ramp with a friendly pitch. The door does not have an automated push button box or call box.

37 DEWEY FIELD ROAD is a red brick building with a white clapboard front entrance. Leading to the front door is a smooth level walkway with 1 sturdy metal handrail on the left side. The front door does not have an automated push button, nor a call box. A large parking area is close by with several handicapped parking spaces.

GOLDSTEIN/Mc LAUGHLIN CLUSTER are fairly new student residence halls with red and white brick on its exterior fascia.  Off street parking within thirty five yards has several handicapped accessible spaces. Hard tarmac changing into smooth level red brick leads to the accessible entrance of two large doors with an automated push box. (See photos.)

10 BILDNER/Mc LAUGHLIN CLUSTER is another red and white brick student residence. A concrete walkway with an easy pitch flows into a smooth large red brick surface which leads to a large door with an automated push box and emergency call box. At Bildner’s back entrance is a long smooth concrete walkway with a more challenging pitch. Level red bricks lead to a large door that has an automated push box and an emergency call box. (See photos.)

CLASS OF 1978 LIFE SCIENCES CENTER is a newly built six-level red brick building across from Geisel Medical. Located within thirty five yards is a tarmac surface with 4 handicapped parking spaces. (See photos.) A long, but smooth/level concrete walkway with several curb cuts flows from the parking spaces to the two front entrances at opposite ends of the building, both with automated push boxes and emergency call boxes.

SUDIKOFF HALL, home to  Department of Computer Science and more, is a red brick building located next to a narrow street. A wide concrete walkway leads to a ramp with an easy pitch and 2 sturdy metal handrails connected to stone faced walls. There is also a flight of steps that lead to the front door. The front entrance has an automated push button box and an emergency call box, within five feet from the door.

WINIFRED RAVEN, home of the Department of Education, is a three story red brick building with green shutters. Within a short distance are two handicapped accessible parking spaces. From the street to the main entrance is a concrete walkway with a somewhat steep pitch. Before long there are red bricks leading to a smooth level concrete surface. Two large access doors are provided, but neither of them has an automated push button box or call box.

MOORE PSYCHOLOGY is a four story red brick and concrete building. From the street to the side entrance is a concrete walkway with a somewhat steep pitch. (Same walkway as Winifred Raven.)  There is a level surface of brick and smooth concrete leading to 2 doors that do not have an automated push button box. Located at the other side (west) of the building is a large tarmac parking lot with two handicapped accessible parking spaces. From these parking spaces to the closest entrance is a smooth tarmac walkway leading into level concrete pavers and two doors that have an automated push button box.

SHERMAN HOUSE, housing the Native American Studies Program, is a vanilla stucco building, surrounded by a smooth level concrete walkway. At the back entrance is a long concrete ramp with a friendly pitch and sturdy metal handrails. The door is plenty wide but there is no automated push button box or call box.  

PARKER HOUSE, home to Fellowship Advising,  Undergraduate Advising, and Research  is a white clapboard house with a black tar shingled roof. In front of Parker house is a smooth level concrete walkway. A wooden ramp with a friendly pitch and strong wooden handrails leads to the front entrance. There is no automated push button box, nor call box. At the backside of the building is a tarmac parking area with 2 handicapped accessible parking spaces. Within seventy-five yards on a new concrete walkway is a clearly visible stand alone emergency call box.

WEBSTER HALL/RAUNER LIBRARY is a red brick building with four Corinthian limestone columns. A concrete walkway leads to all four sides of Webster. At the front entrance there are 14 steps with metal handrails on each side (not accessible).  A handicapped sign mounted on a large slab of granite guides one to the left front side of the building where there is an automated push button door, but no call box.

BAKER LIBRARY, located at the head of the green, is a large red two story brick building   with a white topped clock tower. (See photos.) There is a concrete walkway that will bring you to the large front entrance with an automated push button box. Once through the first set,  there are two more automated doors. The interior floor is hard linoleum, consistent throughout most of the building, except for occasional hard carpet. Several of the rooms are vast and easy to move through, with computers frequently on desks at friendly heights. (See photos.) The library circulation desk offers easy access at a reasonable height. Water fountains with varied drinking heights are available. Restrooms, clearly labeled with handicapped signs, have three easy to access sinks. Faucets are simple to turn and the paper towel dispenser is at a reasonable height. The toilet is at a accessible height with a sturdy grab-bar located.

SANBORN HOUSE is a red brick L-shaped building, home to Sanborn Library, and the Department of English & Creative Writing. The front entrance has three granite steps with no ramp. Several handicapped accessible signs direct one toward the handicapped entrance. A concrete ramp with sturdy handrails leads to a red tile landing and an automated push button for two large doors. All this can be a bit tricky, but is worthwhile for the literate and poetic.

CARPENTER HALL is a red brick continuation of Sanborn Hall and Baker Library, 1767. The main  entrance is easy to approach  but does not offer any handicapped access.

41 BURKE, housing the Department of Chemistry, is a four story red brick building with six square stone columns. The tarmac curb-cut used to enter the parking lot was in poor shape at the time of the tour. There are 2 handicapped accessible parking spaces. The walkway leading to the main entrance had several uneven old stone pavers. An automated push box and call box, is found to the right of the front door.

SHERMAN FAIRCHILD PHYSICAL SCIENCES CENTER and STEELE HALL/WILDER are two different red brick buildings connected via a center access point. This is where you will find two doors with an automated push box and a call box. Steele Hall, home to the chemistry, earth sciences, environmental studies, and geography, underwent major renovations in summer 2018.

DARTMOUTH HALL, a large white three story building with green shutters, housing Howe Library, Hood Museum of Art and Rockefeller Center, is currently undergoing renovation. A parking lot with two accessible parking spaces is located within twenty five yards. At the backside of Dartmouth Hall is a smooth level walkway that leads to a concrete ramp with sturdy metal handrails and friendly pitch. There is an automated push box for a large green door. At the front entrance there is a long concrete walkway with a steep pitch. Five granite steps with 2 sturdy metal handrails lead to a large green door, that before renovation was not automated.

HOPKINS CENTER FOR THE ARTS is a two story red brick building with immense windows at its front. A concrete walkway gives way to large smooth slate pavers that lead to glass doors. The door at the left side of the entrance has an automated call box. Once inside, on the left side of the building there is a concrete ramp with a friendly pitch and 2 sturdy metal handrails. On the left at the bottom of the ramp are two accessible restrooms with handicapped signs. These have two sinks with one at lower height and easy to turn fixtures. There is one large toilet stall with toilet and handrails are at a respectable height. Outside of the bathroom is a water-fountain at an acceptable height. Moving back through the Hop handicapped signs guide the way to an elevator. The surface is smooth, and mostly open and uninterrupted, leading down a smooth ramp with a slight pitch. On the right side are the Jaffe-Friede Gallery and the Strauss Gallery. Both have large doors, but no automated push boxes. Past the galleries on the left is the elevator, across from which are student mailboxes (Inter-Campus Mail) within arm’s reach and easy to navigate. At the backside of the mailboxes is an access door to the outside/inside of the Hopkins Center with an automated push box to the left. Continuing past the mailboxes are signs guiding one toward the Department of Music/Faulkner Recital Hall/and Spaulding Auditorium. Eventually you will reach seven steps that have 3 sturdy metal handrails. To the left of the steps is an easy to enter automated lift. Spaulding Auditorium is about twenty five feet from the lift on the left side. The large doors at either entrance of Spaulding Auditorium, do not have automated push boxes, but once inside there is an area designated for handicapped seating. A back exterior entrance/exit to Spaulding Auditorium can be accessed by elevator and has an automated push box close to the door. Other areas located in the Hopkins Center first floor, such as Box Office, Courtyard Cafe, Hood Museum of Art Shop are all interconnected via an easy to navigate smooth walkway with handicapped signs for guidance. The main exit/entrance to the backside of the Hopkins Center is across from the Courtyard Cafe’s seating area which has two large heavy doors with no automated push box. There is also an inch or so concrete/brick threshold that is somewhat hard to navigate. This exit can bring one to the Black Family Visual Arts Center street or parking area after several steeply pitched smooth concrete ramps/walkways. This area can be confusing, but is acceptable, with several handicapped signs for guidance.

Measurements Hopkins Center Bathroom:

• Toilet Height 19”
• Grab Bar/Handrail behind toilet 33.5”
• Grab Bar/Handrail right of toilet 33.5”
• High Sink (left) underneath 31”
• High Sink (left) top 34”
• Low Small Sink (right) underneath 27.5”
• Low Small Sink (right) top 31”
• Accessible Stall door width 32.5”

Measurements Spaulding Auditorium Bathroom and Water Fountain:

• Toilet Height 19”
• Grab Bar/Handrail behind toilet 35”
• Grab Bar/Handrail right of toilet 35”
• Accessible Stall door width 32.5”
• High Sink (right) underneath 29”
• High Sink (right) top 34”
• Low Small Sink (left) underneath 34”
• Low Small Sink (left) top 34”
• Water Fountain top 33”
• Water Fountain underneath 27”

BLACK FAMILY VISUAL ARTS CENTER is a newly constructed three story cast-concrete paneled building. At the back side of the building there is a large parking lot with handicapped spaces. Traveling from the parking lot there is a new level concrete walkway that leads to four doors with an automated push box and call box. The other entrance closest to the Hopkins center is easy to access via following the smooth concrete walkway around the building, and a friendly pitched concrete ramp. This entrance has four glass doors with an automated push box.

MEMORIAL FIELD is the Dartmouth Football Team and Track team’s stadium with a seating capacity of 13,000. The east facing side of the stadium (lower south accessible seats) is accessible via a smooth wide concrete ramp with sturdy metal handrails and a friendly pitch. At the top of the ramp there is a walkway that leads to a large designated handicapped seating area overlooking the field. At the opposite end of the east facing side of the stadium (lower north accessible seats) there is a smooth wide concrete ramp with sturdy handrails and a friendly pitch. This ramp leads to designated handicapped seating. Many handicapped signs offer direction.

FLOREN VARSITY HOUSE, an important asset to Dartmouth athletics, is a modern red brick building located at the back of the east side of the Memorial Field bleachers. Leading to the front of Floren is a large tarmac walkway that turns into smooth concrete. There are two large doors at the front entrance with an automated push box and emergency call box.

RED ROLFE FIELD AT BIONDI PARK, a new baseball field opened in 2009, offers outdoor handicap accessible washrooms, and a elevated ramp to the viewing stands.

THE BOSS TENNIS CENTER offers handicap accessible parking at the front entrance. This facility is indoors.  Additional outdoor tennis courts are behind the building. The front entrance is accessible, though it is not a power door. The two floors are connected via a central elevator. The main entrance with the front check in desk is on the second floor. The locker rooms are on the first floor, along with the tennis courts, all handicap accessible, via elevator. (See photos.)

THOMPSON ARENA, is the hockey rink. (See photos.) The first floor is handicap accessible and  accessible washrooms are provided.

Burham Field and Fayhee and Schully Field. (See photos.) This area offers outdoor washrooms. and ramps to the bleacher area