Policies

Mission Statement

In the spirit of ‘Think to Make for Impact,’ being able to iterate, visualize, refine, and communicate creative design ideas using prototypes is an essential skill set for our students entering the future workforce. The mission of the Boston College (BC) Makerspaces (The Hatchery) is to enable these transformative capabilities, irrespective of background or discipline, by providing an equitable, accessible, and well-equipped community-oriented space for all. Wherever you are on your making and design journey, The Hatchery Makerspaces at Boston College encourages all members of the community to let their ideas fly.

Culture

We strive to cultivate an environment that is accepting and creative. People of all skill levels are welcome in The Hatchery and, accordingly, it is a learning space. If you don’t know how to do something, you should expect to be treated with respect when you ask for help. Everyone comes in with different levels of experience, many come in with no experience, and each level of experience is valid. We learn together, by asking questions, and we share what we know in a constructive way. We don’t condescend to those who have yet to learn.

We embrace our creativity, within reason. Users must undergo orientation and training to use The Hatchery equipment, even in cases where they’ve had previous experience. When equipment becomes available through training, users are still restricted from making: any form of weapon (gun, knife, sword, etc.), any garments displaying figures of Boston College clergy, faculty, students, staff, etc. without their permission, and any garments or labels with offensive or inappropriate designs.

We take care of the space. The space belongs to those in the BC community and to those who have been invited to use it, regardless of their position in the university or the major they plan to leave with. No one has an exclusive right to the Hatchery tools and resources, and all have an obligation to leave the space clean and ready to be used by someone else.

We acknowledge and respect the authority of Student Team Members. Student Team Members – wearing their Hatchery jumpsuit and nametag – are empowered by Boston College to understand and enforce The Hatchery and other university policies such as training requirements and proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). If a user intentionally ignores The Hatchery policies, they can lose access to the makerspaces temporarily or indefinitely.

Inappropriate behavior is not acceptable, and may be reported to Student Team Members or through appropriate channels at Boston College.

We continuously innovate, evaluate, and evolve. The makerspace concept continues to evolve, but our commitment remains steadfast in fostering a dynamic and inclusive environment that supports creativity, collaboration, and learning for all users. As the makerspace adapts to an ever-excelling culture, so too do our policies, ensuring that our facility remains at the forefront of innovation while upholding our core values of accessibility, safety, and community engagement.

Orientation and Stamp System

Orientation

All users must complete The Hatchery Orientation before they have the right to access equipment training, and all equipment requires training (but not all tools). Orientation generally requires BC Single Sign-on, but makerspace staff can arrange exceptional access for approved visitors. Orientation will introduce users to general culture and policies of the makerspace and the QReserve system.

The QReserve system allows BC to manage resources and schedule Trainings. All oriented users are empowered to sign up for Level 1 Trainings, and the stamp policy allows students to sign up for Level 2 Trainings.

Be aware before you schedule your training – respect for Team Members’ time is critical. If you are more than 15 minutes late to a scheduled training, Team Members have been advised to not proceed with the training and to implement a one week block on your QReserve account.

Stamp System

Stamps track the number of projects a user has completed and allow users to unlock Level 2 Trainings. Users can receive a maximum of ONE stamp per day per tool area and can only receive a stamp if student trainers have seen the user go through the ENTIRE process of making the project. This requirement applies even if the user has previous experience on the equipment.

When a user receives 3 stamps on any given ID tag, that user unlocks Level 2 Trainings for that tool area. Student Trainers are authorized and required to input the stamp credential into the QReserve system. If a user needs to renew their training ID, a Student Team Member can ensure their stamps transfer to their new ID, but will ask to see the user’s stamps first.

Because a user must complete a project in order to earn a stamp and demonstrate proficiency on the equipment, Student Team Members and Trainers are prohibited from completing users’ projects on their behalf. Rather, Student Trainers are there to enable users to make things themselves and help troubleshoot. Makerspace users shouldn’t be troubleshooting machines, even if they have experience using it.

General Safety Guidelines

Everyone at The Hatchery must follow our general safety guidelines.

In all spaces you must meet these criteria:

Safety glasses should be on your person at all times
Closed-toe shoes
No loose or dangling items
No open beverage containers
No food

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is meant to protect you while working in the makerspaces.

Safety glasses are supplied and must be on your person at all times in every Hatchery space. They can stay around your neck, unless you or someone around you are using power tools, or other hazardous equipment.

It is the responsibility of the user of a potentially dangerous tool or process to alert those around them of their immediate intentions and ask them to put their eye wear on or move to a safer location. The user who is warning others should allow time for others to react.

The following scenarios require you to give a PPE warning to those around you:

Using tools that may eject material (e.g. using a power drill or a hammer)
Using equipment that may produce fumes or other gasses (e.g. soldering, pouring resin, foam cutting)
Making a loud noise (e.g. using a hammer or an impact driver)

*Safety glasses are always required to be worn over the eyes in the 3rd floor woodshop.

*Personal prescription glasses are rarely impact rated and do not provide adequate protection. Safety glasses provided by The Hatchery conform to ANSI Z87.1 impact standards.

Equipment and Materials

Training empowers users to operate equipment, but not to troubleshoot it. If a piece of equipment is not functioning as expected, a Student Trainer or professional staff should be consulted. Makerspace users shouldn’t be troubleshooting machines, even if they have experience using it.

Borrowing equipment is prohibited, with the exception of The Electronics Library. Beyond that exception, NO EQUIPMENT LEAVES THE SPACE and people can NOT “check out” equipment. However, Team Members can lend out office supplies (scissors, markers, etc.). Supplies given out must be returned.

Users can request materials for a project they want to pursue by approaching a Student Trainer with a detailed plan of their project. Once approved, Student Trainers will redirect users to the Material Request Form.

NOTE: The Hatchery encourages users to make, but not waste. Student Trainers have been empowered to address your design constraints and advise methods of making simple prototypes to verify designs in order to preserve materials.

Prototyping is encouraged, producing products for sale is not permitted for material requests. Users may not use material requests to fund their businesses (such as Etsy shops). Outside of training users must bring in their own garments – we provide the tools/vinyl/thread/inks. If a user is discovered using The Hatchery material requests for monetary gain, user access to the Material Request Form will be revoked.

Visitors

While the intention of the makerspaces at Boston College is to provide an open and inclusive environment for interested users, the hazardous reality of the space and limited nature of resources requires us to place gentle limits on use of the space by persons who are not members of the BC community. Visitor access, though granted on a case-by-case basis, is welcomed to enrich the diversity of ideas and perspectives within the makerspace community.

Requesting Access

Interested users who do not have a current Eagle ID may request access to the makerspace. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-base basis by makerspace staff and their advisors, considering the nature of the visit, its alignment with the mission and values of the makerspace, the availability of resources, and feasibility of orientation and training. Note that use of the makerspace by minors must adhere to the University’s Protection of Minors Policy.

Collaborations

Larger scale collaborations (i.e., club activities, student groups) with external entities may require a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the university and the respective entity outlining the terms of collaboration and responsibilities.

Intellectual Property

Projects created in The Hatchery are generally the intellectual property of those students and community members who created them, with exceptions.

In general,the Boston College Intellectual Property Policy considers The Hatchery and other makerspaces in 245 Beacon Street to be a sort of “unrestricted” space where community members can invent, create, and innovate freely. Elsewhere on campus, including laboratory space in 245 Beacon, inventions can become the property of Boston College depending on what resources were used to create them.

But, if a Hatchery user creates something –

which is based on or incorporates a piece of Boston College-owned intellectual property; or
which is part of a funded research project; or
in collaboration with a faculty or staff member

– be aware that the resulting intellectual property might be jointly owned with Boston College.

If you have questions about ownership or anything related to intellectual property, patents or otherwise, please reach out to the Office of Technology Transfer and Licensing.

Moreover, users must remember that The Hatchery and APS are designed to be prototyping shops and not manufacturing facilities. Users are prohibited from producing products for sale in these spaces, and use of the space to the contrary could trigger the university to claim ownership of the products produced.