Ithaca College

Due to safety concerns regarding fire safety and the potential for serious injuries to riders, self- balancing scooters, or hoverboards will not be allowed to be charged, operated, possessed, or stored in any residential hall or apartment on the Ithaca College campus. This policy is being instituted immediately based on recent reports of fires and explosions that have occurred from faulty lithium batteries. Students with hoverboards will have one week from today to send the item home or make alternative storage arrangements. The Office of Environmental and Emergency Management and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are investigating the cause of fires and the risks associated with this product. In addition, the National Fire Protection Association and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention have issued safety alerts and warnings. 

Ithaca College joins other colleges and universities across the country in implementing this policy of restricting hoverboards. Our staff will continue to monitor news and regulations and changes in industry standards regarding hoverboards. This restriction will remain in effect until the College has a clear understanding of the risks associated with hoverboards and any solutions that could be put in place to assure the safety of the campus community. 

For further information regarding this policy, please contact the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management at 607-274-3333 or the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 607-274-3457.