Space usage rules

The campus is comprised of spaces that may be reserved for holding events, which are defined as activities where the user expects sole usage of the space or likely to be a gathering more than 100 people or activities that require physical set-up of equipment, signs, or other structures. Reservations may be made by registered student organizations, students, faculty, staff, and non-affiliates (defined as any person who is not a student, officer, employee, Trustee, or emeritus of the institutions) to support the institutions’ missions, administrative functions, or campus activities. In these spaces, the institutions may place reasonable time, place and manner limitations on usage to ensure that the usage does not disrupt the institutions’ mission, administrative functions, or other campus activities.

Similarly, the institutions have designated spaces that are not available for reservation by registered student organizations, students, faculty, staff, and non-affiliates. These spaces are assigned for specific college or university administrative functions, teaching, learning, or research and cannot be reserved by the Office of Student Life or college or university registrar.

Use of space for purposes other than those for which they have been designated will not be permitted.

The institutions allow designated outdoor and indoor space to be reserved for events consistent with the institutions’ missions, administrative functions, and students’ campus-life activities. Reservations for these spaces are processed on first-come, first- served basis with priority given to college or university departments, registered student organizations, and other official college or university functions. Reservations are non-transferable and the institutions reserve the right to reschedule events consistent with these rules.

Reserving space for events occurring in or on college/university space should proceed as follows:

1. Registered Student Organizations – Registered student organizations must submit requests through the Office of Student Life student organization form repository. Registered student organizations sponsoring visits from political candidates or surrogates must also comply with the Protocol for Visits by Political Candidates or Surrogates Sponsored by Registered Student Organizations.
2. College/University Departments, Faculty, Staff and Non-Affiliates –College/University departments, faculty, staff and non-affiliates must submit requests through 25Live. Non-affiliates without access to 25Live must submit requests through the Facilities office.

1. Facility Hours and Usage
   
   Absent written permission from the COTC president and/or the Ohio State Newark dean/director, usage of institutional space is limited to the designated hours of operations for the space, and other property. Usage shall not disrupt the college’s or university’s administrative functions or other campus activities and may not impede ingress or egress to the campus, any college or university property, parking lot, building, facility, or event.
    
2. Use of Sound
   
   Due to the proximity of offices, residence halls, classrooms, and residential neighborhoods, unless approved by campus leadership, amplified sound is not permitted when academic terms are in session Monday through Friday before 5:30 pm or after 9:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday before noon or after 9:30 pm.
    
3. Equipment, Signs and Structures
   
   No bills, signs, or banners may be attached or affixed to college or university furniture, trees, or light poles pursuant to the institutions’ Posting Standards. Signs, a-frames, banners, and other forms of advertising may only be posted adjacent to the approved event and are not to be raised in other areas of campus.
   
   Freestanding signs must be secure and safe. No signs causing ground penetration are permitted without prior approval from Facilities Department.
    
4. Tents
   
   No tents requiring staking may be set up without prior approval from the Facilities Department or the COTC president and/or the Ohio State Newark dean/director. Tents may not cover grass for more than 24 hours after the event concludes.
   
   Tents or air supported temporary membrane structures (inflatables) more than 200 square feet in size or canopies more than 400 square feet in size must have a permit provided by the Ohio Department of Commerce. OSU Emergency Management & Fire Prevention can be contacted for additional information.
    
5. Food
   
   No foodstuffs shall be sold except by college or university food services or vendors having contracts with the college or university and authorization to serve a particular area. Food and beverages may be distributed free of charge in the approved area. All food should be prepared on site, delivered to the site from a licensed caterer or restaurant, or commercially pre-packaged. Student organizations’ bake sales are only permitted if foods are offered for an unspecified donation.
    
6. Grills
   
   Open fires and grills with charcoal are not permitted. Propane grills must be placed atop a shield to protect the surface beneath from drips or spills and be accompanied by a fire-suppression device approved by Ohio State’s Office of Emergency Management & Fire Prevention.
    
7. Pets
   
   All pets must be on a leash at all times and accompanied by their owner, per city ordinances. Large animals are not permitted without the prior consent of the Department of Facilities and the Department of Public Safety or the COTC president and/or the Ohio State Newark dean/director.
    
8. Pond
   
   No person, pet, or watercraft is permitted on or in the campus pond or any other body of water (including when frozen) without the prior consent of the Facilities Department or the Department of Public Safety.
    
9. Overnight Events
   
   Events spanning overnight hours must be confined to a single 24-hour period, with similarly structured events not occupying the same space on consecutive days. Outside habitation must not be the primary focus of the event. Overnight events are subject to prior review by the Department of Public Safety, the Facilities Department, the Office of Student Life, or the COTC president and/or the Ohio State Newark dean/director.
    
10. Rescheduling of Events
    
    Events that are determined to pose a risk to personal safety, institutional property or facility security may be moved to another space or rescheduled with at least a three-day, advance notice until such time as adequate and appropriate security can be made available, as determined by the Department of Public Safety.

Persons or organizations reserving space are responsible for any damage and shall repair the damage to the satisfaction of the Facilities Department or pay for others to complete. Specific services when required or if needed must be arranged and paid for directly with the appropriate department (i.e., Facilities, Public Safety, etc.). Deposits or an agreement regarding use of space, liability, and payment may be required for reservation.

The Facilities Department reserves the right to cancel scheduled events (or move events to a predetermined alternate location if possible) with a three-day notice due to grounds and maintenance considerations. Notice of cancellation due to weather conditions and/or other unforeseen incidents (i.e. power outages) will be made as soon as possible. 

All persons on college or university property are required to abide by college/university policies and shall identify themselves upon request to institutional officials acting in the performance of their duties.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with all college/university policies, the Code of Student Conduct, and State and federal laws. Faculty and staff are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with all institutional policies, and State and federal laws. Use of institutional property must not, in any form, disrupt college or university business.

When enforcing these rules, an officer or employee authorized to maintain order on the campus or facility should make a reasonable attempt to warn and advise registered student organizations, students, faculty, staff and non-affiliates to cease the prohibited conduct or activity before citing and/or arresting the individual for violation of these rules, except where the conduct violating these rules reasonably appears to create a threat to or endanger health, safety or property.