Source: https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/facilities-use-policy
Timestamp: 2015-05-27 12:00:38
Document Index: 709203072

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 6', 'art 5', 'art 6']

Facilities Use Policy | McNeese State University
Home»University Policy»Facilities Use Policy
Authority: Business AffairsDate enacted or revised: Rev February 9, 2015Part 1: Definitions
A campus facility, also referred to as a venue, is any indoor or outdoor space, which is operated, managed, and maintained by McNeese State University staff, where an event can be held; off-campus venues are not operated by McNeese but may require resources to be provided by the University. Campus facilities are not just limited to rooms; they can also be industry-modeled areas designed for hands-on training.
Utilization refers to how a campus facility is being used and by whom.
An event, also known as a special event, is any activity, occasion, reception, performance, special meal, conference, training, meeting, or any combination thereof that does not appear in a published class schedule. Appointments are excluded. All events, activities, and meetings (excluding classes) must be scheduled using the Facilities Use Request Form which is accessed online through the McNeese portal. An event may take place at a venue off-campus as well.
A Venue Coordinator is a designated faculty or staff member who is assigned the task of keeping a schedule of classes and activities happening in a campus facility; facilities like, but not limited to, auditoria, gymnasia, theaters, model plants, clinics, etc., can have greater utilization beyond curricular instruction and may require more data collection than current event management software can offer. In certain situations, data may have to be secured to protect confidentiality.
An Event Coordinator or organizer is the person who is in charge of originating, organizing, and producing an event. As a rule, the Event Coordinator is acting on behalf of an organization and is the primary point of contact. There are several types of organizations defined for the purposes of this policy:
A student group (a club, fraternity, sorority, etc., officially recognized by the Office of University Services and bound by the Student Organization Handbook).
A University college, division, department, or office (made up of active University employees).
Booster groups (groups that exist for the sole purpose of advancing a McNeese program directly through fundraising).
Corporate camps (active University employees who run an independent operation during the summer for athletic skills development; because these campers are potential students, this collaboration allows for McNeese to serve an additional audience in the community.
External groups (businesses, civic organizations, corporations, and other entities that do not fit into any of the types of organizations above, regardless of past and present relationships with the University).
Campus facilities exist to provide the spaces in which the University's primary mission can be carried out. Any activity occurring in a campus facility must be an appropriate use of that facility. At all times, McNeese State University maintains the right:
to scrutinize all utilization of space.
to determine what constitutes appropriate use.
to deny use if there is no logical link to the University setting.
to assess a use fee and/or other charges for services and equipment.
to retroactively assess use fees for special events which purported to be something completely different in its original description.
Campus facilities are assigned to the organizational units within the University. These in turn can be further assigned to individual employees. These assignments in no way express or imply ownership of the campus facility assigned. Ownership is titled with the State of Louisiana.
Employees and organizational units are responsible for the facilities assigned to them—to use them effectively, efficiently, and respectfully. This responsibility does not allow them to lease facilities or make modifications to facilities without the expressed approval of the University President or the President’s designee.
Willful damage or alteration to a campus facility by an assignee will result in the assignee bearing the cost for all repairs.
All maintenance and repair work, renovations, alterations, demolitions, etc., must be administered by Facilities & Plant Operations.
At any time or for any reason, the University President or the President's designee may remove programs and occupants from a campus facility and reassign them to different areas on campus.
At any time, the University President or the President's designee may close some or all campus facilities for the following reasons. These include, but are not limited to:
renovations, repairs, utility disruptions, etc.
localized severe weather.
environmental hazards and/or safety concerns.
in preparation of a hurricane or severe weather event.
During a closure, no one is permitted inside the closed area(s) unless special arrangements are made with Facilities & Plant Operations or McNeese Police.
Campus facilities are strictly governed by all applicable Louisiana Revised Statutes, building and fire safety codes, policies of the University of Louisiana System, Board of Regents, policies of the NCAA where applicable, and the internal policies of McNeese State University.
All campus facilities are subject to the University Tobacco Use Policy.
All campus facilities are subject to the University Alcohol and Drug Use Policy.
Revised statutes in State of Louisiana Constitution (see Article 7, Section 14(A)) prohibit the use of public facilities for private or personal gains without the assessment of a use fee. Free use for personal gain is against State law.
Booster groups, corporate camps, and external groups must provide a certificate of commercial general liability insurance and must sign an indemnification agreement prior to their events.
Any service contractor engaged by an organizer must provide a certificate of commercial general liability insurance and sign an indemnification agreement prior to the associated event. See "Insurance Requirements" at http://www.mcneese.edu/facilities/insurance for scope of coverage. The entire policy manual is available at http://doa.louisiana.gov/orm/pdf/uwcontr.pdf
Part 3: Academic and Academic Support Functions
Activities that include instruction, research, public service, academic support, student services, institutional support, operation and maintenance of plant, and auxiliary programs are mission-critical programs made possible by the collection of tuition and fees and state and federal funding. These activities have the first and highest priorities.
Activities other than scheduled academic classes will be considered special events or rentals.
Part 4: Management of Special Events
Section A: Special Events in University Facilities
McNeese State University realizes the importance of its role in the community and the audiences it serves. When available, the University may provide facilities and resources to McNeese students and employees and to the community to further educational, cultural, and recreational initiatives through events held on campus.
The University and the Event Coordinator must work together to minimize any adverse impacts to the daily functions of the University that the special event might impose.
In managing the University's risk, the University President or the President's designee may cancel any special event for any reason, and with little notice. Typical situations include, but are not limited to: utility disruptions, inclement weather, environmental or safety hazards, or some other unforeseen situation. These are situations that we cannot predict and have no control over when they happen.
McNeese State University is not responsible for any loss of revenue sustained by the organizer in the case of a cancellation by the University. The organizer must purchase, and bear the cost of, specialized event insurance with coverages for loss of revenue if loss of revenue is a concern.
To schedule an event, the Event Coordinator must submit a Facilities Use Request which is accessed online through the McNeese portal.
The information provided in the request must be made in good faith; to the best of the Event Coordinator's knowledge, the information given must be truthful and thorough. The Event Coordinator must be available to answer questions for the review process if the information provided is insufficient. The review process takes time. Delays in providing information lengthen the amount of review time and delay a response.
An Event Coordinator may be charged retroactively for changes made at the last minute or as a result of insufficient planning.
Cancellation fees for custodial service and security personnel may be charged for a last-minute cancellation. Fees will vary according to the amount of preparation already made and if any setup has been completed.
The request should be made a minimum of three weeks prior to the event or prior to the expected start date for publicity for the event, whichever comes first.
The three-week period can be altered due to extenuating circumstances; poor planning is not considered an extenuating circumstance. The University Events Director and the Venue Coordinator will have decision-making authority in these circumstances to enforce or to alter the three-week period. In case of a tie, University Events Director will settle all ties.
An Event Coordinator must have an approved request prior to starting any publicity or advertising. All publicity and advertising (printed materials especially) must be approved by the Office of Public Relations.
Events with no approval will be shut down and the organization will be sanctioned. Event Coordinators may still be charged retroactively for use fees and additional fees, even if the event did not happen as planned or scheduled.
Incidental meetings that were not formally scheduled will always be bumped by formally scheduled events and scheduled classes.
Special events may require payment of a facility use fee. The use fee simply grants use of a campus facility to an organizer for the duration of the special event (including setup and take down) and is waived or reduced only under certain circumstances. See use fee schedule located at www.mcneese.edu/facilities for venue pricing. Rates cannot be reset or negotiated by the Venue Coordinators.
The main test for determining whether or not the use fee is assessed comes from the State of Louisiana Constitution Article 7, Section 14(A) (mentioned earlier); it prohibits the use of public facilities for private or personal gains without the assessment of a use fee.
How Facilities Use Fees Are Implemented
Find your organization type in the left column, then move across and find the scenario that fits
For this type of Organization,
Use fee is assessed if…
Use fee is not assessed if…
(must comply with the
The special event generates revenue but not all of the revenue is deposited into a University account. (In other words, some portion of the revenue becomes a personal monetary gain.)
The special event generates no revenue, or
The special event generates revenue and all revenue is deposited into a University account, or
The special event is a fundraiser for a bonafide charity and all proceeds are received by the charity.
College, Division,
Department, or Office
The special event generates revenue but not all of the revenue is deposited into a University account (In other words, some portion of the revenue becomes a personal monetary gain.)
The special event is in support of an academic program or the University's mission and generates no revenue, or
The special event is in support of an academic program or the University's mission and does generate revenue, but all revenue is deposited into a University account.
Not all of the revenue generated is deposited into an account specifically setup for the program. (Some portion of the revenue becomes a personal monetary gain.)
All revenue generated is deposited into an account specifically setup for the program.
By definition, this type of group exists for employees who are supplementing personal income while using campus facilities.
The use fee is never waived for this type of group.
Non-public entities that customarily rent venues for their events; this group catches all others who do not fit into any of the four groups above.
The group is a federal or state agency which needs to disseminate information or aid in times of crisis.
The University through its president enters into a collaborative agreement and provides one or multiple venues as part of its agreement (rare).
The Facilities Use Committee is responsible for setting these guidelines and updating them periodically. Any disputes regarding the use fee will be settled by the University President or the President's designee.
Only the President of the University can waive or reduce a use fee. Permission must be sought for each occurrence.
All other fees (security, custodial, equipment, etc.) may still be assessed. Read further for information about these fees.
Employment, enrollment, or other relationship with the University cannot be used to waive use fees and/or other charges associated with an event.
Hosting an external group, likewise, cannot be used to waive the use fee and/or other charges associated with an event. The host is simply a McNeese organizational unit (student or staff) that acts as the liaison between the University and an external group, usually making University resources available to the external group and providing some resources for the event. The host is also responsible for directing the external group to the Office of University Events so that a request is properly submitted on behalf of an external organizer.
The University through various departments does have resources and equipment that can be used for special events (e.g.: tables, chairs, etc.). However, when those resources are not available, it will be the responsibility of the organizer to provide those items needed and remove them when the event is finished.
Most special events will require security. Whether the use fee has been waived or not, charges for security personnel will likely still be assessed. See the rate schedule for security located at www.mcneese.edu/facilities. The McNeese Police Chief, or his designee, will determine how many officers will be required and will arrange for additional security staffing when MPD has reached its capacity.
At the discretion of the McNeese Police Chief, security needs for an event may be outsourced to a MPD-approved security service. The organizer will be assessed these costs.
The University's current food service provider has the right of first refusal on all events held on campus that will include catering. This applies to all organizational groups in general and to external groups in particular. Catering contractors cannot be approached and/or engaged until the University's food service contractor has been contacted by the organizer and rejects the opportunity.
The current food service provider holds the liquor license for the campus; as a result, any alcoholic beverages must be dispensed by the University's food service provider. If the University's food service provider does turn down the job, then no alcoholic beverages will be allowed during the event.
Additional charges will be assessed to the organizer on a case-by-case basis for facility preparations that are beyond a regular setup. Each venue is different, and associated costs will vary depending on the level of University services provided.
Sound and lighting services, as well as merchandise and food vendors, contracted by the organizer are considered third party sub-contractors; each service hired must submit proof of general liability insurance and sign an indemnification agreement with the University before entering the venue where the special event is to take place. See the addenda at www.mcneese.edu/facilities/addenda for detailed information about technology in specific venues. All third party sub-contractors must be approved before they can be hired.
The University may assess any applicable fees and/or charges retroactively for special events which purported to be something completely different in their original request descriptions.
Any fees and/or charges assessed by McNeese staff will be invoiced by McNeese Administrative Accounting. Payment is due upon receipt of invoice.
If, after thirty (30) days, the invoice remains unpaid, the account becomes delinquent and a $50 late fee may be added. The late fee can be applied to each subsequent 30-day period that lapses.
A delinquent account will preclude the organizer and/or group from any future use of campus facilities for special events.
The needs of students and employees have first priority; external groups will not receive a confirmed reservation until all other University functions have been scheduled.
Curricular instruction has the priority in all teaching spaces.
Student groups have priority for venues in the Student Union Complex.
Student-athletes and athletic events have priority in all athletic venues.
McNeese performing arts productions have priority in all performance areas in the Shearman Fine Arts Center.
The organizer is financially responsible for all damages to the campus facility being used for the duration of the special event.
Costs to repair damages will be assessed directly to the organizer if found at fault.
The organizer is financially responsible for all keys temporarily issued to the Event Coordinator for the duration of the special event. The University's established key policy will be strictly followed and applied to any keys lost by the event coordinator/organizer.
Some venue coordinators require additional rules and regulations for their venues due to technology or special equipment. (Most of these venues are auditoria or other large assembly spaces where entertainment can be presented.) The purpose is to manage risk and avoid misuse of equipment and bodily injury. These addenda must be reviewed and approved by the Facilities Use Committee; once approved, they are considered part of this policy as if herein contained. See Part 6 below for further explanation.
All approved addenda will be listed at www.mcneese.edu/facilities.
Section B: Special Events at an Off-Campus Venue
To further its educational, cultural, and recreational initiatives beyond its campus, McNeese will occasionally ask to use facilities in other communities. In these instances, the University becomes the external user at the host facility and must adhere to the host's policies and procedures for use of space.
An event request is still required because the University may have to provide resources and personnel at the off-campus facility for the event. The University may also need to ensure that the activity is insured by the Office of Risk Management. University personnel who are organizing the off-campus event must work with its host to minimize any adverse impacts to the daily functions at the host's facility that the special event might impose.
Section C: Request Process
To make a request, log on to your “MyMcNeese” Portal account.
Click on the Facilities Use Request link.
Answer all questions fully, and be as specific as you can. Do not be afraid to enter too much information! Remember: a lack of information may result in extra charges being assessed.
Print or download a copy for yourself.
Submit the request. DO NOT proceed any further until you receive a response.
Any changes after submission may further delay a response.
The request will move electronically through the approval process. You may be contacted to clarify or provide additional information.
You will be notified of the decision after the request has been reviewed. If approved, a confirmation will be sent back to you.
Part 5: Leases/Rentals
Leases of Space in Immovable Property
University of Louisiana System Policy FP-VI.IV.-la establishes the general guidelines and procedures for leases (among other immovables) at its campuses. Dependent on the action involved, additional approval from the Board of Regents, the Division of Administration (Office of Contractual Review, Office of Facilities Planning and Control, Office of State Purchasing), the Department of Natural Resources, and the House and Senate Natural Resources Committees may also be required. The administrative procedures for review, evaluation, and approval contained therein are hereby made a part of this policy to the same extent as if incorporated herein in full.
All long-term leases for space (other than at the SEED Center) are executed and managed by the University President or his designee.
SEED Center leases are a part of the business development and economic incubator program for Southwest Louisiana. Rules and regulations set by the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance apply only to the SEED Center program.
Contracted services for the University (housing, food service, custodial) all require lease of space according to the terms of their individual contracts. These contracts are managed by the University President or his designee.
Lessees are financially responsible for all damages to the campus facility being used for the duration of the lease.
Part 6: Addenda to the Policy
The Facilities Use Policy is mainly a static document; the statements within it are meant to define and set a uniform policy that governs the whole University. Within the confines of the University, however, there are a few facilities that require more specific policies and procedures regarding their use. Because of the dynamic nature of the programs using these spaces, the Facilities Use policy cannot provide the agility needed. It is with this in mind that the addenda to the policy were created. Each special case facility has its own document providing additional policy and procedures specific to itself. The addenda extend the University policy without overburdening it. Each addendum may be changed independently of the others and may be changed often to keep up with the dynamism of the programs using its facility.
An addendum cannot contradict the University’s Facilities Use Policy; it must work within the framework of the University’s policy. The additional rules and procedures outlined in an addendum must be articulated well so that the management and operation decisions can always be consistent and fair.
Each addendum must provide all additional rules for use, a restatement of the fee structure specific to it with additional information for long-term use and how that may change the use fee if certain criteria are met, a list of said criteria, a list of all possible charges that may be assessed, and which charges are always assessed each time a facility is used. Most importantly, the addendum must be very clear about what services are provided with the facility and what will be the responsibility of the user. Services brought in by the user will need prior approval of the University before the facility can be used.
Addenda will be strictly enforced.
Addenda to the Facilities Use Policy can be found at www.mcneese.edu/facilities/addenda.
List of Building Coordinators/Venue Coordinators
McNeese State University Student Organization Handbook
McNeese State University Tobacco Use Policy
McNeese State University Alcohol and Drug Use Policy
Louisiana State Constitution, Article 7 Section 14(A)
Policy FP-VI.IV.-la from the University of Louisiana System (on leases)
Insurance Requirements See also: http://doa.louisiana.gov/orm/pdf/uwcontr.pdf
McNeese Alumni Association, Rules, and Regulations for Use of Robert Noland Alumni Pavilion
Southwest Economic Alliance, Incubator Program
Policy Addenda for specific facilities and programs
Reference: McNeese Facilities