Guidelines and Procedures

To permit the appropriate scheduling of facilities, and the observance of requirements for financial responsibility, all requests for use of any type of University space or grounds — other than that required for scheduled academic, intramural and intercollegiate activities — must be presented to Student Unions.

A request must be completed either on UBLinked for student clubs and organizations and at spacerequest.buffalo.edu/evntwebapp/ for departments.

All requests will be reviewed by the Reservations Coordinator. The request for space is accepted or rejected on the basis of space availability, necessary services, review of the event for propriety, and timely and properly executed documents and authorization.

In a case where clear determination of acceptance is not possible, the request will be referred to the Director of Student Unions, who will make a determination regarding the appropriateness of the request.

The University’s use of all facilities shall have preemptive priority. Academic use of space shall have preemptive priority over non-academic use. The exercise of preemptive priority where commitments have been made can only be authorized by the Office of the President.

All events must have a University sponsorship, and the sponsoring group must accept financial responsibility for damage to University property and/or inordinate cleaning.

If fees are charged for an event, all financial accounting must be processed through an approved University accounting agency. The University will require 50 percent of any net revenue to be returned to the University. That portion of the net revenue returned to the University will be held in a university holding account for the balance of the academic year in which the revenue was received. If the organization creating the revenue experiences a loss in any subsequent events during the same academic year, the loss will be offset by any accumulated revenues held in the holding account established for the organization. At the end of the academic year, any amount remaining in the holding account will be treated as University revenue.

A. Faculty and Staff Requests

An academic or administrative unit must obtain appropriate sponsorship through a department chair, director, dean or vice president.

B. Student Club and Organization Requests

A student club or organization must obtain sponsorship (authorized by the signature of an appropriate officer on this form) from a recognized student organization (Undergraduate Student Association, Graduate Student Association, Medical School Polity, American Student Dental Association, Student Bar Association, Graduate Management Association and School of Pharmacy Student Association) or such other student groups as certified by the Office of the Vice President for Student Life as those representative bodies.

C. Special Events

Events which either

a.) project an attendance of more than 100, or

b.) demonstrate by their scope and nature, possible risk to the health, safety or welfare of the participants or to the campus population, will be referred to Student Unions to apply for permit status.

In recognizing its community service role, the University will consider requests from individuals and groups who have specialized needs. University facilities and grounds (State property) cannot be used for profit or personal gain; however, not-for-profit activities may be permitted if the criteria below are satisfied:

A. The purpose of the activity is consistent with the general objectives of the University.

B. The group or individual must obtain sponsorship of the proposed activity through a University at Buffalo academic department, administrative office or recognized student group (as indicated above).

C. Groups or individuals not sponsored by an academic unit, administrative office or recognized student group as set forth in previous section must execute an approved contract.

D. All information and promotion bearing the name of the University must be reviewed by the Office of Trademarks and Licensing prior to release.

E. The user may be required to pay to the University all costs incurred by the University as a result of the event (e.g., University Police and University Services personnel, material, etc.) including damages, if any, and must be willing to sign a contract to this effect. The contract will include appropriate requirements for the event.

Please see the Event Policy for more information.

Organizations are charged for use of Student Unions space, equipment and services according to the fee schedule. The Reservation Coordinator is responsible for billing the appropriate organization following use of Student Unions facilities.

If a bill remains unpaid after the initial billing period, follow-up statements are sent to the organization every 30 days thereafter. Accounts 90 days past due will lead to a suspension of the organization’s reservation privileges.

General Information

• Student Unions are responsible for the display cases in the Student Union as well as on the ground floor from the Student Union to Knox Hall.
•  There are two types of display cases available for use.  Category descriptions follow:

Weekly Display Case Policy

• There are four display cases in the Student Union for use by any recognized club or organization.  The display cases are reservable for a time period of one-week, Monday through Friday.
• Groups are limited to two (2) display case reservations per semester.
• On the date when your reservation for the display case begins, report to the Welcome Center to sign-out a key.  Proper identification, drivers’ license or a picture I.D., will be required when signing out keys.
• By 4 p.m. on Friday, report to the Welcome Center to sign-out a key to retrieve your display.  Student Unions will remove any remaining articles or displays at 5 p.m. on Friday.
• Student Unions has the right to remove any displays deemed inappropriate.  No vulgar language or inappropriate displays will be allowed.

Semester Display Case Policy

• University Departments or parent organizations will be eligible for the semester display cases. 
• If interested in using one of these display cases, please contact a staff member in Student Unions.
• Display case usage will be evaluated at the end of each semester to determine continuation of temporary use.
• Display cases are to be updated regularly, with any date sensitive material removed promptly.
• Keys for the display cases must be signed out at the Welcome Center.  Further details will follow from a Student Unions staff member.
•  Student Unions reserves the right to revoke use of the display cases at any point and will remove any displays deemed inappropriate.

General Policies

• Student groups may reserve only one (1) vendor or information table per day (maximum of three (3)
•  per week; maximum of ten (10) per semester). 
• Tables may set up after 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, when classes are in session.  Groups/vendors must set up in their designated location only.
•  Music, sound equipment, entertainment, or speeches are not permitted at these tables.
• The sponsoring organization must sign out the tables and chairs at the Welcome Center each day; the vendor may not do this. The sponsoring group must return the tables and chairs to the Welcome Center.  A charge will be assessed to the sponsoring organization for lost or damaged tables and chairs.

Information Table Policy

• Information tables are for the sole purpose of promoting on campus clubs, organizations or departments.  
• Organizations will be given one six-foot table and two chairs to display information. 
• Organizations may sell items at information tables with prior approval only. 

Vendor Table Policy

• All vendors and sponsoring organizations must adhere to the above general policies.
• All outside vendors must be sponsored by a University agent, such as a recognized student organization.  NO vendor will be permitted to sell on University property without such sponsorship.
• Due to space limitations, only two (2) groups sponsoring vendors will be allowed to sell in the Student Union lobby per day.
• The vendor will be provided with two (2) six-foot tables and up to four (4) chairs on the day of the sale.  Each vendor must also adhere to the maximum table allotment, regardless of whether they use the Student Union’s or have brought their own alternate assembly.
• It will be the responsibility of the student group to provide the vendor with the appropriate parking permits and Student Union policy information.  Student Unions are not responsible for parking violations.
•  A member of the sponsoring organization must be present and sitting with the vendor at all times while they vendor is in the Student Union.  If a vendor is found to be on campus unaccompanied, they will be asked to leave University property.  University organization/club members should be prepared to show identification (UBCard) upon request. The table front must display a clearly legible sign indicating the sponsoring group’s name.
• All sales must be in compliance with the guidelines of the sponsoring group’s parent organization, and vendors must comply with the requests of Student Unions staff.
• Vendors must unload in the loading dock behind the Food Service loading area.  There is NO parking permitted on the sidewalk in front of the Student Union; violators will be ticketed.
• Vendors cannot post or hang any materials on the painted or glass surfaces of the Student Union.  Banners, flyers, and signs may not be affixed to the building, benches, trees, or railings.
• Absolutely NO credit card vendors. 

The Student Unions staff will monitor noise levels and have the right to request organizations to lower noise levels. Failure to do so may result in loss of current and future reservations.

Only one portable sound system may be used between the Student Unions Social Hall and Special Events area. The in-house system may be used in the Social Hall if a portable system is being used in the Special Events space. The request for sound will be taken on a first come, first-served basis.

Bands are approved by Student Unions on a per event basis. Drums are not permitted in any open area in the Student Unions. Non-Percussive bands are approved by Student Unions on a per event basis.  The outdoor stage is the only outdoor space allotted for bands at the Student Unions. Student Unions will take the following into consideration while reviewing reservation requests:

• Time of day of event
• Location of event
• Other events in the building

Pianos in closed reservation rooms may be used in conjunction with confirmed events. The UB community may enjoy use of the piano in the Social Hall unless the sign indicates a noise conflict within the building.

For the safety of the users of the building, bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, skateboards, electronic self-balancing boards and other wheeled recreational vehicles may not be ridden in the Student Unions. Bicycles are not permitted in the buildings.  For your convenience, bike racks are located outside the main entrance of the Student Union.

The Student Unions assume no responsibility for lost or stolen articles. Lost and found articles can be turned in at the Welcome Center on the first floor of the Student Unions.

• UB Cards will be turned into the UB Card Office, who will attempt to contact the individual.
• Items of value will be turned over to University Police at the time of collection. Located in Bissell Hall, University Police maintains the University’s central lost and found department.

If you lose something on campus, check one of these lost and found locations.

• Student Union Welcome Center
• UB Card Office, 1 Capen (for all UB Cards)
• University Police, Bissell Hall
• Libraries lost and found

Student Unions is excited to offer lounge spaces for students this semester. Rooms 307 and 370 offer a casual, lounge-style atmosphere that’s perfect for hanging out, collaborating with peers, or taking a break from the hustle and bustle of campus life. These spaces provide a flexible and welcoming environment for both individual and group activities, whether you're working on a group project or just looking for a place to relax.