Major Student Events
The college defines an event that has been advertised off campus and/or an expected attendance of more than 150 students as a “major student event”.
Please note that request for major events will not be approved and permitted during the following College major events:
- Afrodiasic
- Admissions Open House
- Accepted Student Day
- Alumni Weekend
- Culture Shock
- Fall Fest
- Family Day
- Humanities Symposium
- Media and Arts Day
- Natural and Social Science Symposium
- Stoodoween
- Sextacy
- Zombie Prom
Notification and Permission
The coordinating individual or group of the major student event must notify the Office of Residential and Student Life a minimum of two full weeks before the event. This can be done via email (RSL@purchase.edu). The email must contain the following information:
- Name of event
- Individual or group coordinating the event
- Day and time
- Location
- Expected attendance
- Use of amplification, if event is outdoors.
- Special arrangements needed (parking, vehicle authorization to restricted areas, etc.)
- Brief description (maximum of 500 words) including the listing of all performers (musical, comedy, etc.). If the performer is an off-campus performer and has a publicity website, please provide that link.
Acknowledgment of receipt of the email will be sent within 48 business hours. Notification of permission to hold the event will be sent within 96 business hours from the time of receipt. You must receive permission for the event PRIOR to reserving the space in Roombook. Please note that your space reservation cannot be officially approved until you receive permission to hold the event.
Once permission is granted, you must officially request the space through Roombook. This is accessible from the student portal page. If you do not know how to use this system, please contact the PSGA or the Office of Residential and Student Life for assistance at RSL@purchase.edu. Roombook will provide confirmation of the submission of the initial space request but final notification of approval of the will be emailed to the requestor within 48 business hours.
Policy Rationale and Description
College policy dictates that the administration is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for its student body. Major campus events—particularly those that attract large numbers of non-Purchase students and/or guests—provide a potential strain on both the administration and the University Police to uphold these measures. Please note that New York State University Police possesses the authority to cancel any event that poses safety and security concerns for the campus population. Potential concerns may include a performer’s history, crowd size, and/o amount of off-campus appeal.
Personnel Coverage
All major student events must have a staff member or organizational representative (student and/or professional) onsite to conduct “ID checks.” All attendees must have a valid Purchase College student More Card, a residential guest pass, or an event pass. It is the responsibility of the host organization to secure this staffing. The event cannot be held without this function.
The scope of the student event, including format type and expected attendance, may dictate the following extra personnel:
- Facilities Management: needed for custodial and grounds (if the event is outdoors) upkeep
- University Police: needed for crowd control and emergency response/crisis intervention presence
- Harrison Township Sheriff Department: needed for crowd control and emergency response/crisis intervention presence
All personnel listed above would be defined as “extra coverage” and thus the financial responsibility for such overtime payment would be from the PSGA.
Local Guidelines
Any event in which significant equipment (i.e., trailers, stage, generator, lighting grid, etc.) is brought onto campus by an outside organization must adhere to the following standards:
- Any equipment that requires electrical output must have a member of the electrical department in Facilities Management present to ensure that arrangement meets campus measures.
- All equipment set-ups must be approved by the campus health and safety officer. The areas that he or she will be checking pertain to fire code (evacuation route marked and without obstacle, temporary location not too close to permanent structures, etc.).
Additional Information
Any off-campus vendor with a vehicle associated with the event must obtain a temporary parking permit. Only vehicles deemed crucial to the physical set-up of the event space (such as transporting equipment) can be granted temporary access to restricted areas. Restricted areas are fire lanes, walkways, and lawns.
- Any vehicle—campus official, student and/or off-campus vendor—that requires this temporary access to these restricted areas must gain authorization from the New York State University Police and Campus Facilities. Failure to do so may result in ticketing and/or towing.
- This authorization can be obtained via the notification email of the event to Office of Residential and Student Life.
- Any event that is outdoors and involves amplified music or equipment must comply with the College’s Amplification Policy. If approved for use, amplified music or equipment use must conclude by 10pm, unless prior permission is received from the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management or designee to conclude later than 10pm.