This list shares policies related to proper use of Student Center Operations' facilities and we appreciate you taking time to review them in full. Questions about facility use or any of these policies may be directed to the Operations or Event Services staff at 215-204-7132 or hgscinfo@temple.edu.

Student Center Operations reserves the right to cancel or end events found in violation of the policies listed herein. Violations may also result in the loss of reservation privileges.  These policies may be changed at any time without notice and only the "live" on-line version of these policies may be referenced or used.

To view our Community Standards in full, please click here.

Service Dogs: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are defined as “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities”, and they are allowed to be wherever the general public is permitted.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA): An Emotional Support Animal is an animal that, by its very presence, mitigates the emotional or psychological symptoms associated with a handler's condition or disorder. The animal does not need to be trained to perform a disability-specific task. ESA’s are not legally protected to be in public buildings, and are not permitted in the Student Center.

Therapy Dogs: Therapy dogs are trained to provide affection and comfort, and have no rights to enter an animal restricted area. As it pertains to the Student Center, therapy dogs are only permitted at events in which the therapy dog organization has been vetted by Risk Management. Approved therapy dogs may not be on the same floor as food service providers, and as such, are limited to events on the second floor of both the North and South sides of the Student Center.

All other animals are strictly prohibited in Student Center Operations’ indoor spaces. 

Resources

• Psychiatric Service Dog Partners FAQs

• National Service Animal Registry

• Please Don't Pet Me - Service Dog Myths

A sound system is available in the Atrium to play background music during tabling. The volume is controlled by HGSC staff and failure to comply with staff requests or directions related to use may result in loss of sound system privilege. 

Only one group may have sound at a time at the designated table. Preference is given on a first-come, first-served basis through the online reservation system.

Changes:

Simple Event: Additional services may change a Simple Event to a Complex Event which will require a planning meeting. 

Complex Event: Changes must be completed no less than 10 business days prior to the event.  

Cancellations/No Show:

Simple Event: Must be canceled 3 business days prior to avoid cancellation fees. Failure to cancel the event (No Show) will result in fees.  

• Student Org - $25  

• Department - Room Rate  

• External - Room Rate and associated fees  

Complex Event: Must be canceled at least 10 business days prior to the event to avoid fees.  

• Cancellations received less than 10 business days will be charged 50% of total costs. 

• Cancellations received more than 10 days prior to an event may be required to pay for non-refundable services. 

• Failure to cancel an event will result in being charged 100% of all costs. 

• After three (3) cancelations or no-shows by a group, organization or client, said client will risk losing future reservation privilege for a minimum of 1 semester. 

• All cancelations must be completed via email or otherwise in writing to the Student Center Operations office.

For money exchange in any Student Center Operations event spaces, Campus Safety is required. If money is being exchanged at your event in the Student Center Atrium or outdoor spaces, security is not required. Cashless payment options are allowed and do not need Campus Safety. This includes merchandise sales, donations, ticket sales, etc. 

Common Spaces including hallways, elevator lobbies, stairwells, lounges, food court, etc, cannot be used for organized meetings, gatherings, practices, or waiting areas unless approved.  

• Glitter is strictly prohibited in any form – it may not be used on signs, shaken onto tables, used for crafts or decorations, etc.

• Confetti is strictly prohibited in any form (as glitter above).

• Only water-based paint is permitted for crafting.

• Homemade painted signs must be completely dry before they enter or are used in the Student Center.

• Displays must be free-standing.

• Tables used for painting/crafting must be covered.

• Clients are responsible for removing all items brought to an event. Failure to do so will result in a trash removal fee. 

All requests from producers of films, television shows, commercials, news magazine programs, or documentary news to film, photograph, or otherwise record images or voices in schools, on school grounds, or other Temple property must be referred to the Office of University Communications. Filming of Temple University branding requires written permission from Office of University Communications as well. 

All requests from students, student organizations, faculty, staff or other Temple-affiliated persons for filming, photography, or other recording of images or voices in the Student Center, Student Faculty Center, Mitten Hall, Morgan Hall or any outdoor spaces must request permission from Student Center Operations in advance. Please visit our Request For Permission to Film page. 

The filming of for-profit projects is strictly prohibited. Filming in the Student Center Food Court is also prohibited. 

Food:

All food service for events must be requested through Temple University’s campus catering provider.  An approved Catering Exception, (approved by both catering and business services), must be provided at least 10 business days in advance of the event. 

Exception not needed if:  

• You are serving pizza 

• Each attendee is bringing their own food  

• Spending is under $500 for the meal  

All tables used for food service must be covered. If sterno is being used for hot food, the tablecloth must be linen. 

Beverage:

Alcohol may not be served without prior approval. If alcohol is approved it is to be served by catering staff.  Security is required at all events serving alcohol. Events attended by undergraduate students are strictly prohibited from serving alcohol. 

• For reservations in outdoor spaces, cancelations must be made three (3) days in advance of the event. Failure to do so can result in cancelation fees up to the total amount of the event. 

• During rain/snow season, we suggest that you book a back-up date or an indoor space for the same date as your outdoor event. 

To host events with minors, follow the instructions below: 

Internal Clients - For events that will involve minors, please refer to Temple University’s Policy for the Safety of Minors in University Programs. Complete this form. 

External Clients - The process must be started at least 60 days before the event. In order to have minors at an external event, there must be sexual abuse insurance purchased for the event. Complete this form.

For more information contact Risk Management (215-204-8523, [click-for-email]). 

Student Center Operations will provide all audio/visual equipment. Outside equipment is not permitted in SCO facilities unless permission has been granted by Operations staff. Use of equipment may require a set-up fee and any non-standard A/V equipment may also incur additional fees.

• Posting on walls, doors, windows, poles or trees is strictly prohibited. For guidelines on content and design, check out our Posting Policy.  Temple students, organizations, and departments click here.  Non-Temple affiliates, businesses, and non-profits, click here.

• Chalking or spray painting on the sidewalks is strictly prohibited.

Any client interested in showing movies or TV shows, whether to its members of an organization or to the “general public”, must purchase the public viewing rights (copyright) for that particular movie/TV show. Purchasing public viewing rights does not depend on audience size or charging of admission, but it may affect the price of license. 

Content that is borrowed, rented or purchased (including online paid subscription services, such as Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, and Hulu), is for personal viewing purposes only. This means it can only be viewed in the user's private living space. The same rules apply for movies and/or television shows that are recorded on DVR or other electronic means. The personal purchase of a movie/TV show does not give the owner the right to a public performance of that film/movie. Permission must still be obtained.

Movies found in the University library have an educational license for viewing, and therefore can only be viewed in an educational/academic building. 

Public showing/streaming of copyrighted content without a public viewing license is strictly prohibited. 

To learn more about Why Copyright Matters, or to purchase a Public Performance License, please visit the Motion Picture Association of America here. 

The following are strictly prohibited:

• Moving/rearranging furniture

• Covering doors or windows

• Blocking or propping open fire doors and exits

• Using rooms without a reservation

• Using lounges/common areas for meetings/events/organized activities

• Chalking anywhere on campus

• Soliciting and/or distributing handbills (other than at Atrium tables)

• Using tape, staples, tacks or other adhesives to affix materials to surfaces other than provided tack strips

• Unauthorized postings

• Gambling of any kind

• Noisemakers (airhorns, megaphones, etc.)

• Candles, incense or any kind of open flame (other than sterno for food service)

• Smoking

• Alcohol (not allowed outside of approved events) 

• Unauthorized food

• Camping (excessive lounging) 

• Bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, scooters or hover boards

• Security is required for any event that has one or more of the following elements: alcohol, money being collected, dance parties or a high-profile speaker (as required by TUPD). Large scale events typically require security for crowd control. 

• If money is being exchanged at your event in the Student Center Atrium or outdoor spaces, security is not required. 

To avoid disruption of business operations or disturbance of faculty, staff, visitors, and students, solicitation in non-reservable Student Center Operations’ locations is strictly prohibited.

• Solicitation includes: canvassing, seeking to obtain membership in or support for an organization, requesting contributions, and/or distributing handbills, pamphlets, petitions, and printed or written literature of any kind.

• “Commercial Solicitation” means peddling or otherwise selling, purchasing or offering goods and services for sale or purchase, distributing advertising materials, circulars or product samples, or engaging in any other conduct relating to any outside business interests or for profit or personal economic benefit on University property or using University resources.

• Solicitation and Commercial Solicitation performed through verbal, written, or electronic means, are covered by the Soliciting Policy.

To distribute materials for a department, student organization, or external entity, a reservation for space must be made using the online reservations system at reservations.temple.edu.

Note: Brochures are no longer accepted at the Information Desk. Literature smaller than 8.5" x 11" can be displayed on the table outside of Suite 219M.

To sell products in the Student Center, please refer to the Atrium Vendor Program. 

The Student Center does not provide storage of event materials/equipment.