Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students

Absolutely no events may take place between the hours of 2am and 6am without the written permission of the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students.

Events may only happen during the scheduled academic year.  As a general rule, student groups are to make contributions to undergraduate life and therefore we do not approve summer events, under compelling circumstances, events during the summer need to be approved by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. In addition, events during midterms, reading period or exam periods are strongly discouraged for academic concerns.

Activities that take place in the vicinity of University residences, classrooms, the library, the chapel and similar facilities must be conducted in such a way as to respect the necessity for maintaining a reasonable degree of quiet in such areas. As such, amplification in outside areas is strictly prohibited 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

• A contract is any document requiring signature for services or payment. 
• This process takes between 2-4 weeks depending on the complexity of the contract and/or the amount of funds committed.
• In most cases, ODUS strongly suggests the use of the University’s approved contracts available in the forms section. In many cases, the contract serves as the necessary document for the payment of services.
• Typically, use of the University contract will expedite the payment process. If necessary, vendors are able to submit an addendum to this contract that confirms the specifics for the event, i.e. the amount of food, equipment required.
• For student organizations, the review and authorization process is provided by ODUS in consultation with the Office of General Counsel. 
• Please do not make any offer or financial commitment verbally or in writing without the prior permission from ODUS. 

Certain types of events held on campus will require additional security measures to ensure the safety and well-being of those attending.   While each event is unique, we ask you to please consider the following general guidelines to determine if you will need to hire Safeguards and/or Public Safety Special Event Security for your event. Not complying with these regulations is the most common way to have your event cancelled.  

Please review this policy carefully and consult with ODUS throughout your planning process.   We will evaluate each event on a case-by-case basis and make additional suggestions when you register your event.   Please note that there are costs associated with these services which are non-negotiable.    Ultimately, Public Safety and ODUS have the final say about necessary security measures for your event.  

Your event is likely to require hiring Safeguards through the Student Agency Program if it:

• takes place at an eating club;
• ends at 11pm or later;
• requires a ticket, PUID or other crowd control measures;
• involves alcohol;
• involves non-Princeton students; or
• is a large-scale social event.

Visit the Safeguard website to request their services.

In addition, your event is likely to require Public Safety Special Event Security if it:

• features a potentially controversial speaker or topic and may draw protest or demonstration;
• features a dignitary, head of state, celebrity or government official (particularly if they are coming with their own security detail);
• takes place at certain locations that require it (e.g. Fine Tower , Carl Icahn, Maclean House);
• is a social event ending at 11pm or later;
• involves alcohol;
• involves non-Princeton students; or
• is a large-scale social event.

Please note that in order to register your event with Public Safety and request their services, you must fill out a Public Safety Events Registration Form in addition to your ODUS Event Form. Public Safety must receive your form at least 10 days in advance of your event in order to guarantee service.

For student organizations who want to allow Princeton Students to bring a non-Princeton student as guests to their events, they must abide by the following guidelines.
 

• Safeguards will be hired to staff the entrance or entrances to the event.
• Each Princeton student will be permitted one (1) guest.
• The Princeton student will need to present their valid PUID and a valid school or government issued photo ID of their guest. The Safeguard will log this information. The Princeton student will then sign the log agreeing to the following terms:
  • I the undersigned acknowledge that I know my guest and take full responsibility for their actions at this event. I agree that should my guest violate any rules of conduct as stated in Rights, Rules, Responsibilities I will be contacted and may face disciplinary action based on those violations.
• In order for an event to qualify for the above guest policy, the event may not be advertised off campus (i.e. via other university group email lists, Facebook groups, posting flyers off campus, etc.)
• If an organization wishes to open their event to non-Princeton University students, Public Safety is required to staff the event while maintaining the above guest policy guidelines.
• Additionally, the organization in charge of advertising the open event is required to inform Public Safety of all forms of advertising and how it will be distributed. 
   

Occasionally, student organizations play a central role planning protests and other demonstrations on campus. In order to assist with the planning of your event, please review the policies set forth in Rights, Rules, Responsibilities (pages 5-6) and meet with ODUS as soon as possible. We will be able to answer questions relating to University policies and help you with the logistical details of organizing a protest or demonstration on campus. Please note that if such activities are planned for off campus, you may be required to receive approval from the municipality where the protest will take place.

In order to assist student groups that wish to participate in fundraising efforts in support of humanitarian causes, the ODUS has developed the following guidelines: 

• Fundraising should be conducted under the auspices of a recognized student organization. If no such sponsor group exists, an organizer can request a temporary project grant (account) solely for this purpose.
• Funds may not be solicited from University departments, programs, organizations, etc. Donations may not be solicited through charges to a student’s University account.
• Before you begin the process of registering and advertising your fundraiser, the student organization must contact the designated non-profit organization and request that the non-profits name be used in association with a fundraiser on campus. A written statement on the letterhead of the benefiting organization must be obtained by the student organization and kept on file in ODUS. This letter should clarify the terms of the fundraiser as mutually agreed upon by the sponsoring group and the benefiting organization. Please make sure contact information is included in the letter.
• In order to set up tables for fundraising purposes, student or groups should obtain permission from those persons in charge of the facility at which they wish to solicit and should inform ODUS of these locations using the Event Registration Form. Donation by check should be strongly encouraged. Checks must be made out directly to the benefitting organization (i.e., Red Cross, CARE, etc.) This method of donation is also useful for the donor as he/she has the record of a cancelled check for tax purposes.
• Should an organization need to accept cash contributions, it should articulate procedures that ensure the security and proper accounting of the cash collected. The organization should also review these procedures with a member of the ODUS staff. Cash may not be deposited in a University account. It should be redeemed at the local Post Office for a Money Order made out to the benefitting organization.
• ODUS will provide a cash box to receive these donations. Cash/checks should not be kept in individual’s possession. The student organizations should contact Public Safety for use of a safety deposit box. Everyday, when collection is done, you should contact Public Safety for transport to the Public Safety Office for deposit of funds.
• University funds may be used to advertise relief efforts or to provide information or other educational materials to members of the University community regarding relief and fundraising efforts or for other related University based charges or costs i.e. renting a table space. The amount of these expenditures should be modest in comparison to the amount raised directly for the relief effort.

Upon the completion of the fundraiser, the sponsoring student or organization must:

• Pick-up cash /checks from Public Safety and return the cash box and key.
• Use cash to purchase a money order.
• Bring checks and money order to ODUS where they will be photo copies. ODUS will send out money order/checks and any additional information to the benefitting organization.
• The sponsoring student or organization must provide ODUS with a detailed summary report of the fundraiser. Special care should be given to delineate all costs, including a profit per item calculation, advertising and institutional support costs (i.e., printing & mailing, tables, etc.) The report should confirm how much money was raised, how much was donated to the designated charity and the date the donation was sent.

Students of the legal drinking age wishing to sponsor an event with alcohol (in which all participants are of legal drinking age) must obtain approval from ODUS at least two weeks in advance and comply with the guidelines established by the University.
 

Consider the following when planning to serve alcohol at an event:

• Advertising: Alcohol cannot be the focal point of the publicity for the event.
• Identification: Only guests of the legal drinking age are permitted to enter. Proper photo identification, which has a photo and birth date, is required.
• Security: You are required to have the Safeguard Agency carding at the door of your event. Depending on the size of the event, proctors may also be required. The assignment of proctors is at the discretion of the ODUS and the Department of Public Safety.
• Serving: Alcohol may only be served by the Princeton Bartending Agency.
• Posting information: Signs clearly stating the University's alcohol policy must be displayed visibly. Signs are available in ODUS, 313 West College.
• Providing food and non-alcoholic beverages: Whenever alcohol is served, there must be a sufficient quantity of readily accessible food and non-alcoholic alternatives. The amount of food should be based on the number of people and should be sufficient quantity and quality that people will be encouraged to eat while drinking.
• Amount of alcohol purchased: The amounts of alcohol purchased should reflect a realistic estimate of the numbers of people attending.
• Room regulation codes: Occupancy restrictions and fire codes must be strictly observed.
   

For more information on the University alcohol policy, see Rights, Rules, Responsibilities.

When fundraising tickets are sold, in form of an admission charge or raffle ticket, in order to generate profits to be used for the organization or charity, the following NJ regulations apply. The State of New Jersey Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission (NJLGCCC) oversees the operation of organizations registered to conduct games of chance such as raffles and bingos. The regulations for these activities are extensive and organizations should be aware that this is a time consuming process. The events registration form for such events should be submitted to ODUS at least two months in advance of the event in order to complete the appropriate paperwork for the NJLGCCC. 

Princeton organizations are allowed to host guests from other colleges. These guests are expected to carry and present their college IDs, just as Princeton University students use their TigerCard. When registering an event with high school students, please note they cannot be hosted on campus overnight. All others need permission from the ODUS office. Guests should be made award of University policies. Student organizations are prohibited from housing students in any common area in University buildings. When hosting guests, please be aware that you are responsible for them while on campus.
 

To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, student organizations are not permitted to hire relatives to provide services for financial gain without the written approval of the dean’s office.
 

Per University policy students cannot hire other students for services (website design, lighting, dj, etc) provided to the group.   If an organization wants to hire a student to do work for them, they must go through the ODUS office before the event.   Invoices submitted after the work has been completed cannot be paid.