Facilities & premises include buildings and property belonging to or in the care or custody of Northwestern State University.  These facilities and premises are established and reserved for use in accomplishing the instructional, research and public service missions of the University which must always to be given first priority in the assignment of facilities and premises for use.  Accordingly, scheduling of facilities and premises use should not pre-empt the use of facilities required for teaching, research and other academic activities.

Colleges and departments of the university, recognized student organizations, and other groups and organizations affiliated with the university have the highest priority in the use of facilities and premises at Northwestern.  However, other groups and organizations not otherwise affiliated with the university may be granted permission to use the facilities and premises when such use does not interfere with the accomplishment of campus missions and programs, either specific or general.  In all cases in which its facilities and premises may be used, the university reserves the right to apply or formulate reasonable specifications and requirements as to the time, place, manner and conditions for such use.

Northwestern will periodically establish a schedule of fees for facility use that will help offset costs for facility supervision, utilities, maintenance, security, and other expenses involved in operating and maintaining facilities and premises of the university.  Costs of utilities, maintenance, set-up, clean up, and other expenses may be reflected in the fee structure, but the university may also develop a fee schedule that provides revenues for the institution that exceed assessed fees.  Fees may be waived or reduced for non-profit groups or organizations which provide mutual benefits or other valuable considerations to the university or whose use of facilities and premises is considered part of the civic, economic, cultrual and educational outreach which the university provides in keeping with its stated mission in the Master Plan for Higher Education in Louisiana.  That mission states for Northwestern, "Public service activities should be undertaken to meet the needs of its service area and to raise the level of education as well as the quality of life for the citizens of Northwest Louisiana."

Northwestern may choose to assist some educational, charitable, and other non-commercial organizations not directly affiliated with the university in the sponsorsihp of informational, cultural, educational and charitable programs that are conducted in campus facilities.  Those events must have a logical association with Northwestern and its goals and missions and must be designed to enhance the university's image and relationship with prospective students, alumni and others in its service region.  Fees and insurance requirements may be waived or reduced for activities in which the university is involved in sponsorship.

Fees will be charged, and insurance requirements will be imposed when facilities and premises are used by commercial or for-profit organizations and the university is not involved in sponsorship.

Authority

Authority for decisions regarding the use of university facilities and premises under this policy is vested in the University Facility Use Committee and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Priorities for facility use, fee schedules, procedures for scheduling and use of facilities, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on university property, indemnification agreements and other information, guidelines and procedures for rental and use of university facilities and premises at Northwestern are provided in the following procedures. Inquiries on use of facilities and premises and requests for use of facilities or additional information must be directed to the Director of Student Activities and Organizations, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71497. In some instances when timing and other circumstances make it difficult to convene the University Facility Use Committee, such as holidays, weekends, etc., the chair of the University Facility Use Committee may make decisions on those requests without the participation of other members of the committee. When possible, the chair should involve the Vice President for Student Affairs and the vice president with supervision over requested facility in decisions on facility use in emergency situations.

For a complete schedule of fees for the rent and use of university property please contact the Department of Student Activities at 318 – 357 – 6511.

Fee schedule and rental policies and procedures are subject to change without notice.