Howard’s Office of Campus Life hosted a workshop Friday intended to give students a better understanding of the school’s various student organizations and how they will operate differently on campus as a result of the pandemic.
The Student Leadership Retreat brought together students in Cramton Auditorium to instruct them on the inner workings of how groups should operate for the academic year and more specifically, how they will monitor the number of people attending various events on campus due to in-person gathering restrictions due to Covid-19. One leader from each group was permitted and members were encouraged to ask questions at the end. There were approximately 250 people in attendance during the three hour event.
The school is using event capacity tiers to monitor the attendance of on campus events.
“A small program is 15 days, two weeks at minimum,” said the Interim Assistant Dean of Campus Life, Dr. Ashleigh Tillman.
There are three event size levels, medium tier events have 50 to 99 attendees and they require organizations to request space 30 days before the event. Large events have 100 or more attendees and a 60 day processing period. Medium and large events must receive approval from the event task force through a submitted proposal from the organization. These requests will be processed on Engage. This is a website database utilized by the Office of Campus Life to centralize, organize and increase student involvement opportunities.
“There is a mask requirement, indoor and outdoor; this must be included in your marketing,” said Dr. Tillman.
The event name, a description, date/time, location, type and marketing tools must be uploaded for sanctioning. Each organization is being encouraged to post authorized events on the Corq app.
“It’s an app like Eventbrite,” said Jessica Watson, Office of Campus Life program assistant.
However in-person events are expected to be in a properly allocated space for participants. For example, Locke Hall classrooms were recommended as a small meeting space and Blackburn Cafeteria is suggested for tabling events.
Larger spaces like Cramton Auditorium must be rented. This can compel student organizations to seek the funding needed to host certain events.
“There are three organizations that offer funding: the Student Activities Fee Committee (SAFC), HUSA Sente and student schools/college councils,” said Tillman.
To receive funding from SAFC organizations have to apply and be approved, HUSA senate requires the same.
“If you know you are planning to have an event in November, don’t wait until November to submit,” said HUSA Senate Chairwoman Jordyn Allen.
They can only approve funds after the request goes to the floor for a vote. Student schools/college councils are allowed to sponsor events or partner with other organizations to host something collaborative. But they also reserve the right to allocate funds through an application process. Nonetheless, the covid restrictions provided at the student leadership retreat are obligated for Howard’s in person events. All students are encouraged to use the BisonSafe app.
“This is dynamic, things are fluid and we may have to keep changing,” said Tillman. “But at every event, there should be a visible physical distance.”
