Commercial or Outside Vendor Rentals and Advertisements

At the beginning of each semester, Nicholls receives an overwhelming amount of requests for the use of the Student Union Lobby from student organizations and campus departments. In a desire to accommodate such requests, the Office of Auxiliary Services has established the following Commercial or Outside Vendor Policies.

1. Commercial or outside vendors will be limited to the Bowie Room. A sign will be posted in the main Student Union Lobby on the day of the reservation to alert students, faculty and staff of the vendor’s location and reservation time.
2. Commercial or outside vendor reservations will be limited to the months of October and March each year.  The Campus Reservations Office will take commercial or outside vendor reservation requests during the month of September only. The reservations will be taken on a “first come, first serve” basis. Each vendor will be limited to one reservation per year. Each vendor category or type, such as credit card, poster, etc., will be limited to two days in October and two days in March.
3. Commercial or outside vendors will be assessed a per day rental (category 4 = $200).
4. The university is not responsible for items lost or stolen. The university will not accept delivery and/or store shipped boxes or packages on behalf of commercial or outside vendors. Commercial vendors will have to bring all exhibit supplies on the date of the reservation and be responsible for removing the supplies when they leave the facility.
5. Commercial and/or outside vendors will not be allowed to give “freebies” as an enticement to the customer.  Vendors are allowed to distribute informational brochures. Vendors must conduct business from behind the table. Vendors are not allowed to roam through university facilities to promote merchandise or product.  Vendors cannot verbally call out or physically approach customers to promote or advertise products, message, or literature. Students and guests should be allowed to approach the table or hear or view the product or literature on their own.
6. Vendors will be given one table and two chairs for the exhibit space. The use of sound equipment or loud noise devices is strictly forbidden. If AV equipment is used, noise level must be controlled as not to disturb other vendors or guests of the facility. This will be strictly enforced. The university reserves the right to approve/disapprove any other equipment request or placement of said equipment. All equipment requests must be made at the time of reservation for consideration.
7.  Posters, banners, signs or other items cannot be taped to the walls. The university can provide a sign stand upon request. There is a $25 fine for taping or puncturing walls. Damages to the facility or university equipment caused as a result of negligence by the vendor’s representative or exhibit will be charged to the vendor for immediate payment.
8. CREDIT CARD VENDORS: Credit card companies must provide a brochure to the student or customer before the application is completed warning of the financial problems associated with excessive financial debt. The credit card company must submit this brochure in advance, for approval, to the Office of Auxiliary Services. Credit card companies may only offer one type of credit card per visit. Solicitation of more than one card is strictly prohibited.
9. BANK VENDORS: Banks wishing to exhibit a full range of services (excluding credit cards) may reserve lobby space during university-designated Freshman Orientation dates each year. The university will sponsor a “bank fair” during the orientation program. Banks are subject to the same rental rates and general policies listed in the Commercial and Outside Vendor Policies herein.
10. UNIVERSITY-SPONSORED VENDORS:  University-sponsored vendors such as the cable company, which is providing a direct service to the residence hall students and sponsored by Residential Services, will be allowed to set up exhibit space in the Student Union Lobby. The type or category of commercial vendors is subject to the same rental rates and general policies listed in the Commercial and Outside Vendor Policies herein. Student organizations are not allowed to sponsor commercial or outside vendors without the permission of the Student Life Office. If approved, the commercial vendor is still subject to the same rental rates and general policies listed in the commercial and Outside Vendor Policies herein. Blood drive businesses, which are sponsored by campus organizations and/or departments, will follow the established reservation guidelines monitored by the Campus Reservations Office. Blood drive vendors will be subject to the same rental rates and general policies listed in the Commercial and Outside Vendor Policies herein.

Commercial Advertisement on Campus:

Nicholls is not required to allow any non-university related commercial enterprise or individual to advertise on campus. However, in the spirit of good community relations, some business advertisements may be allowed.

1. Commercial advertisements by businesses and individuals must conform to all university regulations governing the use of bulletin boards and the posting of signs on campus.
2. The university reserves the right to place time, manner and place restrictions on commercial advertising by any organization/individual, and may restrict the content of the advertisement if the advertisement thwarts the aims, purposes or policies of the institution or if the advertisement violates Board policy, local, state or federal law. For example, advertisement of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted.
3. Any business or individual that violates the above stated rules would lose the privilege of advertising on campus.

Commercial Solicitation – Bulletin Boards and Posting of Signs:

1. Signs for approved activities may be posted ONLY on bulletin boards on places designated by the approving authority. The posting of signs on trees, painted surfaces, brick surfaces, and glass surfaces is PROHIBITED. The university reserves the right to place time, manner and place restrictions on advertising by any organization/individual, and may restrict the content of the advertisement if the advertisement thwarts the aims, purposes or policies of the institution; for example, advertisement of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted. The university will determine penalties for violation.
   1. Approval authority for the posting of signs is as follows.
      1. General Campus and General Bulletin Boards – Student Union Director
      2. Department Bulletin Boards – Individual Department Head
      3. Residence Halls – Director of Housing and Residence Life
      4. Student Union Building and Surrounding Area – Student Union Director
   2. Signs on bulletin boards generally should not exceed letter size (8½” x 11″).
   3. Signs advertising specific events must be removed by the sponsoring group within one week after the event.

Commercial Solicitation on Campus:

• Solicitation for commercial purposes that competes with campus-based operations will not be allowed.
• Entities wishing to solicit on campus must present to the appropriate approval authority as listed below, a detailed description of the product or service to be sold/provided, proof of commercial licensure or non-profit status, as applicable; and other documentation as may be required by the University to determine acceptance or rejection of the request.

Solicitation Target Population	Approval Authority
General Campus Community	Student Union Director
University Employees (Faculty & Staff)	Director of Human Resources
University Purchases	Purchasing Agent

• The university reserves the right to place time, manner and place restrictions on all solicitation activities.
• The university reserves the right to deny approval of content or product of commercial solicitation if the content or product thwarts the aims, purposes or policies of the institution, or if the content or product is prohibited by university regulations, board policy or law.
• Charges for facility use and related expenses, and compensation to be paid to the university will be determined by the university and paid by the individual, group, or business in accordance with the published university policy.