FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Policy 20010: Use of College Facilities

 

 

1.         Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to aid personnel with scheduling rooms, parking lots, and/or other spaces and with determining appropriate uses of space.

2.         Policy

2.1        Germanna Community College facilities exist for the primary purpose of academic instruction and student development of and by GCC students, faculty, and staff. As a partner and leader in our service area, as a member of the Virginia Community College System, and as an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the College makes its facilities available to internal and external organizations when not in conflict with internal operations, when it does not place an undue hardship on College students or employees, and when it is compatible with the policies and procedures contained herein.

2.2        External users shall be directed to the Chief Administrative Officer’s office, or designee, for each particular Campus/building for approval of requests to use facilities. Requests by external groups to the College for the use of facilities shall be made on the appropriate Application for Use of Facilities form for each building and submitted to the appropriate Chief Administrative Officer who will determine space availability from those individuals delegated approval authority for specific facilities as indicated in Section 2.4 of this policy. The Chief Administrative Officers shall also determine the appropriateness of charging fees to the requesting group in accordance with this policy.

2.3        Internal users may request use of facilities directly with the official delegated approval authority for that particular space specified on the Room Reservation Request form as indicated in Section 2.4 of this policy. The form is located on the “S” drive. Internal users are not assessed fees for use of the facilities.

2.4        Approval for use of various portions of the College facilities is hereby delegated to the following:

2.4.1     Advanced Technology Center – Culpeper: Center Director

2.4.2     Classrooms: Deans of Instruction for each campus or site with exceptions listed below.

2.4.3     Conference Room (Room 100) - Locust Grove Campus: President’s Administrative Assistant. Internal groups will notify Administrative Assistant to Director of Distance Education and Technology Support Services for compressed video assistance.

2.4.4     Conference Rooms 225 and 326 and Classroom 212 - Fredericksburg Area Campus: Administrative Assistant to Vice President for Academic Services. Internal groups will notify Administrative Assistant to Director of Distance Education and Technology Support Services for compressed video assistance.

2.4.5     Computer Classroom 202 at Locust Grove; Computer Labs 112A and 112B, Corporate Rooms 105A and 105B, Executive Conference Room 126, and Auditorium 134 at FAC Phase II: Office of the Dean of Workforce and Community Education.

2.4.6     Compressed Video Classrooms 506 and 507 at LGC; FAC Phase II Classrooms 131 and 133: Dean of Instruction at the appropriate campus who will coordinate with the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Distance Education and with the Technology Support Services Office.

2.4.7     Student Lounges, Cafeterias, parking lots, hallways, lobbies, and other areas not listed: Dean of Student Services

2.4.8     Rooms controlled by departments will be coordinated with the department head: Library – Director of Learning Resources Center; Nursing Labs and Room 206 – Administrative Assistant, Nursing Department.

2.4.9     Not-for-profit fundraising activities must first be approved by the Director of Institutional Advancement to ensure the activity is consistent with the College mission.

2.5        The College reserves the right to limit the use of facilities for activities that directly compete with the educational and training mission of the College.

2.6        Facilities will be available to organizations according to, and in order of, the following priority listing:

2.6.1     Credit or non-credit instruction programs of Germanna Community College or activities offered in conjunction with instructional programs of the College.

2.6.2     Educational, student development, and public information activities sponsored by GCC departments.

2.6.3     Programs, events, or activities sponsored by student groups officially recognized by the College.

2.6.4     Programs, events, or activities sponsored by community groups and businesses within the service region of the College as defined by the VCCS.

2.6.5     Programs, events, or activities sponsored by other non-College groups.

In determining usage, a first-come, first-served basis will be employed within each listing. Once a facility has been confirmed, there will be no alternations or bumping of one group for another group unless a group is not in compliance with the policies and procedures contained herein.

2.7        The following requirements pertain to every user group, whether internal or external:

2.7.1     Users shall observe all College policies, procedures, and regulations.

2.7.2     User groups are responsible for payment of all rents and fees assessed by the College. Fees will be refunded or waived if the requestor cancels the program, event, or activity two (2) or more business days before the scheduled date and time or as specified in a separate contract. Fees are assessed by the Chief Administrative Officers and are billed by the Business Office and payable upon receipt. If the fees are collected in other offices, they shall be transmitted to the Business Office within twenty-four (24) hours. The College reserves the right to require an advance security deposit from external groups. Requests for use of facilities shall NOT be granted to users with outstanding financial obligations to the College.

2.7.3     The Chief Administrative Officer may require a statement of insurance covering use of the facility before approving an application.

2.7.4     Users are responsible and accountable for proper care of all College facilities and equipment by all participants associated with the program, event, or activity regardless of whether the damage was caused within the room reserved or elsewhere. Restitution shall be required for any damages and cleaning necessary for any property or equipment.

2.7.5     Activities shall not be discriminatory or abusive of others by reasons of age, sex, race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, or disability.

2.7.6     An officer or authorized representative of the group who shall assume supervisory responsibility for conduct and activities of all persons associated with the event must sign the request for usage of facilities. The name, address, and telephone number for this authorized representative must be provided.

2.7.7     The program, event, or activity shall not interfere with any other authorized program, event, or activity or with operations of the College.

2.7.8     The College does not endorse any sectarian groups or organizations and normally does not allow sectarian groups to use its public tax supported facilities. Exceptions may be made with the stipulation that the user states in its publicity and announcements that the group/organization is not affiliated with the College, is not sponsored by the College, and does not represent the mission and views of the College.

2.7.9     Programs, events, and activities for political campaigns are discouraged; however, they may be approved if other known political parties for the same political race are given equal opportunity to conduct a similar program, event, or activity.

2.7.10   College Security must be used if deemed necessary by the College or requested by the user group. The user group shall be assessed the current rate for such security. In the event the College is unable to provide additional security for the event, the user group shall use College-approved security and shall remunerate the external security firm directly without involving the College.

2.7.11   All participants must comply with existing parking regulations.

2.7.12   Use of facilities shall be automatically cancelled when the College is closed due to inclement weather or emergencies. (Certain events at the Advanced Technology Center may be granted exception when recommended by the Center Director and approved by the College Facilities Manager. The user will assume responsibility for any cost associated with opening and use of the facilities during inclement weather closings. The College cannot guarantee snow/ice removal. The College is not liable when facilities are closed due to emergencies.)

2.7.13   College facilities are normally NOT available on holidays.

2.7.14   Alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, are not permitted at FAC and LGC. No exceptions to this policy are granted. Alcohol can be served at the Advanced Technology Center with proper ABC license and permits.

2.7.15   Smoking is restricted to designated exterior areas.

2.7.16   Catering and food service requests should be offered to the prepared food service provider to the College if one is under contract.

2.7.17   The number of attendees shall be in compliance with occupancy limits.

2.7.18   All events must end by midnight unless prior approval for an extension has been granted.

2.7.19   Users’ property and equipment must be removed from College facilities immediately following the event.

2.7.20   The College reserves the right to impose upon users any other reasonable conditions it deems necessary to assure compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations.

2.8        Fees

Fees are assessed by the Chief Administrative Officer for the College based upon the rooms and areas approved for usage and based upon the classification of the group. User groups are placed in classifications to help determine fees.

Classification         Definition

         A.................. Internal departments; officially recognized student groups; and business, civic, government, and education groups within the service region conducting activities that directly benefit the College or its employees and who are not charging admission.

         B.................. User groups within the service region whose activities do not directly benefit the College, its employees or students, or who charge admission.

         C.................. User groups that do not request additional services.

         D.................. User groups that do request additional services.

2.8.1     Facilities Usage Fee for FAC and LGC (see Appendix  A )

2.8.2     Facilities Usage Fee for FAC Workforce and Development Center (see Appendix ­­­­ B )

2.8.3     Facilities Usage Fee for Advanced Technology Center (see Appendix C )

3.         Procedures

3.1        External groups must complete the College’s Application for Use of Facilities form and submit it as least ten (10) days prior to the request date. Internal groups and departments conducting official College business must complete the Request for Room Reservation (For Internal Groups). Forms for each campus are located on the “S” drive.

3.2        Applications shall be submitted directly to the party authorized to approve use of the facility being requested.

3.3        Persons/offices with approval authority shall keep master schedules of facility usage and availability, the College master calendar, and files of the applications received.

3.4        All schedules and the master calendar shall be consulted with pending applications before approving a request.

3.5        Service departments, such as Facilities, shall be consulted regarding any construction, maintenance, or repair activities for the facility requested.

3.6        Service departments required to provide additional services for the request, such as setting up the room or providing equipment, shall be consulted to ensure they can provide the service in the time or on the day requested. The approval person or office shall forward a copy of the approved request detailing the special needs to the service department.

3.7        All approved requests, either internal or external, shall immediately be entered upon both the master schedule for the facility requested and the master calendar for the College.

3.8        The Chief Administrative Officer for the campus letting the space shall assess all fees and inform the requesting group of the total required. A copy of all approvals requiring an amount to be paid to the College shall be forwarded to the Business Office at the conclusion of the event so that the requesting group may be billed. Payments should be made to the Business Office. If payments are accepted in another office, the funds must be transmitted to the Business Office within twenty-four (24) hours.

3.9        The person or office authorizing use of the facility is responsible for checking the condition of the facility in a timely manner. If clean up is required, the authorizing person or office shall notify the Facilities department and the user group. The authorizing person or office shall also assess the cleaning fee to the user group and provide a copy to the Business Office. If equipment is damaged or missing, the authorizing person must work with Technology Services or other departments providing the service to assess a fee for the damaged or missing equipment and provide a copy to the Business Office for any such fees.

4.         Point of Contact

Richard L. (Rick) Brehm
Vice President for Administrative Services

Created by Sandy Allen, Ursulina Creel, Bessie Cropp, John Presley, Sharon Andreucci, and Rick Brehm)

5.         Approval and Revision Dates

Approved by President’s Council
Monday, June 4, 2002

Revised by Kathy Habel, Pam Frederick, Rick Brehm, and Susan Langlois
Revisions approved by President’s Council August 15, 2005.

Revised by Kathy Habel and Frank Turnage.

Revisions approved by President’s Council August 14, 2006.