Student Event Planning

Check the Law School Event Calendar for date conflicts and contact Dean Jordan Hall who will check the Event Scheduling System (ESS) to see if there are any conflicts with scheduled events.

If you want the Dean to make remarks or have a role in your event, please contact Dale-Marie Dahlke for available dates.

If there are speakers or faculty who are participating in your event, it is best to consider their schedules before selecting a date.

NOTE: Student events require approval by SBA and Dean of Student Affairs.

Once you have a viable date, complete the Event Planning Form which will ask you for the following information:

Room #
Time of Event
Estimated number of people expected
Room set-up (including types and number of tables and chairs and linen and skirting requirements)
Will you be serving food?
Will you be serving alcohol at the event?
Will you need AV/Media/OIT support?
Will you need the services of Public Safety for attendance at event or for unlocking doors?

At least 5 weeks before event, obtain travel needs from outside speakers and make transportation and hotel reservations.

What type of transportation to Springfield is needed? (Air, Train, Bus, Rental Car)
Will transportation be needed to/from the airport/train/bus station to hotel or law school?
If staying in a hotel, how many nights need to be reserved?
Do you need to reserve a block of rooms for multiple attendees?
Who is responsible for making travel and hotel arrangements?
Have you sent the Travel and Reimbursement policy and form to attendees?
Who is responsible for communicating reservation details to attendees?

Honorarium/Stipend

Will you be offering an honorarium or stipend to participants?
What amount will you be offering for honorarium or stipend?
Has this amount been budgeted for?
What budget account number will be used for check request?
Who will complete the Check Request form and submit it to Procurement 2 weeks prior to event?
Who will pick up the check at the bank located in SAS?
Who will present check to participant?

Swag Bag

Will you offer a "swag bag" to participants?
How many bags will need to be assembled?
What will each bag contain?
Where will you secure contents for bag?
Who will be responsible for assembling the bag?

Memento

Mementos are mostly for honors, such as retirements and other recognition events, where a plaque, chair, or medallion might be presented to a guest of honor. It could include a framed (or not) poster of the event presented to the speaker and/or obtaining a signed copy of a poster for our own use.

Will you be offering a memento to participants?
Has the cost been budgeted for?
Who is responsible for obtaining memento?
When does memento need to be order to receive it prior to event date?

Students should contact Dean Hall to assist with your room set-up. He can provide expert guidance on how to arrange tables and chairs.

The items below are available for your reference:

Table types include:
6 ft. tables
8 ft. tables (limit of 5 if available)
Rounds
High Tops (There is an extra charge for high tops as they are rented from a party supply store.)
Will the tables need linen and table skirts?
Will you need brown folding chairs to be set-up? If yes, how many?
Is the brown chair set-up described in the diagram sent to campus events?

All food must be ordered from Aramark four weeks prior to your event. Contact Dean of Student Affairs to place order.

If you want to serve food from an outside vendor you will need to request a Waiver from Aramark two weeks prior to event (See Student Organization Manual).

Does your event require refreshments?
How many people do you need refreshments for?
Does your budget include food costs?
What budget account number will you be using?
Who will be ordering the food?
When do you need food delivered on the day of the event?
Are you using an outside food vendor?
If using an outside vendor has the Aramark Waiver form been completed and submitted?

If you plan to serve alcohol at your event, you must start the approval process four weeks before your event. However, since this is a time consuming and complicated process, it is suggested that you start the approval process six weeks before the event. Alcohol may not be served without an approval. To request approval complete the Request to Serve Alcohol Beverages form and submit it to Dean Jordan Hall.

Read the Alcohol Policy Guidelines for an Event
Who will complete and submit the Request to Serve Alcohol form?
Have you arranged for a bartender with Aramark?
How will you serve the alcohol? (Bar, table, or combination of both)
Will alcohol be sold?
What type of alcohol beverages will be served? (Beer, wine, champagne, or wine cooler)
Will you also have food at event? (Non-alcoholic beverages and substantial food must be served and prominently displayed for ready accessibility for an event serving alcohol)

CONTACT

Jordan Hall 413-782-1376

Use Coursedog or contact Campus Events with your A/V needs at least 2 weeks prior to the event. OIT Equipment should be requested through an OIT Work Order using Connect2U.

Equipment

Will you need a technician? For the entire event or for set-up only?
How many table microphones are needed?
How many lavaliers are needed?
Is the Podium with microphone needed?
Will participants require access to internet?
If not using classroom AV, will the event require: laptop? laptop projector? screen? power strips?
Who will contact Campus Events to request Audio Visual equipment and services?
Who will complete OIT work order for OIT services?

Recording

Does your event need to be recorded?
Does the recording need to be placed in the Digital Commons?
Do DVDs need to be made of event? How many?
Have non-employee and non-alum participants completed a video release form?

Live Streaming

Does the event need to be LIVE STREAMED to Law Common from Moot Courtroom?
Does event need to be LIVE STREAMED to Web from Moot Courtroom?

Request Public Safety services at least two weeks before the event. This is done through the campus events office.

Will you need a Police Officer present at your event?
Will you need doors unlocked by campus security for event?
Will you need security personnel present at event?
Should parking tickets be suspended during event? If yes, notify Captain Purcell.
Who will notify Campus Events of your security needs?

In order to successfully publicize your event, it is important first to consider your desired audience. Then, make a plan for inviting people and publicizing your event.

Contact Marketing at least 4 weeks before event if you need Marketing services to assist in creating promotional materials. Marketing can assist with creating an HTML template for emails, flyers, mailers, posters, and press releases.

Determine if your budget includes advertising costs.
Determine how much of your total budget you want to spend on advertising.

You can get the word out in many different ways.

Post Event Internally By:

Creating posters (8 x 11 for Events Board and 9 x 13 to put up a few days before event)
Adding event to Web Calendar as soon as you have secured a date
Advertising on University Posts and Installments
Advertising on law school’s social media.
Sending an email blast
Contacting Alumni Relations requesting notification to Law Alumni through various mediums including email blast, Law Digest, Perspectives, and Law Minute

Post Event Externally By:

Working with Marketing to create promotional materials
Advertising in the Hampden County Bar Association newsletter
Advertising on the Western Mass Visitors' Bureau Calendar
Advertising in Reminder online calendar
Advertising on Republican online calendar
Advertising on AALS
Advertising on Cypress media (National Jurist, PreLaw)

Campus Contact

Public Relations - Judy Curran 413-796-2324

Printed Matter - Matt Reilly 413-782-1541

If you would like photos taken of your event, please contact Dean Jordan Hall.

University Events
Cathy Rivet 413-796-2173

Facilities
Joseph Gibbons 413-782-1248

Audio Visual
413-782-1319

OIT
Anne Houlihan 413-796-2052

Food
Maria Lopes 413-782-1636
Food Services 413-796-2196

Public Safety
Non-emergency line: 413-782-1207

Student Event Planning

Plan Events On Campus

A Checklist for Success

Student Event Planning

Plan Events On Campus

A Checklist for Success

Event Date

Room Reservation

Travel Arrangements and Accommodations

Participant Recognition

Room Set Up

Food

Alcohol

Audio Visual

Public Safety

Promotion

Event Photography

Day of Event Contact Information