The following are useful tips and information items that we feel will make your event or activity in the University Center easier to plan and more successful. They are based on frequent questions and/or concerns that users have expressed over the years. Please do not hesitate to contact any of the staff of the University Center to request assistance with any event you are planning.

The Facility Reservationist may be contacted at 423/439-4342, by e-mail at or by coming to the University Center Office on the 2nd level of the building.

Please use the following links to jump directly to the information you are seeking:

10 a.m.- 10 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 

Safety and security procedures require that no members of the general public be in the building when University Center staff is not on duty.

With special prior special arrangements, small student groups may remain in the building with their advisor, sponsor, or other full-time University employee who accepts full responsibility for the safety and security of the individuals and the building. Advance arrangements must be made with the Facility Reservationist so that Public Safety, Physical Plant, and other appropriate departments can be notified.

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The University Center is heavily scheduled. Reserve space(s) for your activity as early as possible. We accept reservations for campus affiliated events up to 12-18 months ahead. The most heavily scheduled months are September, October, March, and April. It is not uncommon to have all available dates for the Ballroom and Auditorium booked several months before each of these heavy periods.

University users have priority in the use of the University Center. However, a confirmed reservation, even if for a non-university related group, will not be canceled once they have been accepted in order to make room for another event.

It will probably be easiest on you to call and check on room availability before sending in a facility request form, this will prevent our office and you playing phone tag when the facility you request on the form is not available, as is often the case.

University Policy stipulates that the Facility Reservationist must receive all relevant reservation information at least 10 working days in advance of the event. This includes all room setup details and technical service needs. Requests received without this 10-day notice may not be accommodated.

You may pick up a Facility Reservation Requests in the University Center Office.

Also, the form may be downloaded from our Documents and Forms page by clicking here.

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The secret to a successful event is careful and complete planning. The staff of the University Center is available to assist you in planning your event. In essence, the planning process is one in which you carefully 'walk through' every detail of the event and discuss it with the Facility Reservationist. Everything from picking the date to insure that other campus events do not conflict with it, to planning seating/table layout, to making the arrangements to remove your decorations after the event must be discussed and accommodated.

The technical needs of your event must also be carefully planned and scheduled. The University Center has a variety of audio/visual equipment available to support your activity but it must be scheduled, set-up, and perhaps operated by our staff. Last minute changes are particularly difficult to accommodate.

In some cases, where equipment is needed that is not available through the University Center, the user may need to rent the equipment elsewhere and have it delivered to the facility. A document is provided on the web that will assist you in identifying and planning your technical needs.

You can find it, and other useful forms, by clicking here to go to our Document and Forms page.

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Basic facility services of the University Center include:

• Building access during the standard operating hours:

• Access to all public food service facilities

• Access to reserved facilities during contracted hours

• A clean-comfortable facility

• Chairs, tables, staging arranged as requested

• Use of sound reinforcement systems

• Use of special lighting systems

• Use of audio/visual equipment

• Access to local phone, campus video, and campus digital network services

• Full food catering services

• Support of the Technical Services staff if needed

• Public Safety support if needed

• Physical Plant support if needed

• Information Technology support if needed

*Use of some of these services may incur special fees.

Floor plans of the University Center and photos of the various reservable spaces and meeting rooms along with capacity details can be found by browsing the links to the left.

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Indicate actual start and end times on the reservation request, not the time when you want the doors open or when you plan to arrive for setup. The actual event times you indicate are those on which all publicly announced schedules, room setups, A/V setups, food service setups, and other times for service will be based.

Remember that any use of the building outside of regular operating hours will incur overtime charges. This means you should schedule your event to end in time for your attendees to exit the building before closing, we suggest ending your event no later than 9:30 p.m.

Food service, of any type, must be arranged through the contracted University Food Service, ARAMARK. They are fully capable of providing everything from chips and drink to multi-course banquets. No food or refreshments for consumption in a meeting may be brought into the facility.

Food Service may be contacted at 423/439-4389 or by e-mail at Catering@etsu.edu.

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When it is necessary for staff to work outside their normally scheduled hours, overtime labor charges will be assessed the sponsor. The rates are clearly indicated in the Facility Use Fee Schedule, which can be found by clicking here.

This policy applies to all University staff - custodians, public safety, technical services, building management, etc.

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Signs and posters, no larger than 11" x 17", pertaining to university affiliated events and/or community non-for profit organizations may be posted only on bulletin boards within the University Center after being reviewed and stamped in the University Center Office.

There are four interior banner locations within the University Center where banners as large as 4' x 6' can be hung - these areas are reserved through the Office of Student Life and Leadership.

Exterior banners may be hung off the 3rd floor cafeteria balcony only by campus groups and must meet safety criteria. It is suggested that you discuss construction methods for exterior banners with University Center staff before attempting to build one.

Easels for use in displaying signs are available in the University Center Office.

Under no circumstances should any materials be posted on glass, wood, metal, or painted surfaces within the building.

Parking around the University Center can sometimes be difficult. All campus visitors are requested to stop by the Public Safety Office and pick up a free visitor parking hangtag. This will allow them to park anywhere on campus except for fire lanes and handicapped spaces.

Around the building there are several lots specially designated for faculty/staff and for students, these are accessible to those individuals with the appropriate campus parking sticker or a visitor hangtag.

There is a small, metered lot near the building that is useful for short term parking.

Please contact us with any further concerns or questions!