Advertising Policy

As found in the Ram's Eye View Student Handbook, page 26-27

To insure that the advertisement on campus informs the public, enhances the campus environment, and adheres to all University policies, student organizations must follow these procedures when they advertise their programs:

Advertisements must be approved before being posted:

1. Residence Halls. The Office of Residence Life and Housing Services is committed to helping students and student organizations promote their activities. However, it is also our responsibility to control the level of adverting within our facilities to provide a safe and attractive environment for our residents. Therefore, the following policy has been established to address non-Residence Life and Housing Services related to advertising in the residence facilities.
   1. All fliers or posters to be hung in residential buildings (halls or
      apartments) must be approved and stamped by the Office of REsidential Life and HOusing Services, 238 Sykes Union and should be presented fro approval 48 hours before the advertising campaign begins (not 48 hours before the event begins). Approval will usually be given only to student organizations promoting their events and activities. Also, only a limited number of copies will be stamped for each facility. Photocopied or duplicated versions of the official Residence Life stamp are NOT accepted stamps of approval.
   2. The approved and stamped fliers should be counted out with the appropriate amount for location. They will then be placed in hall mailboxes in 238 Sykes for distribution to each facility. Residence Life staff will assume responsibility for making sure that they are posted in appropriate locations throughout the building.
   3. Approved quantities are as follows:
      Non-WCU organizations- 2 per facility
      WCU organizations and departments-1per each RA in the facility (Goshen 12, Killinger 8, McCarthy 6, Ramsey 9, Sanderson 13, Schmidt 8, Tyson 12, Wayne 11, University Hall 6, South Campus Apartments 11, The Village at WCU 2)
   4. Posters will not be posted if they promote or display alcohol (beer, wine, mixed drinks and alcohol related paraphernalia) or violate the University's Student Code of Conduct.
   5. Posters must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or status as a disabled person. Posters that discriminate will not be displayed.
   6. Postings that are not approved or are posted in inappropriate locations will be removed immediately. Organizations that post their own fliers may lose their posting privilege. Outside businesses that do not abide by the Residence Hall Advertising Policy will not be permitted to post or distribute any material in the residence halls. In addition, Residence Life and Housing Services will not allocate any funds to purchase items from businesses that violate the advertising policy.
   7. Fliers and/or other advertisements may not be distributed to students' rooms or apartments. Distribution through student mailboxes must have the approval of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee, but will only be granted in unique circumstances.
   8. Postings will be removed immediately after the event occurs, or after a reasonable amount of time if it provides information about an ongoing activity.
2. Academic/Administrative Buildings. Approval for posting is obtained through the building administrator's office for each respective building. Posting in buildings is only permitted on designated bulletin board space. Advertisements posted on walls, doors, etc. are immediately removed by the Housekeeping Department. The following is the list of contacts for academic/administrative building approval:


3. Outdoors
1. Banners over Church St. at the corner of University Ave. need to be approved by the West Chester Borough Council since this is not University property. An application (available from the Director of Student Leadership & Involvement in 238 Sykes Union) must be filed 30 days in advance. Once the approval is granted, a copy of the approved permit, which includes a sketch of the design, must be submitted to the director of Greek life and student organizations so arrangements with the University's maintenance department can be made to hang the banner.


2. No approval is needed to post advertisements on public gazebos (e.g., by Ruby Jones). Posters and signs are not permitted on the exterior or interior surfaces of the bus stop shelters except on bulletin boards mounted inside the shelter.


3. Advertisements are not permitted on garbage cans, benches, trees, and/or exterior walls or doors of buildings.


4. "Chalking" of sidewalks or any other surface is prohibited.


5. Signs on stakes placed on University grounds must be approved in advance by the Director of Student Leadership & Involvement who will coordinate placement of these types of advertisements with the director of support services.
   

Other General Procedures:

1. Advertisement depicting alcohol use, abuse, sale, or distribution is prohibited.


2. In accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, advertisements must respect the human rights and personal dignity of individuals (see Section I., #31). Therefore, advertisements which demean others on the basis of race, lifestyle, religion, disability, national origin, or sex are strictly prohibited. In addition, advertisement by West Chester University student organizations should be complimentary to the mission of the University and adhere to community standards of civility and good taste.


3. The official West Chester University Logo (tree under the arch), Seal and Ram Logo may not be used without permission from the Office of University Publications, located in 13/15 University Avenue, Ext. 2231.


4. Advertisements that will be going to external and/or off campus publics must have the prior approval of the Office of Public Relations located in 13/15 University Avenue, Ext. 3383.


5. All advertisements must be removed from bulletin boards and other campus locations within 24 hours of the event.


6. All officially recognized student organizations at West Chester University are obliged to comply with University policies; therefore, violations of the "Advertising Policy" could jeopardize a student organization's recognition status on campus.

Questions or inquires about the "Advertising Policy" should be directed to the Director of Student Leadership and Involvement in 238 Sykes Union, Ext. 2117. Please note that a related "Commercial Advertising and Commercial Sales Policy" is found in Section III under the "General Policies" listings.