2.12 Advertising and Solicitation Policy

This policy is intended to establish guidelines for groups and individuals who wish to solicit or advertise on the Ithaca College campus.

The solicitation permit application can be found on the Office of Student Engagement website under Campus Wide Solicitation Information. The processing of these applications takes a minimum of three (3) business days.

2.12.1 Definitions

Solicitation:

Solicitation is defined as any active attempt to raise funds through direct sale of merchandise, services, or donations, with or without products or services rendered.  Also, any method of communication intended to induce support of a service, organization, business activity, issue, cause, etc. will be considered solicitation.

Advertising:

Advertising is defined as any method of communication intended to market any product, service, organization, business, activity, etc.

Solicitation Table Permit:

Space for solicitation is typically granted as tables in the Campus Center lobby or Phillips Hall north foyer. Reservations for tabling in the Campus Center must be made in advance on the Office of Student Engagement website using the Solicitation Table Permit Application.

 Advertising Permit:

Off-campus groups must obtain a permit from the Office of Student Engagement to post posters or flyers in any campus buildings, by filing out the Off-campus Flyer Application.  Once issued, permits must be presented on request to College officials. 

On-Campus Groups:

On-campus groups are college-recognized committees and recognized student clubs and organizations, academic departments, administrative departments, and intercollegiate athletic teams.

 On-campus groups must apply for and be granted a solicitation permit in order to solicit on campus.  On-campus groups are exempt from obtaining an advertising permit when the advertising pertains to College business or activities. Advertisements of on-campus organizations must clearly identify the sponsoring organization and include contact information for the group.

Off-campus Groups:

Off-campus groups are defined as all other individuals, businesses, or groups, including members of the Ithaca College community acting as individuals or agents for such businesses or groups.

Off-campus groups must have their sponsoring on-campus group apply for and be granted a solicitation permit to solicit or advertise on campus. Off-campus groups must be sponsored by an on-campus group to obtain a solicitation table permit. .

2.12.2 Solicitation Guidelines

  1. Only on-campus groups may reserve table space for solicitation. Space for solicitation is typically granted as tables in the Campus Center lobby or Phillips Hall North Foyer. Reservations must be made in advance on the Office of Student Engagement website using the Solicitation Table Permit Application.  In order to table in other areas on campus, on-campus groups must arrange this with appropriate staff in that location.
  2. Off-campus groups are only permitted to solicit on-campus with co-sponsorship by an approved Ithaca college organization.
  3. Sponsorship to solicit in or outside of the Campus Center by an off-campus individual, group, or business by an on-campus group must be requested and approved by the Office of Student Engagement.
    1. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring on-campus group to obtain the solicitation table permit.
    2. The sponsoring on-campus group must have a representative present at the solicitation site at all times to ensure all college policies and procedures are being maintained.
  4. Sponsorship of an off-campus individual, group, or business by an on-campus student organization for the purpose of sales or fundraising within the Campus Center must be approved by the Office of Student Engagement. 
    1. The Ithaca College Fundraising Form must be completed and signed by both the student organization or office and a representative of the off-campus individual, group, or business. 
      1. This form must be completed for all fundraising agreements, whether the off-campus individual, group or business will be present on campus.
      2. Generally, a fee of at least 20 percent of the gross sales is returned to the sponsoring on-campus group.
      3. The completed fundraising form will be filed with the solicitation table permit application. 
  1. Solicitation by credit card vendors is prohibited on campus.
  2. Once issued, solicitation permits must be presented on request to College officials.
  3. If a solicitation permit is denied, the applicant may appeal in writing to the Solicitation Committee by emailing ose@ithaca.edu. 
    1. The Solicitation Committee includes representatives from the Office of Student Engagement, Student Affairs and Campus Life, Campus Recreation, the Roy H. Park School of Communications, and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. 
    2. Normally, applicants will be notified of the decision within one week of the date of the appeal. 
    3. Decisions made by the Solicitation Committee are final.
  1. The sale or distribution of food items must meet the requirements of the Tompkins County Health Department The distribution of food that is not provided by Ithaca College must be approved in advance by the Office of Student Engagement and must meet the standards set forth in the document "Ithaca College Food Guidelines for Solicitation”.
  1. Solicitation is strictly prohibited in residence hall rooms and in the dining halls.
  2.  Fundraising through the direct sale of merchandise or services, or the solicitation of donations, with or without products or services rendered, is strictly prohibited in classrooms. 
  3. Any on-campus groups wishing to hold a raffle must be granted approval from the Office of Student Engagement. Raffles sponsored by off-campus groups are prohibited on the Ithaca College campus. 
  4. Solicitations must not disrupt College activities or obstruct or impede entry to or exit from buildings, pedestrian movement, or vehicle traffic flow.
  5. Flyers/advertisements may only be handed out from people sitting behind a registered solicitation table and only to people who approach the table to receive information.
  6. Solicitors may not call out to others and may not approach and hand out flyers/advertisements to others (except as a planned part of an approved program), and must remain behind their table.
  7. Students collecting surveys as part of an assigned class project are permitted to hand out or conduct surveys in common areas on campus providing that no college policies are violated. Solicitation permits are only required if tabling in the campus center or academic quad.
  8. Solicitation or Distribution of Literature by Employees
    1. ​​​​​​​Solicitation and/or distribution of literature to or by employees is prohibited during the employee's working time. Specifically, solicitation by an employee of another employee is prohibited while either employee is on working time. "Working time" does not include meal periods, authorized rest breaks, or any other specific period of the day when employees are not properly engaged in the performance of their work duties.
    2. ​​​​​​​Solicitation and/or distribution of literature in connection with the sale of any products, services, or contributions is subject to the Ithaca College Advertising and Solicitation Policy. Any employee or group of employees, off-campus organization, business, or individual wishing to solicit, canvass, or advertise on the Ithaca College campus must obtain a solicitation permit from the Office of Student Engagement. 

15. Solicitation is permitted on campus only between 9am and 3pm.

2.12.3 Academic Quad Solicitation

  1. On-campus groups may reserve the academic quad for public displays by submitting the “Academic Quad Reservation Application” through the Office of Student Engagement at least three weeks prior to the start date for a reservation. 
    1. ​​​​​​​A maximum of two spaces may be reserved at any given time by an on-campus organization. 
    2. An on-campus organization may reserve the academic quad a maximum of one 3-day period per block.
      1. ​​​​​​​Static displays can remain up for the entire reservation period. If the display will be staffed, staffed and interactive displays can only be between the hours of 9am and 3pm.
      2. Ithaca College will not regulate the content of the displays on the academic quad.  The displays do not necessarily represent the views of the College. The on-campus organization sponsoring the display is solely responsible for its content and message.  No reservation will be approved for a display that violates any Ithaca College policy.
      3. Reservations for the academic quad are restricted to public displays.  No vendors or sales of any type will be permitted in this area.
      4. If a display is not properly removed or damage is caused to campus grounds, the sponsoring organization will be charged to cover the cost of removal and/or the damage
      5. Academic Quad solicitations must follow the same guidelines as indoor solicitation including flyers/advertisements may only be handed out from people sitting behind a registered solicitation table and only to people who approach the table to receive information. Solicitors may not call out to others and may not approach and hand out flyers/advertisements to others (except as a planned part of an approved program) and must remain behind their table.


2.12.4 Advertising Guidelines

  1. On-campus groups may advertise on specific bulletin boards designated for general posting in the Campus Center, residence halls, and academic buildings without stamped approval.
    1. Advertisements of on-campus organizations must clearly identify the sponsoring organization and include contact information for the group including an explicit statement of who to contact if someone is in need of an accommodation to participate and follow the “Accessibility Statement for Pre-Event Publicity.” 
    2. Posters found improperly posted or in conflict with Ithaca College policies will be removed. The sponsor may be subject to disciplinary action.
    3. Only one poster per event or concert is permitted per bulletin board. 
  2. On-campus groups may advertise on specific LCD screens designated for general posting in the Campus Center by filling out the LCD Display Application. 
  3. Off-campus groups must obtain an advertising permit from the Office of Student Engagement to post posters or flyers in any campus buildings by submitting the Off-Campus Flyer Application.
    1. To post in the Campus Center, a group representative from the off-campus group will be required to separate the posters to be stamped by the Office of Student Engagement staff member prior to posting the materials.
    2. To post in residence halls, off-campus groups must present the advertising permit and poster to the Office of Residential Life.
      1. A group representative from the off-campus group will be required to stamp and separate the posters, and the residential life staff will then post the materials.
      2. Residential Life has the right to deny posting in the residence halls even if the material was approved by the Office of Student Engagement. 
  4. If an advertising permit application is denied, the applicant may appeal in writing to the Solicitation Committee by emailing ose@ithaca.edu.

The Solicitation Committee includes representatives from the Office of Student Engagement, Student Affairs and Campus Life, Campus Recreation, the Roy H. Park School of Communications, and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Normally, applicants will be notified of the decision within two weeks of the date of the appeal. Decisions made by the Solicitation Committee are final.

  1. Posters, notices, fliers, etc., may not be attached or applied to waste receptacles, trees, walk surfaces, walls, doors, windows, roads, or vehicles. 
    1. Violators are responsible for necessary cleanup and payment for any damages and may be subject to disciplinary action.
  2. The director of dining services will oversee all fliers and table tents in the dining halls and IC Square by on-campus groups and share information as appropriate on the Dining Services website.

2.12.5 Elections

  1. Candidates in elections for student organizations such as the Student Government Association, Residence Hall Association, or Senior Class will be permitted space outside the Terrace and Towers dining halls for the purpose of distributing campaign information during designated campaign periods. 

 2.12.6General Solicitation and Advertising Guidelines

  1. Students and registered student organizations are subject to all College rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, those outlined in the "Residential Life Guide" , the Student Handbook, the residence hall contract, the student code of conduct, the student organization handbook, and this Policy Manual.
  2. Academic and administrative departments must follow the guidelines set forth in this policy in addition to other applicable College rules and regulations. Violations of this policy and other College rules and regulations may result in revocation of any granted permit and may jeopardize future applications for solicitation and/or advertising permits. Other disciplinary action may also be taken.
  3. This policy applies to College employees. Employees who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action as outlined in Volume V, section 5.5 of this Policy Manual.
  4. Door-to-door solicitation or advertising is strictly prohibited.
  5. All materials for solicitation and/or advertising must clearly and obviously include the sponsor's name and contact information, as well as the clear guidelines about who to contact if accommodations are needed to participate in the activity and follow the campus “Accessibility Statement for Pre-Event Publicity.”
  6. Advertising for events conducted by members of the campus community must comply with the campus policy and guidelines regarding “Resources for Supporting Diverse Abilities on Campus.”
  7. Use of the name "Ithaca College" or the College's logotype on a product (directly or indirectly) or in an advertisement must be approved in advance by the Ithaca College Creative Marketing GroupThe use of the College seal is exclusive to the Office of the President.
  8. No group, including the Ithacan and other College publications, may solicit or advertise programs, events, activities, or businesses that indicate that alcoholic beverages are free or sold at reduced prices or that otherwise appear to encourage unlimited or excessive drinking of alcohol or use of prohibited substances.
  9. Chalking of any surfaces is prohibited.
  10. Advertising or soliciting the sale of term papers or similar services is prohibited.
  11. On-campus recognized student organizations have the ability to post on intercom under the ‘student organizations’ section. Every recognized student organization can identify three students within the organization to post on intercom each year through the recognition process.  
  12. All vehicles used by off-campus groups involved with solicitations and/or advertising must be registered with Ithaca College Parking and Traffic Services.

Last Updated: November 23, 2022