Faculty And Staff Resources

USC Annenberg Events

Guided by USC’s Unifying Values, the university supports opportunities for faculty, staff and students to promote an array of diverse views and to positively enhance the campus community through events. USC especially encourages events that directly support the academic mission of the university, expand cultural awareness, and/or are primarily intellectual or educational in nature. 

USC has adopted guidelines for events in order to enrich the academic experience while maintaining the importance of safety and security within the campus community. For an overview of the rights, responsibilities, and limits on the exercise of free speech and expression in USC’s academic environment, consult Living Our Unifying Values: The USC Student Handbook.

The policies outlined here are University and USC Annenberg-specific policies. If you submit an event, you have agreed that you have read the following policies.

The contents of this page are:

For an overview of the events process at USC Annenberg, watch the training video here (requires USC login). You can also access the slide deck for this training here (requires USC login).

What is an event?

The University of Southern California defines an activity as an event when one or more of the following criteria is/are met:

  • Gathering of 25+ people 
  • The activity utilizes university, school, department, unit or organizational funds;
  • An instructor invites USC students, faculty and/or staff not enrolled in their course to a specific class meeting for the purposes of hearing guest speaker(s), a screening, etc.;
  • The USC or USC Annenberg name is used in the advertising or marketing of an activity;
  • The activity serves as a promotional or recruitment mechanism for a USC Registered Student Organization (RSO)

This includes events held virtually as well as those on USC’s campuses and buildings, and at all off-campus locations/facilities, whether owned by USC or a third party.

Space usage and priorities

No department or unit maintains control of their space, although specific approvals may be built-in to request processes for some spaces to allow priority for primary users or to comply with external standards or accreditation requirements. General-use spaces must be scheduled in order to prevent unreasonable interference with or disruption of USC Annenberg’s educational, research, outreach, and business functions, and normal or scheduled uses of university facilities and property.

USC Annenberg receives frequent requests for facilities and resources. While much scheduling is handled on a first-come-first-served basis, when scheduling conflicts persist, the priority of requests will be honored in the following manner:

  1. USC Key Events* as determined by the University President, Provost and/or Dean
  2. USC Annenberg Key Events* as determined by the Dean and Events Council**
  3. Requests by USC Annenberg academic departments, schools, and institutes
  4. Requests for events put on by USC Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) registered with USC Student Life
  5. Requests by USC administrative departments operating on behalf of the university
  6. USC or USC Annenberg co-sponsored external events (as defined in section E below)
  7. Non-University (external) events with a clear benefit or mission fit to the school and/or university
  8. Non-University (external) events without a clear benefit or mission fit to the school and/or university

*USC Annenberg Key Events include but are not limited to Commencement, New Student Assembly, Involvement Fair, New Graduate Student Reception, and Trojan Family Weekend.

**On a recurring basis, Events Council meetings will take place to determine which events should be considered Key Events, discuss conflicts, and agree upon restricted dates. Current restricted dates include the four weeks prior to Commencement.

This prioritization ranking will guide all scheduling procedures for USC Annenberg facilities. The Events Council holds the authority to modify the master schedule to ensure the preservation of this prioritization, with a particular emphasis on Key Events. In cases where conflicting events require adjustments to their location, date, timing, or other aspects, Events Council will make diligent efforts to identify suitable alternative accommodations.

Availability of event space at USC Annenberg

Space reservations in Wallis Annenberg Hall (ANN) and Annenberg School for Communication (ASC) are only available to USC Annenberg faculty and staff. Kerckhoff Hall (KER) is not available for events. All events require faculty or staff affiliation. If you are a member of the USC community wishing to hold an event in a USC Annenberg facility, please obtain faculty or staff affiliation or your event will not be considered.

Please note, any USC Annenberg staff or faculty hosting an event elsewhere on campus that is not in Wallis Annenberg Hall (ANN) or Annenberg School for Communication (ASC) is fully responsible for booking and planning all event logistics through Trojan Event Services. 

Requesting an event

To host an event, you must complete two important steps in order to comply with the university’s events policy:

  1. Submit the USC Annenberg Event Request Form at the bottom of this page. Once USC Annenberg’s Events Council has reviewed your event request, you will be notified via email if your event has been approved or declined. 
  2. Once your event venue is approved, you must next submit a USC Event Permit Application, which will automatically share your event information with departments on campus integral to the process, including Fire and Safety, USC Hospitality, Department of Public Safety, USC Transportation, and Facilities Planning and Management. Each of these departments are required to sign-off on your application before it is officially approved.

Please keep in mind:

  • All events must be submitted first to the USC Annenberg Event Request Form and upon approval submitted via the USC Event Permit Application. Events for which both forms are not completed will be considered out of compliance with university policy and will not be supported.
  • Submitting either form, receiving confirmation that an event request has been received and reserving a space for an event does not constitute an approval. You will be notified via email when both requests have been approved.
  • A representative from the team who is responsible for the event must fill out the request. USC Annenberg faculty members should work with their respective school office’s staff to submit the form. The Office of Communication and Marketing or Technical Services and Operations may not submit on your behalf.
  • The USC Annenberg Event Request Form must be submitted at least four weeks in advance to allow time for review. USC Annenberg’s Events Council meets weekly on Tuesday mornings to review requests from the prior week. The USC Event Permit Application must be submitted at least three weeks in advance.
  • No social events may take place during university study days or final exams.

USC Annenberg events on campus

The event guidelines below are provided to ensure the safety and inclusion of all guests and help you host and coordinate a successful event at USC Annenberg. If you are hosting an on-campus event, you are required to do the following (below), depending on the needs of your event. Please allow yourself a minimum of 4 – 6 weeks to plan your special event, although more time may be needed depending on your event size, audience, goals or programming. 

Requirements and responsibilities

After confirming your space reservation via the USC Annenberg Event Request Form, filling out the USC Event Permit Application and receiving your event ID number, you will receive an auto-response email from USC Fire and Safety, USC Hospitality, Department of Public Safety, USC Transportation and Facilities Planning and Management with further information. This permit number will be required on various forms such as FPM form and USC Hospitality catering contracts.

Based on the needs of your event, you may be required to fulfill additional requirements to host your event on campus. Please use the section below as a supplementary, informational resource if you are required to fulfill the additional logistical and/or coordinating requirements.

Each unit within USC Annenberg is responsible for covering all costs associated with their events. These costs include, but are not limited to, furniture/linen rentals, moving services to remove and store existing furniture from buildings, external AV/tech support, catering, security, and USC Facilities Planning and Management costs (i.e. Aramark custodial support, electrical support for external power, permits and licensing). Keep in mind that all approved weekend events in USC Annenberg facilities require security services and external AV/tech support. Each unit within USC Annenberg is responsible for obtaining their own dean approvals, POs, and prompt payments for all vendors they engage.

Serving food

Find a list of USC Approved vendors and their websites here.

If you plan on serving food at your event, you may be required to:

  • Submit a catering approval form to USC Auxiliary Services to ensure you are working with a USC-approved vendor: cateringapprovals.usc.edu/foodrequests/new.
  • Journalism and Communication faculty members should contact their respective school offices for assistance with serving food at their events.
  • Important information regarding food at your event:
    • Single-use plastic water bottles are no longer allowed on campus.
    • Requests for food containing homemade items will not be approved.
    • You do not need to provide documentation (health permits, insurance, etc.) for items sourced from national grocery chains like Costco, Smart and Final, Vons, Ralphs, etc. Please keep in mind that these items must all be pre-made and pre-packaged.
    • Event requests with self-BBQ for more than 35 guests will not be approved.
    • Auxiliary Services will not approve food and beverage forms unless they have confirmed that all required documents have been submitted and are current.
    • Be mindful of guest flow for food and buffet stations and consider double-sided buffets when possible. 
    • Label food for those with dietary restrictions and allergies and ensure you have 1-2 vegan options for vegans and vegetarians.
  • If your food service includes a food truck, you are also required to request parking for the food truck using this form at least 5 business days in advance: http://cateringapprovals.usc.edu/parkingrequests/new
    • Food trucks parked next to ANN Alumni Plaza in the fire line must also be approved by USC Department of Fire and Safety (DPS) at firesafety@admin.usc.edu.
    • The location of the food truck must also be approved by DPS and Fire Safety in advance. This includes the arrival/departure path for the truck. Pedestrian safety must be taken into account and planned for accordingly.
    • You must hire a food truck that is an approved vendor (documentation similar to any other caterer), have a fire extinguisher on board, protect the ground from oil/grease spills, etc.
    • You must pay for an oversized parking permit which is $50 per day and must be paid with a requisition.
    • Food trucks may come to campus in the capacity of catering for an event and must be contracted as you would any other caterer: select a menu, negotiate pricing for a specific number of guests and arrange payment. Cash sales from a food truck are not allowed. Please use hosp.approvals@usc.edu for all email communications and questions relative to food and beverage approval with USC Hospitality.

Serving alcohol

If you plan on serving alcohol at your event, you are required to:

  • Submit an alcohol request form for approval. The Facility Director to sign this form is Jim Yoder. Final approval must be acquired within two weeks of your event date. If the event is within two weeks, please note serving alcohol is contingent upon approval. 
    • Alcohol request forms are required any time alcohol is served at an event, regardless of vendor. 

Important information regarding serving alcohol at your event:

  • All alcohol must be served by a university-approved vendor. Self-service bars (either by guests or department staff) are not allowed and will be denied. 
  • Serving and consuming alcohol should always be complementary or secondary to the event, not the primary focus of the event.
  • Alcohol-only events will not be approved. A variety of food items must be provided for all guests, as the consumption of food slows down the absorption of alcohol.
  • Your caterer being approved to serve food on campus does not mean that they are approved to serve alcohol. If they are not approved, they (or you) will need to subcontract an approved vendor for that service.
  • Guests must be id-checked or wrist-banded if they are 21+. Please coordinate with the bar service or distribute during check in.
  • Serving alcohol at events may require the presence of a Department of Public Safety (DPS) officer.
  • The university may limit the number of alcoholic drinks per person at an event.

​Installing a stage, chairs, event rentals, etc

If you plan on installing a stage or other large furniture in an Annenberg space, you are required to:

  • Meet with Jim Yoder jyoder@usc.edu and Patricia Carvajal pcarvaja@usc.edu to discuss the size of the stage needed for your event, stage delivery, installation and pick up logistics to adhere to our facilities and event schedule.
  • Special event rentals may involve the removal of existing building furniture and will require additional logistics.Please contact Patricia Carvajal at pcarvaj@usc.edu.
  • Pay for the cost of event rentals directly to a rental company (cost varies based on availability and delivery schedule). 
  • Be on site during the delivery and pick up of the rentals. 
  • Ensure all event rentals remain on site during an event and are picked up. If any items are missing, the event host will be charged a “shortage” fee. Tech Ops is not responsible for shortage. 

Stage sizes for ANN Forum:

  • Large stage: 8’ x 16’ x 12” Biljax stage covered in gray turf or carpet
  • Small stage: 8’ x 12’ x 12” Biljax stage covered in gray turf or carpet
  • Speaker stand: 8’ x 8’ x 12” Biljax stage covered in gray turf or carpet

Linens sizes for cocktail tables in ANN & ASC: 120” round linen.

Audio/Visual

  • If you are hosting an event outside (ANN Alumni Plaza, ASC East Patio) and need access to power for speakers, lighting, etc., you must submit an FPM Request form and request an electrician to unlock the electrical boxes. Please note you are responsible for this fee as TechOps cannot unlock the electrical boxes.
  • If you need audio/visual services for your event that are not covered by Annenberg TechOps, you are required to rent from a USC-approved vendor familiar with our setup and equipment, such as:
    • Take One Production, contact Jim Yoder about your A/V needs and he will book direct with our Sales Manager at Take One.

Security

  • Fencing, staffing, identification checks, and the need for other security requirements will be determined by the Department of Public Safety (DPS), using considerations including but not limited to the history of the event, scale of the event, nature of the event, liability and risk, health considerations, construction, and sponsorship.
  • Serving alcohol at events may require the presence of a Department of Public Safety (DPS) officer.
  • If you need crowd management for your event, this service is subcontracted with Contemporary Security Corporation (CSC) on a 4-hour minimum. Please let Patricia Carvajal and Jim Yoder know if you will require CSC personnel. Keep in mind that weekend events held in ASC or ANN require CSC coverage. 
    • Our CSC Sales Manager is: Rose Stephens, contact at rstephens@csc-usa.com.
    • Event host is responsible for paying CSC directly.

Misrepresentation

Individual students, RSOs, and/or employees of the university may not reserve space for personal or commercial purposes. Student organizations may not reserve space for the purpose of allowing off-campus vendors or organizations to advertise or sell items. Groups doing so will be held responsible for misrepresenting themselves and their organizations.

Parking

  • If your guests will be parking on campus, please fill out the USC Transportation Office parking reservation form below. It is the responsibility of the host to either pay for parking via a departmental requisition or to communicate with guests the current price of parking. Parking pricing can be viewed here.
    • transnet.usc.edu/index.php/parking-reservations
    • If your event is hosted in Wallis Annenberg Hall (ANN), the closest parking structure is the Downey Way Parking Structure. 
    • If your event is in the Annenberg School for Communication (ASC), the closest parking structure is the Royal Parking Structure. 
    • A UPC and HSC campus map that can be shared with guests can be found here. 
    • If you need special parking arrangements for caterers or other vendors who need to park near the building, special permitting is required.

ADA/Accessibility

USC values the equitable and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into all aspects of campus life. As such, all units have a shared responsibility to make their events accessible to all. In most cases, creating accessible events is free or low-cost and requires only modest planning. Please see information below from the USC Institutional Accessibility and ADA Compliance Office.

  • Event organizers are responsible for coordinating and funding accessibility requests for all attendees of any USC-affiliated event held on or off campus. Events should be planned with accessibility in mind to minimize the potential for last-minute event changes or additional costs.
  • The building location and event space or meeting room should be accessible to all attendees. Choose a location with accessible entrances, ramps, elevators, and restrooms. If your event is taking place in a grassy area, consider potential pathways for individuals in wheelchairs (wide, smooth, level, and void of hazards or obstructions) and key areas of equal access to the event itself (i.e., if flooring or Astroturf needs to be laid).
  • The room, seating, and aisle spacing should be arranged so that attendees who are blind, have low vision, or use a wheelchair or other mobility devices are able to move about safely and independently. Furniture should be arranged to allow for ease of travel through pathways that are free of hazards and/or protruding objects.
  • If tables or desks are used, ensure that adjustable height options are available upon request and clear pathways exist between tables that would accommodate individuals utilizing wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
  • Additionally, if serving food and beverages, consider table height and whether an individual utilizing a wheelchair would be able to reasonably access service tables.
  • Assembly areas with fixed seating (e.g. theaters, stadiums, etc.) must provide a range of built-in seating locations to allow people using wheelchairs to choose where to position themselves to view activities and/or performances.  
  • Additional considerations for individuals with mobility concerns include considering pathways (free of stairs, protruding objects, slopes, and ability to maneuver around desks, tables, and chairs). 
  • Attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing may need reserved seating near the speaker, interpreters or captioning. Reserved seating should have a clear line of vision to speakers and/or visuals. Individuals using assistive listening devices may or may not need seating closer to speakers depending on the type of device.
  • Event organizers, or their designee, must be available during the event to inform attendees about the location of accessible restrooms, elevators, building location, assistive listening devices, and room setup. All staff must be informed of the basic accessibility of the event space and be provided with the contact information of designated staff members who can assist with accessibility concerns.
  • The number of chairs removed for wheelchairs depends on the total seating refer to the table below. Wheelchair locations should be integrated with the general seating areas and a companion seat should be available next to each wheelchair location.
Capacity of seating in assembly areas Number of required wheelchair seating locations
4 to 25 1
26 to 50 2
51 to 150 4
151 to 300 5
301 to 500 6
501 to 5000 6, plus 1 for each 150, or fraction thereof
5001 and over 36, plus 1 for each 200, or fraction thereof

Number of required wheelchair locations based on seating capacity.

The number of wheelchair locations required is related to seating capacity and, with some exceptions, must be interspersed within conventional seating areas so patrons have a choice of location/ticket price. Wheelchair seating capacity goals must be met or exceeded in assembly areas where moveable chairs are used for temporary events.

Sustainability

Please see recommendations below from the USC Office of Sustainability. Please note while not required, we do recommend implementing when possible to create a more sustainable environment.

  • To reduce your carbon footprint, reduce the amount of meat you serve and/or consider serving a vegetarian menu.
  • Stop waste before it starts. Consider not giving away swag.
  • Go digital by sending invitations through email lists and social networking sites. Don’t print your materials. Use computers for presenting.
  • Reduce single occupancy car trips and use Traveler to find alternative transportation options.
  • Food leftovers end up in landfill, so be mindful of portion control. USC has eliminated single-use plastic beverage bottles from campus. Use hydration stations, water coolers/dispensers, and water fountains instead.
  • Work with vendors who supply reusable service ware such as plates, glasses, cutlery, stir sticks, platters, and serving materials.
  • Provide composting bins and contact FPM a day prior to the event to schedule compost pickup post-event. Assign volunteers to help guests recycle and compost properly.
  • FPM can provide waste bins with “landfill” and “recycling” signage. Check out RecycLA.com for more waste sorting instructions and signage. Place waste diversion bins in high-traffic areas during the event, including setup and breakdown. Make sure recycling items are clean and dry so they don’t contaminate the recycling bin.

The event guidelines above are provided to ensure the safety and inclusion of all guests and help you host a successful event at USC Annenberg. Our hope is that over time, hosting an event will become more familiar and manageable. If you need assistance with your USC Annenberg event please contact Senior Events Coordinator, Jessica Samiley at jsamiley@usc.edu, Patricia Carvajal at pcarvaja@usc.edu and Special Events Technical Production Coordinator, Jim Yoder at jyoder@usc.edu. They can help answer any questions about the university event procedures and best practices.

Sponsorship activation

An activation is any event that brings a non-university affiliated company or business onto campus solely to market its products or services. Often, sponsoring companies will approach Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) about booking their event on campus, or promoting their brand, in exchange for money or products. The university does not permit RSOs to engage in sponsorship activations.

Campus Activities is permitted to approve requests for Sponsorship Activations on behalf of USC Student Life. USC Student Government (USG & GSG) is the only student-led entity at USC that is permitted to utilize sponsorship activations, in collaboration with Campus Activities, and is limited to booking two sponsorship activations per semester. Additional activations may be permitted with approval from Campus Activities. All activations must be approved by Campus Activities (campusactivities@usc.edu).

Cancellation of events

The University of Southern California, including USC Annenberg, reserves the right to cancel any scheduled event (in whole or in part) and/or suspend any future reservation(s) if the group does not comply with USC policies and procedures; if complaints are received for disturbing academic classes or other events; or, if USC officials cannot ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff, and/or visitors.

USC Annenberg events online

Online event requests must be submitted to the USC Annenberg Event Request form at https://annenberg.usc.edu/eventrequest. 

The host is responsible for all aspects involved with coordinating the online event, including the creation of the Zoom meeting link under their USC Zoom account. In addition, the host must be present during the online event for purposes of moderating, assigning co-hosts, admitting attendees from the waiting room, etc. 

Event marketing and promotion

To receive promotional support, an event must be submitted and approved through the USC Annenberg Event Request Form linked at the bottom of this page. See the policy above for requesting an event.

Available forms of promotion

Event listings on the USC Annenberg website

  • If you would like an event listing on the USC Annenberg website, indicate “Yes” in the associated field on the Event Request Form. 
  • Event listings are applicable to events that are a) open to the public, b) open to a large part of the USC Annenberg community, including students, alumni, parents and families, etc. Events that are private meetings, closed gatherings, or are otherwise exclusive should not request an event listing. 

Event listings on the USC Central Events Calendar

  • If you would like your event shared to the USC Central Events Calendar, indicate “Yes” on the associated field in the Events Request Form. Once the USC Annenberg Office of Communication and Marketing has received and processed your request, we will submit it on your behalf.

RSVP forms

  • If you would like an event RSVP included with promotion, please indicate “Yes” in the associated field on the Event Request Form. 
  • Any event requestor, whether their event is closed or not, hosted through USC Annenberg can request an official RSVP form via the form above. You do not need to have an event listing on the USC Annenberg website to request an RSVP form.
  • If you have created your own RSVP form, e.g. a Google form, Zoom registration form, etc., you may include that on your event request in the Event Request Form in the appropriate field and it will be used in promotional materials.
  • If you would like an RSVP form created for you, the Office of Communication and Marketing can facilitate this. Please note that event RSVP forms created through USC Annenberg’s RSVP system (Formstack) must be created and edited by the Office of Communication and Marketing. Direct creation or editing of RSVP forms in USC Annenberg’s RSVP system is not permitted.
  • If you are serving food at your event, an RSVP form is a great place to ask for dietary restrictions and allergies. 
  • Please monitor your RSVP form for your event guest list, requests, questions, or special accommodations. 

Email outreach

  • The USC Annenberg Office of Communication and Marketing sends out a weekly events newsletter to faculty, staff and students every Monday morning during the school year containing all events for the coming week. All events that appear on the USC Annenberg website will be listed in this event newsletter.
    • In order for your event to appear in USC Annenberg’s weekly events newsletter, it must have been submitted and approved by Thursday at noon the week before your proposed event.
  • Event hosts are responsible for all other email outreach. Requests for separate emails sent by the Office of Communication and Marketing to promote a single event will not be permitted.

Event photography

  • ​USC Annenberg has begun to post recent event photos to a new university-wide digital asset management platform. You can view and search photos here: annenberg.usc.edu/eventphotos.
  • Previously, USC Annenberg used Flickr as a photo archive. As we move photos over to the new platform, you can still find select photos from 2023 and earlier on our Flickr page.

Event request form

Submit an Event

If you need assistance with your USC Annenberg event, please contact Senior Event Coordinator, Patricia Carvajal at pcarvaja@usc.edu and Special Events Technical Production Coordinator, Jim Yoder at jyoder@usc.edu. They can help answer any questions about the university event procedures and best practices after you have submitted your event.