COVID-19: Campus Event Guidelines
Event Organizers and Sponsors,

Idaho State University continues to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak, and the safety and well-being of our entire campus community, including visitors, is our top priority. We are closely collaborating with federal, state, and local agencies to implement best practices aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. Please remember this is an evolving situation and future updates will be shared.

This email will specifically address COVID-19 and campus events.

Events will be postponed and mass gatherings canceled in any of the following situations:
The event will be held indoors and bring together more than 250 individuals where social
distancing of six feet or more is unlikely or not possible.
  • The event’s primary audience includes or may expose high-risk populations, including adults
  • over the age of 60 years and/or people with underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes, regardless of the number of attendees.
  • The event will draw audiences or participants from communities, states, or countries with confirmed community spread of COVID-19 disease. 

If you would like assistance to determine if your event fits within these guidelines, please email communications@isu.edu . Please include the name of the event, total projected attendance, date of the event, and venue. You will receive a response within 1-2 business days.  

It is your responsibility as an event organizer or sponsor to communicate the cancellation or postponement of your event.
Event Cancellation or Postpone Verbiage
Please use the following message as a template to notify and inform your guests:

Idaho State University continues to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak, and the safety and well-being of our entire campus community, including visitors, is our top priority. The University is strictly following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and state and local health officials. Due to these guidelines, (INSERT EVENT) has been canceled or postponed until a later date. Please contact ( NAME) if you have any questions or need additional information. (IF APPLICABLE, INSERT REFUND INFORMATION) 

Please note that the University's leadership team is meeting regularly to monitor and discuss the ongoing situation, with our highest priority to keep our campus community safe and healthy.
Event Recommendations
As a University event organizer or sponsor, we are asking you to implement a number of best practices and recommendations if the scheduled event does not meet the requirements for cancelation: 

  • Submit all events to the University Event Calendar. This allows our COVID-19 response team to track and monitor campus activities.
  • As it makes sense, keep records of RSVPs and attendees.
  • Send staff and volunteers home who do not feel well.
  • Develop plans and procedures in case you need to cancel or postpone an event.
  • Provide alcohol-based sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) in food serving and dining areas. These could be units available on individual tables, in food lines, or stationed in easily accessible areas within the dining section.
  • During the event, display signs reminding participants of preventative measures. Idaho State has two branded posters available for download.
  • Eliminate self-serve bowls of items like pretzels and chips. Provide single-serving packages or pre-filled single-serving bowls instead.
  • Event setup should minimize the proximity of food to the flow of pedestrian traffic.
  • Promote messages that discourage anyone who is feeling ill from attending or working at the event.
  • If possible, provide options for remote viewing of your event (Zoom, YouTube, or Facebook live).

If you have additional questions about COVID-19 and your event, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Marketing and Communications. In an effort to limit conflicting information or the sharing of misinformation, all communications related to COVID-19 require University approval.

I appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to monitor this evolving situation.

––Stuart


Stuart Summers
Associate Vice President
Marketing and Communications
Send comments, feedback, and questions to communications@isu.edu .