Hosting Events with Alcohol

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The Red Ball was a HIV/AIDS awareness and fundraising party presented by SGAC (Student Global AIDS Campaign) and Theta Chi and co-sponsored by The Shaw Wellness Institute and Bunche House. The purpose was to raise money for HIV/AIDS related charities and to raise awareness of issues on campus.
We encourage students to socialize in safe and healthy ways.

The university encourages students to socialize and interact with each other in safe and healthy ways, and students are expected to make responsible choices, particularly if they choose to drink alcohol. As such, Colgate offers a range of events and activities, alcohol education, and reasonable guidelines for event management in an effort to promote student health, safety, and welfare.

We have Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan Exemption policies to help students seek medical care for themselves and their peers. Each year, we dedicate significant resources to support a wide range of alcohol-free programming alternatives through the Dean of the College division.

The university adheres to all existing laws of the local, state, or federal government. Students are responsible for their personal decisions and the impact of their decisions on others and the greater Colgate and village communities.

Please note that the review and approval of events by the Dean of the College division, training provided to event hosts, and any monitoring of events that may occur, are designed to verify that event hosts are aware of, and agree to comply with, these requirements.

The university does not provide risk management evaluations or active supervision of events, and the university’s approval and/or periodic monitoring of an event should not be construed as an undertaking to ensure that the event is safe and/or secure, or that it will be conducted in accordance with these requirements. Rather, as noted above, event hosts and attendees remain responsible for using common sense to protect themselves and others, and for compliance with applicable laws and Colgate’s policies and procedures.

Alcohol Skills Training Program and Policy Training 

Alcohol Skills Training Program (ASTP) is a skills training program specifically designed for college students. The emphasis of the training is on how to handle situations in which individuals have misused alcohol. The materials are focused on the college environment and how your actions can prevent alcohol-related problems. For legal-aged students it will provide the opportunity to learn how to create a responsible drinking environment.  

Policy training is delivered with ASTP and is designed to walk students through the policies and procedures associated with hosting events with alcohol. The training is focused on educating students about the requirements to register and host an event as well as the considerations for event planning. 

Policy training and ASTP are a combined hour and a half long training for student organizations provided free of charge. The training is a prerequisite for student organizations to register an event with alcohol.

At least 75% of a student organization's membership must complete ASTP prior to the Dean of the College reviewing an Event with Alcohol registration form on Get Involved.

Events with Alcohol Policies and Guidelines

Social events with alcohol may not be scheduled when classes are not in session, including new student orientation, reading days and final exam periods. Events with alcohol are not permitted until the conclusion of the Drop/Add period at the beginning of each semester or during the last week of classes through the end of each semester. Additionally events may only occur on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of each week. Events taking place inside must conclude by 2am, while events taking place outside must conclude by 12am. All dates outside of the aforementioned approved times requires explicit approval from the Dean of Students or the Dean of the College.

Catered events requiring a liquor license and/or outdoor events involving amplified sound require approval by the University at least three weeks in advance of the event, regardless of the time of night or day for which it is scheduled. 

Click the event type that corresponds to the event you will be hosting to learn more about your responsibilities as the host:

Private Event

Organized functions held in the common areas of a college house, common areas of a residence hall, fraternity or sorority, apartment or townhouse where alcohol is served to of-age residents of that residential unit and their guest(s), with a minimum of twenty-five (25) but not to exceed sixty-five (65) attendees.

 

Large-Invitation Event

Organized functions held in the common areas of a college house, common space of a residence hall, fraternities and sororities, apartment or townhouse where alcohol is served to of-age students, and that exceed sixty-five (65) attendees.

 

Catered Event

Organized functions held inside or outside a college house, common space in a residence hall, fraternities and sororities, Parker Commons or other approved large campus venues where alcohol is served to of-age students by a licensed caterer and that are open to students of Colgate University.

Social Hosting Locations

There are a variety of locations on and off campus that students may choose to host an event with alcohol. The Hall of Presidents, Parker Commons (The MAT), Donovan's Pub, the Palace Theatre, and the COOP TV room are just a few options students can utilize. Student organizations should reach out to their advisor and discuss which location best fits their needs as they begin to plan their event.