University Alcohol Policy
Policy Statement
The use and sale of alcoholic beverages in University facilities on the Springfield campus is governed by this policy. Any proposed use or sale of alcoholic beverages outside of the parameters set forth in this policy must be approved in writing by the President of the University. Facility managers are responsible for the approval and supervision of the sale, distribution, and presence of alcohol within their facilities and the Athletic Development Office must maintain responsibility for the authorization and planning of tailgate functions within the following parameters:
Sporting Events
The sale of alcohol shall be by a state-licensed vendor that has a contractual relationship with the facility and/or the University.
- JQH Arena: beer and wine (no spirits) may only be sold and consumed in the suites, loge seats, and the PRIME Overtime Club, subject to all applicable laws and regulations.
- Hammons Field: The Board of Governors has authorized the possession and consumption of beer by individuals 21 years of age, or older at Hammons Field, an off-campus facility. The sale and consumption of alcohol is exclusively controlled by the management of Hammons Field.
- Plaster Sports Complex: beer and wine (no spirits) shall only be sold and consumed in the Sky Boxes, subject to all applicable laws and regulations.
Tailgate Functions
The possession and consumption of alcohol is currently associated with home football games under the auspices of the Athletics Development Office. Expansion to other intercollegiate sports must be initiated by the Athletics Development Office and advance planning must include Safety and Transportation, Facilities Management, and the Office of Student Engagement. Tailgate functions are exclusively for the enjoyment of fans attending the home athletic event. They may include community groups and student organizations registered according to established guidelines as well as individuals, individual families, or other small groups.
The following policies remain in effect for current and future tailgate functions:
- Alcohol may only be consumed in designated lots, no more than four hours in advance of the start of the sporting event, and all consumption must end at the start of the event.
- Only persons age 21 and older may possess or consume alcohol.
- All participating community groups must register three days in advance with the Athletics Development Office and all participating student organizations must register three days in advance with the Office of Student Engagement. Any registered group that provides alcohol must also make available non-alcoholic beverages and food.
- No kegs or other large containers of alcoholic beverages are permitted in the tailgate area.
- No open containers of alcohol are permitted outside of the scheduled tailgate times and locations.
Conference Services and Special Events
There are a number of campus facilities that are frequently available for rental or the hosting of University special events, namely the Darr Agricultural Center, the Plaster Student Union, the Kentwood Hall Crystal Room, and the Meyer Alumni Center Hospitality Room. Groups and organizations that reserve University facilities for special events through Conference Services may request that the event catering include the service of beer and/or wine. Such catering may only be performed by the University’s dining services provider. Requests for alcoholic beverage service will only be considered when access to the event is limited and can be carefully monitored for compliance with alcohol beverage laws and ordinances.
JQH Arena (non-sporting events)
The University’s contracted food and beverage vendor for JQH Arena shall have the opportunity to sell beer/wine in the private areas in the venue. For the purposes of this policy, private areas are defined as suites and the Prime Overtime Club. Further, the University’s contracted food and beverage vendor for JQH Arena may, with the permission of the venue’s management, engage in the sale of wine and beer to patrons attending specific events. Consumption of beer and wine shall be restricted to the general lobby areas and inside the auditorium. Containers (sealed or unsealed) shall not be allowed to leave the permitted spaces or removed from the premises. The University shall not allow sales of beer and/or wine outside the private areas of the venue at University presented events featuring performances by University students. Typically, beer/wine service outside the private areas of the venue will be available only at events where the venue is leased by an outside promoter. In any case, the President of the institution shall be consulted regarding the appropriateness of beer/wine sales.
The University’s contracted food and beverage vendor shall be responsible for application and maintenance of appropriate sales certificates as required by the city, state, etc. Only employees of the contracted vendor shall sell/serve beer and/or wine and shall be responsible for evaluation and verification of age and sobriety status for any party consuming or purchasing said items.
Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts
The University’s contracted food and beverage vendor for Juanita K. Hammons Hall shall, with the permission of the venue’s management, engage in the sale of wine and beer to patrons attending an event. Consumption of beer and wine shall be restricted to the general lobby areas and generally will not be permitted inside the auditorium. Containers (sealed or unsealed) shall not be allowed to leave the permitted spaces or removed from the premises. The University shall not allow sales of beer and/or wine at University presented events featuring performances by University students. Typically, beer/wine service will be available only at events where the venue is leased by an outside promoter or select University presented events. In any case, the President of the institution shall be consulted regarding the appropriateness of beer/wine sales.
Residence Hall Staff Apartments
Residence hall directors and assistant directors are uniquely situated on the University campus. The duties and responsibilities require that directors and assistant directors live in on campus apartments and these are their permanent residences. The 1993 Alcohol Policy Task Force recommended that these staff members be authorized to possess and consume alcohol in their apartments. The policy for the possession and consumption of alcohol by residence hall directors and assistant hall directors should be established by the Director of Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services, who is responsible for the direction and supervision of the Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services program. At a minimum, policies should require that alcohol is never consumed in the presence of a residence hall student or by anyone under the age of 21.
Residents of Monroe Apartments (and other residence halls approved by the Director of Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services and the President) are not prohibited from possession and consumption of alcohol in their apartments if they are above the legal drinking age pursuant to Missouri law.
Revision of the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Program
Action on any of the above recommendations should be followed by a careful review of the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Program by the staff of the Dean of Students for any necessary revisions. Proposed revisions should then be presented to the President and his Administrative Council for approval.
Authority
September 15, 2006 Board of Governors Resolution which delegated the authority to approve the use of alcoholic beverages in designated University facilities to the President of the University and authorized the President to further delegate to the Chancellors of West Plains and The Mountain Groves campuses such authority for those campuses.
Responsible Administrator and Office: Vice President of Student Affairs
Contact Person in that Office: Dean of Students
Procedures for informing university community: Annual Notice to Students and Employees
Changes approved by the Board of Governors: February 8, 2013