The pandemic canceled campus functions and ISU-sponsored events planned elsewhere. Now, as the state and university gradually reopen, help is available for organizers planning and hosting campus activities.
The large events work group, activated as part of the university's emergency operations team, developed a resource document with input from venue managers, organizers and other experts across campus. The document provides guidance for planning university events held on and off campus, and for external events held in ISU venues -- for example, the June 21 Ames High School commencement ceremony at Hilton Coliseum.
Guidance includes recommendations -- physical distancing, personal hygiene and signage considerations, for example -- and restrictions currently in place, such as occupancy limits and food service options. Organizers must register their campus events in ISU's online authorization system.
Differences in the phased reopening timelines at the state and university levels provide an added challenge for planning campus events. Kurt Beyer, senior analyst in the risk management office and work group chair, said the document, available on the COVID-19 website, will be updated as needed.
"We anticipate the guidelines document to be updated regularly," he said. "Information released from the governor's office, Iowa Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is evolving almost daily."
