There are many ways to promote your organization and its events on the Indiana University campus. You can advertise online and in student publications. You can pitch a news story to the student television station. You can even have your message printed on the back of a bus.
Whether you are hanging posters on the IU campus or creating them with your skills, be sure to read the university’s promotional guidelines first.
Self-governed student organizations (SGSOs) on all Indiana University campuses have an official branded mark for use on marketing materials and merchandise. Use of this mark indicates that your organization is an official SGSO at Indiana University. This mark is designed to be used with (not in place of) your organization’s logo to indicate your organization’s affiliation with Indiana University. Several versions of the approved mark can be downloaded from the University Policies Student Organization policy page.
All student organizations must comply with the university’s Licensing and Trademark Policy, which in part states:
University Student Organizations (USOs) should work with the marketing personnel/units in their individual departments to make sure that they adhere to IU’s brand guidelines.
Posters and fliers for bulletin boards must be approved by the department or office manager in the building’s central office.
Submit your posters or fliers to Residential Programs and Services, 801 N. Eagleson Avenue, for approval. As a courtesy, only two posters or fliers will be hung at each residence hall. Posting is prohibited in Union Street Center.
Promotional materials, including posters and fliers, placed on wooden kiosks do not require preapproval. There is one kiosk located behind the Jacobs School of Music addition.
The self-governed student organization (SGSO) shall, without exception, include the following statement in any of the SGSO’s written materials, as well as on all pages of any SGSO website or social media page:
“Although this organization has members who are Indiana University students and may have University employees associated or engaged in its activities and affairs, the organization is not a part of or an agency of the University. It is a separate and independent organization which is responsible for and manages its own activities and affairs. The University does not direct, supervise or control the organization and is not responsible for the organization’s contracts, acts or omissions.”
The SGSO will also include the following statement within the publication in a type and size that is clear and legible to the reader:
“[NAME OF SGSO], an independent student organization located at Indiana University, produced and is responsible for the content of this publication. This publication was not reviewed or approved by, nor does it necessarily express or reflect the policies or opinions of, Indiana University or its designated representatives.”
Chalking is a temporary form of communication, typically used for meeting callouts or immediate responses to current events. Therefore, it is permitted only in open areas on horizontal surfaces, such as sidewalks and plazas, which can reasonably be expected to be reached by rain and are not covered by an overhang.
Chalking is prohibited in the following areas:
Violations of these guidelines constitute grounds for removal of the material by the campus Facilities Office, which reserves the right to charge for the cost of removal and any associated repairs. Individuals or organizations that violate these guidelines may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct, Bias Incident Reporting Team, and/or the IU Police Department. They may also be subject to civil or criminal charges (such as vandalism), in addition to discipline under the student or employee disciplinary process appropriate to the nature of their relationship to the university.
If you believe that a chalking or bridge painting violates university policy, you may file a complaint with the Office of Student Life by using the Bias Incident Reporting Form.
