Legal issues affecting event management at colleges and universities
The term “event management” encompasses a wide variety of activities associated with universities and colleges. This outline is designed to serve as a checklist for varied legal issues which arise from such activities. Given the breadth and depth of the issues involved in event management, it is imperative that policies and procedures receive careful review by legal counsel – preferably before implementation.
Event at colleges and universities occur in the context of 1.) the institution’s mission, 2.) existing written and unwritten institutional policies and procedures, 3.) institutional resources, 4.) analysis of potential benefits balanced with potential risks. New situations often test the limits of an institution’s policies and procedures.
1. Areas of potential legal duty and liability
A. Duties arising from relationships. The law recognizes certain duties, under tort law, which arise from the nature of the relationship between individuals and institutions. If the duty created by the relationship is breached, the injured party may be awarded damages in a lawsuit. For institutions of higher education, persons who use institutional facilities can be classified generally in the following groups:
1. Students
2. Employees
3. Volunteers
4. Tenants- including students, faculty and other employees, conference attenders or others who are tenants in the institution’s premises.
5. Authorized visitors
6. Trespassers