American University recognizes the need to use advertising to effectively promote its offerings of educational opportunities, co-curricular activities, cultural events, recreational services, athletic competitions, and employment opportunities to its constituencies. All advertisements must follow the General Regulations on Posting Materials to help set out conditions and procedures to advertise on-campus in an attractive and orderly manner, when applicable.
Student Activities provides approval for all recognized student organizations to use the several different methods to publicize their events and activities to the general public.
All flyers, half sheets, posters, banners and other types of publicity for your events and activities must be approved by your Student Activities advisor. The poster approval process and the postering policy are important pieces of information for all club and organization leaders.
**In an effort to be more eco-friendly, offers organizations the advantage of using our electronic poster approval process. Email samarketing@american.edu with an attachment of your poster and we will send it back with a digital stamp. We hope that this will not only be more environmentally friendly but also decrease the turnaround time for approval.
General Posting Boards
The University Center has two open posting boards for events and programs: one in the Butler Pavilion 3rd floor elevator lobby and one inside the Mary Graydon Center Tavern. The University Center will monitor these boards daily removing out-of-date or improper materials. All postings should meet the following criteria: Must be an event or program targeting AU students, faculty, or staff; Single occurrence events or monthly programming calendars with host contact information, date, time, and location specified; and be 11"x17" or smaller.
Electronic Displays
The University Center houses five electronic displays within the Mary Graydon Center and Butler Pavilion. Each display offers unique qualities including a listing of today's events, upcoming event announcements, live TV, news feeds, weather information, and more! Materials can be submitted as a PowerPoint file, Flash or QuickTime movies, or images. Submissions should be sent to samarketing@american.edu with start and end dates. Student organizations must have advisor approval prior to posting. Please refer to the Electronic Display Guidelines for more information.
Table Tents
The University Center provides table tent displays within the Mary Graydon Center food venues. The displays are placed on 150 tables in the Tavern, Marketplace, and Terrace Dining Room. In order to allow three groups to advertise in a given week, 100 copies of approved submissions must be received by 5 pm on the Thursday prior to your scheduled week. The displays will be updated weekly every Monday and will be displayed through the following Sunday.
All table tent submissions should publicize a University service or an on-campus event open to the entire AU community and fit within each side of the display - each side is 4" wide x 9" tall (approximately one-third of an 8.5"x11" sheet). Table tents are reserved through the submission of a completed Advertising Display Request. Please refer to the University Center Table Tent Display Guidelines for more information. All Table Tent Requests must be reviewed and signed by your Student Activities Program Advisor.
Lobby Display Cases
Located in the Mary Graydon Center 1st floor lounge, display case spaces can be reserved through University Event Scheduling. An Advertising Display Request must be submitted including information about the event and the content that will be displayed. Any information that is displayed or publicized must pertain to an event or a University organization. Reservations must be made at least three business days in advance and is reserved for a period of seven days, starting each Monday through the following Sunday. All Display Case Requests must be reviewed and signed by your Student Activities Program Advisor.
Elevator Display Cases
The University Center has three elevator display cases for events and programs: one inside the Butler Pavilion elevator and two inside the Mary Graydon Center elevators. The University Center will monitor these boards daily removing out-of-date or improper materials. Materials will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis and submitted to the University Center Information Desk for approval. All postings should meet the following criteria: Must be an event or program targeting all AU students, faculty, or staff; Large scale, single occurrence events or Monthly programming calendars with host contact information, date, time, and location specified; and be 11"x17" or smaller.
Easel Space
Easel space is available for use within the Mary Graydon Center to publicize single occurrence events on a daily basis. An Advertising Display Request must be submitted to University Event Scheduling at least three business days prior to the date requested. Any information that is displayed or publicized must pertain to an event or a University organization. Reservations must be made at least three business days in advance and can only be reserved for a single day. Easel use is only available for event publicity within the University Center. All Advertising Display Requests must be reviewed and signed by your Student Activities Program Advisor.
Directional Signage
Directional signage is available for use within the Mary Graydon Center and Butler Pavilion for events occurring in the facilities. Please contact the University Center by emailing university_center@american.edu or by calling (202) 885-3900 to request directional signage.
Information Tabling
Informational Table spaces can be reserved through University Event Scheduling. A Tabling Request must be submitted at least three business days prior to the date requested. The request should include information about the event or cause. All Information Tabling Requests must be reviewed and signed by your Student Activities Program Advisor.
Banner Space
The University Center coordinates banner displays relating to campus events and activities. The banners may be hung at approved locations determined by the University. Student organizations must submit a signed copy of a Facilities Service Request from their advisor to the University Center. Banners can be posted on the fence of the University Parking Garage located between Bender Arena and Butler Pavilion. Please refer to the Banner Display Guidelines for more information.
Bender Arena Electronic Sign Board
Located in the Butler Pavilion Tunnel, the Electronic Sign Board is available for University departments and student organizations to advertise. To post information on the board, please contact Special Events at (202)885-2430.
Outdoor Chalking
Student organizations may chalk on flat ground-surfaces and asphalt roadways. Information must pertain to single occurrence events or student elections. Chalking on University buildings, vertical surfaces, pavers, and entrance ways is prohibited. The use of spray chalk or chemicals to enhance the advertisement is also prohibited. Please refer to the American University Outdoor Chalking Guidelines for more information.
Today@AU Announcements
Student organizations may advertise event and organization announcements by using the Today@AU email newsletter. Today@AU is American University’s electronic newsletter, serves to broadcast university announcements, memos, reminders, and event information to the campus community. It is compiled, edited, and distributed by the e-news coordinator, University Publications. Students: 12:00 noon, two workdays prior to the requested date of publication, in order to accommodate approval by Student Activities or another advising office.
