7025 Use of Athletic Facilities

Initial Date of Approval: 12/17/24

Revision Date(s): 

Administrative Responsibility: President

PURPOSE

To provide guidelines for the use of SVC athletic facilities.

REFERENCES

• RCW 42.52 Ethics in Public Service
• RCW 28B.10 Colleges and Universities Generally
• WAC 132D-140 Use of College Facilities, Scheduling of College Facility Use
• Washington State Ethics in Public Service (RCW 42.52) 

POLICY

Skagit Valley College (SVC) athletic facilities are available for a variety of uses. The buildings, equipment and grounds of the college are primarily for educational purposes. Although state agencies are under no obligation to make their public facilities available to the public for private purposes, the college may consider such uses if they do not interfere with the college’s use of the facilities for the benefit of the college’s educational and community missions.

The use of college athletic facilities shall be consistent with the public interest and welfare and subject to the laws of the State of Washington and all other college policies, rules, and regulations.

Applications for facilities use must be consistent with the following procedures and submitted to the Facilities Office.

PROCEDURES

1. Use by College Groups for Non-Instructional Purposes

   SVC athletic facilities are generally available for use by officially recognized or chartered college groups at no charge, provided that such use occurs during normal college operating hours and does not incur additional costs (custodial, setup, etc.) above and beyond those associated with routine operations. Usage fees may be charged where extra costs are incurred and will usually reflect the actual costs involved.

2. Use by Other Educational Agencies

   Some college athletic facilities may be used, on a rental basis, by other public or private educational institutions only in cases when the use meets a community educational need not being fulfilled by the college and it does not interfere with the normal operation of college programs and services.

3. Use by Others

   Other organizations, including non-profit organizations, may be allowed to use college athletic facilities on a time and space available basis. Non-SVC organizations will be charged usage fees.

   Use by other organizations shall be on an intermittent basis only. College facilities should not become a non-SVC organization’s permanent place of meeting under any circumstances.

4. Conditions for Denial of Use

   Applications for use of college facilities may be denied for any of the following reasons:

   • The requested use appears to, in the judgment of the Office of the Vice President for Administrative Services, be in some way inconsistent with the college’s interests and/or its educational programs, or to be lacking in satisfactory sponsorship and/or adequate supervision.
   • The applicant and the college are unable to reach agreement on terms and conditions for the requested use.
   • The requested use would violate state or local law or college
   • The requesting groups or individual has, in the judgment of the Office of the Vice President for Administrative Services, previously abused or failed to meet the conditions of a facilities use
   • The requested use would be likely to materially and substantially disrupt the college's normal operations. This includes, but is not limited to, weddings and receptions.
   • The requested facilities (and/or necessary personnel to operate them) are unavailable for use at the requested time.
   • The requested use will be in direct competition with courses offered by the college.
5. Non-Discrimination Requirement

   The college reserves the right to prohibit the use of college facilities by groups which restrict membership or participation in a manner inconsistent with the college's commitment to non-discrimination as set forth in SVC Policy 3070 Discrimination and Harassment.

6. Prioritization System for Usage Scheduling

   Scheduling applications for college facilities will be accepted from either college or community users at any time during the year and acted on as promptly as possible. Planning should be done as far in advance as possible by all potential users of college facilities.

   The prioritization system established for the scheduling of athletic facilities is:

   1. College instructional programs;
   2. Use as required by emergency;
   3. Use for emerging operational needs;
   4. Varsity sports games and practices;
   5. Usage of facilities to honor an interlocal agreement with local government agencies;
   6. Usage of facilities to honor memorandum of understandings or other agreements with private entities;
   7. Official college-sponsored events;
   8. Major public events sponsored by the Student Activities;
   9. All-College or public events sponsored by student programs or campus clubs or College offices or divisions;
   10. Space use by non-college organizations. These events help to fulfill the community service goals of the college.

Even though one event is lower on the prioritization criteria than another, it does not necessarily mean that it cannot be scheduled. Compromises may be reached to the satisfaction of all parties; however, the prioritization criteria will serve as the major guideline in decisions involving facilities use applications for the same dates and times. In addition, the potential effect of an event on one of a higher priority will be considered before approval of the lower priority event.

Requests for space at the Whidbey Island Campus (360.679.5333) and San Juan Center (360.378.3220) need to be made at the respective site.