AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
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AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
Residential Life & Learning

Social Event Registration

Social event registration is open for Spring 2025.  The last weekend to host social events this semester will be April 26th.  More information about registering a social event for Spring Fling will be posted here.  

Registration Policy Overview

Social Events 

All Social Events must be approved by the SERC and follow the policies and procedures listed below.  The Social Registration Policy applies to both FSL organizations and themed houses.  

With Alcohol

A social event with alcohol is defined as an event hosted in a theme, fraternity & sorority, or special interest residential space that allows alcohol to be consumed in residential spaces. These events must be registered when there will be 15 or more guests present in the space with alcohol.  These include events during the day and at night where alcohol will be present.  Events where students may come intoxicated, but alcohol will not be served or available inside should be planned as a social event with alcohol for risk management planning.  No social events are permitted during reading periods or finals.  Sober monitors, trained by the SERC and with TIPS Certificates are required for social events with alcohol.  

Without Alcohol

A social event without alcohol is an event hosted in a theme, fraternity & sorority, or special interest residential space that will not include alcohol being served or consumed.  Any event where more than 15 students are present, and includes students that do not reside in the residential space must be registered.  Meetings and internal events only including members of the organization or house do not need to be registered as long as they are dry events.  

Student Organization Events

Student Organization Events are different from social events hosted in theme, fraternity & sorority, or special interest residential spaces. Student Organization Events are events to advance the mission and vision of an organization through education, advocacy, and/or community engagement. This includes both events that are for members-only and events open to the community.  Campus Life (OCL) is available to speak to any organization requesting assistance on how to plan a proper event.  However, any events that include/require contracts, work with vendors, invoices, etc. require Student Life/OCL approval. All organizations should follow Office for Campus Life's event registration process, which includes making necessary space reservations on ReserveTufts and submitting the Event Registration form on JumboLife. 

Terms and Abbreviations Definitions

OCL: Office of Campus Life 

FSL Organizations: Fraternities and Sorority Life Organizations

TIPs: TIPS stands for Training for Intervention Procedures. The TIPS alcohol server education program educates employees on alcohol laws, how to recognize signs of intoxication, and much more. TIPS is recognized by courts, liquor boards, and businesses as the standard for server training programs.  TIPs University is required for all event organizers and sober party monitors.  Student life covers the cost for TIPs training.  Please request the code from fsl@tufts.edu.  One contact from each organization should reach out with a list of student names to receive the codes (codes are for individual use).  Certificates are automatically sent to the SERC by TIPS University.  

SLRMW: Student Life Risk Management Mandatory Workshop. All FSL Organizations are required to attend the SL Risk Management Workshop. The purpose of the seminar is to help facilitate the safe and smooth operation of Tufts social events by providing practical advice about risk mitigation and policy compliance. Regardless of the FSL organization's ability to host social events with alcohol, all groups must attend the seminar each Fall. All Sober Monitors and Event Organizers are required to attend once per academic year.  

SERC: Social Event Registration Committee. The committee that reviews and approves social events, hosts the SLRMW, and maintains and updates the social events with alcohol policies.  

EO: Event Organizer. Social event planner from the organization or themed house.  This will be the main contact for each social event with alcohol.

SPM: Sober Party Monitor. Members of the organization or themed house community who remain sober to assist with event planning and risk management.  

BYOB: Bring your own beverage.  This refers to events where the 21 and over attendees bring their own alcohol.  Alcohol can either be stored in the house & distributed by Sober Monitors or held by the 21+ attendee that brought it.  

Third-Party Vendor: Hiring a vendor not associated with the house to serve alcohol.  When a third-party vendor is serving alcohol and a bouncer is present, the SERC will determine the number of sober monitors needed and adjust on a case by case basis.  

Requirements 

Any group that is requesting a Social Event with Alcohol must have members be TIPS trained, attend the Student Life Risk Management Workshop, and have the social event approved by the Social Event Registration Committee (SERC). The Student Life Risk Management Workshop is offered only once per semester and organizations should plan accordingly.  

The Event Organizer (EO) and all sober party monitors must attend the Student Life Risk Management Workshop each year. The purpose of the workshop is to help facilitate the safe and smooth operations of social events by providing practical advice about risk mitigation and policy compliance.

Next Student Life Risk Management Workshop: 

  • Wednesday January 15th Noon-1pm Barnum LL008 
  • Tuesday January 21st 8pm-9pm Barnum LL008 

Event organizers, sober party monitors, and most executive board members must attend.  No additional trainings will be offered at this time.  Each special interest house and FSL organization was notified of the Fall and Spring dates.  

Groups hosting events with alcohol must provide an event organizer and list of sober party monitors.  Before being approved for any social events with alcohol all groups must do the following: 

  • TIPS Trained: Event organizer and all sober party monitors must be TIPS Trained.  Student Life will cover the cost for TIPs training.  
  • Green Dot Walkthrough: Coordinate with CARE office to have a walkthrough of the house once an academic year prior to first social event with alcohol during the year   
  • Student Life Risk Management Workshop: All organizational leadership and all sober party monitors must attend the workshop once a year.  
  • Submit & Obtain Event Approval:  Each social event with alcohol must be registered 7 business days prior to the event.  Events will be reviewed and approved by the SERC.  The event host will be invited to the SERC meeting prior to approval.  A maximum of one event with alcohol may be submitted for each two-week period.  Outdoor events will have a different timeline based on the scope of the event.  Spring Fling deadlines will be communicated to each FSL organization and special interest house each Spring Semester.  
  • Professional Bouncers: are required for all outdoor events with alcohol and recommended for all events with alcohol.  Professional bouncers are required to be hired by organizations for any outdoor events with alcohol that exceeds 75 people.  During these events, professional bouncers must check valid federal IDs, verify guest lists, and maintain security at all entrance points.  This is recommended for all events with alcohol but only required for outdoor events.  When a bouncer is not present at the event, SPMs will check ids, verify guest lists, and maintain security at all entrance points.

Event organizers (EO) must be sober before and during the event and must have attended the Student Life Risk Management Workshop.  Event organizers will coordinate & oversee SPMs.

Sober party monitors (SPM) must be members of the host organization or themed house.  In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, SPMs must meet and comply with all of the following before and during the Event with Alcohol: 

  1. Completed TIPs & attend SL risk management workshops
  2. Visually identify self as SPM during the event
  3. Control guest list and check IDs at entrances, visually mark underage students
  4. Carry a phone on their person at all times in case of emergencies, and have the phone number for TUPD programmed in the phone;
  5. Must not consume alcohol and/or illegal drugs and remain free of these substances for the entire duration of the Party and for eight (8) hours prior to the start of the Party;
  6. Verify that the number of attendees does not exceed the fire code capacity of the House.
  7.  Circulate throughout the Party (including points of entry and exit), be vigilant for situations that may endanger the health, safety, or welfare of individuals, promptly obtain assistance from TUPD, as appropriate, and communicate with other SPMs regarding the foregoing; and
  8. Speak with law enforcement and any neighbors who come to the House and ask to speak with someone regarding the Party.

Social Event Registration Process

The social event with alcohol registration form must be submitted at least seven business days before the event. Social events with alcohol are only allowed to be registered on Friday evenings and any time on Saturdays. Any outdoor events may require a bouncer and other safety recommendations of the Social Event Registration Committee. Please submit registration for outdoor events with alcohol at least fifteen business days prior to the event.  Spring Fling deadlines will be communicated to each FSL organization and special interest house each Spring Semester.  

  • The form can be found here 
  • Your registration submission must also include a detailed risk management plan. 
  • For events with alcohol: The student organization must have sober party monitors to be responsible for policy compliance, safety, and risk management at the event.  There must be one SPM for every 15 people present at the event. This can be adjusted if hiring a bouncer or third-party vendor at the discretion of the SERC.  
  • The Social Event Registration Committee will meet with EOs to discuss the submitted risk management plan, make suggestions, or conduct a pre-event walk-through.  Staff can direct improvements to the risk management plan. 
  • Tufts Public Safety will be notified of all registered social events with alcohol on campus and may conduct site visits before, during, or after the event.  Open, immediate cooperation with public safety officers, first responders, and university staff is a requirement for registration. 
  • A guest list of all invited guests must be submitted to the SERC by 9am on Friday of the weekend of the event and an attendance list must be submitted to the SERC post event within 48 hours of the event.  No changes may be made to guest lists once submitted unless approved by the SERC.  The guest list must be submitted with a guest count.  
  • The organization is responsible for the cleanup of the event, which must be completed within 24 hours of the end of the event. For outdoor events, clean up must occur within 2 hours of event end time. 

Risk Management Plan 

All social events with alcohol (or events that are deemed high-risk by the SERC) require the host to submit a detailed risk management plan that addresses each of the following areas. The risk management plan will be attached to the SERC form.  

 

Contact

Email fsl@tufts.edu with any questions