Timely message: Updated Events, Gatherings, and Campus spaces policy

Dear colleagues,

Please find the updated events, gatherings, and campus spaces policy, which is effective immediately.

The policy covers an array of topics, including indoor and outdoor events and gatherings; academic, research, and residential gatherings; DLC-sponsored Commencement events; DAPER spaces and activities; safe ways to socialize (directed primarily to students); and specific guidance for student organizations.

Many aspects of the policy - including a moratorium on events and prohibitions against events and parties in residence halls and FSILGs - remain unchanged. There are, however, a few key changes MIT community members should be aware of, including increases in the capacity limits for outdoor spaces to align with the new City of Cambridge guidance. Importantly, where and when we can, we are relaxing policies to reflect current understanding of how we can be together safely in person while remaining vigilant to protect our community.

Highlights include the following:

1. Capacity limits for informal outdoor gatherings in public spaces such as Killian Court, Hockfield Court, and Kresge Oval have increased from 50 to 100 people, in accordance with new City of Cambridge guidelines. Please note that separate guidance for the use of residence hall spaces such as courtyards and roof decks has been provided to heads of house and posted in outdoor spaces of residence halls.
2. No MIT-sponsored events are permitted, whether on or away from campus, until further notice. The event moratorium includes indoor business and social events (including on- and off-campus parties), dance and theatre performances, sporting events, concerts, meetings, conferences, tours, workshops, and K-12 programming. [Events are typically more formal and involve advance planning, advertising and promotion, and ticketing, whereas gatherings tend to be more informal, incidental, and brief in nature.]
3. Special arrangements are in place for:
   1. Informal outdoor gatherings;
   2. Class and other academic or research gatherings;
   3. DLC-sponsored Commencement events that comply with the City's guidelines as well as other Institute policies;
   4. Division of Student Life (DSL) and Office of the Vice Chancellor (OVC) sponsored outdoor activities/programs;
   5. DAPER spaces and activities (indoor and outdoor);
   6. Residence hall spaces; and
   7. Indoor “touchdown” and quiet spaces.

Please refer to the event policy for additional details. We encourage you to share this policy with your colleagues.

Sincerely,

Suzy Nelson
Vice President and Dean for Student Life

Krystyn Van Vliet
Associate Provost

Gayle Gallagher
Executive Director, Institute Events