VU After Dark Collaboration Guidelines
The purpose of the following guidelines is to provide clarification of purpose and expectations of
collaborative events hosted by VU After Dark and an additional organization, resident assistant,
or other on-campus entity.
Purpose of VU After Dark
The purpose of VU After Dark is to provide substance-free, low cost or free, events on Friday
and Saturday evenings of the semester when classes are in session (programs are not provided
on break weekends or holiday weekends or when classes are not in session). VU After Dark
events are meant to be social, recreational, educational, cultural, etc., and appeal to a variety of
student audiences. Programs are planned in-house and are often home-grown, with
programming assistants developing programs from scratch. Professional performers are hired to
do a performance two to three times a semester. Ultimately, the aim of VU After Dark is to
engage students outside of the classroom to de-stress, socialize, and try new things.
Purpose of Collaboration
VU After Dark prides itself in developing many unique programs each academic year. Similarly,
we also aim to recognize the awesome things that student organizations are also doing for
students. Therefore, VU After Dark invites other groups to collaborate to provide programs that
go above and beyond what each entity can program for itself. Student Organizations and other
campus groups can then showcase themselves, promote their activities, and recruit to a larger
audience while collaborating with a VU After Dark program.
Examples of Past Collaborations
VU After Dark has collaborated with a variety of groups in the past (this list is for example
purpose only and is not exhaustive):






Student Dietetics Association for a cooking event, based on the television show
“Chopped.”
Student Dietetics Association for a smoothie making event.
Viterbo Improv! for a Viterbo Improv! show
Viterbo Improv! for Life Size Clue
Taking New Tactics Club for a Valentine’s Day Movie
Student Activities Board for Midnight Madness




National Residence Hall Honorary for the Scariest Places on Campus Tour
Residence Life, Student Dietetics Association, and Taking New Tactics Club for a Winter
Carnival
Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Students for a De-Stress Event
Art Club for Pottery Night
In addition, VU After Dark also promotes other activities in lieu of planning a VU After Dark
program if necessary (this list is for example purpose only and is not exhaustive):



Viterbo Student Nurses Association plans Dance Marathon each spring. VU After Dark
will promote this event instead of hosting a VU After Dark program.
Residence Hall Association plans a lock-in each fall. VU After Dark will promote this
event instead of hosting a VU After Dark program.
Platinum Edition hosts two concerts each academic year. VU After Dark will provide free
tickets to these events instead of hosting a VU After Dark program.
Collaborative Event Expectations
VU After Dark events are scheduled a semester in advance and schedules are promoted at the
beginning of each new semester. If interested in collaborating, interest should be indicated to
VU After Dark at least three weeks in advance of the event by emailing
[email protected]. The Director of Campus Activities will then share information
with VU After Dark programming assistants.
Approval for collaboration must be made by the Director of Campus Activities before planning
can begin. After approval is granted, at least three meetings will occur between VU After Dark
programming assistant and collaborator(s) prior to the event:
Meeting One: Initial meeting to discuss ideas, determine possible collaboration.
Meeting Two: Finalize event basics, determine logistics, supply lists, etc. Begin
advertising.
Meeting Three: Final meeting to go over event timeline and any last minute needs.
By agreeing to collaborate, the collaborating group agrees to work to meet the vision and goals
of the VU After Dark program, as well as its programming standards. Sub-par or absent
programming efforts will not be acceptable and may prohibit groups from collaborating in the
future. VU After Dark programming assistants and collaborator(s) will determine who will be
responsible for what items, and all will work and communicate together to make the event
successful.
Both VU After Dark and the collaborator(s) must play an active role in hosting the event,
facilitating the event, and cleaning up afterward. Following the event, both the VU After Dark
programming assistant and the collaborator(s) will complete the following evaluation form:
http://www.viterbo.edu/vu-after-dark/vu-after-dark-collaboration-summary
For more information about possible collaborations or to indicate your interest in collaborating
with VU After Dark, please contact the Campus Activities office by emailing
[email protected], calling 608-796-3807, or by visiting the Campus Activities office
in the Hawk’s Nest.