Washington State University is an educational institution provided and maintained by the people of the state of Washington to carry out its broad missions of education, scholarship, and outreach. As a state agency, the university is under no obligation to make its public facilities available to the community for private purposes, and the university generally reserves its facilities, buildings, and grounds for its mission-related activities.

The university may make its facilities available at a reasonable cost for a variety of uses under the conditions set forth in these regulations if such general uses substantially relate to, and do not interfere with, university missions. RCW 42.52.160 prohibits university employees from allowing private use of university facilities for nonuniversity purposes, except in very limited circumstances. Therefore, when outside use is permitted, the university imposes costs and fees in accordance with WAC 504-35-026 unless a specific exemption applies (e.g., WAC 504-35-050(3)).

The purpose of these regulations is to establish procedures and reasonable controls for:

(1) The use of university facilities by individuals, entities, and groups that are not related to or affiliated with the university; and

(2) The use of university facilities for nonuniversity purposes.

These regulations do not apply to university use of university facilities for educational, scholarship, outreach, or other university purposes.

In reviewing conflicting requests to use university facilities, primary consideration is given to activities specifically related to the university's mission. Additionally, no use is allowed that may interfere with, or operate to the detriment of, the university's own education, scholarship, or outreach programs, or university operations. Reasonable conditions may be imposed to regulate the timeliness of requests, to determine the appropriateness of space assigned, time of use, and to ensure the proper maintenance of the facilities.