Rental & Reservation Fees

Highsmith Student Union spaces are free to UNC Asheville student organizations and campus groups using the space for events specifically designed for the campus community. If additional equipment must be rented from an off-campus vendor, the sponsoring group must cover those costs.  The Union staff will make arrangements for equipment rentals, with input from the sponsoring group.

Organizations and departments using Highsmith space will be charged a rental fee for events not specifically designed for members of the UNC Asheville campus community. Off-campus groups and events organized by university employees acting beyond the scope of their employment will be charged rental fees. Off-campus groups will be charged for additional equipment (see below).

Groups holding events requiring security officers are responsible for paying for those services.  The Union staff will determine the type, qualifications and number of security officers required.  The Union staff will make all arrangements for security.

Reservation fees are assessed by the user’s scheduling group, based on the purpose of the event or meeting. Scheduling groups are defined as follows:

  1. Group A: Events implemented by a UNC Asheville department or registered student organization that is specifically designed for the campus community. 
    1. Recognized student groups must be officially registered and in good standing with Highsmith.
    2. Departmental events must be officially recognized by the University as being a representative of UNC Asheville.
    3. Events must consist of a minimum of 75% UNC Asheville community, defined as current faculty or staff and actively-enrolled students.* 
    4. Events must be conceptualized, planned, and managed by current UNC Asheville faculty/staff/students.
    5. Student groups & departments charging an admission or vendor fee will be charged the Group B rate.
  2. Group B: Educational events not specifically designed for the campus community, but planned, implemented, and paid for by a UNC Asheville organization or department. 
    1. Events organized by University employees acting beyond the scope of their employment or on behalf of off-campus groups will be charged rental fees.
  3. Group C: Educational events run by a non-profit, campus-partner, school or government agency.
  4. Group D: Educational events or any event run by a for-profit company.
    1. Events unrelated to the educational mission of the University will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
    2. Events hosted by individuals are not allowed; only events hosted by organized groups, businesses, or corporations are allowed.

*The Associate Director of Highsmith Events & Operations or designee may determine a “Group A” designation for an event of less than 75% campus-affiliated attendees on a case-by-case basis based on appeals made in writing.

Rentable Spaces

All below spaces are no charge for Group A events.

Highsmith Spaces

Space Name – Room #

French BroadHIG 125

SwannanoaHIG 127

NantahalaHIG 128

1927HIG 223

to ki ya sdiHIG 238

Town MountainHIG 239

The GrottoHIG 108

Alumni HallHIG 114

Blue Ridge Room*HIG 202/203

Beaucatcher Mountain**HIG 225

Mount Mitchell**HIG 226

Mount Pisgah**HIG 228

Lookout Mountain**HIG 229

Tabling Spacevarious hallways

Group B

(1-4 hrs.) | (4+ hrs.)  

$75  |  $150

$25  |  $50

$25  |  $50

$50  |  $100

$25  |  $50

$15  |  $30

$100  |  $200

$100  |  $200

$400  |  $800

$50  |  $100

$50  |  $100

$50  |  $100

$50  |  $100

no charge

Group C

(1-4 hrs.) | (4+ hrs.)  

$100  |  $200

$50  |  $100

$50  |  $100

$75  |  $150

$50  |  $100

$35  |  $70

$150  |  $300

$150  |  $300

$600  |  $1,200

$75  |  $150

$75  |  $150

$75  |  $150

$75  |  $150

$150/day

 

Group D

(1-4 hrs.) | (4+ hrs.) 

$200  |  $400

$100  |  $200

$100  |  $200

$150  |  $300

$100  |  $200

$70  |  $140

$300  |  $600

$300  |  $600

$1,200  |  $2,400

$150  |  $300

$150  |  $300

$150  |  $300

$150  |  $300

$250/day

*Blue Ridge Room may be divided (Blue Ridge North & Blue Ridge South); rental fees for 1/2 of the room will be 1/2 of the price listed above (e.g. the Group B full-day rate for Blue Ridge South is $400). Any event in this space with A/V set-up will require an Event Technician. See Event Personnel & Staffing for rates.

**These rooms comprise the four-space Mountain Suites event space; rooms can be combined based on event size/needs.


Other Spaces

Space Name – Room #

Small Meeting RoomBRO 218/219

Large Meeting RoomBRO 217

Mullen-James Humanities Hall* – MJH 139

Lipinsky Auditorium*LIP 125

Smart Classroomvarious locations/styles

Special-Use Classroom or Computer Lab various locations/styles

Group B

(1-4 hrs.) | (4+ hrs.)

$50  |  $100

$75  |  $150

$200  |  $300

$300  |  $450

$50  |  $50

$75  |  $75

Group C

(1-4 hrs.) | (4+ hrs.)

$75  |  $150

$100  |  $200

$400  |  $500

$450  |  $600

$75  |  $75

$125  |  $125

Group D

(1-4 hrs.) | (4+ hrs.)

$150  |  $300

$200  |  $400

$600  |  $800

$700  |  $900

$100  |  $100

$150  |  $150

*Requires an Event Technician for any event reservation. See Event Personnel & Staffing for rates.


Additional Resources

Resource

Commercial Table/Space*

Tablecloth or Skirting

Smart Room Equipment

Media Cart (for projection)

PA System – Small**

PA System – Medium**

PA System – Concert**

Microphone – Wired

Microphone – Wireless

Dance Floor

Staging (up to 8′ x 24′)

Early-open Fee***

Group A

$50

$5 per table

no charge

no charge

no charge

no charge

no charge

no charge

no charge

no charge

no charge

no charge

Group B

$75

$5 per table

$25

$25

$25

$50

$100

no charge

$10

$25

$25

$25

Group C

$100

$5 per table

$50

$50

$50

$75

$150

$10

$20

$50

$50

$50

Group D

$200

$5 per table

$75

$75

$75

$100

$200

$20

$30

$75

$75

$75

Other resources, such as registration or check-in tables, podiums, and stanchions are available at no cost. Please discuss your event needs with the Highsmith Events team to determine specific resource availability and to request custom set-up options.

*All commercial vendors must be pre-approved by Highsmith staff.

**Any event using this resource will require an Event Technician.

***If event is outside of normal operating hours, this fee will be assessed in addition to required staff costs (see below).


Event Personnel & Staffing

Personnel

Building Manager

Campus Security

Event Technician

Guest Services Desk Attendant

House/Sage Manager

Usher

Group A

$10 per hour

$35 per hour

$12 per hour

$8 per hour

$10 per hour

$8 per hour

Group B

$10 per hour

$35 per hour

$12 per hour

$8 per hour

$10 per hour

$8 per hour

Group C

$12.50 per hour

$35 per hour

$15 per hour

$10 per hour

$12 per hour

$10 per hour

Group D

$12.50 per hour

$35 per hour

$15 per hour

$10 per hour

$12 per hour

$10 per hour