Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Applied Event Planning (Face-to-Face)

HRHM 4510-01

Course: HRHM 4510-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: MHRH
CRN: 30259

Course Description

This course is a basic to mid-level event planning and management course. It will be an experiential, hands-on learning class. Class will discuss definitions, categories of event planning, and current issues/trends of event management. Students will be assigned events through the semester for which they will be expected to participate in the planning and execution and attend the event. This course will help practitioners be prepared for event planning in the working world. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): HRHM 3030 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D- Registration Restriction(s): None Equivalent Course(s): COMM 4520

Required Texts

The following will be used as resources during the class, but are not required texts. I have a copy for check out or you can purchase your own copies.

Berger, A. (2008). Seeing is Believing An Introduction to Visual communication. San Francisco, McGraw-Hill, New York
Harris, G. (2007). The Essential Event Planning Kit. Strategies and Tactics, seventh edition. Los Angeles: The Americas Group.
Kilkenny, S. (2016). The Complete Guide to Successful Event Planning. Oscala, FL: Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.

Learning Outcomes

1. Communication, Organization & Leadership: Students will demonstrate their broad range knowledge by assisting in the conceptualization, planning and day to day
execution of SUU Homecoming, Thor’s Thunder Classic Golf Tournament, Concerts, President’s Gala, One Utah Summit, Employee Engagement, and Student/Alumni Events throughout the semester. Students will build production schedules, help design the events, and complete assignments to carry out the event. Students will further demonstrate this knowledge through their group project presentation.
2. Organization & Management: Students will understand which methods of organization are available to them to assist in event planning and management. Students will explore effective methods of communication, organization, and leadership in managing a team, managing a project, and planning and executing an event. Students will demonstrate this knowledge through feedback papers, submitting a model of organization, and two event analysis’ as well as in class assignments. Students will also devise their own method of organization which they will use in their own planning. Students will also complete a leadership assessment and
reflection of their leadership abilities to become more self-aware of the type of leader they are.
3. Production: Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the production aspect of event planning through group presentations, applied knowledge on their semester project, going through rider definitions and a rider, and written/definition assignments.
4. Entertainment Event Planning: Students will demonstrate through group projects feedback papers, event analysis’, written assignments, and in a rider/contract review that they know the salient aspects of entertainment event planning.
5. Corporate & Political Event Planning: Students will demonstrate through discussions, a written speech, online assignments, and in group presentations that they know the salient aspects of corporate and political event planning.

Course Requirements

Class Events/Project 600 points (includes hours worked)
Class Participation/attendance 100 points
Contract/Rider Exam 100 points
Contract/Rider Quiz 56 points
Mapping Assignment 50 points
Rider Activity 25 points
Event Analysis 25 points each (2)
Your Top 10 25 points
Your Leadership Reflection 25 points
Political Candidate Speech 25 points

Course Outline

Course outline will be provided by the instructor in the course syllabus & will correspond to various events on campus (e.g., Homecoming, President's Gala or Gala Concert, President's Tailgate, One Utah Summit, Thor's Thunder Classic Golf Tournament)

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

If you miss a deadline when you’re planning an event, the event is in jeopardy. Same goes for assignments. Turn your work in on time or early if you won’t be in class. Tests must be taken before you miss class, not after. Only school excused absences or arrangements made with us prior to your absence will be excused.

Attendance Policy

You will receive points for being in class and for participating in our discussions as well as participating in ALL of the events for the semester. This is a hands-on class, you are required to be part of the planning, management, and marketing of these events. You will be graded on the number of hours you work on the event as well as attending and participating in management of the event.

The SUU community places a high priority on your health and the health of those around you. If you are symptomatic or you have an underlying health condition, you are not required to come to a face-to-face class. However, your engagement in this class is required and you can participate by attending face-to-face (if you are healthy), watching class online synchronously.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.