Speaker Approval Process

If you are hosting an event and would like to invite an outside speaker or student, you must obtain speaker approval from Dean Madrian and sometimes the university depending on the type of event, the audience, and the speaker. You must obtain approval before inviting someone to speak.   

If you have questions, please contact Sarah Allred, sarah_allred@byu.edu, 801-422-7716.

Obtaining Speaker Approval

  1. Submit your speaker approval request HERE.  
  2. Wait for confirmation email with an attached speaker approval form. (Please allow 1-2 weeks for speaker approval) 
  3. Submit the activity in the BYU Clubs website. Attach the speaker approval vetting form you received in your confirmation email in the comments. 

Please allow 3–4 weeks for final approval and up to 3 business days for a response indicating receipt of the request. 

Do I need speaker approval? 

If your SPEAKER is: 

A current BYU faculty or staff 

  • Faculty/staff is approved by nature of their employment. No speaker approval is needed. 
  • Submit the event details in the BYU Clubs website. 

A current BYU student 

  • Submit your speaker approval request HERE. 
  • Wait for confirmation email with an attached speaker approval form. (Please allow 1-2 weeks for speaker approval) 
  • Submit the activity in the BYU Clubs website. Attach the speaker approval vetting form you received in your confirmation email in the comments. 

Someone off-campus 

  • Submit your speaker approval request HERE. 
  • Wait for confirmation email with an attached speaker approval form. (Please allow 1-2 weeks for speaker approval) 
  • Submit the activity in the BYU Clubs website. Attach the speaker approval vetting form you received in your confirmation email in the comments. 

If your EVENT IS: 

A student association event 

  • Submit your speaker approval request HERE. 
  • Wait for confirmation email with an attached speaker approval form. (Please allow 1-2 weeks for speaker approval) 
  • Submit the activity in the BYU Clubs website. Attach the speaker approval vetting form you received in your confirmation email in the comments. 

A podcast 

  • Guests and hosts need dean and university approval.   
  • Submit your speaker approval request HERE. 
  • Wait for confirmation email with an attached speaker approval form. (Please allow 1-2 weeks for speaker approval) 
  • Submit the activity in the BYU Clubs website. Attach the speaker approval vetting form you received in your confirmation email in the comments. 

A department-sponsored event 

  • Approval is required from the department chair or director if the intended audience is within the department or program. 
  • You do not need to submit the form 
  • But if you are planning to invite a VIP or address a controversial topic, please contact Sarah Allred, sarah_allred@byu.edu, 801-422-4122, prior to extending an invitation. 

A conference 

  • Submit your speaker approval request HERE. 
  • Wait for confirmation email with an attached speaker approval form. (Please allow 1-2 weeks for speaker approval) 
  • Submit the activity in the BYU Clubs website. Attach the speaker approval vetting form you received in your confirmation email in the comments. 

Live-streamed or recorded 

Visual Explanation 

For a visual flowchart of the process, access the BYU Marriott speaker approval process specific to your event. 

Risk Assessment

  • Some events need a risk assessment.    
  • Go to the BYU Risk Management website to learn what types of events or activities need to be reviewed. 
  • In general, Risk Management and Safety requires two weeks to process event requests. Some events may take longer to process depending on the complexity of the event.