External Relations

Naming Policy

Section: External Relations Policies
Policy Name: Naming Policy
Policy Owner: Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Responsible University Office: Office of Development and Alumni Relations
Origination Date: September 6, 2023
  1. SCOPE OF POLICYThis policy addresses the University’s policy on naming and applies to physical and non-physical entities, including University facilities, outdoor areas, spaces, campuses, academic units, positions, and assets.
  2. DEFINITIONS
    1. Naming Types
      1. Philanthropic
        A naming for a donor in connection with a gift to the University.
      2. Honorific
        A naming to honor or memorialize an individual or entity in connection with financial and non-financial contributions to the University.
    2. Facility
      Any building, structure of permanence such as a stadium or tunnel, a major structural component of a building or any such structure such as a wing, floor, or central atrium, or a space within a building that is significant because of its size relative to the whole building or because it serves a significant academic, athletic, administrative, or public function.
    3. Outdoor area
      Any outdoor area and wholly outdoor structures such as a landscaped area, field, water body, bridge, or road.
    4. Space
      Any non-structural space within a Facility such as an office, conference room, or non-structural common area which does not otherwise fall within the definition of Facility above.
    5. Campus
      University owned or managed grounds and buildings within a contiguous geographic area.
    6. Academic unit
      Any college, school, center, institute, or department.
    7. Positions
      Any endowed professorship, endowed coaching position, senior academic officer position, or senior administrative officer position.
    8. Assets
      Any vessel, equipment, work of art, or object.
    9. Naming Steering Committee (NSC)
      An advisory committee chaired by the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations to manage the naming approval process and make recommendations to the President and the Board of Trustees for final approval.
      The committee is comprised of the following:

      1. Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations, Chair
      2. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
      3. Provost
      4. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
      5. Vice President of Equity and Chief Diversity Officer
      6. Vice President for Communications and Marketing
      7. Faculty Senate President
      8. Vice President and General Counsel
      9. Vice President and University Secretary
  3. POLICY STATEMENTIn all respects, the University retains ownership and control over the naming of all its physical and non-physical entities.
    All naming will undergo a high level of consideration and due diligence and proposals for naming will not be approved that: are contrary to the University’s educational, research, and public engagement mission or values; compromise the academic freedom of the university community; or would inflict damage on the University’s reputation.

    1. Authority
      All naming is subject to the approval of the President and the Board of Trustees.
      No University campus, college, unit, constituent, or designated agent of a constituent is authorized to name or to affix a plaque, title, or inscription to any University physical and non-physical entity without prior approval of the President and the Board of Trustees.
    2. Guidelines
      1. Purpose
        Physical and non-physical entities may be named for individuals, families, or organizations for two purposes:

        1. Philanthropic
          In recognition of a donor to the University or, at the request of a donor, for a third party. Naming opportunities may be appropriate to recognize a donor or designee whose financial contributions have supported the institution in meaningful ways.
        2. Honorific
          In honor or memory of an individual, family, or organization’s significant contributions (financial or otherwise, but not in connection with a specific gift) to the University, the State of Delaware, or society in general.
      2. Philanthropic Requirements
        Minimum funding required will vary by naming and is based on both the new construction/renovation (if applicable) and the ongoing program or operational costs of the physical or non-physical entity. The President and the Board of Trustees will approve all philanthropic minima.
      3. Honorific Guideline
        Honorific namings are not permitted for any active University trustee, University employee, or student.
      4. Facility, Outdoor Areas, Spaces, Campuses, Academic Units, Positions, and Asset Requirement
        A proposal to name a facility, outdoor area, space, campus, academic unit, position, or asset requires approval by the President and the Board of Trustees.
      5. Endowed and Term Funds Requirement
        A proposal to name an endowed or term fund, such as a professorship, scholarship, fellowship, or lecture, requires approval by the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations, in consultation with the President and the Board of Trustees.
    3. Duration
      Philanthropic or honorary naming is generally granted for the useful life of the entity.

      1. When a facility, outdoor area, space, or asset has reached the end of its useful life and/or will be replaced or substantially renovated, the existing structure may be named or renamed. If appropriate, recognition of earlier donors and honorees will be included in or adjacent to new and renovated facilities, as well as in redeveloped areas.
      2. New facilities, outdoor areas, and spaces should be named in a timely manner but should provide time for University Development leadership to evaluate the potential for involving a benefactor in the naming process; if a name is not forthcoming at the time the building or facility has been completed, and a name is needed for identification purposes, only a generic name should be used.
      3. Non-physical entities, such as endowed positions and endowed funds such as professorships, scholarships, fellowships, or lectures, will be named in perpetuity.
    4. Removal of Naming and Renaming
      The University reserves the right to revoke a name or rename and terminate its obligations regarding a naming at any time if, including, but not limited to:

      1. The University determines that there is strong evidence that the continued use of a name of a facility, outdoor area, space, academic unit, or position does not align with the University’s educational, research, or public engagement mission, could damage the reputation of the University, or is contrary to the University’s values.
      2. If the naming is philanthropic and the donor fails to fulfill the terms of the gift.
        A proposal to remove or rename may be submitted to the Naming Steering Committee for consideration.In considering such proposals, the NSC, the President, and the Board of Trustees shall exercise judgment with regard to the individual or entity the original naming was intended to honor. In addition, upon review, the NSC, President, and the Board may recommend additional context, reinterpretation, and education regarding the namesake in instances where the name is retained.
        If a donor requests a change to the naming associated with a physical or non-physical entity (e.g., due to marriage), the university will consider the request. If approved, all replacement signage and other related costs shall be at the donor’s expense.
        The President and the Board of Trustees have final approval.
      3. Exceptions
        In rare circumstances, the Board of Trustees may grant an exception to this policy.
  4. POLICY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURESNo commitment regarding the naming of physical and non-physical entities shall be made to a donor or an honoree prior to review and approval of the proposed name.
    1. Naming Steering Committee (NSC) Review and Recommendations
      1. The NSC manages the process to review all naming proposals and makes recommendations to the President and the Board of Trustees for final approval.
      2. Naming proposals are submitted to the Chair of the NSC, the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations provides the guidelines, template, and requirements for proposals.
      3. Naming proposals may originate with the Academic unit head, the Non-academic unit head, a trustee, or a University officer.
      4. The Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will maintain a comprehensive list of physical and non-physical entities in consultation with the Provost and will share this list periodically with the President, the Board of Trustees, and the NSC.
    2. Gift Minima
      For Philanthropic namings, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations will determine and make a recommendation to the NSC, the President, and the Board of Trustees regarding the philanthropic amount(s) of any naming opportunity.
    3. Naming Implementation
      Philanthropic naming will not be implemented (e.g., building signage, printed materials) until receipt of an executed gift agreement and a percentage of pledge payments. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations will determine the percentage amount and make a recommendation to the NSC, the President, and the Board of Trustees.