Policy on the Naming of University Property (Policy 90)

Purpose

As stewards of a public institution, the Board of Trustees of Governors State University holds the property entrusted to it for the People of Illinois for use by the University. As such, naming of such property should be undertaken with care and with the purpose of advancing the institution’s mission, core values, and vision. This policy provides a mechanism for University constituents to provide input on naming University property and guidelines for naming such property. This policy was adopted pursuant to the Board’s delegation of authority set forth in Board Regulation Section VI(C) and is subject to said regulation. Any conflict between this policy and said regulation shall be resolved in favor of the regulation. 

This policy also recognizes that, as the need for private financial support to higher education continues to increase, there is an opportunity for Governors State University to solicit and receive significant gifts linked to the naming of university property in honor of significant financial contributors to the university. Governors State University highly values contributions from donors, sponsors, and others to advance the mission and excellence of the institution and to support students, faculty, programs, and facilities across campus. 

Such gifts often come with restrictions on how the donated funds should be utilized. Institutional autonomy, academic freedom, and other bedrock principles are essential to the University and are inseparable from the very excellence donors and sponsors want to support. These principles shall be safeguarded in deliberations with donors about gifts. 

The Board of Trustees for Governors State University retains authority for naming or renaming buildings (or parts thereof), structures, facilities, streets, grounds, and other real property of the University (individually, a “Facility” and collectively, “Facilities”).

1. Facility/Facilities means any building (or parts thereof), structure, street, grounds, open space, physical improvement, or other property under the administrative control of the University.
2. General Name means a proposed or given name for a Facility that reflects the function of the facility or a generic naming convention (e.g., the “G Building”) and which is not intended to honor any person or entity.
3. The Governors State University Foundation (GovState Foundation), an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, serves as the University's primary fundraising and gift-receiving entity. The GovState Foundation identifies and solicits sources of private funding on behalf of the University.
4. Proper Name means a proposed or given name for a University Facility in honor of a person or entity.
5. Real Property means land and anything permanently affixed thereto, including but not limited to buildings, landscaping, pathways, roads, and ponds.

1. University Naming Committee

   The University Naming Committee advises the President on naming or renaming opportunities for Facilities, and the University Naming Committee’s input is welcome prior to a Facility being named or renamed. The committee will submit recommendations to the President, who may submit the final recommendation to the Board of Trustees for final review and approval. 

   The committee shall be comprised of the following as appointed by the President:

   1. Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee (co-chair); 
   2. Vice President for Institutional Advancement or designee (co-chair); 
   3. Associate Vice President for Facilities Development and Management; 
   4. University General Counsel; 
   5. One academic administrator representing a College and/or program, such as a Dean or Chair, as designated by the University President; 
   6. The Faculty Senate President or designee and two faculty representatives nominated by the Faculty Senate and approved by the President;
   7. One civil service staff representative nominated by the Civil Service Senate and approved by the President; 
   8. One student representative nominated by the Student Senate and approved by the President; 
   9. Additional representatives, such as the Athletics Director, Dean of Students, or others, may also be appointed by the University President in the President’s sole discretion.

   Membership of the University Naming Committee shall be determined as outlined above and the committee shall be convened only when the need for such a committee arises. 

   Committee members shall accept a committee appointment with the understanding that the committee may be called upon to consider a naming opportunity at any time during the calendar year and that the business of the committee must be conducted with due diligence and speed in order to facilitate donor relations. Absent exceptional circumstances, the committee is expected to respond to a naming proposal within thirty (30) days of receipt of said proposal.

2. Authority For Naming of University Property

   The role of the University Naming Committee is advisory only. The authority to name or rename any Facility is retained solely by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to decide the name of any Facility, the form, design, and content of physical displays which may accompany named recognition, and to approve the donation amount for naming rights, if applicable. 

   The University Naming Committee shall be responsible for reviewing naming (or renaming) proposals and, within the bounds of applicable open records laws. 

   GovState’s Office of Institutional Advancement shall be responsible for maintaining and updating an inventory of Facilities eligible for naming, as well as a list of Facilities that have been given a Proper Name. Under the direction of the President, the Office of Institutional Advancement shall provide advice on the current, approved naming policies with respect to recognition of philanthropic donations. The Vice President for Institutional Advancement is responsible for the negotiation of gifts which involve a proposal to name. Potential donors of such gifts should Policy Number 90 be advised by the Vice President for Institutional Advancement that the acceptance of any philanthropic donation involving a proposal to name a Facility is conditional upon recommendation by the President of the University and approval by the Board of Trustees.

3. General Naming Principles

   Ultimate authority to name or rename any Facility rests exclusively with the Board of Trustees. The following principles are intended to serve as guidelines for the University Naming Committee in making recommendations to name (or rename) any Facility.

   1. Any proposal to name or rename a Facility should be consistent with and further the University’s mission, vision, and core values and be consistent with the principles of institutional autonomy and academic freedom. 
   2. Facilities may be given General Names to reflect the primary purpose of that Facility if its purpose is not expected to change (e.g., “Family Development Center”). General Names also may reflect generic naming conventions (e.g., “G Building”) if the purpose(s) of that Facility is expected to change with some frequency or if it serves multiple purposes. 
   3. Facilities may be given Proper Names in honor of or at the request of individuals, corporations, or other entities who have made significant financial contributions to the University or who are notable alumni with close ties to the University, former employees of the University, distinguished former members of the Board of Trustees, or public persons who have made significant contributions to education and/or society (so long as such public persons are not then holding elective or appointive office in national, state, or local government, members or employees of the Board, or members or employees of the Illinois Board of Higher Education). 
   4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this policy, no name will be recommended if the name calls into question the public reputation of, or respect for, the University. 
   5. No names will be recommended that may be perceived to imply the University’s endorsement of a partisan political or ideological position or of a commercial product. This provision does not preclude a name honoring an individual who has at one time held public office or with the name of an individual or a company that manufactures or distributes commercial products. 
   6. Any individual or entity who has made, or wishes to make, a donation through the GovState Foundation and who wishes to pursue a gift-based naming opportunity in connection with that donation must meet the GovState Foundation guidelines, and any other applicable policies, and have a fully executed donor gift agreement on file with the GovState Foundation. 
   7. Provisions in this policy that refer to naming for a benefactor also generally apply to naming for a third party at the wish of a benefactor. 
   8. Any recommendation to name or rename a Facility shall comply with any gift agreements that may be applicable. 
   9. In any gift agreement, the University shall reserve the right to revoke a naming opportunity in its sole discretion, including but not limited to for failing to fulfill the agreement.

4. Funding Requirements for Naming Opportunities

   A Facility may be named for, or at the request of, a donor. Philanthropic naming is subject to satisfactory funding arrangements as determined by the University President and approved by the Board of Trustees and timely fulfillment of such arrangements.

5. Renaming, Removal, or Relocation of Named University Facilities

   Individuals and corporate entities whose naming is approved by the Board of Trustees will be expected to exemplify the attributes of integrity and civic leadership, and their reputations should be beyond reproach. Should a Proper Name violate these standards, including but not limited to a prior naming that could be damaging to the reputation of the University, compromise the public trust in the University, or otherwise not be in the best interest of the University, the University Naming Committee may recommend to the Board to remove the Proper Name from the Facility. The removal of an honoree’s name from a Facility must not be undertaken lightly and must be approached with respect for the considered judgments of the past, especially when exercised by the contemporaries of the honoree. The process and recommendations made by the University Naming Committee should include, at a minimum:

   1. An articulation of specific behavior(s) or course(s) of conduct on the part of the honoree on which the recommendation for the removal of the honoree’s name is based; 
   2. A fact-finding investigation of the specific behavior(s) or course(s) of conduct and the historical, personal, and academic context (as relevant); 
   3. The nature of such behavior(s) or course(s) of conduct and its/their centrality to the honoree’s life or existence as a whole; 
   4. Thoughtful consideration of the impact on the University and the University community of both retention and removal of the honoree’s name from the Facility, including the prominence or role of the Facility in the daily functioning of the University and whether retention of the honoree’s name conflicts with the University’s mission or core values; and 
   5. Consideration of suggestions from the broader University community at large, when applicable and when consultation with the broader University community will not violate protections of confidentiality or applicable laws, statutes, or University policies.

   Recommendations to rename or remove a Proper Name shall be made by the University Naming Committee in accordance with the same guidelines and principles for naming of University Facilities.

Acknowledgement

The University acknowledges and credits documents from the following in the writing of this document: Illinois State University, Indiana University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and University of Illinois.

Responsible Party

The President of the University or designee will be responsible for procedures under this policy.