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Armstrong Atlantic State University Naming Guidelines

  1. Introduction

    Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) considers the naming of a facility, academic unit, endowed faculty chair, street or identifiable area of campus landscape in honor of a living or deceased individual to be one of the highest distinctions that it can bestow. The act of naming publicly exhibits the judgment and standards of the University System of Georgia and AASU. It signifies lasting approval of the actions of the honoree. Because of the magnitude of this honor, and in compliance with the regulations of the Board of Regents, AASU has established the following guidelines concerning such naming.
  2. Naming Buildings, Facilities, and Streets

    The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has the authority to name buildings, facilities and streets on the campus of each institution within the University System. This authority is described in Board of Regents' Policy 912. Pursuant to this policy, AASU will submit all proposed namings of buildings, facilities, or streets to the Board of Regents for approval. Named buildings, facilities or streets will adhere to Board of Regents' Policies 908.03 and 917. In addition, the university will notify the Board of Regents and Chancellor well in advance of any special recognition ceremonies related to a naming occasion.
    1. Living Persons

      For a facility to be named after a living individual, the person must have provided truly outstanding service to AASU, the nation, or society in general. When naming is to honor a living person for outstanding and distinguished service as a public servant, that person must have been disassociated from employment by or service to the University System or from state or federal government employment for at least two years prior to the naming.
    2. Deceased Persons

      For deceased persons, the standard described at II.A. above will apply with the exception that the two-year waiting period may be waived upon the person's death.
    3. Monetary Donations

      AASU has a list of current Naming Opportunities which has been approved by the Armstrong Atlantic State University Foundation Board of Trustees. This list is attached to this policy as Exhibit A. The list includes a monetary amount for each naming opportunity based on the varying levels of the naming opportunities. These naming opportunities are reviewed and revised periodically.

      The President of AASU is responsible for ensuring that proposed namings associated with monetary gifts are consistent with the interests of the institution and the University System of Georgia.
    4. Name Removal

      A facility or street may be denamed in circumstances such as failure to follow through on a financial commitment, failure to maintain the high standards of the institution or of the University System of Georgia upon which the original naming honor was based, or for other appropriate reasons.
  3. Other Naming Opportunities

    The President of AASU has administrative authority to name interior facility spaces such as rooms, hallways, common areas, and endowed scholarship funds.
  4. General Considerations

    All gifts to AASU are considered gifts for the general benefit of the university unless the donor has specified a program or other specific use for the funds. In the case of naming opportunities, the gift comes to the university for the priorities the university deems appropriate. The university will offer the donor, subject to approval of the Board of Regents, an opportunity to name a particular facility, academic unit, endowed faculty chair, street or identifiable area of campus landscape and designate the use of funds. University leadership may choose to allocate a portion of such funds to the named space, but such allocation is neither required nor should it be expected.

    In the case of endowed faculty chairs or scholarships that bear the donor's name, the funds are used to establish an endowment to accomplish the desires of the donor and maintained in restricted accounts.

    The President of AASU shall appoint a committee to recommend, monitor and periodically review the list of naming opportunities and recommend persons to be recognized or honored with a naming opportunity. Membership of the committee shall consist of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for External Affairs, the Executive Director of Leadership Development, the Director of Development, Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Faculty, and Chair of the Staff Advisory Council. The Assistant to the President will serve as Chair of the Committee.

EXHIBIT A

ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION, INC.

NAMED GIFT OPPORTUNITIES (ENDOWMENTS) POLICY

To Name College or School $2,000,000
Distinguished Chair 500,000
Chair 300,000
Distinguished Professorship 200,000
Professorship 100,000
Presidential Scholarship 50,000
Distinguished Scholar 50,000
Fellowship 30,000
Lecture or Seminar Series 30,000
Endowed Scholarship 10,000
Endowed Fund 10,000

Guidelines

  1. An endowment minimum is to be reached within 5 years, except in the cases of planned gifts. If the minimum endowment is not reached, the funds will be transferred to the pooled fund for the same general purpose to which the funds were originally restricted.
  2. Gifts to establish an endowment will be receipted and maintained as restricted funds until the minimum endowment level is reached. The fund will permanently be endowed when the total gifts reaches the minimum endowment level.
  3. These policies are intended to be guidelines governing minimum funding for endowment for the university. Exceptions must have prior approval by the Executive Vice President of the Foundation and the President of the University.
  4. These funding levels and policies will be reviewed periodically.
  5. Because conditions chance over time, all endowment instruments should contain the following contingency clause:

If, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, all or part of the funds cannot be applied in strict conformance with the purposes previously stated, they may use these funds for other appropriate purposes as nearly aligned to the original intent of the donor as good conscience and need dictate within the authorized powers of the Foundation.