University of West Georgia Naming Guidelines
Recognition may be provided for major contributions to the University of West Georgia by associating the name of the donor with some other person specified by the donor, with a campus facility, a unit of the University, a faculty position, a scholarship or fellowship, or with a specific program supported by the donor. The President of the University, and in some cases the Board of Regents, must approve, in advance, the solicitation and acceptance of any gift which includes a naming commitment as a condition of the contribution. Any naming proposal which involves a commercial enterprise will be closely examined to insure that it does not imply any endorsement of the enterprise on the part of the University of West Georgia.
The following guidelines are suggested for the development of proposals involving naming opportunities, and are intended to permit flexibility in view of circumstances, including the honoree's past support and record of service to the University.
The Guidelines established herein shall not apply to any named endowments (pledged or paid) established prior to the adoption of same unless said application is mutually agreed upon by the donor(s), the University of West Georgia and the University of West Georgia Foundation.
Unless otherwise specified, the suggested contribution level is based on a pledge to be paid in full over a period not to exceed five (5) years. The donor should be advised that in many instances it is impractical to proceed with a project or fill a position being endowed until the contribution has been paid in full. If a deferred gift is made to secure a naming opportunity, the gift agreement must state that the gift is irrevocable.
Excellence Funds:
Contributions beginning at the $100,000 level are suggested to endow a "Named Excellence Fund" (General Endowment Fund), which provides the University of West Georgia's Margin of Excellence by enabling the University to use the Fund's earnings where there is the greatest need. Contributions smaller than $100,000 are certainly welcome; they cannot be separately named, but will be acknowledged as contributions to the University of West Georgia Excellence Fund.
Facilities:
The Board of Regents considers the naming of a University System Facility or street in honor of an individual to be one of the highest distinctions that it can bestow. In light of the importance and magnitude of this honor, the following policy shall apply to the naming of all physical facilities and streets on all property owned or leased by the University System of Georgia, including facilities constructed by affiliated foundations of the Institutions. The term "facility" is intended to include buildings of all types, as well as all sports facilities. It is also intended to include all outdoor areas that may not have physical walls but are nonetheless identifiable areas of campus landscape, such as quadrangles, gardens, lakes, recreation fields, etc. The term "facilities" does not include interior spaces such as rooms, hallways, etc., within buildings and sports facilities. The Board of Regents delegates authority to the Institution Presidents to name such interior spaces. The Board of Regents will be notified for informational purposes only on any such interior space naming on a timely basis.
The act of naming a University System facility or street is the conferral of not only a high honor but also a conspicuous honor. It publicly exhibits the judgment and standards of the University System of Georgia and signifies lasting approval of the actions of the honoree. Given the fact that a name may be on display for decades, the task of naming should not be taken lightly. Rather, each Institution should carefully consider each name, seek advice, and use the utmost discretion in ensuring that those upon whom such an honor is bestowed are truly worthy.
The practices and standards to be used for signage for the naming opportunities for facilities are outlined by Board of Regents Policies 908.03 and 917 and also must conform to UWG's Master Plan.
In order to allow for the individual being honored to enjoy and take part in the honor when it is bestowed, the Board of Regents will allow facilities and streets to be named after a living individual if the person to be honored has provided outstanding service to the Institution, to the nation, or to society, and has served with distinction.
When naming is to honor a 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 a least two years prior to the naming. For deceased persons, the same standards as for living persons are set, except the two-year waiting period may be waived.
In light of the fact that every institution within the University System is different, "outstanding service" is intended, to a certain extent, to be a flexible standard. Each naming situation must be judged on its own merits after taking into account the facts that are relevant to the person being honored and the Institution involved. The proposed naming should be consistent with the interests of the institution and the University System and the value of the service which warrants the action proposed. All proposed namings will be submitted to the Chancellor, or his designee, who shall then submit the recommendations to the Board of Regents for approval. The Board of Regents must approve the proposed name of a facility or street, whether to honor an individual, corporation, foundation or organization or to memorialize a deceased individual. If a recognition ceremony is planned to announce the naming of a facility or street, the Board of Regents and the Chancellor will be notified in advance to facilitate their attendance at the event if they so choose.
The naming opportunity will be terminated at the end of the useful life of the facility. If the facility is demolished, no assurances will be given that the naming opportunity from the original facility will be transferred to another pre-existing or new facility. If a new facility is built at the same location, a new naming opportunity will be available.
On September 20, 2005, the President's Advisory Committee recommended the following to the President, upon which it was accepted as UWG policy: With the exception of former presidents of the institution, no buildings or facilities should be named without a prior financial commitment. A donor who desires to name a campus facility after a specific individual is generally expected to contribute an amount equal to at least one-third (1/3) of the present value of the facility. Periodic review of these institutional guidelines with respect to naming opportunities for facilities can be initiated by the president of the University of West Georgia.
Academic Units:
The naming of a college, school, or center at the University of West Georgia will require the concurrence of the President and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The expected minimum contribution for the naming of a college is $2 million. A department or a school may be named for an expected minimum contribution of $1 million. The contribution associated with the naming of an academic unit will preferably be made for the purpose of establishing an endowment for the general support of the University or the specific unit, but may include components which provide for the support of specific programs within the unit.
Faculty Positions:
No endowed Chair, Professorship or Fellowship may be established or announced without prior approval of the Board of Regents. Consequently, any proposal which contemplates a named endowed Chair, Professorship or Fellowship must be conditioned upon approval by the Board of Regents. Endowments for Chairs, Professorships and Fellowships are used for salary supplementation and for other professional support of the holder of the endowed position, including assistance in the research of the holder.
- Chairs: A Chair is a senior faculty position that is endowed at a level considered sufficient to support a senior professor of national distinction. The Board of Regents has set minimum funding levels of $300,000 for Chairs and $500,000 for Distinguished Chairs.
- Professorships: A Professorship is a faculty position which is either endowed a level below that considered sufficient to support a Chair, or which is not endowed but supported in whole or in part with annual contributions for a finite number of years. The Board of Regents has set a minimum funding level of $200,000 for a Distinguished Professorship and $100,000 for a Professorship. A commitment to make a minimum annual contribution of $10,000 for a period of at least five (5) consecutive years is suggested for the establishment of a Term Professorship.
- Faculty Fellowships: A Fellowship is used to provide temporary support (not to exceed one year) of distinguished scholars who are in temporary residence at the University, University faculty who have made unique contributions to academic life or to knowledge in their academic discipline, and academic faculty who have been selected for teaching excellence. A minimum contribution of a least $30,000 has been set by the Board of Regents for the establishment of an endowed Fellowship at the University of West Georgia.
Endowments for Student Support:
Support may be provided to graduate or undergraduate students through a named Scholarship, by establishing a permanent endowment of a minimum of $10,000 for the support of the Scholarship. (Contributions of less than $10,000 are certainly welcome; they cannot be separately named, but will be individually acknowledged as contributions to the University of West Georgia scholarship fund).
Other University Programs:
Contribution levels for naming other university programs should be suggested by the director of the program in consultation with the President. Ongoing costs for operating the program will be a primary consideration. The normal minimum contribution level for any named program at the University of West Georgia is $25,000. The President is authorized by the Foundation to set a lesser amount if he/she believes it is in the best interest of the University.