Guidelines and Procedures for Naming Campus Facilities and Programs

  1. Preamble
    1. Due to the public visibility, permanence and significance of the naming of University facilities and programs, such naming opportunities should involve careful deliberation and attention to the appropriateness of the name.
    2. Those for whom facilities and programs are named should exemplify the values of the University and the integrity of the honoree shall be beyond reproach.
    3. There are three types of namings:
      1. Administrative – denotes general use buildings and other campus facilities
      2. Commemorative – reserved for those who have made extraordinary contributions to the University or society.
      3. Donor related – in recognition of significant gifts.
    4. This policy is not intended to alter existing naming commitments throughout the campus.
    5. The President and the Chancellor will periodically review the minimum gift levels detailed in this policy in consultation with the University of Illinois Foundation.
    6. Unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Trustees, when a facility or program is named in recognition of a significant gift, the name of the donor or his/her designee generally will be effective for the useful life of the facility.
    7. These procedures are consistent with the General Rules Concerning University Organization and Procedure. They also supersede any and all other campus policies, procedures and guidelines related to the naming of facilities and programs.
  2. Definitions and Qualifications
    1. “Facilities” refer to any building, part of a building structure, street, drive, landscaped area, open space, farms, physical improvement, or other property under the administrative control of the University.
    2. “Programs” refer to any academic or non-academic program, school, college, institute, center, etc., but does not include endowed faculty positions (e.g., chairs, professorships, etc.) or named funds to support students (e.g., scholarships, fellowships, awards, etc.).
    3. Facilities and programs may be named for a person who has served as an employee of the University and who has emeritus status or has been retired for five (5) years.
    4. Facilities and programs may be named for an elected official ten (10) years after he/she has left office.
  3. Administrative Naming
    1. Facilities should be named in such a way as to denote their general objective or use. The Chancellor will forward all naming recommendations for all facilities to the Board of Trustees.
    2. A building name may include a designation such as auditorium, center, gymnasium, hall, institute, school, laboratory, etc. In the case of facilities, the Campus Capital Review Committee will determine appropriate names for facility projects which will be reviewed by appropriate campus and university offices, and approved by the Board of Trustees.
  4. Commemorative Naming
    1. Facilities and programs may be named in honor or memory of faculty, staff, officers, alumni or friends of the University community who have made extraordinary contributions to the University or society.
    2. Honorees shall have achieved distinction in one or more of the following ways:
      1. Served the University in an academic capacity, achieved the highest scholarly distinction and earned a national or international reputation.
      2. Served the University in an important administrative capacity, rendered distinguished service, and provided exceptional contributions to the University.
      3. Contributed in truly exceptional ways to the welfare of the institution, state, or nation or achieved such unique distinction as to warrant recognition.
  5. Naming Facilities and Programs as a Result of Gifts
    1. Facilities and programs may be named for or by individual donors who provide significant gifts in support of facilities and programs at the University.
    2. Facilities and programs may be named for corporations and foundations.
      1. The length of time that a corporate or foundation name will remain on a facility will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
      2. Gifts from corporations or foundations to support programs will be recognized in the same manner as gifts from individuals.
    3. Minimum gift levels
      1. Facilities
        1. New facilities: 50% of the private fundraising goal for the project.
        2. Existing facilities: 50% of the private fundraising goal for the project.
        3. Addition to existing facilities: 50% of private fundraising goal for the project.
        4. Renovations: 100% of renovation if project is less than $5M; if project is greater than $5M, 50% of the private fundraising goal for the project.
        5. Interior spaces (e.g., laboratories, classrooms, etc.): 100% of the private fundraising goal for the project regardless of whether it is new construction or renovation.
        6. Outdoor areas (e.g., courtyards, gardens, streets, fountains, benches, etc.): 100% of the total cost.
        7. In the case of facilities, gifts must be current use gifts and may include a maximum five-year pledge.
      2. Colleges, Schools, Institutes, Departments, Academic or Administrative Units. The specific level for each unit will be determined by the Provost and Chancellor.
      3. Programmatic Centers (Academic and Administrative)
        1. A minimum of a $5M endowment gift is needed to name a programmatic center.
        2. An alternate funding plan may be implemented with the approval of the Provost and Chancellor.
      4. Programs

        The Vice Chancellor to which the program reports, in collaboration with the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, shall recommend to the Chancellor the appropriate gift size given the nature and impact of the program.

    4. All gifts should be received by the University of Illinois Foundation.
    5. The Chancellor retains the flexibility to negotiate alternative financial arrangements where the best interest of the University are served.
  6. Campus Landmarks

    There are facilities, land and features on campus that should never be named due to their historic nature as a campus landmark. These include, but are not limited to:

    • Alma Mater
    • Illini Union
    • Memorial Stadium
    • Quad
  7. Recognition
    1. When an entire facility is named for an individual, the actual name may appear on the façade of the structure, university signage and campus maps as appropriate.
    2. Space within buildings (e.g., rooms, lounges, laboratories, performance spaces, lecture halls, etc.) may be identified by plaques or tablets installed in buildings as a commemorative recognition of an individual or as the result of a gift. All such identifications must be approved by the Chancellor or his/her designee.
    3. When a named facility has reached the end of its useful life and will be razed or the unit moves into a different facility, the donors will be appropriately recognized in a related facility.
  8. Renaming of Facilities
    1. When a facility or area is proposed for renaming, campus officials will make all reasonable efforts to inform in advance the original donors, honorees, or members of their immediate family.
    2. A second name may be added to a building when significant funding is needed to renovate an existing named facility in order to meet the programmatic needs of the unit. Any proposal to add a second name in recognition of a gift shall be reviewed by the Chancellor. The review shall include any gift documents pertaining to the original gift and related naming, as well as the gift documents pertaining to the subsequent gift and proposed renaming.
    3. Legal Counsel shall be consulted on all proposals to rename facilities.
  9. Removal of a Name

    In extreme circumstances it may be necessary to remove a name from a facility or program if it is in the best interest of the University. This should be done judiciously, with great care and deliberation, and should involve the Chancellor, Legal Counsel, the President and the Board of Trustees.

  10. Procedures Related to Approval Process
    1. Administrative Namings
      1. Given the utilitarian nature of administrative namings, these will be approved as part of the construction project review approval process through the Campus Capital Review Committee for facility projects.
      2. The Chancellor shall submit all naming requests to the President for his/her review.
    2. Commemorative Namings
      1. The Chancellor shall bring all such naming requests to the Faculty Senate for advice before submitting the naming requests to the President for his/her review.
      2. All such naming requests shall be forwarded to the University President for review and submission to the Board of Trustees for consideration.
    3. Naming as a Result of a Gift
      1. Prior to any discussion with a prospective donor regarding specific naming opportunities, units should consult with the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement to assure the appropriateness of the gift levels required for the project.
      2. No commitment regarding naming shall be made to a donor prior to a review by the Chancellor. Each proposal shall be made in writing in accordance with University and campus policies and procedures. Prospective donors be informed that a naming gift involves several offices of the University and the approval of the Board of Trustees.
      3. A formal gift agreement among the University, University of Illinois Foundation and donor must be executed before a facility or program is named.
      4. The Chancellor shall submit all naming requests to the President for his/her review.
      5. All such naming requests shall be forwarded to the University President for review and submission to the Board of Trustees for consideration.
  11. Exceptions

    There may be instances whereby exceptions will be granted to the procedures above. These will be reviewed/endorsed by the Chancellor and, when warranted, submitted to the Board of Trustees for consideration.