1. Policy Statement

Naming opportunities exist to recognize the dedication, accomplishment or generosity of extraordinary individuals and entities whose support is valuable to the mission and programs at the University of North Texas.  This policy will guide the President in establishing consistent definitions, minimum standards, and general procedures to guide staff and donors in discussing naming opportunities. 

2. Application of Policy

All Faculty and Staff

3. Definitions

1. Gift. A "gift” is a voluntary, philanthropic transfer of assets received from an individual, a corporation, a foundation or other organization.  A gift may be made through a number of vehicles, including but not limited to cash, stock, estates, trusts, in-kind and real estate.

2. Institution. The term “institution” in this policy refers to the University of North Texas campus in Denton.

3. Naming.  The term “naming” in this policy refers to the conferral of an individual’s or organization’s name to a building, room, endowed chair , or another initiative or property to honor the philanthropic support and/or distinguished contributions of that individual or organization.

4. Procedures and Responsibilities

1. Categories of Naming

   1. Gift-Related Naming. 
      A gift-related naming occurs when a donor makes a tax-deductible contribution to the institution or to the UNT Foundation and is recognized with a naming.

   2. Honorific Naming. 
      An honorific naming may be bestowed in recognition of the dedication or meritorious contribution of a person.  A person being recognized by an honorific naming must have exhibited values consistent with the mission and vision of the institution, must have an established relationship with the institution, and must have contributed measurably to the good of society.  When an individual is considered for an honorific naming, the proposal shall be reviewed and approved by the Vice President for Advancement and the President prior to being submitted to the Board of Regents for final approval.  The Board of Regents must approve all honorific namings.

               2. Naming Opportunities and Necessary Approvals

1. Buildings and Other Major Facilities
   Naming of buildings and other major facilities, such as stadiums, wings of buildings, large auditoriums, concert halls and clinics, must be approved by the Board of Regents following the recommendations of the President.  The criteria for a gift-related naming will consider the value, visibility, improvements, and marketability of the location and will be based on a minimum donation valued between 33% and 50% of the original construction, renovation, or current value of the property.

2. Areas within Buildings and Other Major Facilities
   Naming of areas within buildings and other major facilities such as, but not limited to, atriums, specific rooms, lecture halls, laboratories and workshops, must be approved by the President upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Advancement and the Dean of, or the Vice President for, the corresponding school, college or administrative department. For gifts of $5,000,000 or more associated with the naming, the Board of Regents must provide final approval of the naming.  A gift-related naming will consider the value, visibility, improvements and marketability of the location and will be based on a minimum donation valued between 33% and 50% of the original construction, renovation, or current value of the area within the building and other major facilities.

3. Grounds, Outdoor Renovations, Gardens, Trees and Benches
   Naming of grounds, outdoor renovations, gardens, trees and benches must be approved by the President upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Finance and Administration and the Vice President for Advancement. If acceptable to the President, a gift of $5,000,000 or more associated with this type of naming will be recommended by the President to the Board of Regents for approval. A gift-related naming will consider the value, visibility, improvements and marketability of the location and will be based on a minimum donation valued 33% and 50% of the original construction, renovation, or current value of the property.

4. Streets
   The naming of all streets located on the campus of the institution or on a property owned by the institution must be approved by the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Advancement prior to being submitted to the Board of Regents for final approval.  The naming of a street is a rare occurrence for which there is not an established gift requirement.

5. Real Property
   Naming of real property must be approved by the President, Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services and the Vice President for Advancement prior to being submitted to the Board of Regents for final approval.  Real property given to the institution may be named in consideration of the gift of the donor’s entire interest in the property.

6. Programs, Institutes, Centers and Other Organizations
   Naming of programs, institutes, centers and other entities must be approved by the President upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the respective school or college and the Vice President for Advancement regardless of the cash value of the gift. If acceptable to the President, a gift of $5,000,000 or more associated with this type of naming will be recommended by the President to the Board of Regents for final approval.

7. Colleges and Schools.
   Naming of colleges and schools will consider the value, visibility, improvements, and marketability of the college or school and must be approved by the President, upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the respective school or college and the Vice President for Advancement prior to being submitted to the Board of Regents for final approval.

8. Academic Positions
   Naming of academic positions must be approved by the President upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the respective school or college and the Vice President for Advancement. If acceptable to the President, a gift of $5,000,000 or more associated with this type of naming will be recommended by the President to the Board of Regents for final approval.  A gift-related naming will consider the value and visibility of the position and will be based on a minimum donation of $1,500,000 for endowed chairs, $500,000 for endowed professorships, $250,000 for endowed faculty fellowships, $100,000 for graduate fellowships and $25,000 for all endowed scholarships.

9. Miscellaneous Naming Opportunities
   Naming opportunities that are not otherwise set forth in this policy must be approved either by the President and Vice President for Advancement, regardless of the cash value of the gift, or by the Board of Regents for $5,000,000 or more.

5. Guidelines

   1. Relevance
   A gift-related naming opportunity requires that the gift amount must be reasonably related to the facility, place, position or item being named, as approved by the President.

   2. Determination of Current Value
   For the purposes of this policy, the current value of buildings and other major facilities and of donated real property shall be determined by the UNT System.  In all other circumstances where current value is required to be determined under this policy, the determination shall be made by the institution through the Executive Director of Facilities.

   3. Donor Recognition
   The designation of a naming shall not be publicly announced until final approval has been obtained as required under the Regents Rules and this policy.  Further, a donor shall not be publicly recognized in regard to a naming until the institution has received at least 33% of any gift related to the naming, and the remainder must be received within five years.

   4. Gifts of Monies, Securities, Real Estate, Personal Property and Other Types of Gifts
   The President has the authority to allow various types of gift arrangements other than monies, securities, real estate and personal property to be gifted in consideration of a naming, in accordance with gift acceptance policies established by the Division of Advancement.  These arrangements may include, but are not limited to, charitable trusts, charitable gift annuities, bargain sales, life estate gifts, life insurance, irrevocable beneficiary designations and gifts of less than the entire interest in a property.  In the event a naming requires Board approval, the Board shall be informed of the manner in which the gift is intended to be made, and the Board shall determine whether it is in the best interest of the institution to accept or reject the gift.

   5. Duration of a Naming
   A naming in recognition of a gift shall be for the life of the building, other facility, program or endowment, or item being named unless otherwise agreed to in the gift agreement.

   6. Corporate Namings
   A corporate naming must be in accordance with the Regents Rules and the requirements of Texas Education Code §51.923 and this policy.

   7. Fundraising, Development Campaigns and Marketing of Naming Opportunities
    All fundraising and development campaign efforts related to naming opportunities and the marketing of naming opportunities must be coordinated with the President and the Vice President for Advancement. The President shall be responsible for obtaining required approvals related to namings. The President may delegate responsibilities to the Vice President for Advancement for coordination of fundraising and development campaign efforts to secure gifts related to naming opportunities.

   8. Approval Authority 
   The President must approve all gift-related naming opportunities of $1,000,000 or more prior to solicitation of any prospective donor.  No commitment regarding naming for such gifts shall be made to a donor or honoree prior to approval by the President, upon the recommendation of the Vice President for Advancement and approval by the Board of Regents if required by the Regents Rules.  Each proposal shall be made in writing in accordance with the requirements of this policy.  A gift agreement stating the terms of the gift-related naming must be signed by both the donor and approved representatives of the institution, and approved UNT Foundation representative, when applicable. The proposal and gift agreement shall be maintained by the Development Office in accordance with the Records Retention Policy.  

6. Exceptions
   The President reserves the power to grant a naming at his/her discretion and grant exceptions to university policies regarding naming opportunities when it is in the best interest of the institution.  For namings requiring the approval of the Board of Regents, the Board must approve any exception regarding such naming opportunities.

7. References and Cross-References
   

Regents Rules 09.200: Naming Opportunities

8. Forms and Tools
   There are no forms for this policy.

Approved: 2/17/2009
Effective: 2/17/2009
Revised: