Administrative Policy
Title:
Naming University Facilities
Source:
Chancellor’s Office
Prepared by:
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Approved by:
_____________________
Chancellor
Effective Date:
January 1, 2012
Replaces:
“Named” Spaces Transition Guideline
July 15, 2004 (Anschutz Medical Campus)
Applies:
All campuses
___________________________________________________________________
A. Introduction
Regent Policy 14-J, Naming University Facilities, requires campus chancellors to develop
procedures for implementing Policy 14-J, “including policies and procedures for naming facilities
on the campus, the list of functional name categories, the actual names of all campus facilities,
and the interior space names.”
B. Table of Contents
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Introduction
Table of Contents
Policy Statement
Definitions
Procedures
1. Assigning Functional Names
2. Naming Major Facilities
3. Naming Smaller Spaces
4. Naming Other Spaces
5. Moving Names from One Location to Another
6. Campus Signage
F. Attachment
1. Naming Request Form
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University of Colorado Denver Policy
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C. Policy Statement
The University of Colorado Denver (UC Denver) welcomes the opportunity to honor those
who have rendered distinguished service or support to the university. The conferring of a
naming honor should advance the reputation of UC Denver as well as increase the
awareness, understanding and public support for the university and its programs. Facilities
and interior spaces may be named for individuals or entities whose accomplishments or
generosity advance and/or increase the capacity of UC Denver to meet its overall mission of
education, research, service, and health care. To ensure the appropriateness of the honor,
UC Denver will adhere to the following guidelines to make decisions on the merits of each
opportunity with regard to naming facilities, interior spaces, and outdoor features. All
naming guidelines at UC Denver will comply with the University of Colorado Board of
Regents Policy 14-J. Facilities located at the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) will
follow the AHEC policy “Naming Facilities at the Auraria Higher Education Center (Auraria
Campus),” http://www.ahec.edu/policies/Policy%2034%20-%20Naming%20Facilities.pdf.
D. Definitions
1. Major facilities include buildings, wings of buildings, recreational fields, plazas, fountains,
roadways, walkways, malls, quadrangles, and similar facilities on the campuses of the
University of Colorado Denver.
2. Smaller spaces include interior portions of buildings such as classrooms, seminar rooms,
lecture halls, laboratories, and service facilities. Exterior elements include vest pocket
parks, patios, and steps.
3. Other spaces include landscaping, commemorative trees, bricks, benches, art and
sculptures.
4. Honorary names include concepts, places, flora and fauna, natural landmarks, etc.
Honorary names also include the names of individuals and groups.
5. Functional names are given to facilities to describe their use or purpose.
E. Procedures
Primary responsibility for requesting naming rights rests with the dean or vice chancellor
proposing the facility name and the CU Foundation. The chancellor designates a point
person to manage naming requests. This designee receives and reviews all requests for
naming rights, ensuring that UC Denver complies with Regent Policy 14-J, seeking input
from others such as the CU Foundation and the Planning Office as needed. The designee
also informs the president’s office, and follows up with campus entities as needed. The
Finance Office (Space/Asset Management) tracks both functional and honorary names by
maintaining the space inventory system. A campus committee, comprised of the vice
chancellors, will review this policy periodically. They will also review all major facility
proposals and make a recommendation about them to the chancellor.
1. Assigning functional names –
a. Each new major facility shall have a functional designation as part of its name.
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University of Colorado Denver Policy
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b. The chancellor shall approve the functional name for each new major facility, with the
concurrence of the president. As appropriate, program plans for construction and
acquisition of facilities are approved by the Board of Regents.
c. The chancellor shall approve the functional name for all smaller spaces, with the
concurrence of the president.
d. Campus master plans may provide guidance in developing the functional names of
major facilities.
e. The Planning Office assists with assigning functional names. The Finance Office
tracks both functional and honorary names by maintaining the space inventory
system.
2. Naming major facilities –
a. Formal requests for naming rights originate with a dean or vice chancellor from the
responsible unit as a memo to the chancellor along with a completed “Request for
Name of Building” form (attached). The request must demonstrate that the proposed
person or group meets one of the following criteria (as stipulated by Regent Policy
14-J) for naming major spaces:
i.
Rendered outstanding academic and/or professional service to the university
community. This must be at least five years after the person’s retirement. If
the person is deceased, it can be sooner than five years.
ii.
Contributed own, or in another’s name, substantial funds toward the
construction, renovation and/or maintenance of the facility for which the
individual or group is recommending a name. A contribution of at least 50%
of the construction or renovation cost of a major facility is deemed to be
substantial. A lesser percentage may be deemed to be substantial if that
contribution made possible the construction, renovation, or maintenance of
the major facility. An endowment sufficient to provide for 75% of the
maintenance and operating cost of a major facility at the time of the
endowment is deemed to be substantial.
iii.
Contributed funds which may be designated to another campus fund or
program in exchange for an appropriate naming opportunity for any existing
or planned major or smaller campus facility which have not been given an
honorary name may be named if funds substantially equivalent to the cost of
the facility to be named are contributed.
iv.
Recognition of an individual or group has historical or social importance to the
state of Colorado or to the University of Colorado.
b. The chancellor’s designee reviews the request for completeness and
appropriateness, and routes it through the CU Foundation for their approval and to
assure donor’s wishes are being met.
c. The request is also sent to Legal Counsel for their approval, if the naming is tied to a
gift agreement or other legal matter or arrangement.
d. The campus committee comprised of vice chancellors then reviews the naming
request and communicates its recommendation to the chancellor.
e. After thorough review verifies that the naming request is appropriate and that all
interests of the university and donors have been satisfied, the chancellor’s designee
prepares the Regent Request for Action (RFA). Since the chancellor signs the RFA,
this indicates his/her approval of the naming request.
f. When the university president signs the RFA, this indicates his/her concurrence with
the naming request.
g. The request is then presented to the Board of Regents for approval.
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University of Colorado Denver Administrative Policy
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h. After the Board of Regents has approved the naming request, the chancellor’s
designee notifies the CU Foundation, the Planning Office and the Finance Office
space inventory system.
3. Naming Smaller Spaces –
a. Formal requests for naming rights originate with a dean or vice chancellor from the
responsible unit as a memo to the chancellor along with a completed “Request for
Name of Building” form (attached). The request shall contain a profile of the donor,
the area of interest with any proposed stipulations, and justification for the request.
b. The chancellor’s designee reviews the request for completeness and
appropriateness, and routes it through the CU Foundation for their approval and to
assure donor’s wishes are being met.
c. After thorough review verifies that the naming request is appropriate and that all
interests of the university and donors have been satisfied, the chancellor’s designee
prepares a memo from the chancellor (indicating the chancellor’s approval) to the
University of Colorado president requesting concurrence (and including an “I concur”
line for the president’s signature). The memo will include all necessary details not
included in the original request.
d. After the president concurs via signature on the memo from the chancellor, a copy of
this memo is forwarded to the dean or vice chancellor from whom the request
originated. The chancellor’s designee also notifies the CU Foundation, the Planning
Office and the Finance Office space inventory system.
4. Naming Other Spaces –
a. Formal requests for naming rights originate with a dean or vice chancellor from the
responsible unit as a memo to the chancellor along with a completed “Request for
Name of Building” form (attached). The request shall contain a profile of the donor,
the area of interest with any proposed stipulations, and justification for the request.
b. The chancellor’s designee reviews the request for completeness and
appropriateness, and routes it through the CU Foundation for their approval and to
assure donor’s wishes are being met.
c. After thorough review verifies that the naming request is appropriate and that all
interests of the university and donors have been satisfied, the chancellor’s designee
obtains the chancellor’s signature of concurrence on the original request memo. A
copy of this memo is forwarded to the dean or vice chancellor from whom the
request originated. The chancellor’s designee also notifies the CU Foundation, the
Planning Office and the Finance Office space inventory system.
5. Moving names from one location to another –
a. All named spaces at UC Denver that are associated with a gift agreement that
obligates the institution to continue the agreement when there is a change to the
original named space location will be honored. The type of naming will be consistent
with the gift agreement. The CU Foundation will work with the party responsible for
such space to coordinate communication with the individual/family/organization.
b. Other spaces named in honor of an individual(s) that do not have a specific
obligation in a gift agreement may be transferred from one location to another if:
i.
A dean or vice chancellor (from the responsible unit) formally submits a
request for transferring the naming rights to the chancellor in memo format,
including an “I approve” line for the chancellor’s signature.
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University of Colorado Denver Administrative Policy
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ii.
The request includes the justification (donor designation of university as
beneficiary in will or insurance policy, future gift potential, sentimental value
to the unit, etc.) and the specific recommendation for the honoring at the new
location.
c. The chancellor’s designee reviews the request for completeness and
appropriateness, and routes it through the CU Foundation for their approval and to
assure donor’s wishes are being met.
d. After the chancellor approves via signature on the memo, a copy of this memo is
forwarded to the dean or vice chancellor from whom the request originated. The
chancellor’s designee also notifies the CU Foundation, the Planning Office and the
Finance Office space inventory system.
e. Communication with the individual/family/organization is coordinated by the
Foundation.
6. Campus Signage
a. All signs on campus will be standardized, including those recognizing individuals or
groups being honored.
b. All signs on campus are to be approved by the campus resident architect’s office.
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University of Colorado Denver Administrative Policy
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