Policy: Naming of Facilities and Erecting Plaques, Monuments, Major Markers and Artwork
Originally Issued: July 14, 2006
Amended: July 19, 2008
Amended: February 11, 2010
Amended: February 2, 2012
Amended: February 9, 2018
Amended: July 18, 2019
I. Purpose
To establish and maintain standard procedures for consideration of naming opportunities that reflect the University’s values and have the potential to affect Clemson University’s public image. To recognize and honor significant contributions of individuals, groups or events. To establish a consultation process to provide the benefit of the collective institutional memory and a broad campus perspective with regard to naming activities. To ensure conformity with University design standards and the Framework Plan.
II. Policy
A. Naming of Facilities and Buildings
1. Policy Administration: For administration of this policy, the final decision on naming all University lands and facilities rests with the Board of Trustees. The University Advisory Committee on Naming Land and Facilities (UACNLF) is advisory and reports, through the President of the University and the Executive Secretary, to the Board of Trustees. The Committee advises the Board on naming opportunities for all University lands and facilities, including individual parts therein (e.g., spaces or structures inside buildings; specific pieces of land and streets and roads).
2. University Advisory Committee on Naming Land and Facilities: The President of the University appoints the members of the UACNLF with representation as follows:
a. Five (5) members who are tenured faculty members who have served at the University no less than ten (10) years;
b. Two (2) members who are staff persons who have served at the University no less than ten (10) years;
c. One (1) member who is the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations- and
d. One of whom is a Clemson student.
The University President will designate the Chair of the Committee from among the faculty or staff members. The Chair of the Committee will designate the Secretary who is responsible for maintaining records. The term of appointment for faculty and staff members, including the position of Chair, shall be four (4) years, with the possibility of reappointment. The Clemson student representative shall serve a term of one year with the possibility of reappointment. Upon appointment of new committee members, the President will provide the Board with names of the new committee members.
Ex-officio, or non-voting, members of the Committee include:
a. the Executive Secretary to the Board of Trustees and
b. the University Historian.
c. the Director or a designate from University Planning and Design
Definition of Facilities: The term “facilities” shall include, but not be limited to, any University building, structure, room, classroom or space within a facility, plaza, open space, thoroughfare, landscaped area, or other physical improvements or natural features of the University campus or other property under the administrative control of the University.
3. Discussion with Potential Donors: Discussions with potential donors regarding naming opportunities should be conducted only through the Office of Development. No discussions shall occur without prior consultation with the appropriate academic and/or administrative units
4. Records: The Secretary to the UACNLF shall maintain an official list of all requests and approved proposals for namings. If and when a new Secretary is appointed, the current Secretary will provide all records to the new Secretary.
5. Renaming: The naming of a building or facility is effective for the useful life of the building or facility so long as it is used for the purpose for which it was used at the time of the gift. At the end of the useful life of the building or facility and/or the cessation of the use in effect at the time of the gift, Clemson University may rename the building or facility. The UACNLF may be presented with this naming opportunity and will entertain official requests for the new naming opportunity. In the event of a renaming under these circumstances, appropriate recognition of earlier donors and honorees shall be included in or adjacent to the replacement or redeveloped building or facility. The same policy applies to spaces named inside or outside of university facilities. Under extraordinary circumstances when the continued use of the name would compromise the public trust and reflect adversely upon the University, Clemson University reserves the right to rename the building or facility.
6. Procedures: Naming Opportunities (whether donor identified or not) are to be evaluated by the UACNLF. The UACNLF will consider each naming opportunity in careful deliberations and act on each in a timely manner.
a. Any interested party associated with the University may submit a naming opportunity.
b. To be considered by the UACNLF, the naming opportunity must be endorsed by -a Vice President and/or Athletic Director whose area is involved and/or impacted.
c. Action (approval or disapproval) by the UACNLF of the naming opportunity will be forwarded in writing with the appropriate supporting information to the President for his/her endorsement.
D. The President shall transmit the naming opportunity and all related materials, along with his/her opinion on such, to the Executive Secretary to the Board of Trustees for presentation to the Institutional Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees.
e. A University facility or land, or part thereof, may only be named, without action by the UACNLF, by the Board of Trustees.1.1 Naming Donations (with Personal, Corporate or Foundation Donations)
Proposals for naming of major academic buildings and other facilities may be made in connection with significant personal, corporate or foundation donations to the University to honor University colleagues, respected alumni or others. Such proposals must be made in consultation with the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations-or designee. These gifts are designed to be spent in full for the purposes as agreed to by the University and the benefactor. A new building or facility (or major renovation of an existing facility) or room, laboratory, or other section of a building may be named by a donor who contributes significantly toward the project expenses. The size, design and wording of plaques, signs or markers that acknowledge benefactor contributions and express University appreciation shall conform to the University’s graphic design standards and master plan.
a. New Facility: Typically, a gift representing 25% of the total university commitment of costs as established by — University Planning and Design — is required for a new facility to be named for or by a donor.
Areas Within a Facility (classrooms, laboratories, reading rooms, offices, etc.): Typically, 25% of the estimated costs of the specific area being named or given or market value as recommended by the Office of Development is required for areas within a facility to be named or given. In order for Development to secure efficient and timely gifts, a list of areas within a facility,
included in the “Office of Development Naming Opportunities for Prospects and Donors” book will be submitted annually through UACNLF to the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations to obtain the approval of the Executive Leadership Team, the President , and present it to the Board of Trustees during their winter quarterly meeting.-
b. Renovation of Existing Facility: Typically, a gift representing 25% of the total university commitment of renovation costs as established by — University Planning and Design — is required for an existing facility to be named for or by a donor.
c. Existing Facility (Not Requiring Renovations):The same gift guidelines above for renovation of — a New Facility apply to an existing facility. -However, for facilities that are more than five (5) years old, the minimum naming level will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
1.3 Naming without Donations
Recommendations not associated with a donation for a naming in honor of living or deceased faculty, alumni, staff, Board of Trustees members or community, state or national leaders shall be considered on a case-by-case basis only when supported by extraordinary justification for the naming. A proposal may be made as follows:- (1) two years after retirement or other separation from the University or from elected or appointed office; or (2) two years after the person’s death, if the person has not yet retired or otherwise separated from the University.
Proposals must outline the standards which guided the naming request and shall include careful reflection upon the achievements of the individual. All such naming proposals must be made in consultation with the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations.. No commitment for naming shall be made prior to approval by the Board of Trustees.
Proposed honorees shall have achieved distinction in one or more of the following ways:
a. While serving the University in an academic capacity, the individual has demonstrated high scholarly distinction and has earned a national or international reputation and has helped the University to grow in reputation or has contributed — significantly to the University and its students.
b. While serving the University in an administrative or support capacity, the individual has rendered distinguished service which warrants recognition of the individual’s exceptional contributions to the welfare of the University.
c. The individual has contributed in truly exceptional ways to the public good or to the welfare of the institution or achieved such unique distinction as to warrant recognition.
1.3 Naming Guidelines
The UACNLF will follow the policy guidelines below, approved by the Board of Trustees on February 2, 2012, in arriving at recommendations for or against proposals to name University lands and facilities:
a. Residence Halls will be named for Trustees of the University. When naming a residence hall after a living (current and emeriti) Trustee, the “25% rule” will apply (a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the building cost would be required as a donation toward naming the facility for a living Trustee). A deceased Trustee may be honored without applying the “25% rule”.
b. Academic Buildings will be named for those individuals and organizations who have served the University in an academic capacity.
c. Buildings used for non-academic activities will be named for persons and organizations who have provided significant service to the University, preferably in the employ of Clemson in -the activity to which the building is devoted.
d. Streets and roads will be named for faculty or staff with long and eminent service to Clemson,.
e. All other proposed uses of names shall be at the discretion of the UACNLF.
f. Specific financial gifts may be accepted for facilities in each of the above categories. Provided current gift guidelines are met, facilities in the above categories may be named for any donor or person designated by the donor. The actual name, -and the full proposal will come before the UACNLF before it is submitted to the Board of Trustees.
g. Except in unusual cases and upon approval of the Trustees, only one (1) building, land or facility, shall be named for a single individual or organization.
B. Erecting Plaques, Monuments and Major Markers
Policy Administration: The UACNLF, in consultation with- -University Planning and Design — is responsible to review all requests for plaques, monuments and major markers for the main campus proper
1. Design Standards: Any proposals for new plaques, monuments or markers must conform to University policy and design standards related to campus signage and graphics, — Framework Plan maintained by — University Planning and Design and the donor recognition standards and guidelines maintained by the Office of Development
2. Definitions: A plaque is a permanent significant fixture affixed to a base, indoor or outdoor building surface or other object. Monuments or memorials can be either permanent pieces of public outdoor art, sculpture, likenesses, landscape enhancements, or other civic improvements whose primary purpose is to honor a person, group, event or other significant contribution to the University. Some examples are a plaque, tree, bust, sculpture, likeness, statuary or fountain, a landscape feature such as a garden or grove, or a building or similar architectural feature. Major markers include signage requested by University units and approved by –the UACNLF.
3. Commemorative Trees, Shrubs, or Other Plantings, and Objects: Memorial or honorific gifts of trees, shrubs or other plantings in most cases cannot be signified by individual plaques or markers. -. More information on the University’s Commemorative and Memorial Tree Program is available by contacting — University Planning and Design and/or the Office of Annual Giving.
4. Miscellaneous, Smaller Items: Bricks, benches, and similar items consuming little, if any, square footage may carry donor or honorary names with the approval of =-- University Planning and Design -and/or the Office of Annual Giving. All external designs and namings of this nature shall be reviewed and approved by --University Planning and Design — to assure compliance with the University’s design standards and Framework Plan.
5. Records: The Secretary to the UACNLF shall maintain an official list of all requests and approved proposals for plaques, monuments and major markers.
C. Artwork and Portraits
Before gifts of art are considered, care must be exercised by the respective Dean or Vice President of the facility in the choice of subject matter, the underlying concept and, in the identification of a location for the work. Substantial justification and support for the work must be supplied before any further consideration by the UACNLF.
1. Student Proposals for Outdoor Sculptures: Each specific proposal from a student to use an area at the University to install outdoor sculptures shall be presented to University Planning and Design for final approval (subject to any required approval of the Board of Trustees.)
2. Works of Art by Students: Contributions of works of art (temporary or permanent) by students of the University must be approved by University Planning and Design
3. Gifts of -Artwork
a. Commissioning of an Artist: Gifts of artwork to the campus that involves commissioning of an artist for a work which is not in existence at the time of proposing the gift shall be handled according to procedures established in Section A Part 7. One artist may be proposed by the donating group; at least two others will be proposed to the UACNLF by the Director of the Center for Visual Arts. — The UACNLF, with the assistance of the Director of the Center for Visual Arts, shall review and approve the names of the artists submitted — and in collaboration — issue a request -for-proposal to the three artists selected as finalists. The donating group shall be prepared to pay a nominal fee to the artists for their preparation of a Marquette of the proposed gift. The choice of the Marquette, hence the choice of the artist, shall be made by a selection committee composed of the following: one person selected by the donating person or group, one person selected by — UACNLF, a representative of the campus unit housing the work, the Director of the — Center for Visual Arts (which is the caretaker of the artistic piece), and a representative of University Planning and Design. The decision of the selection committee is final (subject to any required approval of the Board of Trustees.)
b. Donor Gift of Commissioned Artwork: If an outstanding artist is commissioned by a donor who wishes to donate the artwork to the University, the donor must consult with the Office of Development. . In these -instances, the –-Office of Development shall also consult with the UACNLF and the director of the Center for Visual Arts. Donors will be asked to provide curating costs required for maintenance and repairs. The donor will be required to submit a qualified appraisal of the donated artwork if he/she is seeking a potential tax deduction for the gift
c. Donor’s Outright Gift of Artwork: If a donor wishes to donate an outright gift of artwork to the University, the donor must consult with the--Office of Development who in turn shall consult with the director of the Center for Visual Arts — and\or the director of the location of the donated artwork. The donor will be required to submit a qualified appraisal of the donated artwork if he/she is seeking a potential tax deduction.
4. Portraits
a. Portraits without a donation should be submitted to the appropriate Dean, Vice President or Athletic Director for approval.
b. Portraits with a donation and a naming request for a facility submitted to the UACNLF must have the approval of the appropriate Vice President, Athletic Director or other responsible individual.
Board of Trustees Approval
a.Clemson University Board of Trustees approval is required for any Artwork, Monuments or Memorials which are to be permanently displayed on or within Clemson Property.
b.Definitions for purposes of this Section C.5.:
(1) Artwork means art with an aesthetic physical element including but not limited to a painting, portrait, drawing, photograph, sculpture, or architectural element. Artwork shall not include the performing arts, music, film, literature, interactive media, or websites.
(2) Monuments and Memorials are as defined in Section B.2. of this policy.
(3) Permanently displayed means permanently erected or affixed or otherwise intended to be displayed for more than 180 days.
(4) Clemson Property means all land, improvements, and fixtures attached thereto which are owned by Clemson University or otherwise under the control of the Clemson University Board of Trustees by virtue of the authority granted to them by the Will of Thomas Green Clemson.
Editor's Note
Naming of Facilities and Erecting Plaques, Monuments, Major Markers and Artwork
