Naming Policy

Policy Statement

Gifts raised by the Office of University Advancement and External Relations help Adelphi to carry out its mission to transform the lives of all its students. The University welcomes all gifts that support general operating costs, help build the endowment, and fund a variety of special purposes that reflect both the needs of the University and the interests of its donors.

Reason for Policy

The intent of this policy is to provide Adelphi University’s leadership, faculty, staff and volunteers with guidelines that enable them to assist prospective donors, their families and advisors in making gifts to the University. By defining naming requirements for accepting such gifts, these guidelines will facilitate the appropriate use and accountability of gifts received by Adelphi University.

Who Is Governed by this Policy

Faculty, staff, volunteers

Policy

Adelphi will enter into a commitment to name a physical space, academic entity, or scholarship after carefully considering the potential impact the naming will have on the University and the campus community. Due diligence will be exercised to ensure that the proposed name would be consistent with University tradition and mission. Adelphi will also evaluate the distinction a proposed name would lend to the University.

General Guidelines

The donor may select the name of the entity being funded, so long as the criteria set forth in this policy are met and University approval is granted. Factors that may be considered by the university in determining the appropriateness of a name include:

• Consistency with the mission, vision, reputation, and values of the university.
• Whether a name may imply the University’s endorsement of a political or ideological position or the use of a particular product or service.
• Potential conflict of interest (primarily in cases of corporate or organizational naming gifts).
• Whether the name reinforces the University’s branding standards.
• Potential conflict with existing named entities or spaces.

Generally, buildings and academic entities will be named for individuals; however, a corporation or organization also may name a University facility. Corporations or organizations proposed for naming should have a positive image and demonstrated integrity. Additional due diligence (e.g., legal and marketing/communications review) will be undertaken to avoid any appearance of commercial influence or conflict of interest. If the name of the corporation or organization changes, the University may change the name of the facility at its own discretion.

Naming gifts do not confer the right to the donor to determine the use of the fund (e.g., the purpose or use of the named space, specific beneficiary of a student or faculty support fund, program curricula, and/or research outcomes).

A named entity may not be announced by any University unit or by the donor prior to final approval as required by this policy.

Minimum naming endowment levels are established by the Office of Advancement and External Relations and are reviewed periodically with the Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership.

Gifts to name physical spaces must be outright cash gifts or pledges when part of a funding plan for construction or renovation. Additionally, unrestricted, endowment or irrevocable deferred gifts may be recognized as part of a naming opportunity with the approval of the appropriate level of authority (see below).

Authority

Naming type	Level	Authority
Buildings	all	Board of Trustees
Interior spaces: laboratories, seminar rooms, lounges, etc. Outdoor structures and areas: roads, walkways, gardens, playing fields, etc.	$1,000,000+	Board of Trustees
	$100,000 — $999,000	President
	<$100,000	Vice President of Advancement and External Relations
Academic units: college, school, institute	$1,000,000+	Board of Trustees
	<$1,000,000	President
Endowed faculty positions: dean, chair, professorship, fellowship	$1,000,000+	Board of Trustees
	$250,000 — $999,000	President
	<$250,000	Vice President of Advancement and External Relations
Lectureships and lectures	all	Vice President of Advancement and External Relations
Fellowships and scholarships	all	Vice President of Advancement and External Relations
Other opportunities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis	case-by-case	case-by-case

 

Prior to accepting a naming gift, the Office of University Advancement will consult with the appropriate constituencies (e.g., Provost, Deans, etc.) for naming opportunities that impact their respective areas.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to review for approval any naming request on a case-by-case basis.

Philanthropic Naming Fund Types

Endowed Funds

The Board of Trustees establishes the minimum gift amount required to create each type of named endowed fund. Such minimums are important to ensure the endowed fund provides sufficient funds to accomplish the purpose intended by the donor.

Minimum gift amounts for named endowed funds will be amended by the Board of Trustees from time to time, to correspond with real costs. The current level of recommended minimum endowments are as follows:

ENDOWMENT TYPE	RECOMMENDED MINIMUM
FACULTY ENDOWMENTS
Deanship	$3,500,000
Chaired Professorship	$1,500,000
Professorship	$500,000
Faculty Fellowship	$100,000
Faculty Excellence Award (stipend)	$100,000
Faculty Research Fund	$100,000
Faculty Development Fund	$50,000
STUDENT ENDOWMENTS
Undergraduate full-ride scholarship (tuition/room/board)	$1,250,000
Undergraduate full-tuition scholarship	$1,000,000
Graduate scholarship	$100,000
Student Research Scholarship	$100,000
Scholars Program	$100,000
Study Abroad Fund	$50,000
Internship Fund	$50,000
Endowed Scholarship (undergraduate or graduate)	$25,000
PROGRAM ENDOWMENTS
Visiting Lectureship Series	$250,000
Unrestricted School Fund	$100,000
Program Support Fund	$50,000
Athletic Team Fund	$25,000
Library Fund	$25,000
Award Fund	$25,000

Current-use Funds

Named current-use funds require a minimum of $5,000 to establish a fund and may be pledged over a five-year period. Exceptions to this standard are rare and are only granted by the Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations (in consultation with the President as needed).

Honorary Naming Opportunities

Current, retired, or former faculty or staff who wish to have a facility or program named for them must meet the minimum financial requirements for naming regardless of their other accomplishments. This stipulation applies whether the donor is making the gift him/herself or another individual is making the gift in his/her honor. In rare cases, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to make exceptions to this policy.

Naming of a facility or program will not be considered unless a gift or gift intention is irrevocable and contractually agreed upon by both Adelphi and the donor.

Pledge Duration

Donors who pledge to donate funds and receive recognition benefits to name a physical entity must commit to complete pledge payment in full no more than five years from the date of gift agreement. In some circumstances, a pledge payment schedule may exceed five years with the authorization of the Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations.

Arboretum Naming Opportunities

Adelphi welcomes gifts from donors who wish to honor or memorialize one or more individuals through the dedication of trees for the arboretum. Donors who wish to make this type of gift may choose from a list maintained by the Office of Physical Plant showing proposed trees that are part of the Long-Term Facilities Plan or select existing trees that remain available for dedication. In all instances, the University will determine appropriate species, size of plantings required and site selection, ensuring that it conforms to the Long-Term Facilities Plan.

Naming Approval and Timing of Naming Activation

The Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations manages the naming approval process, in consultation with the President and the Board of Trustees, as appropriate.

For binding, irrevocable gifts, a name may go into effect before the gift is paid in full, at the discretion of the Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations, in consultation with necessary university parties.

For non-binding, revocable gifts, a name will not be activated until the gift’s full value is received.

Donor Recognition

Physical Recognition

Gifts to name a physical entity or college, school, department, center, or institute will typically be recognized via signage, plaques, displays, or other physical installations.

The nature and attributes of the physical recognition will be:

• commensurate to the level and type of gift.
• designed in accordance with university standards.
• aligned with the features of the intended placement location.

Corporate or organization logos may be incorporated into recognition signage only with approval of the Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations, in consultation with the President.

Physical donor recognition items must be approved by the donor and appropriate University representatives prior to production and installation and may not be installed until the terms outlined in this policy have been met. The University has the final authority on all recognition materials.

When appropriate, costs related to the recognition opportunities, specifically plaques or similar items, will be incurred by University Advancement and External Relations. If the name of a donor or honoree changes during that period, the University may change the name of the facility at the donor’s request and expense. At its sole discretion, Adelphi may change or remove the name if circumstances related to the donor or honoree could damage the reputation of the University.

Other Recognition

Naming gift donors may also be recognized via other means (e.g., events, media announcements, etc.) corresponding with the type, amount, and purpose of the gift. Permission for this type of stewardship is granted or declined by the donor in writing in the gift fund agreement.

Duration of Naming

Naming is generally granted for the useful life of the entity unless otherwise specified in the gift agreement (and subject to the terms of revocation as set forth in this policy).

For current-use gifts, naming terms, including duration, shall be set forth in writing by the University and donor.

If circumstances change so that the purpose for which the named entity was established is or needs to be significantly altered, is no longer needed/ceases to exist, or if a physical entity is replaced, significantly renovated or no longer habitable, the University will consult with the donor (if possible) or the donor’s estate (if practical) to determine an appropriate way to recognize the original naming gift.

Renaming

A proposal to rename a facility or area or to add a second name shall adhere to the criteria outlined above. In addition, these principles shall be followed:

• Any proposal to rename a facility or area or to add a second name in recognition of a gift shall be reviewed by the designated legal counsel of Adelphi.
• When a facility that has been named in recognition of a gift or an individual has reached the end of its useful life and will be replaced or subsequently renovated, the replaced or renovated structure may be renamed in recognition of another gift.
• When an area named in recognition of a gift or in honor of an individual will be developed for another use, the new facility may be named in recognition of new gifts or accomplishments.
• Appropriate recognition of earlier donors and honorees shall be included in or adjacent to new and renovated facilities, as well as in redeveloped areas.
• When a facility or area is proposed for renaming, appropriate University officials will make all reasonable efforts to inform in advance the original donors or honorees and their immediate family members.

Time-Limited Sponsorship Opportunities

Corporate Partner Naming Opportunities

Naming opportunities offered to a donor for a specified time period (as opposed to a permanent naming opportunity) are generally associated with corporate sponsorships and may be available at the discretion of the President, based on recommendations from the executive leadership. They will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, using prevailing sponsorship guidelines and keyed to the value of the sponsorship both to the donor and to the University and its programs.

Recognition for corporate partnerships will be limited to designated facilities. All signage will be created and erected by the University at the corporate partner’s expense, must adhere to current University standards as to signage, and must be approved in advance by the President.

Revocation of Naming

The University may revoke a naming if any of the following conditions occurs:

• The pledge obligation is unfulfilled and/or written off (if partial funding was received that is sufficient for an alternative naming opportunity, the terms of this policy shall govern any renegotiation for a suitable naming).
• The University determines that its association with the donor will materially damage the reputation of the University.
• A change in family or organizational circumstances causes the donor or other affected individual(s)/organization(s) to request a name change or revocation.

Revocation decisions shall be made by the President based on the recommendation of the Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations. The University shall make all reasonable efforts to inform the original donor or the donor’s heirs/designees in advance of any revocation or change.

Special Circumstances and Exceptions

Any special circumstances or requests for exceptions must be referred to the Office of University Advancement and External Relations, which will determine the course of action (which may include consultation with the President).

Definitions

This policy does not have definitions associated with it at this time. Upon periodic policy review, this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Procedures

This policy does not have procedures associated with it at this time. Upon periodic policy review, this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Forms

This policy does not have forms associated with it at this time. Upon periodic policy review, this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Related Information

This policy does not have related information at this time. Upon periodic policy review, this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.

Document History

• Last Reviewed Date: September 1, 2023
• Last Revised Date: September 1, 2023
• Policy Origination Date: Unknown

Who Approved This Policy

Thomas Kline, Vice President of University Advancement and External Relations