Board of Regents Policy Policy on BOR Recognition and Naming of Facilities & Academic Programs

The purpose of this policy is to define how the Board of Regents for Higher Education manages and approves proposals for the naming of university or college facilities (i.e., buildings, parts of buildings, roads, and plazas) and academic units/programs (schools, departments, centers, institutes, and programs) in honor of a donor, individual, organization, or entity.

The Board of Regents has the sole authority to provide for the naming of facilities and academic units/programs.

The Board of Regents for Higher Education wishes to encourage and enhance the ability of the institutions of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities to pursue significant philanthropy in support of institutional goals. Naming of facilities and academic programs/units is one of the ways in which CSCU can acknowledge the generosity of donors and honors those whose service to or affiliation with CSCU enhances our ability to provide students with affordable, innovative and rigorous programs in pursuit of their personal and career goals, as well as contribute to the economic growth of Connecticut.

The naming recognition may also reflect subjects of a historic, cultural, academic, or geographic nature.

Any such naming must undergo a high level of consideration and due diligence to ensure that the name aligns with the purpose and mission of CSCU and its institutions. No naming opportunity shall be permitted for any entity or individual whose public image, products or services may inflict damage to CSCU’s reputation, standing, or integrity or be contrary to CSCU’s values.

Scope/Applicability

This policy shall apply to:

1. Facilities: planned and existing buildings of all types (including libraries, auditoriums, and dining halls), major new additions to existing buildings and athletic facilities, all major outdoor areas including streets, entrances, gates, and landscape features, such as quadrangles, gardens, lakes, fountains, and fields.
2. Programs: colleges, schools, departments, centers, institutes, and programs, including those that are virtual or online.

Items not covered include interior spaces within facilities (i.e., laboratories, classrooms, practice rooms, lecture halls), minor landscape features (i.e., trees, benches, and sidewalk bricks), scholarships, fellowships, and chairs.

In cases where there may be some question regarding the need for Board approval, the Chancellor will recommend whether the proposed naming opportunity requires approval.

Criteria for Selection of Honorees

Naming a facility, space, academic program or unit for an individual or organization is one of the highest honors that CSCU can bestow. This recognition is a lasting and powerful affirmation of the honoree’s connection to CSCU’s mission. As such, honorees shall have exemplary character, an unqualified reputation for honesty, personal integrity, and the highest standards of personal and professional ethics.

Ordinarily, CSCU facilities and academic programs/units will not be named for persons who are actively involved in or related to CSCU operations. This includes Regents, members of the faculty and staff, advisory boards, legislators and governmental officials.

Honorees who have been employed by CSCU must have given extraordinary service to the institution in a teaching, research, service or administrative field with such exceptional distinction that their contributions are widely recognized by their peers, both at CSCU and elsewhere.

When the person to be honored is living and a non-donor, ordinarily, three years must have passed since any formal association with CSCU or employment with the State of Connecticut. Such affiliation includes time spent as an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate student, as a paid member of the faculty or staff (whether part-time or full-time), as a paid State employee, and/or as a member of the Board of Regents. Any exception to these guidelines must be detailed in the written substantive rationale submitted to the BOR Finance Committee for consideration.

When the person to be honored is deceased, ordinarily, two years must have passed since the date of death before their name can be put forward for this recognition.

Private Financial Support

Eligible individuals, corporations and other organizations, may be considered for naming recognition if they have made significant financial contributions to CSCU related to the naming opportunity.

Decisions regarding such recognition are made on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable university-wide or college-wide procedures. Decisions shall also take into consideration the total cost of the project/program, the availability of other funds, and the financial contribution.

In order to accommodate differences in resource base, structure, and community relationships and to maintain flexibility in philanthropic opportunities, each President/Campus CEO, in consultation with their Foundation and Institutional Advancement Offices, shall develop financial guidelines (Attachment A) for what constitutes substantial and significant donations to warrant a facility-related naming opportunity. Initial guidelines must be submitted for approval 90 days after the adoption of this policy by the BOR. Subsequent institutional guidelines must be submitted and reviewed at the June Finance Committee meeting for implementation annually on July 1^st. The guidelines must be maintained with the institution’s procedures for implementation of this policy.

General guidelines for the naming of academic units/programs should be the present value equal to or greater than two hundred percent (200%) of the annual operating budget of the program/unit. The amount should be determined by the size, operating budget, national ranking, and visibility of the unit.

Duration and Revocation of Name 

Naming of facilities, spaces, and academic programs/units in honor of individuals is expected to last the lifetime of the facility, space, program or unit.

In appropriate instances, most often involving a corporate sponsor, a naming may be granted for a pre-determined, specified fixed term. At the end of the term, the name of the facility or program shall expire but may be renewed with the same name or a new name and additional giving.

The Board of Regents reserves the right to remove names from facilities and programs when the gift remains unpaid beyond a five-year limit. Should this occur, the Board may rename the area and/or notify the institution that they may seek another appropriate naming opportunity.

If a named building is razed, the Board of Regents may elect to retire the name or transfer it to another facility or space. When the major function of a building is moved to another facility, the Board of Regents may elect to transfer the name with the function or retain the name with the original building.

The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall have the authority to revoke the name of a facility or academic program in the event that the benefactor for whom the facility or academic unit was named engages in conduct which, in the sole discretion of the Board of Regents, is significantly detrimental that continued name association between the individual and CSCU would be contrary to the best interests of CSCU. In these cases, the university or college has the right to change, revoke, or terminate its obligations with no financial responsibility for returning any received contributions to the benefactor.

Implementation Procedures

This policy charges the four universities and Charter Oak State College to establish and maintain a single procedure (for facilities and academic programs) whose purpose is to move the philanthropic opportunity from prospect to the CSCU Chancellor for recommendation and submission to the Board of Regents Committee structure. This procedure must be in place by March 12, 2022.

A parallel procedure must be established and maintained for the community college system with final review and confirmation by the Regional President and submission to the CSCU Chancellor and finally to the Board of Regents Committee structure. Once it is fully accredited, community college recommendations would be reviewed, confirmed, and submitted by the CT State Community College President to the CSCU Chancellor and Board of Regents Committee structure. This procedure must be in place by March 12, 2022.

Final transmittal of the recommendation must include:

• Naming Opportunity Cover Sheet (Attachment B)
• Staff Report which includes:
  • Detailed request, citing the facility or academic program/unit and its proposed name
  • Justification, including the nature and duration of the individual’s affiliation with the institution, and the proposed gift agreement.
  • If the gift is for the construction or renovation of a facility, the following must also be included:
    • Timetable for project implementation
    • Relationship of the project to the institution’s long-range plans
    • Operating budget implications and sources of funds
• Copy of the gift contract and/or pledge agreement
• Written substantive rationale if there is no gift in connection with the naming opportunity

Regent Recognition for Significant Service

The Chair of the Board of Regents for Higher Education may convene members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents to consider bestowing recognition to an individual who has demonstrated distinguished service. Such recognition may include, but shall not be limited to:

• Naming of a facility or major outdoor area
• Bestowing an honorary degree from a university or from the System 

The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees will ordinarily consider the individual’s candidacy based on one or more of the following:

1. Service as a campus leader, system leader, or Board of Regents member for a minimum of ten years where such service has enhanced the mission of the university or system.
2. The individual’s contribution in significant ways to the welfare of the system, university, state, or nation.
3. The individual’s achievement and demonstration of unique distinction.

The CSCU Chancellor, on behalf of the BOR Executive Committee, will partner with the University President or Campus CEO and the CT State Community College President to agree on an identified space and will act in deference to the institution’s strategic initiatives.

The Executive Committee of the Board, upon favorable review, shall identify the type of award to be bestowed and provide the Board with justification and a time for recognition of the individual. The Board will then consider a vote on the matter.