University Property Name Selection and Signage Policy

POLICY NUMBER: UMAC-5
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 5, 2014
REVISIONS: None
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: Senior Vice President, University Marketing & Communications
APPLICABILITY: This Policy applies to Drexel University and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

I. Purpose and Application

On occasion, Drexel University (the “University”) seeks to recognize the efforts and contributions of individuals by the naming of buildings, portions of buildings, rooms, fixed furniture, trees, open spaces, fields, streets, and equipment (collectively referred to as "Property"). This policy establishes uniform and consistent policies and procedures to gain internal university approvals for naming Property on and off campus.

II. Scope

This Policy applies to all Drexel University faculty, professional staff, officers, trustees, and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

Proper University approval is required before the naming of any Property. This allows the University to appropriately recognize the importance and/or efforts and contributions of individuals in a consistent manner and in a way that represents the ideals of the University.

III. Implementation

Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Senior Vice President for University Marketing & Communications. For inquiries regarding this Policy, please call 215-895-1530.

IV. Statement of Policy and Procedure

A. Authority

Requests for the approval of naming of Property covered by this policy must be sent from the appropriate Dean or Vice President to the University Naming Rights Committee (“Committee”) made up of the Senior Vice President for University Marketing & Communications or their designee, the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement or their designee, and the head of University Facilities or their designee. The CEO for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University will serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee regarding the naming of Property related to the Academy. The University Marketing & Communications representative serves as the Chair of the Committee and naming requests must be sent to their attention. The Committee will be responsible for reviewing all naming requests and making a recommendation to the President after consultation with the General Counsel. Final approval of property naming rests with the President and/or Board of Trustees, as appropriate. As a general rule, no Property should be named without associated philanthropy. Philanthropic gift amounts for naming rights are to be recommended by the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement and approved by the President. All named properties associated with philanthropy must have a gift agreement or memorandum of understanding with the donor. Exceptions to this Policy are permitted only when specifically approved by the President and/or Board of Trustees, as appropriate. The President with the approval of the Board of Trustees reserves the right to rename properties not restricted by gift agreements.

B. Committee Considerations in the Selection of Building Names and Areas within Buildings.

A building's use, history, and present and past occupants must be considered when deliberating upon the appropriateness of a possible building name. For example, it is not typical to name a building which houses a biology use after an athletic coach; however, it might be appropriate to name a building after a President who was instrumental in bringing about the construction of the building, or that shared some connection to that President. As a general rule, the building name holds more importance or represents greater University recognition than the naming of a portion of the building, such as a suite of rooms or a single room. In most cases, those honored with a building naming are major donors to the University. However, other instances may include staff, faculty or alumni members or persons not connected to the University who have contributed significantly to the social, academic, scholarly, research, and/or growth and development of the University.

The application of functional names for major buildings should be avoided. Over time, the function, purpose, or use of a building may change and such a name could result in confusion. Smaller buildings may be referred to by occupant name when principally occupied by one program, such as the various cultural centers. Some buildings will be designated by a combination of their functional and dedicated names. Examples include the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, Hagerty Library, Main Building, and Drexel Recreation Center. The word "hall" should typically be used for primary academic buildings. The word "center" will preferably not be used for a single building, but rather for a complex of buildings all supporting a single discipline or function, such as the LeBow Engineering Center, or a facility that houses a multi-disciplinary cross collaboration between colleges/schools, such as the Innovation Center @ 3401 Market. The word "building" may be used in combination with a functional name. Departmental libraries, computer laboratories, and similar areas should be given dedicated or functional names, not fixed to specific locations.

C. Modification or Relocation of Property and Names

Space on campus is a university resource and may be reallocated or modified from time to time to best meet the needs of the University. Naming should be worded to allow the reallocation or modification of movable Property as appropriate and where possible. Any such modification or reallocation will be reviewed by the Committee and the appropriate Dean and department representatives with respect to the original naming. Original documentation on file with Institutional Advancement regarding any philanthropy that precipitated the naming should also be reviewed prior to any modification or reallocation. In such an event, the Committee will make the appropriate recommendation to the President, ensuring that the original purpose of the naming and the donor's wishes are preserved as appropriate. In the event building names are modified or shifted between structures, approval must be obtained further to this Policy. Honorific named Property not associated with significant philanthropy may be renamed by the President with the approval of the Board of Trustees in honor of a person associated with a philanthropic gift that either supports the academic programing and/or maintenance of the Property.

D. Signage Design Specifications

All interior and exterior signage on campus must conform to standards developed by University Facilities’ Department of Planning and Design as approved by the Committee and meet City regulations and Community standards. The guidelines control the location, size, materials, and text of interior and exterior campus signage and will periodically be reviewed and updated. Off-campus property signage shall have the name of the institution incorporated into the name.

A college/school may be identified on the exterior of a building when the college/school is named after a donor and that college/school is the building’s primary tenant (i.e. it is the main address for the given college/school, specifically the location of that college or school’s Dean’s office). A college/school may also be identified on a monument or wayfinding sign at the main entrance to the building in which the Dean’s office is located.

Departmental or program identification may appear on the exterior building sign only as controlled and outlined in the Exterior Wayfinding Design Guidelines. Such departmental or program identification may appear only on an exterior sign that also contains the dedicated building name. Names of buildings and facilities with functional names may be amended to reflect future dedications.

E. Plaques Commemorating Namings

All plaques commemorating the naming of Property must first be reviewed and approved by the Committee. Institutional Advancement will be responsible for obtaining donor approval, as needed.