POL 03.00.01 - Facility and Program Naming Policy

About this Policy

Authority:
Board of Trustees
Responsible Office:
Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Date Established:
09-21-2012
Last Revised:
04-10-2026

1. Purpose

1.1 This policy sets forth the criteria, responsible parties and procedures for naming University of North Carolina Pembroke (UNCP) facilities and programs in recognition of an individual or organization.

1.2 This policy applies to philanthropic naming opportunities and honorific recognitions approved by the Board of Trustees. It does not apply to time-limited sponsorships, advertising, or corporate partnership agreements administered through Athletics or other auxiliary units.

2. Definitions

2.1 Facilities include buildings, rooms, interior spaces, exterior spaces (gardens, courts, plazas, memorials, markers, etc.), streets, athletic fields, open spaces, forests, and all other tangible and relatively permanent features owned, operated or controlled by UNCP.

2.2 Programs include colleges, departments, institutes, centers, and other units associated with university functions.

3. Authority

3.1 The Board of Trustees has final authority to name UNCP facilities and programs, acting upon the recommendation of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees Public Affairs and Advancement Committee (PAAC), except where such authority has been expressly delegated to the Chancellor as outlined in Section 3.2. Benefactors or honorees should be informed throughout the naming discussions that final naming approval for all university facilities and programs rests with the Board of Trustees.

3.2 The Chancellor

3.2.1 The Chancellor has final authority to establish the naming of Programs (other than colleges and schools) and Facilities based on donations of less than or equal to $250,000 (two hundred fifty thousand). The Chancellor will report any such approved naming to the Board of Trustees at its next regular meeting.

3.2.2 Subject to the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor shall have responsibility and authority with respect to, and is an essential participant in, all naming actions, and shall advance all naming actions not covered in Section 3.2.1 to the Board of Trustees upon recommendation by the PAAC. The Chancellor shall endeavor to determine that the proposed action is consistent with the interests of the university, to assure that the amount of any contribution warrants the action proposed, and to maintain equity in both honorary and donor namings.

3.2.3 The Chancellor shall consult with the Provost and/or leaders of affected programs prior to final approval of namings.

3.2.4 All nominations will be vetted through University Advancement for any potential conflicts and reviewed by the Chancellor prior to consideration by the Special Committee on Naming Requests.

3.2.5 The Chancellor may recommend exceptions to any of the naming policies, after consultation with university leadership when appropriate.

3.3 Special Committee on Naming Requests

3.3.1 The Special Committee on Naming Requests shall be a standing committee chaired by the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement. The Special Committee shall include Cabinet-level representatives from, Academic Affairs, Finance and Administration, University Communications and Marketing, Student Affairs, and the Chair of the Board of Trustees Public Affairs and Advancement Committee.

3.3.2 The Special Committee shall review nominations for both honorary and donor namings and make recommendations to the Chancellor for continuation to PAAC review.

3.4 The Vice Chancellor for Advancement shall convene the members of the Special Committee on Naming Requests in accordance with this policy. The Vice Chancellor is responsible for recommending donor naming opportunity gift levels consistent with this policy and current best practices in higher education philanthropy, subject to review by the Chancellor. As appropriate, the Vice Chancellor may recommend adjustments or exceptions to established thresholds based on donor interest, market conditions, institutional priorities, or other relevant circumstances.

4. Naming Requirements

4.1 Naming a university facility or program is one of the highest honors conferred by UNCP. Naming actions must reflect the University’s mission, protect its reputation, and preserve the public trust.

4.2 Honorary Naming Opportunities

4.2.1 Honorary naming opportunities are intended to recognize individuals who have attained achievements of extraordinary and lasting distinction or to recognize events, places, or programs significant to the life and/or history of the university.

4.2.2 The honorific naming of a Facility or Program in the absence of a philanthropic gift shall occur only under exceptional circumstances.

4.2.3 No Facility or Program may be named in honor of any elected public official, board member, or employee associated with the State, the UNC System, or the University while they are currently serving in their official capacity, unless an exception is recommended by the Chancellor and approved by the Board of Trustees. This prohibition does not apply to donor-funded naming opportunities.

4.3 Donor Funded Naming Opportunities

4.3.1 Donor-funded naming opportunities are intended to recognize donors who have made substantial financial contributions to the University. The term “donors” includes individuals, corporations, and other organizations.

4.3.2 For donor-funded naming opportunities involving Facilities, a gift ordinarily should equal:

4.3.2.1 At least one-fourth (1/4) of the total project cost for constructing or acquiring a new facility;

4.3.2.2 At least one-fourth (1/4) of the total project cost for renovating an existing facility;

4.3.2.3 At least one-fourth (1/4) of the portion of the total project cost to be raised from the private sector if State or other funds are funding a portion of the project cost for a new or renovated existing facility;

4.3.2.4 At least one-fourth (1/4) of the replacement cost of an existing facility not undergoing renovation. Typically, but not always, three-fourths (3/4) of a gift to name an existing facility not undergoing renovation will be in the form of endowment, preferably unrestricted, to the respective university unit.

4.3.2.5 The allocation of funds for donor-funded naming opportunities shall be agreed upon by the University and donor before the donor makes a commitment and must be pre-approved by the Chancellor in consultation with the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, acting in the Vice Chancellor’s role as the University’s chief advancement officer and, where applicable, as President of the UNCP Foundation, Inc., to ensure alignment with institutional priorities and applicable policies.

4.3.3 For donor-funded naming opportunities involving Programs, a gift ordinarily should:

4.3.3.1 Be determined by the size, operating budget, national ranking, and visibility of the program, as well as comparable naming amounts at peer institutions; and

4.3.3.2 Be substantial and significant, and preferably transformative in nature.

4.3.3.3 The allocation of funds for donor-funded Program naming opportunities shall typically be in the form of endowment, of which at least three-fourths (3/4) is unrestricted for the benefit of that program.

4.3.4 Financial contributions resulting in the naming of a facility or program shall be made to the UNCP Foundation, Inc., which serves as the primary receiving entity for private gifts in support of the University. If the University is constructing or renovating a facility, contributions may be transferred from the Foundation to the University in the amount required to complete construction or renovation.

4.4 Corporate or Organization Naming

4.4.1 Only in rare, exceptional situations should an entire Facility be named for a corporation or organization. Such gifts shall meet or exceed the applicable percentage thresholds outlined in Section 4.2 and represent a contribution of significant institutional impact.

4.4.2 Corporate or organization naming of a Facility shall be term-limited up to twenty years unless recommended as an exception by the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and approved by the appropriate naming authority.

4.4.3 Prior to any corporate or organizational naming of a Facility, the Board of Trustees shall engage in due diligence to ensure that there is no actual or appearance of undue influence or conflict of interest.

4.4.4 When the University is considering naming a Facility or Program for a corporate entity where the Facility or Program is or will be funded in whole or in part by the proceeds of tax-exempt bonds, any naming must be reviewed by the Office of Legal Affairs and the State Treasurer prior to approval.

5. Procedures

5.1 Initial proposals for naming facilities and programs shall be forwarded to the Vice Chancellor for Advancement who shall review with the Chancellor.

5.2 Prior to consideration by the Special Committee on Naming Requests, University Advancement shall conduct appropriate due diligence, including background and reputational review of proposed honorees or donors, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel. The Vice Chancellor will request additional materials as needed, evaluate proposals and forward completed proposals to the Special Committee on Naming Requests for review and recommendation.

5.3 If approved by the Special Committee on Naming Request, the Chancellor may recommend namings to the PAAC for review prior to potential consideration by the Board of Trustees; the Chancellor reserves the right to take any naming opportunities to the Board of Trustees.

5.4 Proposals for donor funded namings shall be accompanied by sufficient documentation of the gift commitment.

6. Status of Contribution at the Time of Naming

6.1 When a facility or program is to be named in consideration of a financial contribution, the gift shall have been received by the university or affiliated foundation, or its future receipt shall be assured through the appropriate signed irrevocable gift agreement, before a naming action shall be taken.

6.2 Pledges to be paid over a period of time, typically up to five years, are acceptable for current naming of facilities and programs when a signed pledge payment agreement for the total gift amount is in hand.

6.3 If the pledged donation is to name new construction, renovation, or other projects with cash flow considerations, the timing of the pledge payments should be such that sufficient current dollars are available to cover project costs.

6.4 Irrevocable planned gifts may generate current naming of facilities and programs if current cash flow considerations are not an issue for the requesting facility or program. Irrevocable planned gifts will be credited at their face value with particular emphasis being given to the predictability of the long-term value of the irrevocable deferred gift.

7. Duration and Modification of Naming

7.1 The duration of a benefactor's or honoree's name on any facility or program ordinarily continues for as long as the facility or program is used in the same manner or for the same purpose for which the naming occurred. Upon demolition, replacement, substantial renovation, repurposing, or similar modification of a named facility or program, the university may deem that the naming period has concluded.

7.2 The appropriate university representative will make all reasonable efforts to inform in advance the original benefactors or honorees or their surviving family members when the naming period is deemed to have concluded.

7.3 The university may, but is not required to, provide for the appropriate perpetuation of the previous name. Perpetuation of the original name in an equivalent naming is not required. Appropriate perpetuation of previous names may include, for instance, a plaque in or adjacent to new and renovated facilities.

7.4 Renaming. When the benefactor's or honoree's naming period has concluded, the facility or program may be renamed, with the original name removed, in recognition of new gifts, subject to any specific terms and conditions set forth in the original naming agreement.

7.5 Joint or Hyphenated Naming.  In exceptional circumstances, additional names may be added to a facility or program in recognition of an additional gift even if the prior benefactor's or honoree's naming period has not concluded, subject to any specific terms and conditions set forth in the original naming agreement. Hyphenation is one method for jointly naming a facility or program.

7.6 Term Naming. In appropriate instances, most often involving a corporate benefactor, a naming may be granted for a pre-determined fixed term. At the end of the term, the name of the facility or program shall expire but may be renewed with the same or a new name. The facility naming agreement should clearly specify the period of time for which the facility or program will be named.

7.7 Benefactor or Honoree Name Changes. If a benefactor or honoree requests a change to the name of a facility or program (e.g., due to marital changes or corporate merger), the university will consider the request. If approved, all replacement signage and other related costs shall be at the donor's or honoree's expense.

7.8 Revocation of Naming Approval or Conferral.  In certain circumstances, the university reserves the right, on reasonable grounds, to revoke and terminate its obligations regarding a naming, with no financial responsibility for returning any received contributions to the benefactor. These actions, and the circumstances that prompt them, may apply to an approved naming that has not yet been acted upon or to a conferred naming.

7.8.1 If the benefactor's or honoree's reputation changes substantially so that the continued use of that name may compromise the public trust, dishonor the university's standards, or otherwise be contrary to the best interests of the university, the naming may be revoked. However, caution must be taken when, with the passage of time, the standards and achievements deemed to justify a naming action may change and observers of a later age may deem those who conferred a naming honor at an earlier age to have erred. A naming should not be altered simply because later observers would have made different judgments.

7.8.2  If a benefactor engages in conduct that materially denigrates, maligns, or intentionally seeks to injure or impugn the university, its reputation, or its mission, and such conduct is determined to be contrary to the best interests of the university, the naming may be revoked. In making such a determination, due consideration shall be given to the nature, severity, and persistence of the conduct, as well as its actual or potential impact on the university’s public trust, operations, and standing.

7.8.3 If the benefactor fails to maintain payments on a pledge upon which the naming was bestowed, the naming may be revoked after a pro rata period of time that reflects the number of pledge payments made, given the estimated useful life of the building or the term of years covered by the facility naming agreement, as applicable. In the event that a benefactor fails to maintain payments on a naming pledge, the Chancellor shall report such instance to the Public Affairs and Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees within a reasonable time period after default, not to exceed twelve(12) months. The Chancellor, in consultation with the Vice Chancellor for Advancement, shall recommend to the Public Affairs and Advancement Committee whether to modify the original gift agreement in extraordinary circumstances or to revoke the naming after the aforementioned pro rata period. The Public Affairs and Advancement Committee shall review the recommendation from the Chancellor and shall make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees whether to modify the original gift agreement or to revoke the naming.

7.8.4 If a planned gift upon which the naming was bestowed does not result in the value agreed upon, the naming may be revoked.

8. Signage and Installation

8.1 Naming gifts may typically cover installation costs and, where applicable, maintenance. Signage must comply with University standards and branding. Coordination occurs through University Advancement, University Communications and Marketing, and Facilities.

9. Naming Record Management

9.1 The Division of University Advancement maintains official records of approved namings and available naming opportunities and coordinates notification following approval.

Related Policies

Additional References