Honorific Naming Policy

Purpose:

The Honorific Naming Policy for Facilities and Programs establishes the criteria for honorific naming of spaces and programs to maintain equitable practices across campus. This policy is part of the Building Names Task Force report and is in addition to the Naming Guidelines established by University Advancement regarding naming of endowments and physical spaces to honor the distinguished contributions of donors to Willamette University (“the University”). This policy will be consistent with industry standards and best practices that follow all ethical guidelines and applicable laws and statutes.

This policy applies equally to all University departments, faculties and facilities.

Policy:

1. Honorific namings are to recognize individuals who have attained achievements of extraordinary and lasting distinction.
2. The naming of facilities and programs are reserved for philanthropic gifts to the University. The naming of a facility or program that honors a person in the absence of a gift shall remain a rare method of recognizing individuals.
3. The honoree must exhibit an image and demonstrate integrity consistent with the values and mission of the University.
4. A proposed honoree shall have achieved distinction in one or more of the following ways:
   1. While serving the University in an academic capacity, the individual has demonstrated high scholarly distinction and has earned a national or international reputation;
   2. While serving the University in an important administrative capacity, the individual has rendered distinguished service which warrants recognition of the individual’s exceptional contributions to the welfare of the University;
   3. An alum who has contributed in truly exceptional ways to the welfare of the institution or achieved such unique distinction as to warrant recognition. 
5. When an individual has served the University in an academic or important administrative capacity, or has served the community, state, or nation in an elected or appointed position, a proposal may be made for naming in honor of the individual on the earlier of the following:
   1. Five years after retirement or separation from the University or from elected or appointed office; or
   2. Five years after the person’s death, if the person had not yet retired or otherwise separated from the University.
6. When an individual has contributed in truly exceptional ways to the welfare of the institution or achieved such unique distinction as to warrant recognition, a proposal may be made for naming in honor of the individual on the earlier of the following:
   1. Five years after retirement or discontinuation of activity in area of distinction; or
   2. Five years after the person's death.
7. Although significant philanthropy made over a donor’s lifetime may constitute a valid rationale for an honorific naming, honorific naming should not be used to circumvent the requirements of gift-related naming guidelines.
8. Honorific Naming Proposal and Approval Process:
   1. Naming decisions are made by the Board of Trustees. Suggestions from the broader campus community for naming of campus buildings and other spaces in accordance with the university honorary naming policy, or concerns or questions about existing names, may be brought to the attention of Associate VP Colleen Kawahara, Administrative Secretary to the Board, who may refer such suggestions to University Council for review and discussion before transmittal to the Board.
   2. When necessary, an ad hoc task force may be established in consultation with the Chair of the Board to allow for more extensive review before Board consideration.
9. Guidelines for Honorific Naming Buildings and Spaces:
   1. In addition to the gift-related naming guidelines, a set of guidelines is to be established for honorific non-gift related naming. Because buildings and their names are, in some ways, the most significant features of a campus, naming them offers individuals the most substantial and obvious near-permanent recognition the University can confer. Therefore, the application of names to buildings and spaces is reserved almost exclusively as a mark of recognition for the University’s most important financial supporters. In rare cases, the University may determine that an individual not linked to a philanthropic gift may be deserving of recognition through a named building or space. In all cases, final determination of whether any building or space may be named for an individual rests with the President and the Board of Trustees.
   2. The duration of the naming will be the useful life of the asset. In the case of a building or facility, naming rights would extend until the life of the building is exhausted and demolition is undertaken, or the property is deaccessioned.
   3. It is University policy to maintain building names and specific space names within buildings and on campus for the life of those structures. While University buildings and spaces are designed to last for generations, over time they will require significant renovation and eventual replacement. Should a building or space require significant renovation or replacement, the original honoree will be considered in future or existing alternative spaces. In cases where this is not possible, the University reserves the right to rename the building/space while continuing to acknowledge the original honoree in an appropriate way.
   4. A building or space can be de-named only by authority of the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the President and Senior Cabinet of the University where events or information newly available subsequent to the approval of the designation mean that identification with the designation constitutes a significant and continuing challenge to the University’s reputation, or where the name is in opposition to the current mission and values of Willamette.
   5. In the event that the Board determines in its reasonable and good faith opinion that circumstances have changed such that the naming would adversely affect the reputation, image, mission or integrity of the University, the Board may approve the removal of the name. Upon any such termination of a name, the University shall have no further obligation or liability to the honoree.
   6. While gift-related naming opportunities include any appropriate signage, this is not the case for honorific naming opportunities. Any costs for signage must be allocated by the University as part of the approval process in coordination between the President, Chief Operating Officer, and the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. Fundraising efforts shall not be initiated to cover the cost of honorific naming opportunities.

Effective Date: August 1, 2022
Responsible Person/Primary Contact: Associate VP (Administrative Secretary of the Board)
Responsible University Office: President’s Office