Proposals for the naming of a University building or space associated with a gift must be submitted to the Office of the Senior Vice President for Advancement. The proposal must include a description of the building or space to be named, its current use and any relevant information regarding the history of the facility, together with a description of the name proposed and its significance to Brown, including the amount of the gift and the identity of the donor(s).

If the Senior Vice President supports the proposal and it requires approval by the Corporation, it shall be forwarded to the Office of the Corporation for review by the President and, if approved by the President, inclusion on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Corporation or the Advisory and Executive Committee.

Approval by the President and the Corporation is required for naming of:

• All buildings, additions to buildings, and exterior campus spaces such as fields, terraces, greens, and courtyards.

Approval by the Senior Vice President for Advancement is required for:

• All interior spaces, such as lobbies, auditoria, dining and function rooms, classrooms, offices and seminar rooms.

In the naming of buildings and spaces, a distinction will generally be made between the name of the facility and the name of the program(s) housed in the facility, since programs, centers, institutes and departments may from time-to-time change, grow, move, merge or dissolve.

Proposals for the naming of a University program (center, department, institute, school) or position (endowed professorship, endowed coaching position, senior academic or administrative officer position, etc.) associated with a gift must be submitted to the Office of the Senior Vice President for Advancement. The proposal must include a description of the program or position to be named together with a description of the name proposed and its significance to Brown, including the amount of the gift and the identity of the donor(s). 

If the Senior Vice President supports the proposal it shall be forwarded to the Office of the Corporation for review by the President and, if approved by the President, inclusion on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Corporation or the Advisory and Executive Committee. The naming of any University program or position requires approval by the President and the Corporation.

Any proposal to name a scholarship, fellowship or lecture (endowed or current-use) requires approval by the Senior Vice President for Advancement.

Naming for an honoree or a donor is generally granted for the useful life of the entity. The University may deem the naming period concluded in certain circumstances, including but not limited to:

• If the purpose for which the named entity is or needs to be significantly altered, is no longer needed/ceases to exist.
• If a physical entity is replaced, significantly renovated or no longer habitable.
• The period of time of the naming specified in the gift agreement has expired.

The appropriate University representative will make all reasonable efforts to inform in advance the original donors or honorees when the naming period is deemed concluded. The University may provide alternate recognition as may be appropriate in honor of the original gift.

Under extraordinary circumstances, a proposal to rename a University building, space, program or position may be submitted to the President, and by the President for approval to the Corporation. Such a proposal must include information about the name of the entity proposed to be renamed and the rationale for changing that name, as well as a recommendation for the preservation and display of the original name on campus, where appropriate. 

The renaming of any University building, space, program or position requires approval by the Corporation. In considering such proposals, the President and the Corporation shall exercise judgment with regard to the individual or entity the original naming was intended to honor and apply the same general principles in section 3.0 above.

The University reserves the right, on reasonable grounds, to revoke and terminate its obligations regarding a naming if, including, but not limited to:

• The University determines its association with the donor or the honoree could cause damage to the University's reputation, standing or integrity or be contrary to University values. This determination will be guided by Brown’s mission of education, research and scholarship.
• In the case of a naming associated with a gift the donor fails to fulfill the terms of the gift that is recognized by a naming.

The appropriate University representative will make all reasonable efforts to inform in advance the original donors or honorees when the naming period is deemed concluded. The University may provide alternate recognition as appropriate in honor of the original gift.
 

Any gift valued at $1 million or more in support of a building, space, program, position, scholarship, fellowship or lecture must be accepted by the Corporation (see Gift Acceptance Policy).

A proposal to name a building, space, program or position associated with a gift shall not be implemented – e.g., building signage not installed or a program or position name not utilized in materials and publications – until and unless the University has received an executed gift agreement and 50% of pledge payments towards the gift commitment have been received.

With regard to naming proposals associated with a gift, any special circumstances or request for exceptions to this policy must be referred to the Senior Vice President of Advancement who will determine the course of action, which may include consultation with the President and/or the Corporation.

The University will generally not name a building, space, program or position in honor of a current faculty or staff member. Proposals for such a naming may be approved to take effect upon the retirement of the individual faculty or staff member.

From time to time the University may consider proposals to name a building, space, program or position in honor of an individual not associated with a gift. Such proposals shall be considered and approved under this policy subject to the principles in Section 3.0 and the processes described in Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 except that the Office of the Provost shall be substituted for the Office of the Senior Vice President for Advancement.

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