Naming Opportunities Advisiory Committee

To assist in the implementation of policy with regard to the naming of University facilities and to compliment Board of Supervisors policies, a University Committee appointed by the President or his/her designated representative, serves in an advisory capacity to the President in recommending those individuals who qualify (minimum gift and state law) for naming opportunities of buildings, rooms, designated areas, colleges, schools, departments, and programs.

Any proposal to dedicate, name, or designate any University facilities or grounds shall be submitted to the President, in writing and with supporting explanation or justification. No one is authorized to commit such naming to an honoree until after the President has made such a recommendation and the Board of Supervisors has approved that recommendation.

Membership

• CHAIR: Vice President for University Advancement & External Affairs
• Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Vice President for Business Affairs
• Executive Director of Alumni & Community Relations
• Director of Development
• President of ULM Alumni Association
• President of ULM Foundation
• President of the Student Government Association

Role and Responsibilities

A. The Committee shall meet when the need arises.

B. The Committee shall act as a formal conduit for names to be submitted, researched, and forwarded to the President for recommendation.

C. The Committee is responsible for maintaining detailed procedures and guidelines for the naming of buildings, rooms, and other campus facilities and programs based on financial and other considerations and for evaluating their effectiveness.

D. The Committee shall give timely consideration to all proposals, weighing them on their individual merits and consulting with others outside its membership when appropriate and necessary.

University of Louisiana System Policy
Section V – Naming University Facilities

A. General Policy:
Facilities on campuses within the University of Louisiana System are named upon the recommendation of the institution president, with the approval and authority of the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with applicable statues and regulations. “Facility” is defined as any building, or portion thereof, site, street, or park.

A facility may be named to honor the contributions and achievements of an individual. In accordance with state law, “No public building . . . shall be named in honor of any living person” (R.S.14:316). Portions of buildings including, but not limited to, classrooms, auditoria, laboratories, and lounges may be named after living persons, in accordance with the provisions of this policy. Naming of any facility in honor of an individual, individuals, or a private entity must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. Only the provision of functional names (e.g., Band Building, Maintenance Building, etc.) for facilities, in which the name of an individual, individuals, or private entity is not involved, is left to the discretion of the university president.

B. Criteria:
In the case of request to name facilities in honor of an individual, the university will be guided by the following criteria. An individual for whom a facility would be named should:

1. Have made substantial contributions to his/her field of endeavor or to
society in general;
2. Have made significant connections with the university, either as a student,
an alumnus, a faculty member, an administrator, a donor, or a supporter;
3. Have made significant contributions to the development of the university or the
State of Louisiana in education, the arts, public life, or some other appropriate
Field of endeavor;
4. Be of such outstanding character and distinction that naming a facility after
him/her would honor the university as well as the individual.

As indicated above, a portion of a building may be named in honor of a living individual.

In order to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest in such instances, current holders of elected public office, candidates for public office, and current members of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System are not eligible for consideration.

Universities are encouraged to name facilities only to honor exceptional individuals and should not routinely request this honor. Also, universities are encouraged to minimize requests to name portions of facilities for living persons or private entities (addition approved 8/27/99)