01-9 Private Support For Facilities
1.0 Purpose
1.1 It is the purpose of this university policy to provide guidelines for carrying out Wayne State University Code Annotated, section 2.85.07, Naming Facilities, which provides as follows:
1.1.1 When a facility is named, the name shall memorialize or honor a person whose outstanding leadership, achievement, or other contribution has constituted a significant benefit to the life of the nation, state, community, or university. Consideration shall be given to the following:
1.1.2 The name shall be appropriate to current or prospective use of the facility.
1.1.3 The name shall have enduring relevance.
1.1.4 Only in exceptional circumstances will a facility be named for a current public official or current member of the university community.
1.2 It is the purpose of this university policy to enable donors to fulfill their philanthropic goals, consistent with the purposes set forth above, by making gifts that will associate facilities with their names or the names of persons they wish to honor or memorialize.
2.0 Definitions
2.1 Facilities include (but are not limited to) buildings, areas within buildings, malls, courtyards, gardens, and plazas.
2.2 Areas within buildings include (but are not limited to) wings, floors, auditoria, classrooms and lecture halls, conference and seminar rooms, libraries, laboratories, galleries, studios, and lounges.
2.3 “Major university unit” is a college, school, department, division, center, institute, or similar academic or non-academic program entity that may or may not be partially or fully associated by name with a facility. Naming of university units is ordinarily associated with an extraordinary major gift in support of the unit or some aspect of its program.
3.0 Responsibility
3.1 Responsibility for implementing this policy is delegated by the president to the vice president for development & alumni affairs.
3.2 It is the responsibility of the vice president for development & alumni affairs to develop proposals for naming opportunities. When these proposals involve the naming of facilities, areas within buildings, or major university units that are distinctly associated with a college or school, the vice president for development & alumni affairs shall consult with the provost and the appropriate dean. In evaluating the gift level appropriate for each naming opportunity, the vice president for development & alumni affairs shall act in coordination with the vice president for finance and business operations.
3.3 The vice president for development & alumni affairs will review proposals to name or rename facilities with the vice president for finance and business operations and the general counsel, and make recommendations to the president for action pursuant to university statutes.
4.0 Gifts Associated With The Naming Of Facilities
4.1 A gift associated with the naming of facilities or areas within facilities should approximate the significant portion of the cost of a facility. Some flexibility must be recognized in this area, because, among several criteria, the age, stature, use, and derivation of the building will influence the expected financial commitment.
4.1.1 A new/renovated facility may be named to recognize a donor whose gift provides a substantial portion of the estimated cost of construction, normally approximately 50 percent.
4.1.2 An existing facility may be named to recognize a donor whose gift provides a substantial portion of the cost of renovation, or replacement at current value, normally approximately 50 percent.
4.2 A gift in kind may be associated with the naming of facilities or areas within facilities where the appraised value of such a gift in kind is equal to a substantial portion of the cost of facility construction, renovation, or replacement at current value, normally approximately 50 percent.
4.3 Donors are encouraged to provide for long-term maintenance of named facilities by establishing endowed funds for that purpose. Pursuant to university endowment policies, five percent of the market value of endowment would be distributed annually for maintenance, furnishings or other related purposes.
4.4 In developing a plan for the making of a gift, such factors as the donor’s history of association with and service to the University, the importance of the facility to the university’s mission and future plans, its projected impact on the university’s operating budget and the degree to which other funding has been committed for the project are to be considered.
4.4.1 When naming a new/renovated facility, at least one-half of the gift normally is payable immediately, with the remainder to be paid within five years or, except where construction is contingent upon the gift, through an irrevocable planned gift.
4.4.2 When naming an existing facility, at least one-half of the gift is payable immediately, with the remainder to be paid within five years or through an irrevocable planned gift.
5.0 Notification
5.1 The vice president for development & alumni affairs shall notify the university community of these policies.
5.2 The vice president for development & alumni affairs shall also notify alumni, friends, and prospective donors of the existence of these policies.
6.0 Effective Date
6.1 This university policy is effective upon issuance, and is revocable by the president at any time and without notice.
6.2 Executive Order 92-1 is hereby revoked, effective immediately.
Signed by President Irvin D. Reid December 20, 2001.