Rules

The Trustees of Stanly Community College (the Trustees) have sole authority over the naming of physical spaces, including without limitation, classrooms, buildings, campuses, or other locations (Facilities) maintained or owned by the Trustees for the operation of Stanly Community College (SCC). In general, the Trustees will exercise that authority upon recommendation by the President who shall make such recommendations pursuant to this Rule. The President has additional authority over the naming of educational programs (Programs), endowed monetary gifts (Funds), and employee positions (Positions) in accordance with approval guidelines required by State of North Carolina law, administrative code of the State Board of Community Colleges, and guidance offered by the North Carolina Community College System.

The Directors of the Stanly Community College Foundation (the Foundation) seek donations and grants from entities including, without limitation, the United States, non-profit entities, private business and industry, and individuals to enhance SCC’s ability to meet the higher education needs of its communities at a level of excellence that would otherwise not be possible. To that end, the Trustees and the Foundation seek to recognize donors for their generosity. Although such recognition may take many forms, these guidelines establish a plan for the naming of Facilities, Programs, Funds, and Positions as part of donor recognition.

Purpose

These guidelines serve as a plan for the Trustees, the President, the Foundation, SCC employees, volunteers, and outside advisors who solicit gifts. These guidelines assure an appropriate reflection of the history of SCC, consistency, fairness, fitting recognition, and good value in exchange for the honor or privilege of name association with Facilities, Programs, Funds, or Positions of SCC. These guidelines are a plan to encourage gifts, while allowing for situational flexibility.

Donors

Recommendations for naming opportunities will be considered in recognition of individuals, families, for-profit or non-profit organizations, or foundations.

Naming Tributes

Different circumstances generally give rise to a naming tribute:

• Recognition of Distinguished Service: This naming tribute is intended to honor the time or talent of an individual that has had a significant positive impact on SCC over an extended period of years. Such honor will typically be recommended no less than one year following the end of the individual’s service to SCC and is typically reserved for outstanding service.
• Monetary Gift: This naming attribute is to honor a gift of monetary value appropriate to the Facility, Program, Fund, or Position being named.
• Endowments for Programs and Scholarships: This naming tribute is to establish gifts of endowed funds established for a variety of purposes that are generally coordinated by the Foundation in accordance with their investment and gift acceptance policies. The Foundation establishes endowment minimums and reviews them regularly for currency and appropriateness.

Recommendations for Naming Tributes

The Trustees and the Foundation will appoint a Naming Rights Committee, comprised of the President of SCC, one representative from the Trustees, and one representative from the Foundation (the Committee). The Committee shall review potential tributes, as well as the degree of internal and external support for the proposed naming. Upon recommendation of the Committee for a naming tribute regarding a Facility, the President submits the recommendation to the Trustees for approval. Upon recommendation of the Committee for a naming tribute regarding Programs, Funds, or Positions, the President will decide to accept or reject the recommendation in the context of applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.

The Committee will consult the Trustees and the Foundation to determine levels of financial support or service to SCC required for the naming of Facilities, Programs, Funds, and Positions. Some general guidelines include:

1. New construction or renovation of buildings may be named for a donor who has made a substantial monetary gift toward the cost of the project.
2. For existing Facilities, dollar amounts will be established for a selected number of naming opportunities based on institutional priorities set by the Trustees, the Foundation, and the President.
3. Giving levels may be established with either fixed or minimum dollar amounts for sponsorship of Facilities consisting of spaces smaller than a campus or building. Such property may include, without limitation, pavers, benches, planters, fountains, gardens, equipment, instructional lab equipment, meeting rooms, lounges, or outdoor plazas. Amounts for these naming opportunities will be set and adjusted periodically by the Executive Committee of the Foundation.
4. Endowed giving levels with either fixed or minimum dollar amounts for Funds will be set and adjusted periodically by the Executive Committee of the Foundation. Recommended tribute names will be based on but not necessarily mandated by suggestions of the donor(s).
5. Giving levels may be established with either fixed or minimum dollar amounts for sponsorship of Programs and Positions if such naming tributes are allowable under existing laws, regulations, and guidance. Amounts for these naming opportunities will be set and adjusted periodically by the Executive Committee of the Foundation.

Rights and Responsibilities

The President, in consultation with the donor(s), Foundation, Trustees, or other appropriate parties, shall make certain decisions, including, without limitation:

• Public announcements: the content, timing, location, and frequency of any announcements associated with the naming tribute and underlying donation or service.
• Physical markers: the color, design, and size of any physical marker that provides information about the designee or donor and/or the nature of the gift or honor, and the right to move a physical marker to an alternate location at SCC.
• Care and maintenance: any ongoing care and maintenance of the physical marker(s) identifying naming tributes.

General Provisions

Naming recognition should enhance the reputation and prestige of SCC, any designee, and the donor.

Design of physical markers and name recognition should be discussed with architects prior to the initial design stage of a new facility or renovation of an existing facility. Consideration should be given to blending new designs with existing designs and to assuring consistency and uniformity in appearance with existing markers. Consideration should be given to consistency in matching physical markers with size of gift.

Where a building or part thereof has been named, SCC will continue to use the name so long as the Facility remains in use and serves its original function, unless otherwise stipulated at the time of gift acceptance.

It is the responsibility of individuals negotiating on behalf of SCC to advise potential benefactors that their gift may be recognized by naming, subject to approvals and decisions being consistent with these guidelines.

Commitments made prior to the first adoption of these guidelines shall be honored to the extent reasonable under the circumstances. Commitments made subsequent to adoption of these guidelines shall be subject to all provisions including any changes permitted by these guidelines.

Renaming Procedures

Upon recommendation of the President, the Trustees may rename a Facility, Program, Fund, or Position based on the following considerations:

1. When the use of a building, room, or facility is changed such that it must be demolished, substantially renovated or rebuilt, the Trustees may retain the use of the name or name another comparable Facility. For instance, reconstruction of a Facility that suffers catastrophic damage may not be in the best interests of SCC and naming tributes pertaining to the Facility may be lost due to the damage.
2. When a Facility, Program, Fund, or Position is repurposed in the best interests of SCC, then SCC may remove the use of the name and initiate a new naming tribute for the Facility, Program, Fund, or Position.
3. If a donor for whom a Facility, Program, Fund, or Position is named fails to fulfill a financial commitment to SCC or the SCC Foundation for the naming tribute, then the Trustees reserve the right to revoke the naming tribute. The SCC Foundation will make reasonable efforts to monitor changes over time for recurring gifts, or donor restrictions and will negotiate with prior or existing benefactors regarding the gift and/or its restrictions.
4. If a donor’s reputation changes substantially so that the continued use of the naming tribute may be contrary to the best interests of SCC or bring dishonor to the service area, then the Trustees reserve the right to revoke the naming tribute and initiate a new naming tribute for the Facility, Program, Fund, or Position.
5. In any instance of a naming tribute being revoked or otherwise no longer used, neither SCC nor the SCC Foundation would have financial responsibility to return donor contributions for the prior naming tribute.

Final Authority

The final recommendation for any naming, memorial or tribute decision rests with the Trustees and the President. The Trustees and the President reserve the right to consider any and all factors regarding the privilege of name association with the Facility, Program, Fund, or Position as particular acts and circumstances warrant.

Recommended Giving Levels

The following giving levels for naming rights are listed here for advisement:

• New Buildings and/or Renovation of Existing Buildings:    25 percent of cost of construction or cost of renovation
• Named Scholarship Endowments:    $15,000

The giving levels for naming rights of classroom and other facility spaces will be determined by the Foundation in consultation with the Naming Rights Committee and based on the situational needs of the building and facility space.

Guidelines Review

These guidelines will be reviewed at least every three years, and the Naming Rights Committee will recommend any needed revisions for further consideration by SCC policy review processes. Additional review may be necessary when preliminary plans are being considered for new facilities or renovation of existing facilities, and prior to a fundraising campaign.

 

References:

SACSCOC Principle of Accreditation Standard 5.2.c (Control of fundraising activities)