A. Applicability

This policy applies to the naming, renaming, and removal of names from University facilities and other physical assets, including buildings and structures, interior and exterior spaces, landscapes, roads, fields and other outdoor areas; collections and other portable assets; endowed chairs and professorships; academic and administrative units; schools, colleges, departments, institutes and centers; programs; and other University entities or assets for which honorary or philanthropic naming recognition may be appropriate. This policy applies throughout the New Mexico State University (NMSU) System.

B. Policy Statement

New Mexico State University welcomes the opportunity to honor those who have rendered extraordinary service or support to NMSU. Facilities, spaces, endowments, or programs may be named for living or deceased individuals or entities whose accomplishments or generosity advance the academic mission of the University, further the capacity of NMSU to meet its teaching and scholarly objectives, and to serve its community and enhance the growth and reputation of NMSU. A decision to construct or renovate a building, establish a chair, or create a program, is to be taken based on established academic and other operational criteria and approved in keeping with the University's established practices and academic mission.

Naming will be independent of all appointment, admission, and curriculum decisions which the University will continue to make in keeping with its established practices and academic mission. To ensure the appropriateness of the honor, the University will follow the guidelines listed in this policy as it makes decisions on a case-by-case basis regarding naming facilities, spaces, endowments, or programs.

C. University Naming Authority

The authority to name, rename, or remove the name of a university facility, space, endowment, academic or administrative unit, program, or other University asset rests exclusively with the Regents of New Mexico State University (Board).

The Board delegates authority to the President or designee to approve the naming of academic units subordinate to colleges, schools, departments, institutes, and centers in compliance with this policy and university administrative policy. This includes but is not limited to classrooms, conference rooms, auditoriums, small theaters, internal libraries, rooms, hallways, floors, features, tribute markers, portable items, and other enclosed or conditioned spaces within buildings.

The NMSU Foundation, Inc. is a separate nonprofit organization that supports the University through private philanthropy; however, the Foundation does not possess independent authority to name University assets or otherwise bind the University to a naming commitment. Foundation participation in the naming review process will be advisory and will not constitute University approval of a naming.

No proposed naming may be represented to a donor, prospective donor, honoree, or other person as approved, promised, or final until all approvals required by this policy have been obtained. Any gift agreement or other instrument involving a proposed University naming will expressly state that the naming is subject to University approval in accordance with this policy.

D. Institutional Primacy

Naming recognition is an institutional decision and will not be determined solely by the availability or amount of private financial support. A proposed naming must independently serve the mission, integrity, reputation, and long-term interests of New Mexico State University. The University's determination regarding the appropriateness of a naming will be separate from its determination regarding acceptance of an associated gift.

E. Criteria for Selection of Honorees

Naming a facility, space, endowment, or program for an individual, organization or corporation is one of the highest honors that the University can bestow. This recognition is a lasting and powerful affirmation of the honoree's connection to the University's mission. As such, honorees will have exemplary character, an unqualified reputation for honesty, personal integrity, and the highest standards of personal and professional ethics. Meeting the criteria established in this policy does not create an entitlement to naming recognition. All naming decisions remain within the discretion of the University and will be based upon the University's mission, integrity, reputation, long-term interests, and the circumstances of the proposed recognition.

1. Extraordinary University Service

Honorees who have been employed by the University will have given extraordinary service to the institution in a teaching, research, service, or administrative field with such exceptional distinction that their contributions are widely recognized by their peers, both at the University and elsewhere. The recognition afforded the honoree may also include private financial contributions related to the naming opportunity. Individuals currently employed by the University or currently holding elected public office ordinarily will not be eligible for honorary naming recognition.

This restriction includes active or announced candidates for statewide or federal elected and appointed offices. Such naming opportunities will not be considered until at least one year from the end of the individual's NMSU employment, or one year after the individual has announced or filed or leaves public office to be considered for recognition by a naming of a property (asset) or program. NMSU will not advertise, publicize, or promote a proposed gift, including donations in the form of a grant, of anyone who has announced or filed for statewide or federal elected office until after the election is concluded. An exception may be considered only under the following circumstances and must be specifically approved by the Board of Regents:

1. The individual is no longer living;
2. The philanthropic giving warrants some form of recognition;
3. Another unrelated person or entity proposes a gift and requests the naming in honor of the individual or entity; or
4. Extenuating circumstances

2. Private Financial Support

Individuals, corporations, foundations, and other organizations may be considered for philanthropic naming recognition in connection with significant private financial support benefiting the University. A naming associated with private financial support will be considered in accordance with this policy and the approval process contained herein, as well as any other applicable University policies.

A revocable bequest, estate expectancy, or other future gift that is not irrevocably committed ordinarily will not serve as the sole basis for naming recognition during the donor's lifetime.

The following will ordinarily constitute the minimum philanthropic commitment associated with the specified naming opportunity. These amounts are presumptive standards and do not create an entitlement to naming. An exception may be approved by the official having approval authority for the naming upon a documented recommendation from the University Naming Committee (Committee) explaining the institutional basis for the exception:

1. New facilities and major additions - fifty percent (50%) of total costs or three million dollars ($3,000,000), whichever is greater.
2. Renovation of facilities - seventy-five percent (75%) of the cost of renovating a facility.
3. Existing facilities without renovation - seventy-five percent (75%) of the fair market value of the facility.
4. Portable items - donation of the collection or at least fifty percent (50%) of the value of the collection.
5. Tribute markers - fifty percent (50%) of the cost or value of associated items (e.g., trees, gardens).
6. Endowed chairs and professorships - full funding of the endowment.
7. Academic and administrative units, programs, centers, institutes, schools, colleges, and other programmatic entities - determined on a case-by-case basis based upon the prominence, operating scale, anticipated duration, strategic importance, and financial requirements of the entity.

F. Naming Review and Approval

Since naming facilities, spaces, endowments, and programs has a long-term impact on the University, all proposed namings, renamings, and removals of names subject to this policy will undergo institutional review before approval.

The President will establish a University Naming Committee to review proposed naming opportunities and naming requests in accordance with this policy and implementing administrative procedures. The Committee will evaluate the appropriateness of the proposed recognition; the qualifications and reputation of the proposed honoree; institutional and reputational considerations; the adequacy of any associated philanthropic commitment; consistency with the University's priorities and policies; and other factors relevant to the University's long-term interests.

The Committee will make a recommendation to the University official or the Board of Regents having approval authority under this policy. Committee review does not itself constitute approval of a naming.

For proposed namings associated with private financial support, the NMSU Foundation, Inc. will coordinate with the University in developing the naming proposal and may provide information and recommendations concerning the proposed gift, donor intent, valuation, gift terms, and donor stewardship.

G. Advance Review of Philanthropic Naming Opportunities

Before a University representative or the NMSU Foundation, Inc. makes a naming opportunity part of a formal solicitation, gift proposal, gift agreement, or other commitment to a prospective donor, the proposed naming opportunity and applicable financial parameters will be reviewed through the process established in the University's administrative procedures.

Such preliminary review authorizes discussion of the naming opportunity but does not constitute approval of a specific honoree or final naming.

Information concerning proposed namings will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law until all required approvals have been obtained and the University determines that public announcement is appropriate.

H. Approval Authority

1. Board of Regents Approval: The following namings require approval by the Board of Regents upon recommendation of the President:

1. Entire buildings and structures;
2. Major additions, wings, floors, or other prominent portions of buildings or facilities when the naming would reasonably be understood as identifying a significant component of the facility;
3. Exterior facilities and spaces, including fields, plazas, courtyards, gardens, roads, prominent landscapes, and similar physical assets;
4. Colleges, schools, departments, institutes, centers, and other major academic or administrative organizational entities;
5. Endowed chairs and professorships;
6. Naming of University assets for a current University employee or current elected public official under the exceptional-circumstances provision of this policy;
7. Renaming or removal of any name previously approved by the Board of Regents; and
8. Any other naming that the President determines, because of its prominence, sensitivity, institutional significance, or potential long-term impact, should be submitted to the Board of Regents.

2. Presidential Approval: Except for matters reserved to the Board of Regents, the President may approve:

1. Interior rooms and subordinate spaces, including classrooms, laboratories, conference rooms, lounges, suites, and similar spaces;
2. Collections and other portable assets;
3. Tribute markers, plaques, benches, trees, and similar commemorative recognition;
4. Programs and other entities not requiring Board of Regents approval; and
5. Other naming matters delegated by the Board of Regents.

The President may delegate approval authority for specified categories of subordinate naming opportunities through administrative procedures. The President may, at the President's discretion, refer any proposed naming to the Board of Regents for approval.

The Board of Regents retains ultimate authority over the naming of University assets and may require Board review and approval of any proposed naming not specifically addressed by this policy or otherwise delegated by the Board.

I. Duration, Modification, and Removal of Names

Naming recognition for an individual ordinarily will remain for the useful life of the facility, space, endowment, program, or other named entity, subject to the provisions of this policy.

Naming recognition for a corporation, organization, or other commercial entity will be for a defined term established at the time of approval and, when associated with a gift, reflected in the applicable written agreement.

A naming does not create a permanent property interest or contractual right except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement approved by the University.

The University may modify, relocate, discontinue, or remove a naming when:

1. the named facility, space, program, unit, or other entity is demolished, substantially renovated, relocated, redesignated, merged, reorganized, discontinued, or otherwise materially changed;
2. the terms or financial commitments associated with the naming have not been fulfilled;
3. continuation of the naming would be inconsistent with applicable law or University policy;
4. credible information concerning an honoree's conduct, reputation, image, or circumstances arises such that continued association with the name may materially adversely affect the University's mission, integrity, reputation, or long-term interests; or
5. other extraordinary circumstances warrant reconsideration of the naming.

Except where an approved agreement provides otherwise, modification or removal of a name will require approval by the same authority that approved the original naming, or by a higher approving authority. The University will consider applicable contractual obligations, donor intent, historical context, and institutional interests before taking such action.

Naming of a facility, space, endowment, or program does not preclude additional subordinate naming opportunities within it, provided such additional namings are consistent with this policy.

J. Official Record

The University will maintain an official record of approved namings, renamings, and removals of names, including the approving authority, date of approval, duration of recognition when applicable, and other information required by administrative procedures. The President will designate the University office responsible for maintaining the official naming record.

K. Implementation Procedures

The President will establish administrative policies and procedures necessary to implement this Regents policy, including procedures governing:

1. submission and preliminary review of naming opportunities;
2. composition and operation of the University Naming Committee;
3. coordination with the NMSU Foundation, Inc. concerning philanthropic naming opportunities;
4. due diligence and review of prospective honorees;
5. valuation and documentation of philanthropic commitments associated with naming;
6. approval routing and documentation;
7. gift agreement requirements;
8. duration and renewal of term-limited namings;
9. signage, recognition, and implementation standards;
10. renaming and removal of names; and
11. maintenance of official naming records.

The President will appoint the University Naming Committee and may designate administrative responsibility for supporting the Committee and administering this policy.

L. Prospective Application

This policy will apply prospectively. Naming agreements and official namings in effect before the effective date of this policy will remain subject to their existing terms; however, subsequent renewal, extension, modification, renaming, or removal will be governed by this policy to the extent permitted by applicable agreements and law.

Related

Cross-Reference:

RPM 18.00 - Foundation and Direct Support Organizations
ARP 18.05 - Honorary Degree Awards
ARP 18.10 - Namings and Other Honorific Recognition
ARP 18.20 - University Advancement-Gift Income, NMSU Endowments, NMSU Foundation, Inc.

Revision History:

10/01/2026 - Adopted by the Board of Regents