Chapter 33 – Use of University Name

(President 4/9/73; amended 9/97; 11/10)
  1. Definition. "Non-University endeavor" refers to any activity which is not part of or is unrelated to the fulfillment of the missions of the University.
  2. The use of the University name for any purpose in any non-University endeavor not previously sanctioned by the Office of Strategic Communication is prohibited. Individuals or entities who contract with the University for goods or services are not permitted to imply an endorsement by the University of their goods or services by virtue of their contract with the University.
  3. University faculty or staff may, acting in their capacities as individuals, use the name of the University for self-identification purposes before the general public, with the following exceptions:
    1. The University name may not be used by such University faculty or staff in any event, writing, broadcast, or other media presentation, advocating, or endorsing the sale of an item of commerce, be it product or service, where the University is represented as benefiting from, having an interest in, or advocating such sale.
    2. The University name may not be used by such University faculty or staff in any event, writing, broadcast, or other media presentation, where both of the following apply: 1) the context is such that the average recipient of the presentation would reasonably believe that it was the University itself rather than merely the faculty or staff member that was advocating or endorsing the sale of an item of commerce, be it product or service, and 2) the University faculty or staff member has a pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in the product or service, or receives money or any valuable thing, any commission, percentage, discount or other payment, gift, bonus, tip, or gratuity, directly or indirectly, as a result of participating in the presentation.
  4. University faculty or staff may use their name in conjunction with the name of the University for self-identification purposes in connection with products or services when they are the subject of a pending U.S. patent, a valid in-force U.S. patent, or a U.S. copyright, in which a pecuniary interest is held by the University, and which arose out of University research or scholarship, or in other manner arose out of activity connected with the University. Prior written authorization shall be required from the Vice President for Research, based on a finding that the foregoing facts regarding patent, copyright, and interest in the University apply in a given case.

Review

1. Under this policy, may University faculty, staff, and students use University letterhead and their University title when writing to their legislator or congressional representative to express an opinion or concern?

The use of University letterhead in any non-University correspondence is strictly prohibited. Personal stationery should be used for all personal correspondence, including personal correspondence with elected officials. The institutional position on legislative issues is determined by the Board of Regents in consultation with University administration. While individuals are free to correspond with elected representatives on their own time, the use of University letterhead for that purpose is potentially confusing to elected officials because it implies that the writer is speaking on behalf of the University. The use of the staff member's University title for self-identification purposes in this context is permitted, so long as the title is not used in a way that implies that the writer is expressing an institutional position or viewpoint. (See also II-18.1d(1)(a).)

2. A University employee is starting a new business selling hand-crafted furniture. He decides to develop some advertisements to help sell the furniture. So he has a photograph taken of himself sitting in a hand-crafted chair on the Pentacrest lawn in front of the Old Capitol. He uses this image in newspaper and television advertisements for his furniture. Is this permissible under the policy?

No. The sale of furniture is a "non-University endeavor." Taking a picture of the chair on University property implies an endorsement of the product by the University, which is prohibited under the policy.