Naming and Renaming Guidelines
Throughout the centuries, William & Mary has named and renamed specific elements of the campus environment - spaces, buildings, academic and other programs, and more - dozens of times. The following guidelines are intended to provide a consistent, principled, and transparent approach for naming and renaming elements of the campus of William & Mary.
Decision-making, purview, and review processes
For names of buildings and objects in the campus environment, the Board of Visitors has final decision-making authority, as specified in its By Laws.
For names of the programs, titles, and other matters, the President, Provost and Chief Operating Officer have decision-making authority, as generally delegated to them in the Board By Laws. Consultation with appropriate institutional bodies and constituencies is an expected assumption of normal process.
When naming is related to a philanthropic commitment, review shall be conducted by the University Advancement Office and the Vice President for University Advancement shall make recommendations to the President, Provost or chief Operating Officer, and Board of Visitors consistent with the guidelines set out in the university's gift acceptance procedures and policies.
Design principles for historical naming/renaming as part of the Campus Master Plan
1. The campus buildings and environment should help to educate
Consistent with William & Mary's current practice of contextualization of our historical campus - (i.e., telling its whole history in context) buildings and spaces should include robust historical context that reflects our expanding knowledge of the past - explaining and correcting incomplete or passed-over versions of William & Mary's history, in accessible ways.
2. The campus buildings and environment should affirm complexity
Names of buildings and spaces should represent William & Mary's broad and complex history. to recover more voices and stories that represent our past, it is necessary to commit to powerful historical work, in all of its complexity and depth.
3. The campus buildings and environment should promote honest and clear self-reflection of William & Mary's history
This work will be unwavering, to openly and clearly acknowledge the contributions of both those who are well known as well as those who have gone unrecognized, and those whose legacies impeded the nation's promise of universal human rights and equality.
Design Review Board guidelines for naming and renaming
Guiding principles were developed in late 2020 as part of a two-month process of study, community input, and revision. This process was conducted by the Working Group on Principles of Naming and Renaming at the request of the president, as charged by the Board of Visitors.
1. William & Mary's naming and renaming process must represent the university's diverse constituencies
William & Mary's review process for naming and renaming shall be clear, follow established guidelines, be applied consistently and provide for input from diverse constituencies.
2. Names on buildings or spaces should represent William & Mary's evolving mission and values
When considering names for living persons and new spaces on campus, University Advancement shall follow its current practices of review, consistent with gift acceptance policies for the university and its related foundations.
When considering the naming or renaming after an historical person, William & Mary will examine the person's principal legacy in light of multiple criteria. These should include their actions during their lifetime, and, most significantly, their principal legacy in the present. The history and legacy of the university must be appropriately chronicled and explained. To demonstrate William & Mary's commitment to inclusion, equality and justice, attention should be focused on our present values of belonging, curiosity, excellence, flourishing, integrity, respect, and service.
3. The campus environment should be curated holistically, as part of the Campus Master Plan
No building, structure or space should be considered in isolation. Coordination of the naming and renaming process with the Campus Master Plan is essential. The interrelationship of names across campus should reflect respect for the architectural integrity of the Campus master Plan and consider the role of the name (honorific, memorialization, etc.).
- Where appropriate and feasible, a name should be relevant to what it designates
In many cases, it is desirable to align a potential name with the functional use or occupancy of the space. For this reason, where feasible, the naming and renaming process should be coordinated with the respective school, department, unit and University Advancement.
4. Naming or changing names of buildings or spaces shall contribute to the increase in diversity of commemorations across campus
The campus environment will embrace diverse individuals and perspectives across a broad array of differences. Naming and renaming provide unique opportunities to foster a more welcoming, equitable, and inclusive campus environment.
5. The decision to rename a building or space identified with an historical individual, cause or era should meet a high standard
The process of renaming must be done only after undertaking thorough and comprehensive research and deliberation. That process will take into account the current mission and values of the university.
- The determination of whether an individual's name should be attached to or removed from a campus building or space will follow thorough research
In evaluation cases of potential naming and renaming, the DRB will define categories used to identify legacies created by an individual, such as civil rights leader, philanthropic leader, business leader, intellectual leader, etc. Recommendations for renaming of buildings and spaces must be accompanied by full documentation of personal attributes and actions that weigh in favor of or against renaming.
- Substantive and extensive research is critical to aid in and validate new names
All historical research undertaken must adhere to the highest academic standards. This process will include consultation with others, including university schools, departments, units, affected communities, etc. The university may also consult as appropriate with historically linked indigenous tribes, local governments, and cultural institutions such as the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation or Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
6. Building signs should clearly identify who a building is named for and why
William & Mary should provide signage, digital content and archival resources about the history and context of named places. William & Mary should strategies how building names, signage, gallery spaces and exhibitions, and deep historical recovery projects present different opportunities to honor or provide historical context about individuals from the past - with particular attention to how these people reflect William & Mary values today. As a vital component of naming and renaming decisions, contextualization serves to explain the significance of past and present campus design.
Created September 25, 2020
