Naming Opportunities

Naming opportunities involving buildings must be approved by the president of the university and the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning based upon the recommendations of the vice president for development and alumni, the provost or other appropriate vice president, and/or dean/director. To name a new building with 100 percent private funding, a donor must contribute at least 50 percent of the construction cost. To name a new building with a private funding component, a donor must contribute at least 50 percent of the private fund-raising goal. In all cases, a gift of at least $1 million is required to name a building.

In addition to naming buildings, endowments may be used to name many of the spaces within buildings such as lecture halls, laboratories, conference rooms, specialty classrooms, and regular classrooms.

Minimum amounts are necessary to name indoor physical facilities. They include:

• Laboratory--$500,000
• Electronic Classroom--$200,000
• Distance Learning Classroom--$75,000
• Other Classroom--$50,000
• Conference Room--$50,000
• Auditorium (with 150 or more seats)--$100,000
• Auditorium (with fewer than 150 seats)--$50,000

Naming opportunities exist for outdoor structures including benches, fountains, outdoor plantings, and other areas. For most outdoor structures, naming opportunities are available with a gift of $5,000 to the Campus Appearance and Preservation Endowment plus the cost of the outdoor project. Learn more (PDF) about Mississippi State’s efforts toward preserving and enriching its 130-year-old campus.

Funding required to name academic or other major university units should be of a level that will transform the very nature of the unit involved, enabling that unit to reach a level of excellence that would have been impossible using state or university funds alone. The gift should be in the form of an endowment, with income from the endowment used to provide a margin of excellence for the unit. The gift should not replace state funds previously made available to that unit.

Minimum established endowment levels for colleges, departments, centers, and institutes are:

• College, School, or Division -- $10,000,000
• Department -- $5,000,000
• University-wide Center/Institute -- $2,500,000
• College-based or Unit-based Center or Institute -- $1,000,000

Naming opportunities for chairs or professorships are available throughout campus. Endowed chair designation is linked to a select faculty position filled by a truly outstanding scholar and teacher, as judged by rigorous, nationally accepted standards. Likewise, a named professorship faculty position will be occupied by an exceptionally gifted and promising scholar. Named professorships typically are held by faculty members whose accomplishments indicate potential for national and international leadership and distinction in their field, and whose current efforts are focused on honing teaching skills and/or establishing a superior record of research or other scholarly activity.

The established minimum levels for endowed faculty positions are:

• Dean's Chair--$2,000,000
• Chair--$1,500,000
• Professorship--$500,000
• Endowed Faculty Fellowship--$100,000

NOTE: Minimum requirements may vary by college, school or department.

Mississippi State encourages naming opportunities for distinguished lectureships, the presidential lecture series and visiting lecture series. A distinguished lectureship is reserved for a select position to be filled by a top scholar who becomes a part of the Mississippi State University community for a specified period, but who typically does not accept a permanent position on the faculty. A presidential lecture series will bring to Mississippi State a variety of outstanding individuals with broad experience and expertise for presentations that will have university-wide and interdisciplinary appeal, while a visiting lecture series brings a variety of individuals with experience and expertise relevant to the special interests of a particular college or school.

The established minimum endowment levels for lectureships and lecture series are:

• Distinguished Lectureship--$1,000,000
• Presidential Lecture Series--$1,000,000
• Visiting Lecture Series--$250,000

In order to attract outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in every academic field, Mississippi State needs significant funding for scholarships, fellowships and teaching and research assistantships. In addition, the university seeks support for diversity programs, international studies and research opportunities. Scholarships offer educational assistance for talented undergraduate students. Endowed scholarships enable Mississippi State to attract and retain the best and brightest students throughout Mississippi, the region and the nation. Graduate fellowships offer educational assistance for graduate students and provide full or partial support that enables students to complete their educational experience at MSU. Naming opportunities are available for most endowed scholarships or fellowships.

The established minimum endowment levels for fellowships and scholarships are:

• Scholarships--$25,000
• Graduate Fellowships--$250,000
• Post-Doctoral Fellowships--$300,000

Donors seeking to strengthen undergraduate scholarships may establish endowments through the Presidential Endowed Scholars program. In addition to providing competitive, multi-year scholarships to incoming students, this program also affords mentoring opportunities for donors and students. Endowments for Presidential Endowed Scholarships can be established with gifts of $200,000 or more.

Endowed funds of excellence and awards allow the university to recognize outstanding teaching, service, research, and staff members. Naming awards is an outstanding way to commemorate the work ethic, successes, or lifetime achievements of an outstanding individual. An endowed fund for excellence may be established in support of a college, school, department, academic discipline, or other university program of interest to the donor. Typically, earnings enhance the selected program by supporting research, faculty development and travel or for other education enrichment activities. Endowed funds for teaching, service, research, and staff awards recognize outstanding performance in the classroom, in service to the university and in research by faculty, professional or support staff members in the specified college, school or division.

The established minimum endowment levels for funds for excellence; teaching, service, research, and staff awards; as well as other types of endowments are:

• Endowed Fund for Excellence--$25,000
• Teaching, Service, Research, and Staff Awards--$25,000
• Other Endowments--$25,000