Name Change Requests

The university’s Board of Trustees has established a detailed framework for addressing the proposed renaming of on-campus buildings and memorials. The framework was approved in June 2020 after the Board’s Naming Task Force developed it through broad outreach with the university community.

Any GW student, faculty, staff, or alumnus may submit a request for reconsideration of the naming of any campus building or memorial.

Before making a request, review the Renaming Framework (PDF), which includes the guiding principles, procedures, and considerations for assessing requests.

After reviewing the framework, to make a request, send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

• The specific building or memorial in question.
• The general basis for the request for reconsideration.
• A statement, including relevant background information and application of the guiding principles to the specific details of the case for the requested change.
• A supporting petition duly signed by no fewer than 500 students, faculty, staff, and/or alumni, which may be waived at the President’s discretion.
   

Submit a Name Change Request

Procedure for Considering a Name Change Request

Upon receipt of a complete request, the President will:

• Formally acknowledge the request.
• Add the request to a registry that is available online to GW students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
• Review the request for factual sufficiency and application of the guiding principles.
• Request additional information, where necessary.

If the request is found to be reasonably compelling when the guiding principles are applied to the particular facts, the President will:

• Consult with the appropriate constituencies, such as the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, leadership of the Student Association, and the Executive Committee of the GW Alumni Association, on the merits of the request for reconsideration.
• Appoint a special committee to research and evaluate the merits of the request for reconsideration.
• Where such special committee finds that there is a compelling case for renaming, consult with the Chair of the Board of Trustees, in whose discretion it shall be whether and when to submit the request for decision by the Board of Trustees.

If the case for renaming is brought forward by the President, the process of consultation, research, and evaluation remains the same.

The Board of Trustees may then accept, deny or modify the recommendation as part of the final action of the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees retains the discretion to decide what level of consideration is required prior to a renaming decision.

 

Name Change Request Registry