Campus Departments

Campus Departments Use

Use of Auburn University’s name or other Auburn trademarks with a college or department name implies association with the University. Therefore, only official campus departments are allowed to use AU trademarks.

Licensing policies cover all AU related merchandise with the exception of printed paper materials covered under the policies of AU’s Office of Communications & Marketing (OCM). AU related brochures, pamphlets, stationery, note cards, banners, and other signage for internal purposes fall under OCM’s printing policies and require only the approval of their office. For approval for these items, please contact brandsupport@auburn.edu.

Procedures for Obtaining Art & Product Approvals

• Departments should submit a Campus Department Trademark Request Form found at the bottom of this page.
• Once a project has received preliminary approval, the department will receive an email with the next steps, which include selecting an officially licensed vendor and sending their order information to the company. Certain promotional products and apparel items (listed below) require departments to seek three quotes if paying with university funds. Information about requesting three quotes will be included in the approval email.
  • Promotional Products:
    • Writing Utensils, Journals/Padfolios, Stickers and Decals, Drinkware, Bags, Table Covers, Buttons, Can Coolers, Lanyards, Hand Fans
  • Apparel
    • T-Shirts & Polo Shirts
• Quotes may be requested for an entire order/project, not necessarily by individual product, and are valid for 12 months. Reorders may be placed at the same quoted price without requesting new quotes.
• Once a licensed vendor is selected, use the trademark reference # in future communication with them. The department should work with that company on artwork and finalizing the order.
• The licensed manufacturer will submit the design, along with the trademark reference # to AU’s Licensing Office for final approval.
• If there are questions concerning the design, contact AU’s Licensing Office at (334) 844-5180 or email licensing@auburn.edu.
• All artwork must be submitted by the licensed vendor to AU Licensing for final/formal approval before production. For Procurement & Payment services to pay department invoices, departments must submit a copy of Licensing’s approval along with the invoice. They may also be required to produce the other quotes received. Please be sure to obtain a copy of the design approval from your licensed vendor.

Campus Departments Product Designs

• All product must include the official departmental logo, per OCM guidelines.
• Campus Departments may use the interlocking AU, tiger eyes, and eagle logos, as well as Auburn word marks as graphic elements, but may not use vintage logos or the university seal.  Departments may incorporate the Aubie image into their designs.  However, the department’s depictions of Aubie need to be reasonably consistent with university’s then-current depictions of Aubie, including with respect to size/portion and current demeanor and characteristics. In the department’s depiction, Aubie may be shown as wearing items that reflect the department’s mission.
• Aubie’s name and/or likeness should not be used in the overall branding of a department or project without formal approval from the Aubie Program and the Office of Trademark Management & Licensing.
• Designs may contain graphics that reflect the Auburn campus, but the design cannot incorporate the department logo or event into the graphic or verbiage or alter the Auburn graphic or verbiage to reflect the purpose of the department or event.
• No patterns or designs may be placed inside Auburn logos. Only the word “AUBURN” may be altered with a pattern design inside the letters

Important Reminders

• Contract printing – which occurs when blank goods are taken to a licensee to be embellished with Auburn trademarks – is not permitted.  The entire product must be purchased from the licensee.  This ensures that the product meets quality and safety standards and labor code requirements.

Sponsorship Information

• If any proposed design includes sponsor names/logos, the list of sponsors must be submitted for prior approval as part of the Campus Department Trademark Request Form below.  The following applies to use of sponsor names on product:
  • The department’s name must be prominently included in the design to communicate that the partnership is with a particular department and not an endorsement by the University as a whole.
  • The sponsor name must be separate from the university logo.
  • The reference to the sponsor is in name/logo only and should not be an advertisement for their business.
  • Based on the scope of the program, a rights fee may be assessed to the sponsor to associate its name with Auburn University.
  • University departments will need to secure approval of any joint advertisement from the Office of Trademark Management & Licensing

Prohibited Uses

Department products and other designs that incorporate Auburn University’s name and/or trademarks may not reflect any of the following:

• Elements that state or imply Auburn University’s endorsement of or affiliation with non-university entities, products, services, viewpoints, and/or political candidates, parties and activities.
• Discrimination against any person or group based on age, race, ethnicity, disability, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status;
• References to gambling, alcohol (in a non-educational manner), tobacco, illegal substances, illegal activity, violence, weapons (that are not germane to the department’s official activities), profanity, or sexually explicit designs or products; and
• Use of a former or current Auburn University student-athlete’s name, image or likeness.

Royalties

• AU product purchased by campus departments with University or development funds and not resold to the general public, staff or students are generally royalty exempt. The product must bear the department name prominently and reference to the campus event for which it is being purchased.
• Royalty bearing purchases include:
  • Product that will be used for fundraising purposes, including product that is given as a thank you for donation.
  • Items bearing references to athletic events.
  • Product that does not prominently include campus department name.
  • Product that is received by an individual as part of a membership fee or registration fee.
  • Product that is similar to items sold by retailers.
  • Product that includes a sponsor name/logo.
  • Product that bears campus department logos but paid for by individuals, including staff members.

Common Campus Department Questions