UW–Madison recognizes that many of its activities provide potential sources of revenue or other non-financial benefits through legitimate and worthwhile opportunities for advertising, sponsorships, and other promotional activities. This revenue can be beneficial to the entire university community, and, in turn, the State of Wisconsin. However, it is also necessary to recognize that the university is a public institution and that its reputation and image must be protected. Therefore, the university has adopted the following policies applicable to the granting of advertising, sponsorship and promotional rights to non-university entities.
Any advertisement, signage, label, logo, packaging, imprint, sales promotion activity or device, public relations material or events, merchandising, or other activity or communication that has the intent of promoting or marketing a non-university product, service, event, or organization.
As defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) purposes, advertising includes messages that contain qualitative or comparative language, price information, an endorsement, or an inducement to purchase, sell or use the non-university advertiser's products or services.
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for University Relations has been delegated the authority to administer these policies. Any dispute about these policies or their application must be referred for resolution to the vice chancellor for university relations. Certain decision-making and administrative functions related to these policies may be delegated to other university offices or entities upon appropriate application to and approval by the vice chancellor for university relations. University publications that are produced by others on behalf of a university unit are subject to these policies.
01-15-2021