Policy on the Use of Tufts University Name and Insignias

Updated April 14, 2025

The name “Tufts University” (which includes “Tufts” in this Policy) and how it is used affects the University, schools, centers, institutes, and the individual members of the University community. Appropriate use of the name and insignias can benefit all, while inappropriate use may reflect negatively on both the University and its individual members.

Because of the far-reaching implications, oversight regarding the use of the University’s name and insignias, and the names of individual schools within the University (including web domain names that incorporate “Tufts” or the name of a Tufts school), will be conducted on a University level according to the principles and policies outlined in this document.

For purposes of this policy, Names, Logos, and Trademarks (collectively, Insignia) are defined as follows:

Names and logos (graphic representations of University organizations) include:
- “Tufts University”
- Individual schools (e.g., Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy)
- Centers (e.g., Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Derby Center for Entrepreneurship)
- Institutes (e.g., The Gordon Institute)
- Clinics (e.g., Foster Hospital for Small Animals)
University seal

University Communications and Marketing, in partnership with the Office of University Counsel, will respond to all requests for use of the Tufts name and insignias, which are trademarks of the University. Requests for approval can be emailed to nameuse@tufts.edu.

Scope

This policy applies to all:

Schools, centers, institutes, departments, divisions, and administrative areas of Tufts University
Faculty, students, staff, and alumni
Subsidiaries and entities wholly controlled by Tufts, including Tufts Global, Inc., Braingate, Inc., etc. Any organization that has a license agreement with Tufts must adhere to the terms in the agreement governing the use of insignia.

Policy Statement

Principles

Is the implied association with the University accurate and can we ensure that the association with the University will continue to be portrayed accurately? Will the use of the University name confuse people about the relationship between the entity and the university?
Use of Tufts’ name in connection with an activity, project, or product implies a close association with the University and is generally construed as sponsorship or endorsement. Tufts must ensure that this portrayal is accurate and that it has the requisite control of the activity, project, or product to ensure the implied close association remains an accurate representation of the affiliation with the University.

Also, note that any center, institute, or project based at a school must be associated with that school, not the University, to accurately represent the relationship with the appropriate entity within Tufts. For questions or permission, please contact nameuse@tufts.edu.

Is the use of the Tufts name consistent with the research and educational mission of the University?
Tufts has an obligation to its students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and others to ensure that the use of its name falls, in general, within its primary mission of research and education. Some activities such as promotion of individual causes, political or otherwise, clearly fall outside this mission. Some activities such as promotion of for-profit businesses or products may also have legal or tax implications.
What effect will the proposed use of name have on the image of the University as a whole?
Use of the Tufts name in situations having a potential to diminish or damage Tufts’ image or reputation must be avoided.
Will Tufts be able to realize a fair and reasonable gain (through image enhancement or through economic benefit) from the use of its name?
Related to this is the issue of liability. If there is a potential for financial, legal or reputational risk to the University through the use of its name, for example on a particular product, such use of name must be avoided.

Procedures

Any use of name that refers to the University must be submitted to University Communications and Marketing for review, unless specified otherwise herein. Specific questions or requests for approval can be emailed to nameuse@tufts.edu.
Any use of name that refers to individual schools or units should first be submitted to the communications director within that school or unit for review. The communications director will then submit the request to University Communications and Marketing for approval.
Prior written authorization from University Communications and Marketing is required if the use of the University name or the name of the individual school or unit involves the sale or distribution for financial consideration of a product or service, or the granting of a license for use of the name on merchandise, including but not limited to apparel, software or electronic media.
Any use of the official Tufts logo by third parties requires prior written authorization from University Communications and Marketing.
Any marketing and/or publicity materials designated for dissemination to media channels, elected/appointed officials, University investors and donors, and any others potentially concerned with official University or school matters require up-front consultation (at the planning stages, prior to dissemination) with University Communications and Marketing and, as appropriate, the Office of Government and Community Relations.

Policy for Use of Name by Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni

Faculty members and staff may use the Tufts name or the name of the appropriate school to identify themselves on stationery, business cards, publications in research or educational journals, and other materials used in the course of their University-related activities (e.g., John Smith, Professor of Mathematics, Tufts University.)
Students and alumni may identify themselves as students or graduates of the University in biographical information (e.g., CV, resume, LinkedIn). All other uses of the Tufts name by students and alumni require prior written authorization from University Communications and Marketing.
Student groups may use the name of their school only if they are a group that is formally recognized by the University. References to their school and/or Tufts University may be in text only. Student groups cannot use the Tufts logo or school lockups in any of their communications materials.
In using or authorizing use of the Tufts name to identify themselves in connection with activities conducted with outside individuals or entities (e.g., authoring a book), members of the Tufts community, including faculty, students, staff, and alumni, should be sure the Tufts name is used in a manner that does not imply University endorsement or responsibility for the particular activity, project or product. For example, when authoring a book, a faculty member may describe their affiliation with Tufts University on the inside of the book or book jacket. The name of the University should not appear on the cover of the book.
Likewise, the name of Tufts University may not be used in the title of any journal or other publication without the expressed written authorization from University Communications and Marketing. Such authorization will not normally be given in any circumstance where the University does not retain exclusive editorial control over the publication.
Use of the University name or logo is NOT permitted for cards, stationery, signage, promotional literature, web sites or other communications used in connection with an individual’s private practice or business.
Because “Tufts” is a trademark of Tufts University, and to avoid any confusion between official and personal websites, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and third parties are not permitted to create URL names for personal websites or social media accounts that include the word “Tufts.”
All other proposed uses of the Tufts name by faculty, staff, students, and alumni should be submitted to the University Communications and Marketing at nameuse@tufts.edu.

Policy for Use of Name by Individual Schools and Units

Individual schools or units may use the name of Tufts University or the name of their school or unit in the following activities:

stationery, business cards, and other materials used by the schools or other units in the course of their University-related activities;
content in printed or multimedia form in which the University, school or unit involved regularly communicates with its constituencies, including course catalogues and related materials, web pages within the tufts.edu domain, and similar publications issued by the schools and other units;
course materials and any materials prepared for use in connection with courses conducted at the University, whether in printed or digital form.

In any such uses, the school or unit involved should take care that its use does not adversely affect other schools or the University as a whole. Any questions should be directed to University Communications and Marketing at nameuse@tufts.edu.

Policy for Use of Name by Third Parties

In general, use of the University’s name or the name of an individual school or unit requires prior written authorization by the Office of University Counsel as outlined above. Specifically, any use of the University’s trademark, logo, symbol or other image or trade name of the University or individual school or unit requires prior written authorization, and any authorized uses will not constitute an assignment, transfer or waiver of rights by the University for the benefit of the other party. The University shall retain all right, title and interest in its names, trademarks, and logos. Any use of the official Tufts logo must also adhere to the graphic standards outlined on brand.tufts.edu. In all cases, such use will require review by University Communications and Marketing before printing or manufacturing is approved. The University name may not be used to create new logos and may not be integrated or combined with existing logos. Issues regarding co-branding require review and authorization by University Communications and Marketing. All questions should be sent to nameuse@tufts.edu.

Seals of the University are for limited, official purposes only and may only be used with prior written authorization from University Communications and Marketing.

However, certain limited uses of the University’s name or the name of an individual school or unit by third parties are generally permitted and do not require prior written approval:

A third party may use the University name (not logo or seal) when reporting a transaction internally or reporting a transaction to regulatory authorities as required by applicable law.

- For example, a corporation that has made a grant to the University may report the amount of such grant in internal documents summarizing its charitable activities, or on its tax returns.

A non-profit or government entity that has funded research or programming at the University may disclose that it has provided such funding. In addition, if such funded research is published, the source of the funding should be indicated along with the University affiliation of the researcher.
If a third party receives a license to use or distribute material written or developed by the University, the material should include a written acknowledgment that the copyright is owned by Tufts University and that the material is being used or distributed under the terms of a license with the University (with all other rights being reserved). To ensure compliance with this policy, please consult with UCM and OUC at nameuse@tufts.edu.