Policy

SUBJECT: Institutional Brand Identity Policy

APPLICABILITY: Total University

The Institutional Brand Identity Policy applies to all forms of university communication - print and electronic - and establishes guidelines and standards for presentation of the University of North Texas (UNT) institutional identity. The Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing (URCM) is charged with advancing and protecting the university's brand identity.

UNT is the owner of all right, title and interest in its trademarks, service markers, trade names, graphic images, logos, seals, symbols, mascots, taglines, pride lines and any other such mark or indicia associated with the university, including marks associated with all previous names of the university. Their use is legally restricted. Accordingly, this policy serves to preserve and protect UNT's legal right to use and control its trademarked identity.

The policy also ensures unity, consistency and clarity of UNT's brand identity, both internally and externally. Accordingly, all divisions, departments, units and auxiliaries and individuals communicating on behalf of UNT must follow guidelines outlined in the University of North Texas Brand Identity Guide (this site).

The most basic graphic requirements of the Identity Guide, and consequently the policy, are:

  • The full university lettermark (the letters "UNT" in the university's proprietary font) and wordmark (the full university name in the university's proprietary font) format must appear on all forms of communications that describe or illustrate the university. Exceptions to this requirement can only be granted by URCM.
  • Use of the UNT seal is limited and requires the advance approval of URCM.
  • The official colors of UNT are green and white. Black may be used as a tertiary color and may be substituted for green and white in single-color communications. The official green is Pantone Matching System (PMS) 356. The four-color process (CMYK) equivalent is 100 percent cyan, 0 percent magenta, 100 percent yellow and 33 percent black.
  • Communications that describe or illustrate UNT or its programs and functions include, but are not limited to, stationery and business cards in the required format, serial and other publications, brochures, web sites and advertisements, among others.

For additional requirements applicable to communication, call the Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing at (940) 565-2108 for a hard copy or consultation.

External entities employed by UNT units to provide design, composition, printing or copying, publishing, web page development, any related services, or the manufacture of goods also must comply with guidelines outlined on this site in accordance with this policy.

UNT units are prohibited from using university credit cards to purchase printing and copying services. All printing and copying produced by non-UNT (external) vendors must be approved in advance by Printing Services.

In accordance with this policy and Purchasing Services Policy 4.0, employees who make purchases in violation of the guidelines outlined in the Identity Guide commit unauthorized purchases. In accordance with university policy, the employees may encounter a personal obligation to the vendor. Employees who intentionally violate this policy and fail to take corrective measures may be subject to disciplinary action.

Vendors seeking to use the university's identity elements must be licensed by an authorized agent or representative of the university. All apparel, commemorative and promotional products ordered by UNT units for internal use are exempt from licensing fees, but units are not exempt from using licensed vendors.

Student-sponsored publications, such as the NT Daily, scholarly journals and dissertations are not subject to the policy. Certain UNT-affiliated organizations are not subject to the guidelines outlined in the Identity Guide.

Policy Exemptions

Unless specified in the following lists, all university publications are subject to this policy. The following units or corporate entities that wish to use the university's marks or logos may be subject to licensing fees depending on use. Anyone using the university's marks or logos is subject to the guidelines presented here.

Not subject to the policy are publications of the following organizations:

  • Federation of North Texas Area Universities
  • North Texas Community College Consortium
  • University of North Texas Alumni Association
  • North Texas Research Institute
  • Professional Development Institute
  • Universities Center at Dallas
  • UNT Foundation
  • UNT Press

These are free-standing entities from which the university benefits.

Also not subject to the policy are:

  • Student-sponsored publications (the NT Daily, etc.)
  • Scholarly publications submitted by faculty members to professional journals; presentations and publications submitted to professional organizations or to granting agencies
  • Theses or dissertations