Student organizations provide valuable engagement opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members. Brand guidelines must be followed to ensure that your connection to Iowa is clear for the students and audiences you engage with.
Know your classification tier
When your student organization is granted registration status with the University of Iowa, it will receive a tier classification. The classification is determined by the Office of the Dean of Students’ assessment of your student organization’s relationship to the university, the purpose and scope of its activities, and the audiences you serve.
Know your classification tier to understand how brand guidelines apply to your organization. For detailed definitions, see the Registration of Student Organizations policy. All student organizations are responsible for their event and membership promotions in accordance with brand policy. Your advisors, Leadership and Engagement, and Student Life Communications are available to provide guidance as needed.
Sport clubs
As teams competing regionally and nationally, sport clubs follow additional guidelines for official identification. Official sport club badges must be used on competition uniforms and all marketing and promotional items to differentiate from intercollegiate teams affiliated with the Department of Athletics.
Quick reference guide
The Student Organization Association guide provides a quick summary of how brand guidelines apply to student organizations. Use it to reference identification options, when to use the student organization badge, how to use the university name, and what additional marks may be available within your tier.
Create a unique logo to represent your group
Do:
- Create a graphic or illustration that meaningfully represents your organization.
- Clearly and prominently display your organization's name and avoid using acronyms.
- Follow standards outlined by any national affiliations or parent organizations. If possible, update colors to black and gold to reflect the Iowa chapter of your organization.
Don’t:
- Incorporate any University of Iowa logo, trademark, or icon in your logo.
- Create or include art renditions or caricatures of the block IOWA, Tigerhawk, Herky mascot, or any University of Iowa trademark. Modifications are not allowed and will not be approved.
- Use secondary logos (Tigerhawk, Herky mascot, university seal) to promote your organization.
- Include any profane or graphically explicit words, symbols, or imagery.
- Mimic official lockups. With the exception of sport clubs and shared governance organizations, student organizations are not eligible for a lockup.
Logos may be subject to review and approval by the Office of the Dean of Students, Recreational Services, and/or your academic college.
Using the university name with your organization name
The University of Iowa is a trademark and cannot precede the name of a student organization. When using the university name, use the phrase “at the University of Iowa” or “at Iowa” to keep the association with Iowa accurate.
For example:
- Active Minds at the University of Iowa
- Actuarial Science Club at Iowa
The text must be formatted in the same font, size, and weight to ensure that the words appear together as a contiguous phrase.
Exception
Sport clubs and approved Campus Life Organizations are the ONLY student organizations allowed to use the University of Iowa name before their official club name.
For example:
- Iowa Baseball Club
- Iowa Women’s Volleyball Club
- Iowa Undergraduate Student Government
Unique logo and identification guidelines
Black and gold
While not required, using black and gold for your logo colors will create immediate recognition and connection with the Iowa brand.
Don't use brand icons or assets
Your logos should be unique to your club and not created from elements intended to officially represent the university.
No appropriation
Don’t incorporate any Iowa logo or trademark into your unique logo. Appropriation is prohibited.
Avoid acronyms
Acronyms are difficult to translate and don’t lend meaning or clarity to what your organization offers.
Use an official badge to make your connection to the University of Iowa clear
Student organization badges are the approved way to use the block IOWA logo.
- Required use: Badges must be used on all communication, marketing, and activity/event promotions shared via official University of Iowa channels. This makes clear to audiences that your activity is sponsored by a student organization and not an official academic unit or program.
- Optional use: Badges can be used on merchandise and apparel but are not required.
Badges should only be used by student organizations and sport clubs officially registered and in active status with the Office of the Dean of Students or Recreational Services.
Badge color usage
Full-color
Use the full-color version of the badge on gold or white backgrounds in four-color applications.
Gold
Use the gold version of the badge on black or white backgrounds or in two-color applications.
Black (one-color)
Use the badge in black for one-color applications or when displayed over light off-brand background colors.
White (one-color)
Use the badge in white for one-color applications or when displayed over dark off-brand background colors.
Badge clear space
The amount of clear space around the badge must be no smaller than the height of the block IOWA logo. Don’t place text or any graphic element within this clear-space area.
Badge minimum size
In order to ensure legibility, the badge must not appear smaller than the following dimensions.
- Print: 1.25 inches wide
- Digital: 150 pixels wide
- Limited imprint area: 1.0 inch wide
Use separately
Use a badge separately from your logo or organization name when you want to create connection to the Iowa brand on merchandise and apparel.
Don’t alter or modify
Don’t add organization names, include drop shadow, rotate, modify, or distort official badges in any way.
Don't use the block IOWA logo outside of the badge
The block IOWA logo cannot be used on its own or combined with other graphics.
Don’t change colors
Don’t display badges or the IOWA logo in any other off-brand color.
Guidelines for promoting your events and activities
Student organizations are encouraged to create their own marketing and promotional materials. To maintain clear and consistent association with the university, all activity promotion via official University of Iowa channels must include a student organization badge and nonendorsement statement.
Print communication
Use the badge separately and in a secondary way to your unique logo, following color and clear space guidelines.
Digital signage
Use the badge near the student organization nonendorsement statement in your event promotions. Footer templates are available for digital signage displays.
Nonendorsement and accessibility statement
"Registration of a student organization does not imply University of Iowa endorsement of its views, activities, or content. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in a student organization activity, please contact [insert student organization representative] at [insert phone number] in advance."
Advertising and promotion opportunities
The Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) offers a variety of display options to help you promote your organization and events. All advertising must comply with IMU, Dean of Students, and University of Iowa policies and procedures.
Ordering gear and apparel? Be sure to follow the licensing process.
Student organizations must follow the University Licensing policy when ordering merchandise and partner with the Student Organization Business Office to follow appropriate purchasing policies. Products and designs must be approved by the UI Trademark Licensing Office. Take the following steps when ordering merchandise and apparel, and allow two weeks for processing each request:
Licensing Process
Step 1: Select a licensed vendor
- Suppliers who manufacture and/or sell items imprinted with any trademark or element of the University of Iowa brand must be licensed by the university.
- You must purchase merchandise and apparel through an approved licensed vendor.
- There are more than 400 approved licensed vendors throughout the state and country. If you are unable to find product offerings from licensees that fulfill your needs, contact uilicensing@hawkeyelicensing.com.
Step 2: Develop artwork
- Work with your vendor and its provided templates to develop artwork that follows brand guidelines.
- Whenever wordmarks, trademarks, logos, symbols, and/or elements associated with the University of Iowa's visual identity appear on merchandise and apparel, they must be accompanied by the appropriate registration mark. That may be a ® or ™ symbol, depending on the legal registration status of the trademark displayed.
- Student organization and sport club badge files already include the registration ® symbol for you.
- If needed, contact your advisor or the Division of Student Life for additional guidance on artwork development.
- Per your vendor’s contract with the UI Trademark Licensing Program, they must independently submit a proof of the item and artwork to Trademark Licensing for approval.
Step 3: Submit agreement form
- Complete the Internal Application and Agreement form via Universal Workflow once artwork has been approved and you have received the approval notification email from Trademark Licensing.
Step 4: Receive approval
- If the application and artwork are approved, the UI Trademark Licensing Office will provide final agreement to you and notify the vendor that production can begin.
Choose how to create association with Iowa on merchandise and apparel
Unique logo only
Your unique logo or name can be used on its own for merchandise and apparel. Don't incorporate any University of Iowa logos or symbols with your artwork.
Unique logo + university name
If including the university name, use "at Iowa" or "at the University of Iowa" after the name of your organization to make the relationship clear.
Unique logo + badge
A student organization badge can be used to create connection with Iowa. If using a badge, place in a second imprint area separate from your unique graphics or name. If a second imprint is not an option, follow clear space criteria.
Unit lockup (limited)
If your organization affiliates with a program and would like to use an official lockup, you must seek permission from the unit brand manager. Approval is at their discretion and limited to gear and apparel used for fundraising efforts. Don’t use a badge or any unique graphics when using an official lockup.
Merchandise Design Guide
The Merchandise Design guide provides visual examples for how student organizations and sport clubs can design merchandise and apparel.
Policies and governance
Student organizations, including sport clubs and fraternity and sorority life organizations, must adhere to policies and procedures outlined and administered by the Office of the Dean of Students. The student organization nonendorsement and accessibility statement must be used when promoting club events and activities.
Dean of Students
The Office of the Dean of Students administers policies and procedures for student organizations in accordance with the university and applicable laws.
Operations Manual
The University of Iowa Operations Manual establishes policy for the governance and regulation of student organizations.