Registered Student Organizations provide valuable engagement opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members. Brand guidelines must be followed to ensure your connection to Iowa is clear for the students and audiences you engage with.
When your student organization is granted registration with the University of Iowa, it is classified as general, affiliated, or sponsored. Your registration tier 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.
Use an official badge to identify with Iowa
Regardless of tier, student organization and sport club badges are the approved way for your student organization to use the IOWA logo.
- Use badges on all your communication and promotions to indicate your connection to the University of Iowa.
- Badges are to be used separately and not in place of your organization’s logo or name.
- Badges should be used in accordance with guidelines and must not be altered or recreated.
Badges are available and 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.
Additional options based on your registration tier and classification
Given their role representing the university, sponsored and affiliated student organizations—including affiliated sport clubs—are the only organizations allowed to access additional trademarks, logos, and other elements of the Iowa brand as outlined below:
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)
The badge in black must be limited to one-color applications and displayed over a light background.
White (one-color)
The badge in white must be limited to one-color applications and displayed over a dark background.
Badge usage and restrictions
One-color usage
Use the black or reversed badge for one-color applications or if the badge is displayed over off-brand colors.
Limited space
If a badge can’t be used, include “at the University of Iowa” in plain text on your gear and apparel.
Don’t change colors
Don’t display badges or the IOWA logo in any other off-brand color.
Don’t alter or modify
Don’t add organization names, include drop shadow, rotate, modify, or distort official badges in any way.
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
All general and affiliated student organizations are encouraged to create a unique logo to represent and promote their offering:
Do:
- Create a graphic or illustration that meaningfully represents your organization.
- Clearly and prominently display your organization name and avoid using acronyms.
- Leverage symbols and follow standards outlined by 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 or trademark 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 any 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 the sponsored tier, 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 to 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 the words appear together as a contiguous phrase.
Exception
Sponsored student organizations are the ONLY tier allowed to use the University of Iowa name before their official organization name.
For example:
- University of Iowa Lecture Committee
- University of Iowa Dance Marathon
Unique logo and identification examples
Organization name
Clearly and prominently display your organization’s full name as part of your logo or as plain text if you don't have a logo.
Black and gold
While not required, using black and gold is encouraged for your logo to create immediate recognition and alignment with the Iowa brand.
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.
Using a badge with your unique logo
Printed communication
Use the badge separately and in a secondary way to your unique logo, following color and clear space guidelines.
Gear and apparel
Use the badge in a second imprint area, separate from your unique graphics. If a second imprint is not an option, place the badge in the available imprint and follow clear space criteria.
Digital signage
Use the badge near university accessibility and nonendorsement statements in your event promotions. Footer templates are available for digital signage displays.
Ordering gear and apparel? Be sure to follow the licensing process.
Student organizations must follow 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
- 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 over 600 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.
- 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 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 the Division of Student Life for additional guidance on artwork development.
- Complete the Internal Application and Agreement form and submit your completed form to uilicensing@hawkeyelicensing.com
- Per your vendor's contract with the university, they must independently submit the artwork to the University Trademark Licensing Office for 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.
Advertising and promotion
The Iowa Memorial Union provides various display opportunities for you to advertise and promote your organization and events. These opportunities are subject to all IMU, Dean of Students, and University of Iowa operating policies.
Policies and governance
Registered Student Organizations, including Sport Clubs and Greek Letter Organizations, must adhere to policies and procedures outlined and administered by the Office of the Dean of Students. University nonendorsement and accessibility statements 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.
Accessibility statement
All event and activity promotion by a registered student organization must include the university accessibility statement.
“Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact (insert: the sponsoring department or contact person) in advance at (insert: telephone number).”