Section 3345.141 | State university logo use policy.
(A) The board of trustees of a state university, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, may adopt a policy to permit a student organization that is registered with the university to use the university's master and subsidiary logos for any of the organization's activities, materials, publications, or web sites that are not otherwise sanctioned by the university. The board of trustees shall make the policy available to the public.
(B) No student organization registered with a state university shall use the university's logos for any of the organization's activities, materials, publications, or web sites that are not sanctioned by the university, unless the university has adopted a policy under this section, the organization receives approval under that policy, and the organization uses the logos in compliance with that policy.
(C) A state university's policy shall do at least all of the following:
(1) Define "student organization" for the purposes of the policy;
(2) Establish a procedure under which a student organization may request approval to use the state university's logos. The procedure shall require a university employee to approve or disapprove the request based on the standards prescribed under division (C)(3) of this section. The employee who approves or disapproves a request shall indicate on the request form whether the request is approved or disapproved. That employee also shall include all of the following on the form:
(a) The employee's printed name;
(b) The employee's signature;
(c) The date the request was approved or disapproved.
(3) Prescribe standards for the approval or disapproval of a student organization's use of the state university's logos. The standards shall prohibit the use of the university's logos to indicate the university's approval or disapproval of any political or social issue supported by the organization. The standards shall require a student organization to affirm that it will not violate that prohibition.
(4) Require a student organization that has approval to use the state university's logos to include a disclaimer on any web site or printed or digital material if the web site or material uses the university's logo and is not otherwise sponsored by the university. The disclaimer shall state both of the following:
(a) The student organization is registered with the state university;
(b) Registration shall not be construed as the state university's approval, endorsement, or sponsorship of the student organization's publications, activities, purposes, actions, or positions.
(5) Establish a grievance procedure for when a logo request is disapproved or a student organization is improperly using a logo, including if an organization does any of the following:
(a) Uses a logo without approval;
(b) Fails to include the disclaimer if it is required under division (C)(4) of this section;
(c) Uses the logo to indicate the state university's approval, endorsement, or sponsorship of any of the organization's publications, activities, purposes, actions, or positions that are not sanctioned by the university.
(6) If determined appropriate by the board of trustees, establish penalties for a student organization that improperly uses the state university's logo;
(7) Require a university employee who makes a determination regarding a grievance to produce a report that includes a description of the grievance and the resolution. The employee shall include all of the following in the report:
(a) The employee's printed name;
(b) The employee's signature;
(c) The date the report was signed.
(8) Require the state university, each month, to enter into a depository on the university's public web site a copy of each approved or disapproved request form and each grievance report produced in that month. Each form and report shall be maintained in the depository for at least five years. The forms and reports are public records subject to section 149.43 of the Revised Code.
(9) Require the state university to provide information regarding the university's policy in any annual training the university provides to student organization leaders;
(10) If determined appropriate by the board of trustees, designate a state university office or department to perform the duties prescribed for university employees under the policy and authorize an employee assigned to that office or department to perform those duties.
(D) A policy adopted under this section shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) Sections 3376.01 to 3376.08 of the Revised Code;
(2) Any commercial revenue generating opportunity sanctioned by a state university;
(3) A student organization that operates on a campus on which a state university is co-located with another institution of higher education.
Last updated February 27, 2023 at 11:17 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- September 1, 2023 – Enacted by House Bill 554 - 134th General Assembly [ View September 1, 2023 Version ]