Update on Honorific Building and Space Naming Efforts

Campus Update

Chancellor Block sent the following message to the UCLA Bruin Community.

Dear Bruin Community,

I write to provide an update on UCLA’s effort to ensure that the names of our campus buildings and physical spaces represent the diversity of our community and reflect the values of our institution.

The Campus Honorary Naming Advisory Committee — chaired by Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications Mary Osako — was charged with developing principles, criteria and processes to govern when and how honorific names are given to and removed from UCLA’s buildings and spaces. The committee developed a thoughtful and comprehensive report, which has now been finalized with input from the campus. I encourage you to read the final report (PDF) or learn more about the committee’s work on UCLA Newsroom.

I extend my gratitude to Vice Chancellor Osako and the full committee for their work. I am particularly thankful for how they engaged our community in this effort, conducting seven hearing sessions with different groups as well as hosting a campuswide forum.

The final report will provide a framework for our campus to follow as we move into a new phase of this naming initiative. The next iteration of the naming committee will put into action the principles, criteria and processes laid out in the report, applying these guidelines and ultimately soliciting proposals for changing the names of specific campus buildings and spaces. I will share more information about the committee in the fall once we have established its new co-chairs and membership.

While there remains work ahead of us, the publication of this final report and the convening of the next iteration of our naming committee are key steps towards ensuring that UCLA’s values of diversity and inclusion are reflected in our physical campus. Thank you for your continued support of this important work, which will impact the experiences of generations of Bruins to come.

Sincerely,

  • Gene D. BlockChancellor