ACADEMIC TITLES

These JHU Use of Name guidelines are not intended to limit use of the JHU Name and Marks by faculty and staff for legitimate purposes that fall within the scope of their JHU professional work, including for teaching, publication, research, and other academic activities. As set forth in these JHU Use of Name guidelines, JHU faculty and staff may reference their affiliation with JHU for identification purposes in connection with faculty and staff activities that clearly support and advance JHU’s research and education mission.

Faculty and staff use of the JHU name may not suggest or imply JHU endorsement, approval, support of, or opposition to activities, programs, events, publications, viewpoints, positions, policies, political and/or social movements, products, services, companies, candidates for political office, and the like, without prior JHU approval. JHU will require a disclaimer to accompany any permitted use that has the potential to suggest or imply any of the foregoing.

Faculty and staff members using their JHU title and affiliation in accordance with these JHU Use of Name guidelines should also ensure transparency by disclosing any personal and/or institutional financial interests in the activity, company, service, or product.

JHU faculty may cite their JHU title and affiliation factually for identification purposes in the context of professional activity, as follows:

Example citation for full-time faculty:
Sarah Brown, PhD
Professor of Epidemiology
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Example citation for part-time faculty:
Sarah Brown, PhD
Assistant Professor of Archaeology (part-time)
Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences

Example citation for adjunct faculty:
Sarah Brown, PhD
Adjunct Assistant Professor of International Economics
Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies

Example citation for visiting faculty:
Sarah Brown, PhD
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering

NON-JHU ACTIVITIES

When faculty and staff members are involved in activities or purposes not directly associated with JHU (i.e., independent consulting, other business activities, private practices, etc.), faculty and staff are only permitted to use the JHU name for identification purposes in factual and accurate references to the individual’s JHU title and affiliation, as set forth in Section A above on Academic Titles.

Additionally, faculty and staff referencing their JHU title and affiliation in connection with non- JHU activities or purposes must ensure that such use:

• Does not have the potential to imply or suggest JHU involvement, responsibility, endorsement, approval, or promotion of a commercial product, service, or outside activity, company, or organization, etc.; and
• Clarifies that any opinions or viewpoints expressed are those of the individual and are not official positions of JHU or endorsed or approved by JHU.

When use of a faculty or staff member’s JHU title and affiliation is permitted, but ambiguity or confusion about any of the foregoing may still exist, JHU will require appropriate disclaimers.

JHU faculty and staff may post blogs or participate in social media outside JHU. In doing so, however, any use of their JHU title and affiliation must be accompanied by a disclaimer, as follows: “Dr./Mr./Ms. [Name]’s post on this site is made in a personal capacity and is independent of his/her affiliation with Johns Hopkins University.”

Requests for approval should be submitted to the school’s or division’s communications office, which may consult with the university Office of Communications.

ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS AND OTHER SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Making presentations in legitimate academic forums is an important part of the JHU mission of research and education. JHU faculty and staff may reference their JHU title and affiliation for identification purposes, as illustrated in Section A above on Academic Titles, when giving academic presentations or talks at scientific or academic society and association meetings, at other institutions, and in other academic settings as well as in videotapes and other recordings of scientific or educational presentations such as those listed above.

JHU also encourages faculty and staff to participate in external speaking engagements other than academic presentations that present an opportunity to disseminate their expertise.

Faculty and staff may reference their JHU title and affiliation for identification purposes in connection with their participation in presentations and speaking engagements provided that:

• the reference is factual and accurate;
• the reference does not have the potential to imply or suggest JHU endorsement, approval, or promotion of a commercial product, service, or outside activity, company, or organization;
• the faculty or staff clearly states that he or she is speaking individually and not on behalf of JHU and that any viewpoints, opinions, or positions expressed are those of the faculty or staff member and not official positions of JHU or endorsed or approved by JHU;
• if applicable, the presentation substantially uses the faculty or staff member’s own content and the sponsor or organizer does not restrict the faculty or staff member’s use of his or her own content;
• if applicable, slides or presentation material are not prepared by a third party company or sponsor; and
• if applicable, any third party company material is used only if and to the extent necessary to comply with appropriate regulatory requirements.

JHU strongly discourages faculty and staff from participating in external speaking engagements in which the objectives are to market third party products, services, or companies, and prohibits the use of the JHU name in connection with such speaking engagements without prior written approval.

Other than in the media (for uses that do not include advertising, marketing, promoting, or endorsing of products, services, or third parties), faculty and staff may not be quoted in third party organization materials in the areas of their professional expertise. Exceptions may be made only in rare instances with the prior permission of the school’s or division’s communications office, which may consult with the university Office of Communications.

BOOKS, ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS, AND TEXTBOOKS

Publication of scholarly books and articles is central to the JHU mission of research and education, and JHU faculty and staff authors often enter into personal publication contracts with commercial publishers. Generally, JHU permits publishers to use a faculty or staff author’s JHU title and affiliation to reference the faculty or staff member’s contributions to textbooks, professional publications, and other scholarly works, provided that:

• the reference is factual and accurate;
• the use of the faculty or staff member’s JHU title and affiliation does not have the potential to suggest or imply JHU endorsement or approval of the publication or the faculty or staff contribution or viewpoint; and
• JHU’s name does not appear in larger font or more prominently than the name(s) of the author(s).

The faculty or staff member’s contract with the publisher should specify how the faculty or staff member’s JHU title and affiliation may be used and prohibit any other uses of the JHU name. In some cases, JHU participates in the creation or publication of professional or consumer works and permits limited uses of the JHU Name and Marks in association with such works. Use of the JHU Name and Marks in the title of or in connection with a book, CD, DVD, video, website, or other publication in any medium requires prior written approval from the university Office of Communications.

Example of approved use

Request: A textbook publisher has engaged Professor Silver as editor-in-chief of a new textbook. Silver will engage the co-editors and chapter authors and will take overall responsibility for the work. She proposes to enter into a personal contract with the publisher that will pay her a royalty on sales of the book. The contract specifies that the publisher can cite her title and JHU affiliation in the book and in the material it uses to promote the book.

Decision: This use is appropriate, and Professor Silver may proceed with the project.

Example of use that is not approved

Request: Professor Silver’s publisher wants to use the JHU logo on the cover of the book. In its publicity campaign, it plans to take photos of Silver in front of JHU campus signs.

Decision: This is an individual, not an institutional, publication activity. JHU is not taking responsibility for manuscript preparation or any other aspect of the book. JHU will not approve the use of the JHU logo on the book cover or photos of campus signs in its publicity.

BUSINESS CARDS, LETTERHEAD, EMAIL
JHU faculty and staff may use the JHU Name and Marks on business cards, letterhead, and the like if the reference is factual and accurate. JHU faculty and staff may not use both the JHU Name and Marks and another institution’s, organization’s, individual’s, or company’s name, logo, slogan, website, or the name of any third party product or service, on the front of the faculty or staff member’s business cards, letterhead, and the like. However, JHU faculty and staff may use another institution’s or organization’s name on the back of their business cards.

Faculty and staff may not use letterhead, business cards, or email with the JHU Name and Marks for private, non-JHU purposes, including private professional activities, a private practice or business, outside consulting or commercial activities, or for any use that may imply or suggest JHU involvement with, responsibility for, or approval or endorsement of any non-JHU communications or activities, or any commercial or third party product, service, or entity.

FACULTY AND STAFF WEBSITES

JHU websites are designed to provide a credible source of information about JHU activities, and JHU faculty members’ individual Web pages are an important part of this resource for colleagues, students, sponsors, donors, and the public.

Faculty and staff may not create and/or maintain any external (i.e., non-JHU) website that contains university or divisional names or logos or gives the appearance that this site is part of the university. Faculty and staff may not cite their JHU title and affiliation on websites unrelated to a faculty or staff member’s professional activity as a JHU faculty or staff member (for example, websites pertaining to a personal avocation).

All JHU faculty Web pages must be clear and easy to navigate and contain appropriate, up-to- date content. All faculty Web pages should reside on the appropriate JHU department website and have a format and appearance that are consistent with the standards of the department site, as well as JHU graphic standards.

If a faculty or staff member’s JHU website links to an outside website, the following disclaimer must be posted: “You are being redirected to a website outside of Johns Hopkins University for information purposes only. Johns Hopkins University does not control, endorse, or approve websites outside of the university and has no responsibility for the form, format, content, reliability, accuracy, or any other aspect of external websites.”

If you have questions about use of the JHU Name and Marks on websites, please contact the school’s or division’s communications office, which may consult with the university Office of Communications.

JHU WEBSITES

JHU websites should not contain content from outside entities, such as logos, marks, diagrams/charts, graphics, PDFs, photos, or videos. Content from outside entities could be viewed as implying or suggesting endorsement or approval of an outside entity or its products or services. Limited exceptions may be permitted if, for example, content created by a government entity or professional society is appropriate and will enhance the utility of the JHU website. However, prior approval from both JHU and the third party is required, and the third party content must have clear and appropriate attributions.

A JHU website, whether maintained by a department, division, program, center, or other organizational unit, must post the following disclaimer if linking to outside websites: “You are being redirected to a website outside of Johns Hopkins University for information purposes only. Johns Hopkins University does not control, endorse, or approve websites outside of the university and has no responsibility for the form, format, content, reliability, accuracy, or any other aspect of external websites.” No JHU website may link to a vendor website.

If a JHU website resides on a third party server pursuant to a contract with JHU, the third party vendor’s name may be referenced below the footer at the bottom of the Web page (i.e., “powered by”). No vendor logo, mark, or hyperlink should be present.

Questions and requests for approval should be directed to the school’s or division’s communications office, which may consult with the university Office of Communications.

PROMOTION OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The JHU Name and Marks may not be used on consumer products, product packaging, or packaging inserts, and may not be used in any manner that may imply or suggest JHU endorsement or approval of a third party or consumer product, service, or entity.

Outside companies may seek to leverage their relationship with JHU or a JHU faculty member to promote company products or services. Use of the JHU name or a faculty member’s name, particularly including his or her JHU title and affiliation, in a manner that may imply or suggest endorsement of third party products, services, or entities is strictly prohibited without prior written JHU approval.

When a use is permitted but ambiguity or confusion about endorsement or approval may still exist, JHU will require explicit and prominent disclaimers stating that JHU does not endorse or approve the third party or its services or products.

The JHU Name and Marks may not be used in connection with activities involving third parties if the activities have the potential to imply or suggest endorsement or approval of a third party or commercial entity, product, or service. Likewise, faculty and staff should not use their JHU title and affiliation in connection with JHU-based or outside activities involving third parties if these activities have the potential to imply or suggest endorsement or approval of a third party or commercial entity, product, or service.

JHU will consider the particular facts of each use—for example, where and how the name is used, what other information is stated, the size of the font, and what links are on a Web page—to determine whether there is the potential for the appearance of improper endorsement. Requests for approval of uses should be made to the university Office of Communications.

CONSULTING SERVICES PROVIDED TO THIRD PARTIES

Many units, divisions, and departments of JHU provide consulting services to third party entities. Similarly, many faculty members provide consulting services to outside organizations and companies. Prior written approval is required before any third party that receives consulting services from JHU or JHU faculty may use the JHU name or reference a JHU faculty member’s JHU title and affiliation. Where such use is approved, JHU often requires the third party to include a prominent statement disclaiming involvement, endorsement, or approval by JHU faculty and/or JHU.

If approved, the use of a JHU faculty member’s JHU title and affiliation in connection with consulting services provided to a third party client by the JHU faculty member must:

• be factual and accurate;
• not include any use of JHU marks, insignias, or logos;
• not have the potential to imply or suggest JHU endorsement or approval of the client or its products or services;
• be accompanied by a clear statement that the viewpoints or opinions expressed are those of the faculty member and not official positions of JHU;
• be memorialized in a formal contract with the third party. The contract must specify the limited permissible uses of the JHU name and indicate that prior written JHU approval is required for any other uses; and
• for third parties stating that JHU faculty members are its consultants or advisers, the third party may only reference the JHU faculty member as one in a list of the third party’s other advisers or consultants.

Use of the JHU name in connection with consulting services provided to a third party by a JHU school, unit, division, or department, if approved, must:

• be factual and accurate;
• not include any use of JHU marks or logos;
• not have the potential to imply or suggest endorsement or approval of the client or its products or services;
• be memorialized in a formal contract with the outside organization or company; the contract must specify the limited permissible uses of the JHU name and indicate that prior written JHU approval is required for any other uses;
• specify the JHU school, unit, division, or department that provides the consulting services;
• not imply or suggest that JHU as an institution provides such services; and reference the JHU school, unit, division, or department in a list of the third party’s advisers or consultants.
• for third parties stating that a JHU school, unit, division, or department is its consultant or adviser, the third party may only reference the JHU school, unit, division, or department as one in a list of the third party’s other advisers or consultants.

Requests for approval should be directed to the school’s or division’s communications office, which may consult with the university Office of Communications. 

INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTRACTS WITH THIRD PARTIES

JHU and its faculty and staff have relationships with thousands of third party individuals and entities, including organizations, research sponsors, collaborators, vendors, foundations, community groups, and others. Use of the JHU Name and Marks by third parties is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from authorized representatives of JHU.

In certain collaborations where the objectives of the collaboration are consistent with JHU’s mission and values, JHU may approve limited third party use of the JHU Name and Marks. The terms of the institutional collaboration and use of name provisions must be set forth in a formal contract between JHU and the third party.

Contracts between JHU and third party individuals or entities must include provisions specifying permissible third party uses, if any, of the JHU Name and Marks, and requiring JHU review and approval prior to any other third party uses of the JHU Name and Marks. When limited third party use of the JHU Name and Marks is permitted, contract provisions must ensure that JHU has adequate control and has provided for appropriate safeguards to ensure accuracy of the third party’s use of the JHU Name and Marks and to monitor ongoing use to ensure it is appropriate.

If the potential for ambiguity or confusion about inappropriate endorsement or approval of a third party entity, service, or product exists in an otherwise approved use, JHU will require explicit and prominent disclaimers to accompany the use. JHU may choose not to approve the requested use if the potential for ambiguity or confusion about endorsement or approval is too great.

Outside organizations or companies may use the JHU name to reference their relationship with JHU (for example, on their websites) only with prior written JHU approval for the specific use, and provided that:

• the use is factual and accurate;
• the use does not have the potential to imply or suggest endorsement or approval of a product, service, or third party; 
• the use is not in exchange for discounted or free products or services provided by a third party;
• no JHU faculty, staff, or student quotations are used;
• no characterizations of the opinions or viewpoints of JHU faculty, staff, or students are used;
• relevant contracts are in full force and effect, and the approved uses of the JHU name are memorialized in appropriate contract provisions specifying the limited permissible uses and indicating that prior written JHU approval is required for any other uses; the use, including size, style, and placement, is appropriate and does not have the potential to imply or suggest JHU endorsement or approval;
• where JHU permits a vendor to state that JHU is a client or customer, JHU must be listed as one of a number of other clients or customers and the JHU name may not be any more prominent than the names of other clients; and
• if necessary, an appropriate disclaimer must accompany the use.

Third parties may not use the JHU Name and Marks as part of their name, title, tag line, or brand marks without prior JHU approval, which must be memorialized in a formal contract between JHU and the third party. As a general matter, JHU will not authorize such uses unless JHU has ownership interests or significant quality control over the third party and/or the services being provided. 

NEWS COVERAGE AND PRESS RELEASES

JHU encourages appropriate proactive and reactive relationships with national, local, and international press, broadcast, and online news media and the appropriate use of the JHU name by recognized and legitimate news organizations.

Requests for information, interviews, or other press activities that come directly to faculty and staff from accredited news organizations, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and online news services, should be referred to the school’s or division’s communications office, which may consult with the university Office of Communications, which assesses and manages:

• requests for information from and interviews with faculty and staff that come from accredited news organizations, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and online news services;
• all news releases and official statements regarding JHU research, business, and other information;
• requests from organizations, companies, and vendors to use the JHU name in press releases and similar material;
• interactions with documentary film and entertainment producers and freelance writers; and
• letters to the editor and opinion articles representing an institutional perspective or position.

JHU generally does not issue joint press releases regarding external products or services. However, companies or other organizations that have contractual relationships with JHU frequently want to issue news releases that publicize their relationships with JHU. If authorized by JHU, such companies or organizations generally may cite the JHU name in a news release provided that:

• the company or organization has an official or contractual relationship with JHU;
• any reference to the relationship between JHU and the company or organization is factual and accurate;
• JHU has the opportunity to verify the complete accuracy of what is stated in the release and provides approval of the release prior to its issuance;
• contracts have been fully executed before the release is issued if the release refers to research sponsorships, licenses, or purchases;
• the release does not include any quotations from JHU faculty or staff, in order to avoid the appearance of endorsement; and
• any human subject research protocols described in the release have been approved by a JHU institutional review board.

POLITICAL AND PUBLIC POLICY ACTIVITIES

For guidance on political and public policy activities, please refer to the JHU Policy on Political Activities and consult with the university Office of Government & Community Affairs and/or the university Office of Communications.

Faculty and staff must obtain prior JHU approval from the Office of Government & Community Affairs and/or the appropriate school’s or division’s communications office, which may consult with the university Office of Communications, for any use of the JHU Name and Marks (including a faculty or staff member’s use of his or her JHU title and affiliation) in the context of these activities. Further disclaimers may be required for any approved uses.