Pizza Hut School Of Nutrition

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/01/the_skinny/main3122295.shtml

USA Today reports that a university is considering putting a corporate name on its diplomas.

"The University of Iowa is mulling whether to rename its College of Public Health after Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield's foundation in exchange for a $15 milion gift from the company's philanthropic arm," the newspaper reports.

"We're close to the tip of the sword for an AT&T School of Business or a Kodak School of Digital Communication. I can see that as not so far off," said Terry Burton, a naming-rights consultant.

The idea has ignited debate.

As Randa Safady, vice chancellor at the University of Texas, put it, "It's important that the public and we don’t equate the generosity of corporations with selling out."



I for one don't see what the problem is. There are a number of philanthropic gifts to universities which in turn have created a learning center in the name of the grantor.

One specific gift that comes to mind is the Newhouse School Of Public Communications at Syracuse University. The endowment today of some 20 million and an annual budget of 10 million.

Of course if the grantor was in the same league as the example used in the article "Pizza Hut School Of Nutrition" then there would obviously be no comparison.

There are many pillars of American Industry that are certainly worthy of having their name associated with an institute of higher learning.