Frequently Asked Questions

We protect and preserve the goodwill and reputation of the University’s brand. We safeguard the brand by monitoring a wide array of items that use or show UC’s brand, including merchandise, sponsorships, digital media, photography/videography, and more.

The University's brand includes anything with UC's logos, colors, fixtures on campus, trademarks, etc. that connect to the University. 

Examples: the abbreviation of "UC", word "Cincinnati", word “Bearcats”, mascot of the Bearcat, combo of black and red, etc. 

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that is legally registered or established by use as representing a company or organization.  A trademark is designated with a TM.

A regististration mark is designated with a ® and provides notice that the preceding word, phrase, symbol, or design has been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

You need to receive permission to use the University's brand prior to production because UC must control and monitor the use of its brand. If the University loses control over the use of the brand, they risk losing the rights to use its trademarks as unique identifiers of the University of Cincinnati. 

UC has a compelling interest in controlling the use of its brand for other reasons as well.  These include, but are not limited to:

• Protecting UC’s name and ensuring that its use, across all units of the University, is compatible with the University of Cincinnati’s goodwill and reputation
• Preventing misleading or inaccurate portrayals of UC’s relationship to others, and preventing others from taking advantage of the goodwill the institution has developed and which is symbolized by its trademarks
• Ensuring that products and services bearing UC’s trademarks protect the integrity and reputation of the institution, maintain and build upon the goodwill of the institution, and promote support for and increase awareness of the institution, its mission and goals

If you are a member of a student group or University department that wishes to produce a product that uses UC’s brand, engage in sponsorship activity, or find out where to get a specific licensed item then it is time to reach out.

If you are not part of UC and want to become licensed, film on campus, engage in any sponsorship or marketing activities featuring the university brand please reach out to our office.

You can reach our office by email or phone.
Licensing@uc.edu
513-558-1063

We are able to respond to most requests within 1-3 business days. If it is going to take longer than the typical process time; we will provide you with an update of the status of your request.

Reccomended contact dates:

• Internal Requests: 30 days before needed in-hands date
• Graphic Cow Inquiry: 30 days prior to requested sale date
• Photo/Video Requests: 30 days prior 
• Crafter's License Applications: 30 days prior to craft shows/events
• NIL Requests: 30 days prior to requested activation date
• Sponsorship Requests: 60 days prior to activation

We are here to help you. If you contact us early, we can work with you to:

• Determine the best product to meet your goals and objectives
• Help you navigate any problems that might arise during the approval process
• Make sure that you receive the appropriate approval so that you can have the product(s) in time for your event

The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) is the University of Cincinnati's licensing agency. 

The Collegiate Licensing Company
1075 Peachtree Street
Suite 3300
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: 770.956.0520
Fax: 770.955.4491

Officially registered student organizations through the Office of Student Activities & Leadership Development can create their own logo. In the logo, they can use "University of Cincinnati", "Cincinnati", or "UC" in text after they have been approved by the Center for Student Involvement (CSI). The approval is managed by CSI though a yearly form process.

Please visit the section, "Registered Student Organizations," within the univeristy's brand guide for more specific information.

No. The institutional logo and signature colors - red and black - are the primary identifiers for all colleges, units, departments, and programs of the University and must be used prominently in all communication.  The development and use of spearate logos to represent individual units or programs is prohibited.

Lockups, often used to identify units within the university, are created and approved by Marketing and Communications. 

However, the UC branding system allows units the flexibility to incorporate additional graphic elements.  These elements, used consistently serve as visual cues to help audiences identify the unit within the larger context of the UC brand.  Proper use of unit-specific elements can be tricky and must be fully reviewed and approved by the UC Branding Committee prior to any use.  Please reference the UC Branding Standards for more information.

The C-Paw is the primary brand for University of Cincinnati Athletics and is reserved explicitly for those organizations affiliated with the University's athletics programs.  The University's institutional logo is the preferred identifying mark for University colleges, departments, units, and programs.

Registered student organizations and clubs (RSOs) recognized by the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development have access to the C-Paw and the athletic logos when use is appropriate. Such groups may request use of the C-Paw or athletic logos by contacting the Trademark Licensing and Brand Engagement Office. If your student organization is allowed access to the C-Paw or athletic logos, your organization's name must be clearly identified on the product and must follow the brand guide. 

Items produced through Graphic Cow sales may not use the C-Paw.

Yes. We prefer that the University's logo is used, but when appropriate, the use of the "University of Cincinnati" in text is also allowed.

If your RSO is not on the drop down list then your club has likely not had your forms (Student Organization Use of University Name, Brand, & Logos forms) approved by the Center for Student Involvement. This list is updated weekly. Please reach out to CSI about your clubs' forms status. 

If your RSO needs to re-register please visit the CSI's page regarding RESET.

RSOs who have completed the proper steps must use their full RSO name or approved CSI nickname in their designs to ensure proper context is provided to external parties. This helps give clarification that the group is an RSO and not a staff or faculty unit of the university.

University branded items that are created for and used by the University, such as uniforms, are referred to as an 'internal consumption item.' The process for approval of internal consumption and promotional items can be found under Promotional + Campus Product.

The University conducted an RFP to select vendors for student organizations and departments.  An RFP is a Request For Proposals, which is a formal bidding process where the University solicits proposals from companies interested in providing products or services to the University community over a specific term period. The bidding process is managed by the University's Central Purchasing Office to ensure compliance with University policies and the laws of the State of Ohio when the University is purchasing/spending a large amount of money for products or services. The last RFP was in 2024.

Since the University community purchases a significant number of branded promotional items each year, we conducted an RFP to select the vendors available to service the University community. By having a limited number of vendors, we are able to manage the process to ensure the items produced follow the University's branding standards, and the vendors comply with the terms of our licensing agreement.

Of the proposals submitted, three vendors were awarded a contract to produce branded promotional items for student organizations and University departments.  Due to the University’s contract, you need to use one of the University’s licensed vendors if you are using University funds to purchase the merchandise.  Under the licensed vendors’ contract with the University of Cincinnati they are required to meet the following standards:

• Produce high quality products or services 
• Produce products and services under conditions that meet the University’s code of conduct
• Produce products and services with which the institution has chosen to be identified

Yes. You need to submit a new Internal Request Form, that includes the artwork and quote, each time you want to produce a product bearing the University's brand.

Even if you have been previously approved to produce the product or are using previously approved artwork, you are still required to submit a new Internal Request Form. This is because each Internal Request Form is specific to the order (i.e. quantity ordered, price, date of the event, etc.). We do this so that we can monitor the type and quantity of products ordered by each organization, and the information we collect is used to audit our vendors.

If a student organization is using UFB, AIC, or club sports funding to pay for the products, then you must pay for the products through the University – either by P-Card or Purchase Order.  If you are not paying for the products with University funding, you do not have to pay for the products through the University; however, anything not purchased through the University may be subject to taxes.

If your RSO wants to order items with personal funds they will need to submit a Graphic Cow inquiry request. This form and additional information is located under the Internal Request page on our website.

Note for Club Sports Organizations: Personal items cannot be purchased with University funds.  Only uniforms with no personal markings (i.e. last names) that will stay with the organization for a period of time can be purchased with University funds.  The exception to this statement is when club sports organizations are required to have uniforms that are considered personal items (i.e. swim suits for the swim club).  In this case, a percentage of the total uniform cost can come from University funds.

Different products with the same artwork must be submitted separately because the artwork will look different on every item. We need to ensure that the University’s brand is being portrayed in a consistent manner; therefore, our responses vary per product depending on, but are not limited to:

• Readability (colorways, font size, etc.)
• If the products ordered are uniforms
• Proper safe space

Additionally, having products submitted separately when artwork or product varies, helps us to accurately judge our workload and respond in the timeliest manner. 

When we notify you that your request has been processed, we will copy the vendor on the email. If the request has been approved, you should contact the vendor and see what they need before they can begin production. Typically you will need to provide them with a payment method, delivery information, and sizing information (if applicable). 

If your request is denied, it will include the reason. If you are able to correct the issue, please resubmit the request for review.

No. You may use a vendor of your choosing if the product does not bear any University of Cincinnati trademarks or create an association with the University or your organization of any kind.

Departmental/Program based sales are unsustainable due to the number of departments and programs that make up the university. There are over 300 departments and programs–that number does not include colleges and RSOs.

If your department or program has a specific request, please reach out to the dean of your college and ask for the design to be included in the college's sale. 

If your RSO is not on the drop down list then your club has likely not had your forms (Student Organization Use of University Name, Brand, & Logos forms) approved by the Center for Student Involvement. This list is updated weekly. Please reach out to CSI about your clubs' forms status. 

If your RSO needs to re-register please visit the CSI's page regarding RESET.

Items produced through Graphic Cow cannot use the C-Paw. They must have 'University of Cincinnati' in text or the institutional logo. If they are an RSO they must also have the RSO name and follow the RSO Branding Guidelines.

If emails are going to be sent, who to, how often, and when? If social media is going to be used, how? Will it be stories, posts, reels? When and how often will they be posted? Will other accounts be tagged? If there are other marketing ideas your group plans to execute what are they? The more specific you can be the better we will understand your plan.

We want your Graphic Cow site to be successful, so please formulate a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely) plan for your marketing efforts. 

Your group can opt for individual shipping or bulk shipping. After the sale ends, the items purchased will be produced and shipped. This typically takes 5-7 business days after the sale ends. If your group has chosen individual shipping, each person will receive their items directly. If your group has chosen bulk shipping, all items will be sent to one predesignated location for the group to handle distribution. 

Yes, with approval from the University of Cincinnati's Trademark Licensing & Brand Engagement Office.

Yes, student-athletes must request permission prior to engaging in any NIL activity that requires the use of UC Athletics uniforms, equipment, or gear.

All requests to use UC's brand must be submitted using the NIL Brand Request Form. Once the form is submitted, the request will be reviewed by the Trademark Licensing & Brand Engagement Office. Promotional uses that involve a business will be shared with UC Athletics and Bearcats Sports Properties for review and response. Requests to use UC's brand on a product will be managed by the Trademarks & Licensing Office. Student-athletes will receive an email that provides information related to their request within 5 business days.

A student-athlete need not obtain University of Cincinnati approval to identify her/himself in a factual manner as "University of Cincinnati [sport/player]", "Cincinnati [sport/player]", or [Bearcats sport/player]" in print, radio, and/or television advertising, so long as there is no other use of University of Cincinnati marks, jerseys, red and black colors, etc. Student-athletes will need to disclose the NIL details to Athletics Compliance through ARMS.

Requests to use photographs and video are evaluated and may require additional approval from copyright holders. This information should be provided in the NIL Brand Request Form.

Yes, see list of partners list here. Please note, this is not a complete list but examples of partners.

A student-athlete may not enter into a contract that contains a provision that conflicts with the University of Cincinnati's own contractual obligations. Athletics will review student-athlete disclosures for potential conflicts. If a term of a proposed student-athlete contract conflicts with UC's contractual obligations, Athletics will instruct the student-athlete regarding required modifications. A list of current partners can be found listed above in the 'UC Corporate Partners' section.

If your project includes any commercial elements (ads, entertainment shows/movies, etc.) and is not editorial/news then you will need to submit a photo/video request.

If your project is editorial/news then you will need to reach out to the PR team.

If you wish to use a sponsor in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati's brand, you must receive approval prior to any affiliation between the University and the sponsor taking place. To learn more about the sponsorship request process, please visit the I'm Off Campus/Sponsorship section of our website.