"The market may or may not bear a $1 million donation," said Low. "We haven't tested the water."
The proposal includes other dollar amounts for smaller facilities, such as $250,000 for a computer lab or lecture hall. Naming rights for small areas such as classrooms could go for $100,000 and walkways or parking areas would "cost" $25,000.
Low said even smaller components of the campus could be named, such as a floor, an elevator or an individual room. He said color-coded blueprints of buildings could be used to market the various areas to potential donors.
Highly visible buildings such as the new Learning Resource Center easily could be marketed, according to Low.
"I don't think it would be hard to jump-start a campaign on that facility," he said.
If no $1 million donations were offered for an entire building, naming rights for individual areas of the building might raise that much, he said.
The Foundation is a nonprofit organization separate from the college. Low said he hoped most of the money raised by naming college facilities could be used for student scholarships.
Individual donors, however, may have specific wishes about how their money will be used, he said.
HCC's Board of Trustees would have sole discretion to accept, reject or modify every naming proposal, he said.
Trustee Carolyn Brooks asked if the signs used to honor the donors would be tasteful.
"You wouldn't be considering company logos?" she asked, joking about the golden arches.
"I can't say we've taken a position one way or the other," said Low, who pointed out that a campus ATM already bears the emblem of Home Federal.
Logos are everywhere, he said.
"It's pretty hard to get around it. I don't think it has a stigma ... Corporate America has an interest in education. Corporate sponsorship is doable. I don't think it detracts from the education process."
The board unanimously endorsed the concept of a naming policy but asked for more details about the procedure.
"I think it's an excellent idea," said Trustee James D. Latimer. "I think it's something we ought to pursue."
