The UVM licensing office ensures only vetted and approved organizations can reproduce these marks, helping prevent misuse, promoting consistent branding, and generating royalty revenue that supports student scholarships and programs.
Licensing at UVM is overseen by the University’s Licensing Office in partnership with Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), a licensing organization that manages and protects the trademarks and logos of colleges, universities, athletic conferences, and collegiate events. CLC grant licenses to approved manufacturers to produce official merchandise, ensure brand standards and quality are met, and help schools generate revenue through licensed apparel and products.
Ordering items featuring UVM trademarks
Guidelines and considerations
Follow the UVM Brand Guide
The UVM Brand Guide is the official guide for campus-wide communications, covering fonts, colors, and tone for marketing materials. The CLC Style Guide (pdf) is the reference for licensing-specific artwork and trademark usage. It governs how University marks appear on licensed products.
Use Official Logos, Fonts, and Colors
Use only approved, unaltered or modified UVM logos from the official logo library. Apply UVM’s primary colors. When possible, select colors closest to UVM’s official palette. For highly visible items, prioritize UVM green and gold to reinforce the University’s brand identity. When possible, utilize UVM’s approved fonts.
Understand Unique Artwork Parameters
UVM departments, programs, and organizations may create custom artwork, but they must avoid mimicking or altering official marks or creating confusion with official university branding. All artwork should reflect UVM values and maintain visual quality standards and connection to the UVM brand.
Products featuring unique artwork must include an official UVM logo (e.g. t-shirt sleeve) unless space is prohibitive and special permission is granted (pens, pins, etc).
Check your Vendor Capabilities
Not all vendors offer the same product range, colors, or printing methods. Confirm early that your selected vendor can meet your specifications before starting the design process.
Provide Correct Colors (Pantone or CMYK)
Accurate color matching ensures your product reflects UVM’s official brand standards. Using Pantone or CMYK values helps vendors reproduce colors consistently across different materials and printing methods. RGB colors are meant for digital/screen use only and should not be used for print or color matching for physical products.
Submit Correct File Types (.eps, .pdf, .ai)
These are vector file formats, which allow logos and artwork to scale without losing quality. Vector graphics are essential for crisp printing on apparel, signage, and promotional items. Raster files (like .jpg or .png) can appear blurry or pixelated when enlarged and often have non-transparent backgrounds.
Think about Colors and Cost
For many products, each additional color in your design can increase production costs. Work with your vendor early to understand the costs and limitations of what you are hoping to produce. Often simplifying your color palette—sometimes to one color—can help control expenses while maintaining brand integrity.
Consider Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Choose sustainable materials and products that are helpful and have long-term usability. Avoid single-use items, heavy plastics, and items that are disposable whenever possible. View considerations for ordering sustainably produced apparel.
Alignment with UVM’s engagement with environmental stewardship and its representation in the products it gives out speaks directly to our commitment to our belief in our values—and is an expectation from our community.
Becoming a licensee
The University of Vermont partners with Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) to regulate, promote, and protect the commercial use of our name, logos, and other identifying marks. Manufacturers, retailers, and any organization hoping to produce items with University marks for sale must be licensed to do so. There are two types of licenses available with the University of Vermont:
- Retail License - for products intended for wholesale or retail sale.
- Internal Campus Supplier License - for products sold directly to the University for non‑resale (this does not include sales to the University Bookstore)
Apply to be an Approved Vendor with CLC
For more information contact CLC via at peyton.scrivner@clc.com, or phone at (662) 312-6271 for more information.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What are the University of Vermont trademarks?
The University’s registered trademarks are spelled out in both the University licensing and trademark policies and include: the official University seal, the “University of Vermont,” “UVM,” and “CATAMOUNTS” word marks, and the ‘V-Shield’ and the “V-Cat” logomarks. The University claims as its trademarks any design, symbol, logo, art, word or words associated with or directly referring to the University.
Why have a licensing program?
Institutions of higher education became involved in the registration and licensing of their marks in the early 1970’s. The two primary reasons for implementing a licensing program are:
- to protect the University’s name and image as represented by its marks and symbols from unauthorized or inappropriate use;
- to generate revenue through royalty payments.
By ensuring that products bearing the University’s marks are of high quality and aligned with our institution, we further promote UVM’s reputation for educational excellence. Proper and consistent use of the University’s visual identity also supports public awareness and support. Through the Licensing Program, campus units and organizations are assured of locating quality products from approved manufacturers. Only companies that meet the standards of the University are licensed to manufacture our merchandise. Secondly, the sale of licensed goods helps benefit University through generation of royalty payments.
What are the royalties used for?
After expenses of operating the licensing program, income generated from royalties paid by licensees is used to support students through scholarships at the University.
Who needs to follow the licensing approval process?
Everyone who is producing materials bearing University logos, trademarks, and registered visual assets; regardless of the internal or retail use of the promotional item you are hoping to order. This includes any official UVM entity - departments, centers, institutes, labs, programs, student organizations, etc. ordering products such as clothing, uniforms, furniture or other promotional items (excluding stationary, stickers and other paper-based publications). Licensing Approval needs to be given before an order is placed.
Organizations hoping to produce materials with university trademarks, you must follow the process to be a licensee before doing so.
Which items require the use of a licensed vendor to order?
All items bearing UVM trademarks should be ordered through a licensed vendor, except for letterhead, envelopes, and similar departmental print publications / paper products.
My item is internal only. Do I still have to use a licensed vendor?
Yes. If your product uses a UVM trademark, whether it’s a giveaway or for internal / non-retail use, it is still required to go through the licensing approval process. The Financial Shared Service Center will require proof of approval for all Purchase Orders (POs) or PurCard purchases for promotional items.
What if I have a vendor I want to work with who is not on the approved list?
Only approved vendors are allowed to reproduce UVM trademarks. If you have a vendor who is not on the approved vendor list, we encourage you to share this page with them to engage in the process of becoming a licensed vendor through our CLC representatives. In circumstances where an unlicensed vendor is the only entity who can produce the item you are hoping to order, please contact the licensing office directly at license@uvm.edu to discuss your options.
What happens if a university mark is used without a license?
The University of Vermont intends to protect its name, marks, and symbols from unauthorized or inappropriate use. When an individual and/or organization is identified as producing or distributing products that infringe our trademarks, the Licensing Program will contact them to attempt to stop the infringement, to establish a license, and to notify them of potential legal action should they fail to cooperate.
How do I locate licensed products?
The CLC maintains a list of manufacturers licensed by the University to produce University of Vermont merchandise. Organizations who need help locating licensed manufacturers of particular products should contact the Licensing Program. When shopping for licensed products in retail stores, look for the “Collegiate Licensed Product” label.