Welcome
Trademark licensing exists to protect and promote the names, marks, and logos of Fort Hays State University and is administered by the Office of University Relations and Marketing. The university partners with Affinity Licensing to administer, advance, and protect our brand in the marketplace.
To purchase branded FHSU products, please contact one of our Licensed Vendors. Officially licensed Tiger merchandise will carry the Affinity Licensed Product hologram labels/tags.
How to Become an Officially Licensed Vendor
We welcome new partners to our collegiate licensing team! Simply go to the Affinity Licensing's website and complete the registration form to begin the process. For information, contact Carolyn Dale of Affinity Licensing at carolyn@affinitylicensing.com.
The application fee is $100 and the royalty rate is 12% on the gross revenue on sales of FHSU branded merchandise.
Licensing FAQ’s
Why do we have a collegiate licensing program?
The brand identity and marks of this university are distinctive and hold great value for the thousands of people over the decades who built this great institution and its strong reputation. Simply put, our brand is a valuable asset-one we must protect. To protect the university's brand, and to protect the university from liability, Fort Hays State University has implemented a program that establishes ownership and regulates the use of its name and other identity marks.
Why do we need a collegiate licensing partner?
Our partnership with Affinity Licensing was established to both protect and advance our brand in the marketplace. This is the complete focus of the team at Affinity Licensing. We are their only MIAA and NCAA Division II university partner. Affinity essentially functions as an extension of the URM team and allows us to expand the reach and market penetration of our brand through a variety of channels ranging from traditional local retailers to online stores with a global customer base.
I work for the university. What do I need to do if I want to purchase FHSU logoed goods to be used internally or given away?
You will simply need to order the items from a licensed vendor. If you have a specific vendor you would like to order from who is not licensed, they are welcome to become licensed. Should they have questions, please have them contact Carolyn Dale carolyn@affinitylicensing.com.
I’m a licensed vendor. Am I required to submit my designs for approval?
Yes. Submit your designs via the Gateway portal for review and approval.
What is FHSU looking for when reviewing submitted designs?
The overarching goal of our review process is not to criticize design concepts. It is to ensure the proper presentation and integrity of the university’s brand marks. To do this, we consider several things in our review, including:
- Any references or use of FHSU brand elements must reflect positively on the institution.
- Any reproduction of the university name must use an approved configuration of the name.
- Any reproduction of the university logos and/or other symbols in the design must be accurate and must be marked with a "TM" next to FHSU identifiers.
- No design that violates copyright laws or conflicts with the university's missions or policies will receive approval.
What are the accepted name variations I can use for the university?
The following is a partial list of the protected names, initials, and slogans of the university and related organizations:
- Fort Hays State University
- FHSU
- FHS
- Fort Hays State
- Ft. Hays State University
- Ft. Hays State
- The Sternberg Museum of Natural History
- Sternberg Museum
- Docking Institute of Public Affairs
- Docking Institute
- Telepower
- Use the official names of campus buildings, landmarks, and associated icons
Note: The words "Fort Hays" by themselves refer to the historic military fort and are not an acceptable identifier for the university.
