Editorial Style Guide

Last Revised: February 1, 2006

This style guide was developed by the University System of Maryland Office of Communications. Its aim is to ensure accuracy, consistency, and clarity in USM communications.

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND

When speaking of the University System of Maryland as a whole, the "University System of Maryland" should be used in its entirety upon first reference. Any of the following are acceptable for subsequent references:

• University System;
• USM;
• the System.

Unacceptable references to the System as a whole include: University of Maryland; the University; UM.

Notes: "The" is not part of the official name of the System, and therefore should not appear as part of the name in stand-alone headers or titles or be capitalized when the System name appears in running text.

Do not refer to the System as an "institution." In representing the University System of Maryland, never use the old UM logo, any campus logo or seal, or the old USM logo that was phased out in Fall 2004.

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND OFFICE

Acceptable references to the University System of Maryland Office include:

• University System of Maryland Office;
• University System Office;
• System Office;
• USM Office.

Unacceptable references to the USM Office include: Central Administration; the acronym "USMO"; Headquarters or "USMH" (the previous name of the System Office); and University System of Maryland - Office.

Notes: The USM Office is a "unit" of the University System of Maryland. It should not be referred to as an institution or a component; nor should it be counted as one of the 13 USM institutions.

The USM Office comprises four major areas: Office of the Chancellor, Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Administration and Finance, and Office of Advancement. The term "office" should be used sparingly. Referencing the specific USM Office name is preferred (e.g., USM Office of Academic Affairs).

USM INSTITUTIONS

The University System of Maryland comprises 13 major units: 11 degree-granting institutions and two research components. Names may be listed in either founding-date or alphabetical order, depending on the intended purpose and audience. Founding-date order is usually reserved for official state documents, while alpha order is more appropriate for public reference.

Generally, the word "campus" refers to the physical site of an institution. Writers may, however, refer to USM degree-granting institutions as campuses for brevity's sake. In these cases, care should be taken to represent USM campuses as distinct institutions and not "branches" of the system.

Acceptable references to any of the 13 members of the System include "institution," "component," "member," "major member," and "constituent institution."

The Universities at Shady Grove and the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown should be referred to as the USM's regional higher education centers. They should not be described or listed as one of the USM's institutions.

Upon second reference and thereafter, The Universities at Shady Grove may be referred to as USG; do not refer to it as "Shady Grove." The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown may be abbreviated as USMH.

When referring to one of the institutions of the University System of Maryland, the institution's full name should be used on first reference; acronyms may be used in subsequent references. Note the proper use of commas in the names of the institutions. The institutions of the University System of Maryland, in founding-date order, are:

Degree-Granting Institutions

1807 University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)

1856 University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP)

1865 Bowie State University (BSU)

1866 Towson University (TU)

1886 University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)

1898 Frostburg State University (FSU)

1900 Coppin State University (CSU)

1925 Salisbury University (SU)

1925 University of Baltimore (UB)

1947 University of Maryland University College (UMUC)

1966 University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

Research Centers

1925 University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES)

1985 University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI)

Following is the list of the USM institutions in alphabetical order:

Degree-Granting Institutions

Bowie State University (BSU)

Coppin State University (CSU)

Frostburg State University (FSU)

Salisbury University (SU)

Towson University (TU)

University of Baltimore (UB)

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP)

University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)

University of Maryland University College (UMUC)

Research Centers

University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI)

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES)

Notes: While the state legislature allows both the University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland, College Park to use the name "University of Maryland," for the sake of clarity, we urge communicators to avoid using "University of Maryland" on a stand-alone basis. When referring to one of the professional schools at UMB, use "University of Maryland" and the name of the school (e.g. University of Maryland School of Law).

Do not refer to UMB as the "Baltimore City campus." The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a private, not-for-profit medical system that comprises University of Maryland Medical Center, Kernan Hospital, University Specialty Hospital, Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore Washington Medical Center (formerly North Arundel Hospital), and Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. UMMS has a close working relationship with the University of Maryland School of Medicine; University of Maryland Medical Center is on the campus of the Unversity of Maryland, Baltimore and all of its staff physicians are on the faculty of the Medical School.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Use the following language on all published materials that describe USM programs or services available to the public:

The following short version may also be used: