Editorial Style Guide

EDITORIAL STYLE GUIDE CONTENTS

Editorial Elements of Note

|--- Abbreviations

|--- Capitalization

|--- Contact Information

|--- Dates & Times

|--- Italicization

|--- Names & Titles

|--- Photo & Video Attributions

|--- Punctuation

|--- Word Choice

Voice & Tone

|---Communicating in the CC Voice

|---Functional vs. Expressive Language

Standardized Messaging for Use

|--- Boilerplate

|---Event Disclaimer

|---Equal Opportunity

|---Land Acknowledgement

EDITORIAL ELEMENTS OF NOTE

ABBREVIATIONS

DEGREES

• Use the following for these degrees:
  • Bachelor of Arts – BA
  • Bachelor of Science – BS
  • Master of Science – MS
  • Master of Arts – MA
  • Master of Fine Arts – MFA
  • Juris Doctor – JD
  • Doctor of Medicine – MD
  • Doctor of Philosophy – PhD
  • Doctor of Divinity – DD
  • Doctor of Education – EdD

GEOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

• Abbreviate Ave., Blvd., and St. with a numbered address.
  • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
• Spell out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number.
  • Pennsylvania Avenue
• All similar words (alley, drive, circle, road, terrace, etc.) are always spelled out.
  • 9 Morningside Circle
• Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names. Use figures with two letters for 10th and above.
  • Fifth Avenue
  • 100 21st St. 

NUMBERS

• Spell out numbers under 10 and use figures for the numbers 10 and above.
• However, when a number 10 or higher starts a sentence, spell it out.
  • The event featured seven students and 12 faculty members.
  • The orientation lasted five hours.
  • Fifteen students were honored.

TITLES

• Abbreviate the following when they precede a name:
  • Dr.
  • Mr.
  • Mrs.
  • Rev.
  • Gov.
  • Lt. Gov.
  • Rep.
  • Sen.
• Capitalize a military rank when used as a formal title before an individual's name.
• Spell out and lowercase the title when it is substituted for a name.
  • John Doe arrived today.
  • An aide said the general would review the troops.

CAPITALIZATION

ABBREVIATIONS

• Lowercase the following abbreviations: a.m. and p.m.
  • The show will begin at 8 p.m.
• Other abbreviations should be capitalized:
  • GPA (Grade Point Average)
  • NASU (Native American Student Union)

ACADEMIC POSITIONS OR PROFESSIONAL TITLES

• Capitalize a position or title in all instances.
  • Titles with names:
    • President Manya Whitaker
    • Dean Sandra Wong
    • Jim Swanson, Director of Financial Aid
  • Titles without names:
    • For further information, contact the Vice President of HR.
    • The President of Colorado College spoke at the presentation. 

ATHLETIC TEAMS

• Do not capitalize the names of individual athletic teams.
  • The Colorado College women’s soccer team won the tournament.
  • Women’s soccer will play at home on Friday night.
  • The 2004-05 hockey team will be honored at the Hall of Fame ceremony.
• Capitalize “Tigers” when referring to CC athletic teams and student-athletes.  

BLOCK PLAN AND ACADEMIC CALENDAR

• Capitalize “Block Plan,” “Block Break,” and “Half Block” on all references.
• Academic blocks are uppercase. Use numbers, not Roman numerals, to indicate the block.
  • Block 1, Block 6
• Capitalize “Block” when using as shorthand for Block Plan. Lowercase “block” when referring to blocks generally.
  • “Life on the Block is challenging.”
  • “There are eight blocks in a year.”
• Half Block is the academic session in January between Winter Break and the start of Block 5. It should be capitalized.
• Capitalize "Academic Year" only when it precedes the dates.
  • CC inaugurated its 15th president in the 2026-27 academic year.
  • The report will be finalized in Academic Year 2026-27.
• The four seasons are lowercase except when referring to a given semester, year, or seasonal break.
  • fall, winter, summer, spring
  • Fall 2026 Semester
  • Winter Break, Fall Break, Spring Break

CAMPUS-RELATED AREAS

• Capitalize all formal titles of campus-related areas.
• Institutions:
  • Colorado College
    • Subsequent reference, the College or CC.
      • Note: College is capitalized whenever referring to the specific institution.
        • This year, the College will celebrate its sesquicentennial.
• Publications:
  • The Peak
  • The Catalyst
    • Note: Always use italics for newspaper and magazine names.
• Committees or councils:
  • Faculty Executive Committee
• Programs:
  • The Global Health Program
• Boards:
  • Board of Trustees
    • Use “Trustees” or “Board” on all subsequent references.
  • Capitalize Board of Trustees Town Hall. Lowercase “town hall” on second reference. (Note, “town hall” is two words).
• Lowercase fragmentary or informal references.
  • The office is adding a new position in January.
  • The department held its annual speaker series last month.

CITATIONS

• Capitalize chapter when used with a numeral in reference to a section of a book or legal code. Always use Arabic figures: Chapter 1, Chapter 20.
• Lowercase when standing alone.

COLLEGE EVENTS

• Capitalize the title of formal college events.
  • Homecoming
  • Commencement

DEGREES

• The degree is capitalized only when it is included as an official part of the degree title.
  • Tom was working toward a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.
• Lowercase informal titles of degrees.
  • Bob received his master's degree after seven years of part-time study.
  • Glen hopes to earn his doctoral degree this month.

DEMOGRAPHICS

• Always capitalize Black when referring to a person of African descent, their culture, or their shared identity.
• Capitalize Indigenous when referring to original inhabitants of a place.

DEPARTMENTS & OFFICES

• Capitalize the names of all College departments and offices.
  • Office of Communications & Marketing
  • Department of Anthropology
  • Campus Safety

GEOGRAPHIC DESIGNATIONS

• Lowercase geographic designations, unless designation is part of an official title.
  • State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources
  • The event will take place in the city of Colorado Springs.
  • They were in southern Colorado.
  • The school is in the Pikes Peak Region.

GRANTS & AWARDS

• Capitalize formal titles of grants and scholarships.
  • She received the Kresge Endowment Challenge for Science.
  • He earned the Gaylord Endowment for Pacific Areas Studies.
• Lowercase cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude, but put them in italic.
  • She graduated summa cum laude.

GREEK ORGANIZATIONS

• Capitalize the names of fraternities and sororities, but not the words fraternity, sorority, honorary, honor society, or chapter.
  • She is a member of the CC chapter of Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

HEADLINES

• Lowercase articles, prepositions, and conjunctions in headlines, except when prepositions contain more than four letters.
  • Enrollment at 2,000
  • Enrollment Under 2,000
  • How to Travel With Friends

MAJORS & THEMATIC MINORS

• When used in reference to the department or area of study, majors and minors should be capitalized.
  • The Physics Department will host the event.
  • She was an Economics major.
  • He majors in English on the Creative Writing Track.
• When discussing a field of study and not a specific department, the area is not capitalized.
  • The museum has an exhibit about anthropology.

STUDENT CLASSIFICIATION

• Lowercase “sophomore,” “junior,” and “senior” when referring to student classification.
  • Note: CC does not classify new students as “freshmen.” Instead, we use “first-year students.”)
  • All sophomores must fulfill the sophomore-level composition requirement.
  • The course is for juniors and seniors who have completed the prerequisites.
  • Please join us in welcoming CC’s new first-year students.

CONTACT INFORMATION

ADDRESSES

• Campus addresses should have the building name followed by the room number.
  • Spencer Center 301
  • Armstrong Hall 205

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

• Lowercase email, unless it begins a sentence.
• Do not use a hyphen.
  • His email address is roccy@coloradocollege.edu.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

• Use figures with parentheses around the area code.
  • (719) 867-5309
  • (800) 555-0123

DATES & TIMES

DATES

• Dates should be written as follows: [fully spelled out day of the week], [abbreviated month]. [date]
  • Example: Friday, Sept. 20
• March, April, May, June, and July are never abbreviated.
• Only include the year if it is not the current year.
• Dates should always be bold in an email.
  • Example: Please register by Monday, April 8.
• Numerals should always be followed by a comma unless at the end of a sentence.
  • Example: The event will occur on Thursday, Oct. 24, in Armstrong Hall.

TIMES

• Times should be written as follows: [number] [lowercase letters punctuated with periods].
  • Example: The event begins at 5:30 p.m.
• A time at the top of the hour should be written with just the hour number, no minutes.
  • Example: The class starts at 9 a.m. (as opposed to “The class starts at 9:00 a.m.”)
• A span of time should be written as follows: [number] [lowercase letters punctuated with periods] [number] [lowercase letters punctuated with periods].
  • Example: Attendees will be in Cutler Hall from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Times should always be bold in an email.
• Use “noon” instead of 12 p.m. and “midnight” instead of 12 a.m.

ITALICIZATION

BOOKS, MOVIES, TV SHOWS, PLAYS, POEMS, SPEECHES, AND WORKS OF ART

• The titles of long works, such as books, movies, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, TV series, and plays should be in italics.
  • Ebony & Ivy by Craig Steven Wilder
  • The Wall Street Journal
  • A League of Their Own
  • The Office
• Quotation marks should be used around the names of all shorter works such as articles, poems, songs, TV episodes, and speeches. 
  • “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman
  • “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire
  • Season 5, Episode 9: “The One With Ross’ Sandwich”

COURSE LISTINGS

• The names of academic courses/blocks should be written in italics.
  • The author visited the students during Block 2 in British Romantic Fiction.
  • To meet this requirement, please register for GY360: Resource Geology in the Age of Green Energy.

NAMES & TITLES

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS

• Academic department titles should use the ampersand, not “and.”
  • Examples: Department of Mathematics & Computer Science; Department of Theatre & Dance
• Refer to the “Department of [Name],” not the “[Name] Department,” on first reference. “[Name] Department” is acceptable on second reference and in informal or expressive writing.
  • Examples: Department of Art; Department of Education; Department of Athletics & Recreation

ACADEMIC TITLES AND DEGREES

• Whenever possible, ask the individual how they would like to be referenced in a story and use accordingly.
• As a default, do not use “Dr.” in front of staff and faculty titles unless requested by the individual. Institutional communications, such as Annual Reports or programs for College signature events, will be standardized in alignment with CC Style.
• Subsequent references are by last name.
  • Brian Linkhart, professor of Biology, conducts research on flammulated owls. Linkhart will be teaching his most popular course this year in Block 5.

FACULTY RANK

• The levels of faculty rank are as follows:
  • professor
  • associate professor
  • assistant professor
  • professor emeritus
  • adjunct professor
• Uppercase formal titles.
  • Tomi-Ann Roberts, Winkler-Herman Professor of Psychology 

OFFICIAL TITLES

• Reference the CC Directory, Campus Map, or Catalogue of Courses to access accurate titles, names of buildings, and academic departments.

PROGRAM NAMES & THE @ SYMBOL

• On social media, the “@” symbol triggers a tag. If a program name includes it, the platform will automatically tag the account or term that follows. In light of this:
  • Avoid using the "@" (at) symbol in program names.
  • Instead, spell out the word "at."

USE OF A PERSON’S NAME IN PUBLICATIONS

• In first reference, refer to the individuals by first name, last name, and title (if applicable).
• For longer titles (longer than four words), use the person’s name first followed by their title.
  • Example: Jane Doe, Associate Professor of English and Director of the Colorado College Journalism Institute (instead of “Associate Professor of English and Director of the Colorado College Journalism Institute Jane Doe”)
• Subsequent references are by last name.
  • President Manya Whitaker addressed the incoming class of 2029. Whitaker’s speech was well received.

PHOTO & VIDEO ATTRIBUTIONS

LOWER-THIRD STANDARDS FOR VIDEO

• For student and alumni areas of study: Major: Focus Area, Minor
  • Mary Smith ’18
    English: Creative Writing major, Political Science minor
• For faculty, staff, and other professionals: Title, Company (if not Colorado College)
  • John Doe
    Professor & Associate Chair of Education
  • Jane Doe
    Director, Quantitative Reasoning Center
  • Jim Doe
    President & CEO, Corporation International

PHOTO CAPTIONS

• When captioning a photo for a news story, note who, what, where, and when. Then include a photo attribution.
  • Give the name of the person/people in the photo (with class year if they’re a student or alum).
  • Comprehensive but brief description of what they’re doing.
  • Where the photo was taken.
  • When the photo was taken.
  • Name of the person who took or provided the photo.
• Photo captions should be italicized. 
  • Jorge Adan ’22, Bennie Lewis IV ’22, and Jared Mendiola ’22 celebrate their upcoming graduation during the Champagne Showers around the Earle flagpole on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III / Colorado College.             

PUNCTUATION

AMPERSAND (&)

• Use the ampersand when it is part of a department name, an individual’s title, or a company's formal name.
• Otherwise, avoid using ampersands and use the word "and" instead.
  • Simon & Schuster
  • Department of Mathematics & Computer Science
  • Professor & Associate Chair of Education
  • The gym will be open to students on Wednesday and Thursday.

APOSTROPHES

With dates

• In making the plural of dates, do not use an apostrophe.
  • The school was established in the late 1800s.

With class year

• Use the forward-facing apostrophe to punctuate years of college classes.
  • Class of ’78

With degrees

• Associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, when used generically, should be written with an apostrophe.
  • master's degrees, not masters' degrees

COMMAS

In a series

• Use a comma to separate elements in a series, and use an Oxford comma before the "and" in a series.
  • The flag is red, white, and blue.

With numbers

• Use a comma after digits signifying thousands.
  • 2,150 students
• The major exceptions are:
  • street addresses: 1234 Main St.
  • broadcast frequencies: 1460 kilohertz
  • years: 1985
  • temperature: 3200 degrees
  • test scores: SAT score of 1200
  • round numbers 1 million or greater: 1 million, 2.1 million
    • Number abbreviations such as 100k or 1M may be used when space is a consideration.

With quotations

• Follow a statement that introduces a direct quotation of one or more sentences with a comma.
  • Dorothy Parker's epitaph reads, "Pardon my dust."
• But use a colon after "as follows."
  • Dorothy Parker's epitaph reads as follows: "Pardon my dust."

With introductory words

• Introductory words such as "namely," "i.e.," and "e.g.," should be followed by a comma.
  • International students are required to submit proof of identification; e.g., a passport, immunization record, visa, or some other form of identification.
• An alternative would be to use parentheses.

With dates

• When writing a date, place a comma between the day, if given, and the year, but do not place a comma between the month and year when the day is not mentioned.
  • She ran the marathon in October 2022.
  • She ran the marathon on October 9, 2022, in Boulder.
  • She ran the marathon on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Boulder.

With seasons

• The comma is omitted when citing seasons.
  • Spring 2018
  • Fall 2026

DASHES & HYPHENATION
Hyphenation should not interrupt the flow of reading.

Hyphen or a dash

• Hyphens are joiners. Use them to avoid ambiguity or to form a single idea from two or more words.
  • He recovered the money. He re-covered the leaky roof. 
• Many combinations that are hyphenated before a noun are not hyphenated when they occur after a noun.
  • She works full time. She has a full-time job.
• Hyphens are also used to indicate ranges (times, dates, ages, etc.)
  • 8 a.m.-4 p.m., March 14-20, ages 5-8
• Use em dashes to denote an abrupt change in thought in a sentence or an emphatic pause.
  • We will fly to Paris in June—if I get a raise.
• Do not add spaces around em dashes.
  • If you study hard—and truly spend time learning the material—you will pass the test.
• In keeping with AP Style, CC does not use the en dash (–), unless required for typesetting purposes at the discretion of the Director of Creative & Brand Management.

Hyphenating compound words

• Use a hyphen in compound adjectives that come before the words they modify:
  • full-time student
  • upper-division course
  • part-time faculty
  • out-of-state tuition
• Full time, full-time
  • Hyphenate only when used as a compound modifier.
    • He works full time.
    • She has a full-time job.
• Fundraising, fundraising, fundraiser
  • “Fundraising” is a verb. “Fundraising” is an adjective. “Fundraiser” is a noun.
    • Fundraising is difficult.
    • They planned a fundraising campaign.
    • A fundraiser was hired.
• Hyphenate Half-Block only when used as a modifier.
  • A Half-Block course
• “Student-athletes” is hyphenated.
• "Wellbeing" is not hyphenated.

Hyphenation with prefixes

• Words beginning with "non," "anti," "sub," "co," and "pre" can usually be combined without a hyphen.
  • Nontraditional, nondenominational, coeducational, antinuclear, substandard, premedicine, prephysical therapy, nonprofit.
• Use the nonhyphenated spelling if either spelling is acceptable.
• Notable exceptions:
  • Pre-college
  • Co-curricular
  • Instances in which a prefix causes confusion in reading the word that follows.
    • pre-enroll, not preenroll
    • pre-engineering, not preengineering
    • co-op, not coop

Hyphens with regional campus names

• Hyphenate the names of the regional campuses.
  • Colorado College-Baca campus

Hyphens with telephone numbers

• Area codes and other codes for telephone numbers are to be set off in parentheses from the phone number with a hyphen.
  • (719) 867-5309
  • (800) 555-1234

PERIODS

With abbreviations

• Use periods with lowercase abbreviations.
  • The workshop will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Periods are not used with uppercase acronyms or degrees.
  • KRCC
  • GPA
  • BA, MA, or PhD

With lists

• Listed information conveyed in sentence form should be punctuated with periods.
• If the items in a vertical list are complete sentences, capitalize the first word and place the appropriate punctuation at the end of each item.
  • To participate in Commencement:
    • You will need to apply for graduation by the March 1 deadline.
    • You will need to arrange to rent or purchase a graduation gown.
• With sentence fragments in a vertical series, do not use punctuation at the end of each line.
  • The agenda contains the following items:
    • Construction plans
    • Personnel decisions
• Do not place "and" before the last item.

QUOTATION MARKS

Used with other punctuation

• Quotation marks should be placed outside a period and comma, but inside a colon or semicolon. They should also be set inside exclamation points and interrogation marks that are not part of the quotation.
  • See Richter's comments on “journalist expertise,” “informational authority,” and due diligence in the second section of this book.
  • The board had only two reservations about "the proposal": the cost and the time needed to implement changes.

Quotes within quotes

• Use single quotation marks for quotations printed within other quotations.
  • The nonconformist student replied, "I follow Emerson's dictum, ‘A foolish consistency is the petty hobgoblin of small minds,’ to its logical extreme."

Block quotations

• If several paragraphs are to be quoted, use quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph, but only at the end of the last paragraph.

WORD CHOICE

A GUIDE TO BETTER WORD CHOICES

Language is an ever-evolving creation. CC strives to use language that is in line with our institutional values. It is not our goal to be the word police and people can choose to use the words they like. We would, however, like to offer some substitutes for commonly used words and phrases to help create more inclusive spaces. When we know better, we do better.

Suggested substitutions:

• Call a spade a spade >> say it like it is
• Crippled >> damaged, weakened, impaired
• Grandfathered in >> legacied
• Lynchpin >> mainstay, anchor
• Master bedroom >> primary bedroom
• Native (when meaning someone who is a lifelong local) >> “lifelong local” or “born and raised in”
• Peanut gallery >> cheap seats
• Sold down the river >> betrayed
• Stakeholder >> collaborator, partner, shareholder
• Trailblazer >> innovator, trendsetter

REFERRING TO ALUMNI

• The word “alumni” refers collectively to graduates. “Alums” is more informal but acceptable.
• Use “alum” in reference to an individual. It is also fine to refer to an individual as a graduate. 
• Anyone who completes at least two semesters at CC is considered an alum. 
  • Someone who attended less than two semesters at CC is referred to as a “former student.” Former students are considered members of the class with which they would have graduated if they had stayed.

CLASS YEAR

• Class years are used anytime a name is printed. In articles, only use the class year the first time the name appears.
  • Use a forward-facing apostrophe before the class year to indicate the omitted prefix of 19 or 20. 
    • Delaney Grant Kenyon ’23 is an alum of Colorado College.
    • Ken Salazar ’77 is an alum.
    • Delaney Grant Kenyon ’23 and Ken Salazar ’77 are CC alumni.
  • When referring to an alum from 100 years or more before the current first-year class, use the phrase "Class of" and the full year.
    • Robert M. Ormes, Class of 1926, was a CC English professor.
    • The foundation was organized by Mary Tate, Class of 1901.
• When using maiden/given/surname/family names and other name changes:
  • When possible, ask the alum, “How would you like your name to appear?”
  • If this is not possible, and an alum has married and taken their spouse's last name, use their previous last name at the time they were a student first in a list, on nametags, in directories, etc.
    • Diane Brown Benninghoff ’68

GENDERED LANGUAGE

• CC’s policy is to avoid language that contains discriminatory connotations.
• Avoid language that denotes age bias, cultural bias, gender bias, racial bias, or sexual orientation bias.
  • Your word choice should not default to a white, cis, hetero, male “norm” unless used in a quote.
• Gender bias:
  • In general, use terms that can apply to any gender. Such language aims to treat people equally and is inclusive of people whose gender identity is not strictly male or female.
  • Replace the following terms with the suggested alternatives:
    • chairman >> chair, chairperson, department chair
    • manmade >> handmade
    • foreman >> supervisor
    • craftsman >> artisan
    • freshman >> first-year student
    • councilman >> councilor or council member
• Since not all people fall under one of two categories for sex or gender—as in the cases of nonbinary and intersex people—avoid references to both, either, or opposite sexes or genders.
• Balance these aims with common sense, respect for the language, and an understanding that gender-neutral or gender-inclusive language is evolving and in some cases is challenging to achieve.

ETHNICITY/ORIGIN

• Afghan is the term for the people and culture of Afghanistan. Afghani is the Afghan unit of currency.
• Use the term Hawaii residents—not Hawaiians—for the overall population of Hawaii. Use the term Hawaiian or Hawaiians only for members of the ethnic group indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. They also may be called Native Hawaiians or Hawaii's Indigenous people. Someone can be Hawaiian even if they weren't born in Hawaii or have never lived in Hawaii.
• Avoid use of the term “third world.” “Developing nations” is more appropriate when referring to the economically developing nations of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• Latinx/a/o and Hispanic are not interchangeable words. "Hispanic" generally refers to people with ancestry from Spanish-speaking countries, while "Latino/a/x" refers to people with origins in Latin America, including Brazil and other non-Spanish speaking countries.
• When referring to Native or Indigenous people, use their specific tribe when possible.
  • Ute, Cheyenne, Apache, etc.

REFERRING TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

• There are many ways to refer to a person with a disability, and preferences vary from person to person. The best practice is always to ask the individual how they prefer to be described.
• When you are unable to ask, default to person-first language. Person-first language places the person before the disability or condition, reinforcing that a disability is not the defining characteristic of an individual. Examples of person-first language include:
  • "A person with a disability" rather than "a disabled person"
  • “He uses a wheelchair” rather than “he is a wheelchair user” or “he is in a wheelchair"
  • Avoid phrases such as “suffers from,” “confined to,” or “wheelchair bound.” Instead, use neutral terms such as “has” (e.g., a condition or impairment) or “uses” (e.g., a wheelchair, cane, or prosthetic device).
• Some people prefer identity-first language, as they view their disability as an important and inseparable part of their identity. Some also feel that person-first language can imply disability is inherently negative or something to distance from. Examples of identity-first language include:
  • "A disabled person"
  • "She is autistic" rather than "she has autism"
• Whenever possible, follow the individual’s stated preference to ensure respectful and accurate language.

REFERENCES TO ABORTION

• Use the modifiers “anti-abortion” or “abortion-rights”; don't use “pro-life,” “pro-choice,” or “pro-abortion” unless they are in quotes or proper names.
• Phrasing like “pregnant people” or “people seeking abortions” is also preferred to include people who have those experiences but do not identify as women, such as some transgender men and some nonbinary individuals.

REFERENCES TO HOLIDAYS

• Use the term Indigenous Peoples Day. Do not use Columbus Day unless it is part of a quote.

RESIDENCE HALLS

• Avoid using "dorm" or "dormitory" when referring to campus student housing.
• Use "residence hall" instead.

VOICE AND TONE

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WRITE OR SPEAK IN THE COLORADO COLLEGE VOICE?

To effectively communicate what makes CC special, it’s not just about what we say, but how we say it. Good brands have a distinct voice, after all. The following tips and considerations will empower you to speak to the many ways the Block Plan and this community are so different within higher education—and the impact that difference has on our broader world.

Remember, it’s more of an art than a science—so try things out, and refer back to the brand positioning and tone words listed earlier in this document to gut check that you’re on the right track.

Focus on the why over the what.

Show audiences why they should even care about what we do here. The Block Plan is a feature—it’s up to us to showcase its benefits.

Use words that emotionally convey what “academic rigor” looks like at CC. This will help to solidify the excellence of the program, but in a way that is differentiating from other academically excellent institutions.

“The Block Plan supercharges a semester’s worth of learning into 3.5 weeks to immerse students at a level the traditional higher ed structure doesn’t—and can’t—support. It’s intense, but thankfully, you’ll never do it alone.”

Write like a human talking to humans.

People considering CC are likely drawn to its tight-knit community. Let this be a proof point not just in the things we say, but in the way we invite people in and make them feel at home even before they’ve arrived—and long after they’ve graduated.

For some audiences (students, young alumni), this may sound like you’d talk to a friend. For others, (faculty, peers, donors), it may sound more like talking to a respected acquaintance, colleague, or elder.

"More than a whopping 90% of students play a varsity, club, or intramural sport—one of the benefits of the non-class time the Block Plan builds into each day. Like most things at CC, leagues revolve around the Block; so it’s not unlikely that your research partner in your Philosophy of Mind course will also be the Point Guard on your basketball team. Which is how we end up with team names like ‘I Think, Therefore I Slam.’”

Know who you aren't.

Sometimes, the best way to highlight what makes us unique is to celebrate what we’re not. We can draw attention to the level of focus the Block Plan allows for by comparing it against the unfocused, overscheduled state of the world.

“It’s almost unfathomable, actually having space to think about that thing your professor said in class because you’re not running off to another class on the other side of campus to use the opposite side of your brain.”

ARCHETYPE: THE CREATOR

What is an archetype?

A brand archetype is a universally recognizable, symbolic personality or character that a brand embodies to connect with its audiences on a deep, subconscious level. Some examples are "The Hero," "The Sage," "The Jester," “The Everyman,” and "The Magician." Archetypes help brands create consistent messaging, build authenticity, and foster emotional loyalty by tapping into shared human desires, values, and motivations.

Colorado College's Archetype: The Creator

Colorado College itself is a Creator.

The Creator archetype contributes to society and provides structure to the world by bringing something into being—by realizing a vision. The Creator gets deep satisfaction from both the process and the outcome of creating something that did not previously exist. This archetype trusts in the creative process above all else and lives for authentic self-expression.

The Creator Archetype in practice

Colorado College embodies the Creator archetype through its innovative Block Plan, which empowers students to own their education with depth, focus and originality. The CC experience cultivates curious, adaptive thinkers who use creativity to shape meaningful change beyond campus. Colorado College designs new ways of learning, challenges convention, and creates the conditions where new possibilities take shape.

Anyone can elicit the Creator archetype when writing or speaking about CC. Try out some of these sentence starters (or just use them to spark your brainstorming!)

• CC creates the conditions for students to thrive by...
• Because of CC, students learn/gain/build...
• CC offers the freedom to...
• CC prepares graduates who...

You can also draw inspiration from other Creator brands—examples include Adobe, Apple, Crayola, Lego, GoPro. Notice how they center imagination and possibility, using language that refers to making, building, and shaping what comes next.

FUNCTIONAL VS. EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE

When to use each, and why it matters

Use functional language when clarity and information sharing are the priorities—like in registration instructions, policies, or event details. Use expressive language when you want to inspire, invite, connect, or elicit action—such as in storytelling, invitations, or campaign messaging. Together, they create a balanced voice that reflects Colorado College’s values: thoughtful, intentional, and rooted in both impact and community. Using both effectively ensures communications are not just informative, but also engaging and authentic.

Functional Language
Functional language is straightforward, informational, and action oriented. It’s used to convey logistics like dates, times, policies, or processes in a clear and concise manner. This language helps audiences quickly understand what they need to know or do. At Colorado College, functional language supports accessibility and transparency, making the institution’s resources and opportunities easy to navigate.

This style is primarily used in institutional communications and public relations, and it follows the CC Style Guide exactly.

Example #1

Colorado College Press Release, Feb. 2025
Today, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized Colorado College for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

This is the third year in a row CC has made this list and the fourth time in the last five years. Fulbright Top Producing Institutions such as CC value global connection and support members of their campus communities across the United States to pursue international opportunities.

Four students and alums from CC were selected for Fulbright awards for academic year 2024-25. They include...

Example #2

Colorado College Human Resources website, March 2026
The Colorado College Office of Human Resources determines reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Decisions are based on medical documentation of disability, functional limitations, the employee's input about specific needs, and the supervisor’s input about ability to accommodate without causing an undue hardship to the department. Accommodations are intended to ensure an equitable work experience for employees with disabilities.

These are examples of some of the more common types of accommodations that may be available:

• Modifying employee’s schedule or allowing leave time
• Making a workplace or workstation more accessible
• Modifying methods of assessment, communication or training
• Purchasing or modifying equipment or tools
• Purchasing a reasonably priced service such as a reader or interpreter
• Job restructuring
• Job reassignment

Expressive Language
Expressive language conveys emotion, personality, and purpose. It compellingly shares the story behind a program or event, brings people and places to life, and connects audiences to the College’s mission. At Colorado College, expressive language reflects curiosity, creativity, and a deep sense of place—helping audiences feel the “why” behind the work.

This style is primarily used in College marketing, storytelling, and student-facing internal communications. It is typically more conversational, and there is room for creative license (to an extent).

Example #1

Colorado College website homepage, March 2026
Having space to think is a breath of fresh air.

In a world filled with distractions, Colorado College is a place where you can truly focus. In every aspect of your life, you’ll be given the time and space to tackle complex problems, collaborate across disciplines, and drive meaningful change.

Example #2

Colorado College Viewbook, 2025-26
Ella Schuchard ’27 is the Director of Merchandise and Marketing for Llamapalooza, CC’s annual music and arts festival. In her role, she merges creativity with logistics, problem-solving, leadership, and a killer two-step. And she finds it incredibly rewarding to see her passions and hard work come together during the festival each spring.

The skills she develops outside the classroom perfectly complement the scientific ones she masters inside it. Because at CC, the art of marketing and the art of chilling outside watching live music on Worner Quad (including seeing some performers you know personally) are equally important.

Ella is an Organismal Biology and Ecology (OBE) major—which means she loves animals, science, and anything with fangs. Her favorite part of her studies is Chuck. Who’s Chuck, you ask? He’s the ball python Ella takes care of and the unofficial mascot of the OBE department.   

STANDARDIZED MESSAGING FOR USE

BOILERPLATE

A boilerplate is a concise, standardized paragraph that provides an at-a-glance overview of Colorado College. It captures key institutional information in language intended to remain stable over time.

When to use boilerplate

• Press releases and media statements
• Reports or publications intended for external audiences
• Conference materials or event programs with off-campus reach
• Partnership proposals, grant applications, or institutional summaries

ABOUT COLORADO COLLEGE
Colorado College is a nationally prominent, four-year liberal arts institution in Colorado Springs, Colorado, founded in 1874. Known for its innovative Block Plan, students take one class at a time in intensive 3½-week segments, allowing for deep focus and engagement in and beyond the classroom. With approximately 2,200 undergraduates, the College offers 42 majors, 30 department minors, and 24 thematic minors, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. Colorado College holds the Research Colleges and Universities designation from Carnegie and ACE and is consistently recognized as a top Fulbright and Peace Corps producing institution. A leader in sustainability, the College was the first in the Rocky Mountain Region and eighth in the nation to achieve carbon neutrality. For more information, visit www.coloradocollege.edu.

ABOUT THE COLORADO SPRINGS FINE ARTS CENTER AT COLORADO COLLEGE
The story of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College (FAC) begins with the founding of the Broadmoor Art Academy 1919. A museum, performing arts theatre, and community art school, the FAC is a pillar in the cultural community of the Rocky Mountain West providing innovative, educational, and multi-disciplinary arts experiences designed to elevate the individual spirit and inspire community vitality. For more information about the FAC, visit fac.coloradocollege.edu.

EVENT DISCLAIMER

An event disclaimer is a standard statement included in materials promoting campus events (such as lectures, panels, performances, and guest speakers). It clarifies that the views expressed by speakers or participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the college. It also affirms the college’s commitment to academic freedom and the open exchange of ideas. Event disclaimer language should be included in event listings, flyers, digital promotions, and other communications when appropriate, particularly for events featuring external speakers or topics that may invite a range of perspectives.

EVENT DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
This event is sponsored by [STUDENT ORGANIZATION/DEPARTMENT NAME]. The use of Colorado College facilities for this event does not constitute an endorsement by the College. The views of those invited to speak on campus are the views of the speaker and not of Colorado College. Learn more about our Freedom of Expression policy at: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/basics/welcome/leadership/policies/freedom-of-expression.html.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

CC’s Equal Opportunity statement affirms its commitment to non-discrimination in its educational programs, activities, and employment practices. It reflects both institutional values and legal requirements, and it should be included in certain public-facing employment, admissions, and institutional communications materials.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
Colorado College is an equal opportunity employer committed to increasing the diversity of its community. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, caste, national origin, gender, age, religion, gender identity or expression, disability, or sexual orientation in our educational programs and activities or our employment practices.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

WHAT IS A LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, AND WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?
A Land Acknowledgement is a statement identifying the indigenous peoples, nations, and histories within an area. Its purpose can be to educate around the marginalized histories and ongoing colonialism affecting Indigenous communities; to honor and respect Native peoples for their enduring connection to the land; and to prompt action with concrete steps like advocating for Indigenous rights and addressing land-based injustices.

However, land acknowledgments can become empty gestures rather than powerful declarations of recognition. We recommend researching, contextualizing, and examining the purpose of an acknowledgment when engaging in this practice. In addition to naming Indigenous territories and explaining why the acknowledgment matters, these statements can address Indigenous rights within the context of the specific event or gathering.

The following resource links include a guide and information on writing a land acknowledgment and a mapping resource for identifying indigenous communities throughout North America:

• U.S. Dept. of Arts & Culture Guide to Land Acknowledgement
• Guide to Indigenous Land and Territorial Acknowledgement
• Mapping Resource for Identifying Indigenous Communities

Visit the Land Acknowledgement page of the CC website to read a number of statements from Indigenous community members at CC demonstrating the breadth of meaning and perspective when acknowledging a region's first peoples, nations, and history.

Below are several institutionally approved land acknowledgements developed by Debbie Howell, CC’s Elder in Residence. When appropriate, you may also modify these with language relating to your specific event, department, or publication. For example, a land acknowledgement before a Fine Arts Center event might refer to the FAC’s ongoing efforts to return artifacts to their home communities. A feature story highlighting field study in the Arctic might acknowledge that the research took place on the land of Alaska Native Nations.

When preparing a customized land acknowledgement for an official Colorado College purpose, please consult with Elder Debbie Howell at dhowell@coloradocollege.edu prior to finalizing the language.

COLORADO COLLEGE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR SPEAKING
From the beginning, Colorado was home to nine distinct bands of the Nuuchiu, now known as the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. Today, Colorado College occupies the ancestral homelands and traditional territory of the Nuuchiu. Other Nations with historical, cultural, and spiritual ties to this land include the Jicarilla Apache, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, and Pawnee. We affirm that early United States national policy was designed to break down Indigenous communities, destroy cultural identities, and outlaw traditional religious practices to clear a path for non-Indigenous settlement. This was accomplished through genocide, assimilation through boarding schools, colonial oppression, forced relocation, broken treaties, and land theft.

Despite that, Indigenous Peoples are still here today, resilient, thriving, and vibrant citizens or descendants of 574 U.S. federally recognized sovereign tribal nations plus those from north and south of the U.S. borders and beyond. The Nuuchiu still call this region home, as do many diverse Native People, as friends, scholars, educators, colleagues, and community members. Indigenous People continue to embrace [their/our]* languages, spirituality, and traditions. We acknowledge that the land continues to hold the values and prayers of [their/our]* ancestors. We encourage all people to learn the names and the complex histories of original people of the land you are on and continuously seek ways to act in solidarity with them.

*Please note the use of “our” (bolded above) only if the Land Acknowledgement is spoken by an Indigenous person.

SHORTER VERSION FOR SPEAKING (EVENTS WITH LIMITED TIME)
Colorado College occupies the traditional territories of the Nuuchiu, known today as the Southern Ute Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. Other tribes with historical, cultural, and spiritual ties to this land are the Jicarilla Apache, Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Comanche, Pawnee, and Kiowa—and notably, continue to do so, along with many other Indigenous Peoples. To actively seek social justice, we acknowledge that the land continues to hold the values and traditions of the original inhabitants and caretakers of this land. We pay honor and respect to their ancestors, elders, and youth—past, present, and future.

FOR PRINT
Colorado College occupies the ancestral homelands and traditional territory of the Ute People, as well as Jicarilla Apache, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, and Pawnee Nations. All were forcibly removed to reservations. We affirm that early United States national policy was designed to breakdown Indigenous communities, destroy cultural identities, and outlaw traditional religious practices to clear a path for non-Indigenous settlement. Despite that, Indigenous Peoples are still here today, resilient, thriving, and vibrant citizens or descendants of 574 U.S. federally recognized sovereign tribal nations plus those from north and south of the U.S. borders and beyond. We encourage all people to learn the names and the complex histories of original people of the land you are on and continuously seek ways to act in solidarity with them.

EXAMPLE OF A DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC MODIFICATION
The Geology Department acknowledges that our educational programs are carried out in the homelands of the Ute, Jicarilla Apache, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, and Pawnee Nations. Others rely on networks of travel paths developed by these peoples. We also acknowledge that Colorado College and our department were founded upon practices of resource extraction and land appropriation that dishonored and diminished the traditional lifeways in this region. These practices displaced Indigenous populations, degraded landscapes, and led to unequal distribution of wealth, health, and opportunity in the Rocky Mountain West. Yet the Ute and Native populations are living people with a present and a future as well as a past, and we strive to learn from their knowledge of earth systems to create a more inclusive field of study while seeking to redress the exclusions and erasures they have endured.