Per Fidem Ad Plenam Veritatem
Through Faith to the Fullness of Truth
The Purpose of This Handbook
This Marketing Handbook contains information about the Brand, Identity, Editorial, Social Media, and Digital Media policies and practices of Fairfield University. These policies reflect the University’s values and we expect each employee and student to read this Marketing Handbook carefully as it is a valuable reference in accelerating and strengthening the Fairfield University brand.
This Marketing Handbook supersedes all previously issued Visual Identity Handbooks, Editorial Style Guides, and Social Media Handbooks. Fairfield University reserves the right to revise, delete, and add to the provisions of this Marketing Handbook. All such revisions, deletions, or additions must be in writing. No oral statements or representations can change the provisions of this Marketing Handbook. The online edition of this Marketing Handbook contains the most current version of the policies and procedures.
Not all of the University’s policies and procedures are set forth in this Marketing Handbook. We have summarized only some of the more important ones. If an employee or student has any questions or concerns about this Marketing Handbook or any other policy or procedure contained herein, please contact the Office of the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, 203-254-4000, ext. 3479. Please also note that other University handbooks like the Employee Handbook and Student Handbook contain policies which may overlap with those comprised here (e.g. Social Media). If an employee or student has any questions or concerns about those policies, please contact the Office of Human Resources or the Dean of Student’s Office respectively.
Nothing in this Marketing Handbook or in any other document or policy is intended to violate any local, state or federal law. For example, nothing in this Marketing Handbook is intended to limit any concerted activities by employees relating to their wages, hours, or working conditions, or any other conduct protected by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.
Table of Contents
University
Visual Identity
Elements of Identity
Lockups
Logo Tree
Embroidered Uniforms
Typography
Stationery
Email Signature
Athletics
Clear Space Appendix A: Fairfield Locations & Naming
Color Palette Appendix B: Class, Student, Alumni Format
Promotional Items
Color Variations Appendix C: List of Sports
Apparel / Gear
Signage
Secondary Logos Appendix E: States
Vehicle Graphics Logos Colorways Teams & Clubs Dolan
Appendix D: Athletic Terminology
Fairfield University
Founded in 1942, Fairfield University has as its mission the education and formation of men and women in the tradition of Jesuit education, developing socially responsible leaders, preparing them to engage creatively and compassionately with our world, and thereby transforming our communities for the better.
At the core of our brand is a commitment to our modern, Jesuit Catholic identity, and an institutional dedication to pursue the magis in all that we undertake as an institution. This commitment to excellence is reflected in the strength and consistency of our brand. Presenting our University to the world through the clear and attractive application of the brand and editorial standards presented in this Marketing Handbook expresses pride in our history, faith in our mission, and respect for the work and dedication of everyone in the Fairfield community.
As our University rises in national prominence, these brand standards and other guidelines are intended to guide the community in our efforts to tell the Fairfield story—reflecting where we have been, where we are going, and what our University stands for: Per Fidem Ad Plenam Veritatem Through faith to the fullness of truth.
Integrated Marketing Services
The Marketing Team works with partners campuswide to develop integrated marketing plans, incorporating elements of digital marketing, print, advertising, social media, public relations, photography, and video.
They guide the strategy, development, and execution of integrated marketing plans based on data, marketing expertise, and an adherence to the University’s core values and our mission as the modern, Jesuit Catholic University.
ADVERTISING
Digital
— Search
— Social Print
— Newspaper
— Magazine
— Event Programs
Outdoor
— Metro North Car Cards
— Metro North Station Signs
— Static & Digital Billboards
Radio
DIGITAL
— Admission Emails
— Digital Boards
— Emails
— E-newsletters
— FairfieldNews
— Giveaways
— Localist
— Today@Fairfield
— Videos
— Webinars
— Jumbotron
— And more...
PRINT COLLATERAL
— Brochures*
— Posters*
— Postcards*
— Flyers*
— Pull Up Banners
— Wall Adhesives
— Programs
— Cut Vinyl
— Mailing*
*Variable data available
PUBLIC RELATIONS
— Press Release
— News Brief
— Press Calendar
— Fairfield Magazine
SOCIAL MEDIA
— Videos/Reels, Photos, and Articles
— Live Videos
— Photos
— Articles
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
— Faculty Expert
— ThinkSpace
— Stag List
WEBSITE
— Homepage News
— School Homepage News
— Program Page News
— Other
Marketing & Communications Division
COMMUNITY RELATIONS & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
The Communications team supports Fairfield University’s engagement with local, state, and federal government representatives, as well as community organizations and civic partners. This includes developing and maintaining relationships, monitoring relevant legislation and public policy, and advancing community-based initiatives that align with the University’s mission and strategic goals.
To ensure consistency, transparency, and institutional coordination:
— All invitations to or visits from elected officials, government agencies, or candidates for public office should be coordinated through the Communications office.
— All partnerships, events, or formal collaborations with communitybased organizations or civic groups should be communicated in advance to this office to ensure alignment, proper visibility, and appropriate leadership engagement, as well as media coordination when appropriate.
— The Communications team serves as the central point of contact for managing town-gown initiatives, joint events with municipal partners, and other high-profile community engagements.
Faculty, staff, and affiliated units should partner with the Communications team to initiate outreach to government or community partners. This ensures a coordinated approach, fosters meaningful partnerships, and ensures we connect appropriately and effectively.
DIGITAL MARKETING
The Digital Marketing department is comprised of several experienced communicators who coordinate the development and production of all online materials, using content management systems, market analysis, creative production, and project management techniques.
Our team collaborates with partners all across campus to keep their sections of the University’s website updated and accurate.
The Digital Marketing department also provides support for sending emails that enhance experiences and assist the University in its marketing and communications goals, as well as maintains regulatory and legal compliance.
DESIGN & PRINT
The Design & Print department’s (D&P) primary responsibilities are the design, printing, fulfillment, and distribution (mailing) of University collateral materials. D&P is also responsible for maintaining the graphic integrity of the University brand.
D&P offers on-site graphic design (custom requests through your IMM, and self-service templates through Canva), color and B&W printing (classroom materials, brochures, postcards, event posters, invitations, letters), wide-format printing (large posters, banners), event signage, cutvinyl lettering, printed stickers, fulfillment, and mailing. Mailing services include: variable data mailings, addressing, collating, folding, inserting, wafer sealing, and 1st Class and Non-Profit presort mailings. Stationery, business cards, pocket folders, and all other products can be ordered through D&P.
MEDIA & PRESS RELATIONS
Fairfield University’s official spokespeople are limited to the President and the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Only these individuals have the authority to designate additional representatives to speak on behalf of the University.
Currently, the sole additional individual authorized to serve as an official spokesperson is the vice president for Marketing and Communications.
All media-related matters—including press inquiries, public statements, interview requests, and distribution of news releases—must be directed through the Communications office. This includes all outreach, visits to campus, correspondence, and engagement with members of the media.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The Social Media team maintains a universal presence on social media across all official University brand channels to stay connected with our community, promote news, and build relationships. The University recognizes that social media is an effective tool for increasing awareness of Fairfield University and highlighting the incredible accomplishments of our students, alumni, and faculty/staff.
This department coordinates the scheduling and maintenance of all official University brand channels, collaborating with partners across campus to ensure content aligns with the University’s overall social media marketing strategy. It maintains brand governance by providing training, best-practice guidelines, and resources to ensure consistent, professional content that reflects the University’s mission and standards.
MEDIA SERVICES
The Media Center team of A/V professionals provides video and audio production services, event support, webinar support, multicamera livestreaming, photography and technology design, producing stories that inform and inspire, and participating in the Jesuit Catholic mission of educating to empower and motivating to serve.
The Media Center provides video and audio production services, event support, and A/V technology design and instruction.
EVENT MARKETING SERVICES
The Office of Campus Events maintains consistent, high-quality customer service and elevated event experiences across all departments by streamlining the planning process and ensuring each event is thoughtfully executed.
This office is dedicated to supporting the Fairfield University community by exceeding the expectations of clients, attendees, and stakeholders for each signature event. This office serves as concierge-level planning partners, ready to advise, support, or fully manage your program from start to finish—whether it’s a large signature event, a high-profile lecture, a conference, or a community-focused occasion.
Identity
University Seal
When the University was founded in 1942, its official name was “Fairfield University of St. Robert Bellarmine.” The gold pine cones on the seal come from the Bellarmine family’s coat of arms. Superimposed on the cones is the badge of the Society of Jesus. There are three compartments in the upper portion of the shield because “the school is dedicated and exists in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
The central compartment portrays a hart crossing a ford, part of the coat of arms of the Diocese of Hartford, whose boundaries
once included the town of Fairfield. The two outer compartments show clusters of grapes, symbols taken from the town seal and representing its verdant fields.
Historically, institutional seals were used to authenticate official messages. The design is purposefully intricate and descriptive.
An effective visual identity mark (logo) is just the opposite—a simple, expressive graphic device that is easily distinguished from others.
The University seal is not a logo and is for official use only. Alternatives to the University seal are prohibited.
The University seal is used for diplomas, certificates, official documents, and communications from the President’s Office. The seal must be printed as a complete unit.
The proper usage and placement of the University seal in official documents is shown here:
SEAL USAGE
UNIVERSITY SEAL (CONT.)
Hart crossing a ford, a part of the coat of arms of the Diocese of Hartford
UNIVERSITY SEAL
Badge of the Society of Jesus
Grape Vines symbolic of the fertility of the verdant fields of the Town and County of Fairfield
Instruments of Christ’s passioncrown and nails of Jesus
“Per Fidem Ad Plenam Veritatem ” translates to “Through Faith to the Fullness of Truth”
Pine cones from the coat of arms of the family of St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J.
Visual Identity
Fairfield University’s ability to carry out its mission can be helped or hindered by the perceptions of the people it seeks to serve. Its visual image—the appearance of the University’s brochures, advertisements, and other materials—says something about its values, purpose, and services. A cohesive graphic style conveys a sense of identity and personality, which helps to create greater recognition and understanding.
In addition to its image-enhancing value, a carefully managed visual identity program actually saves time and money. By applying these simple guidelines, stylistic decisions may be made quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively. Consistent application of the standards outlined in this Marketing Handbook will help enhance Fairfield University’s visibility, image, and reputation.
Fairfield University’s Division of Marketing and Communications monitors and maintains Fairfield’s brand identity.
All materials bearing the University seal and/or the University’s logo, including publications, post cards, advertisements, apps, all indoor and outdoor building signage, and promotional products (pens, banners, notebooks, apparel, etc.) must be designed and approved by Marketing and Communications.
It is recommended that Marketing and Communications be consulted when purchasing those products to ensure that the University logo is prominently and properly displayed.
To learn more about the Division of Marketing and Communications at Fairfield University, please visit:
fairfield.edu/marketing
The Fairfield University seal, shield, and signature are protected by copyright. All restrictions apply. Design or color alterations to the specifications in this manual are prohibited without the permission and consultation of Fairfield University Marketing and Communications.
The University reserves the right to reject delivery of materials containing unauthorized or incorrect use of its seal, shield, and/or signature pursuant to the enclosed handbook.
VISUAL IDENTITY
Elements of Identity
HELPFUL TERMS:
VISUAL IDENTITY PROGRAM
A system of visual communications, graphically coordinated in such a way that the public easily identifies Fairfield University and its activities.
VERTICAL
The shield never stands alone without express permission from Marketing and Communications.
LOGO (SIGNATURE)
The logo includes two elements:
Shield (Graphic Identifier)
Reflects the organization’s spirit and philosophy, and promotes immediate identification by the public. It should not be redrawn or modified.
Wordmark
Represents the institution’s name, designed in a unique and individual form. The wordmark typically appears with the shield, but can also be used independently.
The wordmark is hand-styled and kerned. It should be reproduced photographically or digitally from the original art and should not be typeset or keyboarded.
LOGO W/ SHIELD
HORIZONTAL WIDE
WORDMARK
Clear Space
In order to maintain consistent legibility, always preserve minimum clear space around our logo. The goal is to add a barrier against any conflicting visual elements that may diminish the impact of the mark.
Always maintain space around the logo equal to the height of the “F” in the wordmark. Clear space amount should increase relative to the size of the logo.
No outside elements allowed to break this barrier. VERTICAL
Include the descender of the lowercase ‘y’ as the base.
LOGO W/ SHIELD
Incorrect Uses
DO NOT
Stretch or distort the logo.
DO NOT
Alter the color of any part of the logo.
DO NOT
Add an outline to the logo.
DO NOT
Frame the logo in a restricting box.
DO NOT
Use the logo on distracting background or colors outside of the Fairfield University color palette unless otherwise approved.
Color Palette
The Fairfield University Logo is to never be used on or in combination with the secondary color palette. COLOR
Color Variations
The following are samples of the University logo and wordmark. Other permutations, such as reverse knockout text for use on dark backgrounds, single color logo, rule, and school name; as well as other color versions are not permitted.
These combinations have been determined and selected to meet ADA compliance for minimum contrast standards.
Lockups
UNIVERSITY LOGO WITH SCHOOL AND DIVISION NAMES
The following are samples of the University logo with the names of individual schools and divisions, as well as departments and centers. These are reserved for special use by the college’s and schools’ deans and directors.
Other permutations, such as black shield and text; reverse white knockout text for use on dark backgrounds; single color logo, rule, and school name; as well as other color versions are subject to consultation with Marketing and Communications.
W/ SHIELD
HORIZONTAL WIDE
WORDMARK
LOGO
Secondary Logos
CHARLES F. DOLAN
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
The following are samples of the Dolan School of Business logos in horizontal and vertical layouts. These are reserved for special use by the school’s dean. Other permutations, as well as other color versions are subject to consultation with Marketing and Communications.
Color Variations
Secondary Logos
MARION PECKHAM EGAN SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH STUDIES
The following are samples of the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies logos in horizontal and vertical layouts. These are reserved for special use by the school’s dean. Other permutations, as well as other color versions are subject to consultation with Marketing and Communications.
Color Variations
Secondary Logos
JOHN CHARLES MEDITZ
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
The following are samples of the Meditz College of Arts and Sciences logos in horizontal and vertical layouts. These are reserved for special use by the school’s dean. Other permutations, as well as other color versions, are subject to consultation with Marketing and Communications.
Color Variations
Logo Tree
Embroidered Uniforms
OPTION 1: SHIELD
OPTION 2: F-LOGO
Figtree SemiBold Weight for Embroidery
F-Logo must be placed in a highly visible, secondary location
Typography
Typefaces that complement the signature are to be used for supplementary copy, such as address blocks, signage, and advertisements.
The recommended text fonts for use in Fairfield’s print materials is Libre Baskerville and Figtree. The suggested secondary serif font is Times New Roman and the secondary sans-serif font is Arial, and is primarily used for email correspondence.
On occasion, as recommended by Marketing and Communications, other complementary serif and sans-serif fonts may be utilized.
Figtree also offers roman and italic version of: Light, Regular, Medium, Semibold, Bold, Extrabold, Black
PRIMARY
Libre Baskerville
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890
SECONDARY
Times New Roman is a pre-installed system font and is default for email, and secondary typeface for letters.
Times New Roman
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890
SANS-SERIF
PRIMARY
Figtree Regular
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890
Arial is a pre-installed system font and is default for email, and secondary typeface for letters.
Arial
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890
TYPOGRAPHY (CONT.)
Optical Tracking Title Case TYPE
Libre Baskerville Italic for Ampersand
Title & More
8pt Black Color
+100 Tracking All Caps
9pt Black Color
Optical Tracking 14pt Leading Sentence Case 28pt Red Color
EXAMPLE OF SUBTITLE
Example of body copy. Ur, autem etur sunt ut ratem et aperum doloreptatur mi, nobit alis con rate iunt.
Onemolorum aspe se sint vellaborem in commolupist, con ped mo destio. Ibusda estios es dest, entium es et oditem.
Bistotas sitatem possitiis nis volesequis esequo blam isimus asperov idest, que vellumqui aut unte ipiduntur? Quis quas etusaperatis et ipiendelia sum velic temporia sed exerovitia dios arciatu rerchillor sin paria velit haribusa di velesti cuptum ipiscid ullatem. Nem sin receped quam ipsa conet, quis in rem.
Fairfield Historic Plaster Cast Collections Salon
MON., APRIL 14 | CANISIUS HALL 6
2:15 – 3 P.M. Student Poster Session 3 – 4 P.M. Roundtable Conversation
Event Information & Registration: fairfield.edu/artinstitute
Stationery
LETTERHEAD
The flush left, block style, letter-typing format is suggested.
MARGINS
Top 1”
Left 1/2”
Right 2 1/4 ”
Bottom 1”
All letterheads are to be ordered through, and approved by, Marketing and Communications.
Content must be contained within this box.
Date
Name Title Company Address City, State Zip Code
Salutation:
This letter illustrates the recommended typing format for correspondence using the new Fairfield University letterhead. This font is 10 point Gotham Book. Calibri is the alternate typeface to use, which is available in most word-processing software.
The top and bottom margin is 1”. The left margin is .5” and right margin 2.25“. After typing the date, make three hard returns and type the name and address block. Hit three hard returns and type the salutation. Make two hard returns and begin the letter text. Make two hard returns to start each new paragraph.
Two hard returns after the final paragraph, type the complimentary close, and allow four hard returns before typing the sender’s name and title. Make two hard returns before typing the optional writer’s or administrative assistant’s initials and two more hard returns before the enclosure and copy information.
Complimentary close,
Name of Sender Title
Writer’s or administrative assistant’s initials
Encl.
cc:
BUSINESS CARD
To maintain consistency, this format is used for University business cards.
Departments and centers that align between academics and student life, as well as administrative, can adopt the F-Logo as the icon on the front side of the card, however must maintain the official ‘Fairfield University’ wordmark on the back side for consistency.
All cards are to be ordered through, and approved by, Marketing and Communications.
Only official University-provided content information is included on business cards. No personal or individual content information will be included on business cards.
ENVELOPE
To maintain consistency, this format is used for University envelopes.
All envelopes are to be ordered through, and approved by, Marketing and Communications.
Stationery
Second Page Continued
This letter illustrates the recommended typing format for correspondence using the new Fairfield University letterhead. This font is 10 point Gotham Book, which is available in most word-processing software. Calibri is the alternate typeface to use
Salutation:
This letter illustrates the recommended typing format for correspondence using the new Fairfield University letterhead. This font is 10 point Gotham Book. Calibri is the alternate typeface to use, which is available in most word-processing software.
The top and bottom margin is 1”. The left margin is .5” and right margin 2“, After typing the date, make three hard returns and type the name and address block. Hit three hard returns and type the salutation. Make two hard returns and begin the letter text. Make two hard returns to start each new paragraph.
Two hard returns after the final paragraph, type the complimentary close, and allow four hard returns before typing the sender ’s name and title. Make two hard returns before typing the optional writer ’s or administrative assistant’s initials and two more hard returns before the enclosure and copy information.
The top and bottom margin is 1”. The left margin is .5” and right margin 2.25“. After typing the date, make three hard returns and type the name and address block. Hit three hard returns and type the salutation. Make two hard returns and begin the letter text. Make two hard returns to start each new paragraph.
Complimentary close,
Two hard returns after the final paragraph, type the complimentary close, and allow four hard returns before typing the sender’s name and title. Make two hard returns before typing the optional writer’s or administrative assistant’s initials and two more hard returns before the enclosure and copy information.
Complimentary close,
Name of Sender Title
Name of Sender Title
Writer ’s or administrative assistant’s initials
Encl.
cc:
Writer’s or administrative assistant’s initials
Encl.
cc:
Administrative divisions/departments can choose between these two layouts.
Email Signature
DESKTOP / MOBILE
To maintain consistency, this format is used for University email signatures. Email signature layouts are available through Marketing and Communications.
Only official University-provided content information is included on email signatures. University-provided cell phone numbers may be included, and on occasion, individual cell phones of professors may be included for easy access.
No personal or individual content information will be included on email signatures.
University provided social media logos/links are included, but not personal or individual social media links.
Email signatures have been optimized for both light-mode and dark-mode user interfaces. Official logos are intentionally absent. Social icons must be the color gray.
ACADEMICS
John J. Doe, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology
203-254-4000, ext. 1111 jdoe@fairfield.edu
Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
JOHN CHARLES MEDITZ COLLEGE OF AR TS & SCIENCES
John J Doe, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology
203-254-4000, ext. 1111 doe@fairfield.edu
y
Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
LIGHT MODE
To download the latest email signature template for Outlook, please visit fairfield.edu/marketing
ATHLETICS
Athletics
The official Fairfield University Athletics logos are shown here.
To protect copyrights and licensing arrangements, these graphics cannot be altered without written authorization and are strictly limited to athletics materials.
PRIMARY ICON “F-LOGO”
RESPONSIVE DESIGN
SECONDARY ICON “STAG HEAD”
PRIMARY LOGO
SECONDARY LOGO
PRIMARY WORDMARK
SECONDARY WORDMARK
OFFICIAL SLOGAN
Athletics Colorways
F LOGO
STAG LOGO
ATHLETICS COLORWAYS (CONT.)
PRIMARY ATHLETICS LOGO
STAGS WORDMARK
Athletics Teams & Clubs
A variety of official Fairfield University Athletics team logos are shown here in both horizontal and vertical formats.
These logos cannot be altered and are limited to athletics related materials. All Fairfield University team logos are available for use.
VERTICAL
PRIMARY
HORIZONTAL
For uniforms, home games must use ‘Stags’ wordmark, and away games must use ‘Fairfield’ wordmark.
AWAY JERSEY IN RED
NCAA DIVISION I VARSITY ATHLETICS
WOMEN
– Basketball
– Cross Country
– Field Hockey
– Golf
– Lacrosse
– Rowing
– Soccer
– Softball
CLUB* & INTRAMURAL SPORTS^
– Badminton^
– Baseball*
– Basketball*^
– Cornhole^
– Dodgeball^
– Equestrian*
– Esports*^
– Field Hockey*
– Flag Football^
– Golf*
F-Logo can be placed in a highly-visibile, secondary location
HOME JERSEY IN WHITE
– Swimming & Diving
– Tennis
– Volleyball
MEN
– Baseball
– Basketball
– Cross Country
– Golf
– Lacrosse
– Rowing
– Swimming & Diving
– Soccer
– Tennis
– Ice Hockey*
– Kickball^
– Lacrosse*
– Pickleball^
– Rugby*
– Running*
– Sailing*
– Skiing/ Snowboarding*
– Soccer*^
– Softball*^
– Spikeball^
– Street Hockey^
– Swimming*
– Team Handball^
– Tennis*
– Ultimate Frisbee*
– Volleyball*^
– Wrestling*
Promotional Items
Custom promotional items (coasters, drinkware, hats, bags, etc.) must follow branding standards and be ordered through our on-site partner, Club Colors, or through Marketing and Communications.
General promotional items (stickers, F lapel pins, pens, magnets, etc.) can be delivered in less than 10 business days if ordered in quantities of fewer than 1,000 through Design & Print’s online store. View the full listing of items available.
online at: fairfield.webdeskprint.com
Apparel / Gear
Approved Stag Gear is offered on the Fairfield University store website. These offerings vary from standard merchandise to specialty collaborations.
Custom Apparel / Gear must follow branding standards and be created and approved by Marketing and Communications. All orders must be placed through our on-site partner, Club Colors, or through Marketing and Communications.
Signage
All signage (indoor and outdoor hanging banners, pole banners, event signs, lawn signs, etc.) must be ordered through and approved in writing by Marketing and Communications. All signage must include date, time, event title and location, and must be hung in designated bulletin board locations once approved. Signage owners are responsible for removing all signage after event date passes.
ORIENTATION PARKING
Vehicle Graphics
All Vehicle Graphics must be created following brand standards and be approved by Marketing and Communications.
SECTION 2
Social Media
Social Media Marketing
WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
Social Media Marketing is defined as the process of creating and sharing content to publicly promote an entity on various online platforms. At the University level, an effective social media strategy fosters brand awareness, communicates campus news and milestones, generates positive engagement, and strengthens connections within the community.
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY’S OFFICIAL BRAND CHANNELS
Adjacent is the current list of accounts managed exclusively by the Marketing and Communications team. Please note that the creation of any new pages for these entities, outside of this list—on either existing or alternative platforms—is not permitted. This policy ensures consistent branding and strategic alignment across all platforms for our intended audiences.
OFFICIAL BRAND INSTAGRAM COLLABORATION POLICY
On the official brand channels listed on the next page, we employ the Instagram “collaborative feature” selectively to maximize impact and align with overarching Social Media Marketing goals. This feature is typically reserved for significant moments such as: championships or milestone achievements, academic highlights, significant news, accolades, or content that aligns with our mission and vision strategies. Marketing and Communications reserves the right to refuse collab requests without explanation.
Beyond collaborations, various tagging methods are utilized when appropriate to enhance reach and engagement for campus partners. These methods include: location tagging, photo tagging, @mentioning relevant accounts.
Each tagging or collaborative opportunity is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure alignment with the brand’s goals and relevance to the target audience. The discretion to approve such initiatives lies with the Marketing and Communications team—we also reserve the right to omit tags altogether.
Official Accounts
@fairfieldu Fairfield University Fairfield University @fairfieldu @fairfieldu
@fairfieldualumni Fairfield University Alumni Fairfield University Alumni
@fairfieldbellarmine Fairfield Bellarmine Fairfield Bellarmine
@fairfieldmeditz John Charles Meditz College of Arts & Sciences John Charles Meditz College of Arts & Sciences
@fairfielddolan Fairfield Dolan Fairfield Dolan
@fairfieldengineering Fairfield Engineering Fairfield Engineering
@fairfieldegan Fairfield Egan Fairfield Egan
@fairfieldsehd Fairfield School of Education and Human Development Fairfield School of Education and Human Development
@fairfieldudowntown Fairfield U Downtown
@fairfielduam Fairfield University Art Museum
University Social Media Sub-Accounts
Sub-accounts describe any Fairfield University-affiliated account that is not under management by Marketing and Communications and makes up about 70 percent of Fairfield’s social media accounts. When communicating on behalf of the University across any channels, users are required to adhere to the guidelines outlined in this Marking Handbook, as well as any relevant provisions in the Student Handbook and the Employee Handbook.
Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in corrective actions as outlined in this Marketing Handbook and/or disciplinary measures as specified in the Student Handbook and/or Employee Handbook.
Social Media Trial Exercises
Managing University-branded social media accounts requires careful planning and adherence to established guidelines to maintain a strong and effective online presence. When accounts associated with the University do not meet the outlined or evolving standards, they may be subject to a six-week trial period to evaluate their compliance and effectiveness. During this period, Marketing and Communications will determine whether the account under guidance:
— Can continue to operate while adhering to the stated guidelines
— Should be retired and content be absorbed into another existing account
— Should be removed from the platform
Our strategies are based on the needs and behavior of our target audiences. Even if your account complies with all requirements, accounts may still be subject to retirement or consolidation if deemed most appropriate by the University’s larger Marketing and Communications goals.
Do you want to recruit 10 new club members? Do you want to be viewed as thought leaders in the world of Engineering? In addition to the goals to the right, establish three goals of your own so that the intentions behind your social media content are clear and well-guided.
BENEFITS OF COMPLIANCE
Social media marketing, when adhering to University strategy:
— Increases Brand Awareness
— Builds Valuable Relationships
— Differentiates and Elevates Us From Competitors
— Generates Leads and Boost Conversions
RISKS OF NON-COMPLIANCE
Social media marketing, when not adhering to University strategy, risks:
— Poor User Experience, Loss of Brand Loyalty
— Lack of Engagement, Stunted Growth of Public Channels
— Appearing Less Competitive Among Peer Institutions
— Misrepresentation of University Goals, Priorities,Initiatives
— Copyright Infringement
GOALS
A University-wide social media strategy strives to:
— Positively engage with the Fairfield University community, including current and prospective students and families, alumni, faculty, staff, and greater community.
— Support the University’s Marketing and Communications strategies of brand awareness and thought leadership with a national audience.
— Increase interaction and engagement from target audiences with the institution’s website (fairfield.edu) and its affiliated pages and microsites.
WHO DOES THE HANDBOOK GOVERN?
Any campus entity (e.g., a college, school, department, program, club or other organization) that wants to either start a new social media account or maintain an existing one. All must make a written request for final approval from Marketing and Communications.
WHO CAN REQUEST TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT?
— A department
— An on-campus club/organization
WHO CANNOT REQUEST TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT?
— A person/department seeking to market one particular event or set of events
— A sub-division of a department or organization (all must reside under their main umbrella for a stronger user experience)
Please note only social media pages under management by Marketing and Communications may be listed on any official University web page, in print, or in electronic publications.
WILL MY REQUEST FOR A NEW ACCOUNT BE REJECTED?
Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with your goals carefully considered. Final recommendations by Marketing and Communications are made to ensure the best outcome for your needs, audience behavior, and the University’s overall public image.
CRITERIA FOR OBTAINING OFFICIAL STATUS
Page Requirements: New social media profiles must be registered to official University resource email accounts set up by ITS. New accounts should not be registered to phone numbers of University students or personnel. Please reach out to Marketing and Communications to set up new accounts under the proper protocol. Administrator(s): The primary administrator of the page must be a benefitseligible employee of Fairfield University. At least one other benefits-eligible employee in your department or division must have administrative access. Marketing and Communications must be given administrative access to the
account. On Facebook and LinkedIn, Marketing and Communications must be made an admin of the page, in lieu of password access. Students with account access need daily oversight from primary and secondary page administrators.
Social Media Oversight: While Marketing and Communications does not plan to actively manage all social media pages, providing us access allows the department to effectively track University-affiliated accounts, address potential security issues more promptly, and minimize the occurrence of inactive or “dead accounts” that are under increased risk of being hacked
Administrator Responsibilities: The primary account administrator is required to: 1. Manage and regularly update the content of the social media account. 2. Remove any content that may violate University policies, state, or federal laws. 3. Monitor direct messages, comments, and other interactions daily to ensure prompt engagement. Compliance with Branding Standards: All social media accounts must adhere to the University’s design and branding standards. Use of brand marks, logos, and other design elements must receive approval from Marketing and Communications. Administrators may be required to update account profiles to align with these standards at any time. This includes but is not limited to: profile avatars, cover photos, designed content, branded items in photo or video content, etc. For detailed guidance about what marks, logos, colors are permitted, please refer to the University’s Visual Identity portion of the Marketing Handbook.
Account Names and Handles: Account names, handles, bios, and other identifiers representing the University must be developed in collaboration with Marketing and Communications, and/or are open to edits at any time.
Facebook Page Requirements: Departments creating social media accounts on behalf of the University must use “Facebook Pages” rather than groups or personal profiles. Facebook Pages are designed for entities (e.g., businesses or organizations) and must be created by Marketing and Communications representatives only.
Account Administrator Updates: Any changes to designated account administrators must be promptly reported to the Marketing and Communications team. This is a top security and account access concern and should be handled diligently before an administrator’s departmental or University departure.
PROFILE INFORMATION AND SOCIAL SKINS
Official accounts must utilize profile images and cover images that are approved by Marketing and Communications. Account biographies, URLs, and other details must be approved by Marketing and Communications.
BEST PRACTICES
Profile Bios and Social Skins: Official social media accounts representing the organization must adhere to branding guidelines by using profile and cover images approved by Design & Print to ensure consistency and professionalism. Additionally, all account details, including biographies, URLs, and other relevant information, must be reviewed and approved by Marketing and Communications to maintain alignment with the organization’s messaging and strategic goals.
Make Time for Social Media: You are expected to keep an active, lively account; opening the apps daily, posting weekly, recognizing the types of content performing well, identifying trends, and monitoring your follower growth to evaluate the efficacy of continuation.
Call to Action: Limit each post to a single call to action to keep the message clear and focused. Additionally, not every post should require action—aim for 80 percent of your content to focus solely on building awareness and strengthening your brand.
Respond Promptly: Has someone responded to your post in a positive way? Great! You’re encouraged to ‘like’ their comment, or answer their additional questions when deemed appropriate. If you receive a negative response, it might not be necessary to engage. If you’re unsure of how to deal with a comment, contact the Marketing and Communications team.
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
— Do take and post your own imagery.
— Do encourage photo submissions within your department/group.
— Do show Behind the Scenes/Day-In-Life content.
— Do show off your space (classroom, academic building interior/exterior, internship sites, courts/fields, etc.).
— Do keep captions engaging and concise.
— Do write in third person (unless quoting).
— Do be engaging and personable yet academic in tone.
— Do tag other departments when applicable (Co-sponsoring events, etc).
— Do not post text-heavy graphically-designed posts.
— Do not post flyers.
— Do not post blurry/pixelated images.
— Do not download photos from internet; Do not post photos of celebrities/public figures unless you took the photo yourself.
— Do not rely on social for event promotion/registration.
COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT
— Do follow other departments/groups of Fairfield University.
— Do follow similar departments/groups from peer institutions.
— Do “Like” and comment on posts of those you follow.
— Do “Share” posts of others when directly related to what you do.
— Do respond to inquiries in your Direct Message threads.
— Do not respond to comments or inquiries that are aggressive or put University or individuals at risk [not sure? Reach out to Marketing and Communications].
— Do not spam or engage in “Like for a Like, or Follow for a Follow”.
Strategy
More specific strategies will differ per social network.
For sharing photo and video
For sharing photos, videos, and links to articles or other resources
For professional networking and career development
Best for:
— Brand Awareness
— User-Generated Content
Post Frequency: 3-5 posts/week
University Specific Content Types:
— Campus Photos
— Faculty/Student Collaboration
— Event Photos
— Lab/Classroom Videos
— Student Spotlights
— Day in the Life Videos (Best to shoot vertically for Reels.)
Do / Do not
ü Do use the Instagram Location Check-In Feature.
ü Do use 1-2 hashtags per post (one should always be #FairfieldU).
× Do not post links in caption (Per best practices, use a link button in Instagram Stories when looking to drive traffic off Instagram, or put link in bio).
Best for:
— Brand Awareness
— News Post Frequency: 3-5 posts/week
University Specific Content Types:
— Campus Photos
— Faculty/Student Collaboration
— Event Photos
— Lab/Classroom Videos
— Day-in-the-Life Videos
— Fairfield News Articles
— Articles from the Press
— Links to Website
Do / Do not
ü Do use bitly links when sharing links.
ü Do use Location Check-In Feature on campus photos.
× Do not use hashtags.
Best for:
— Alumni Engagement
— Career and Internship Highlights
— University News
Post Frequency: 3-5 posts/week (weekends not recommended)
University Specific Content Types:
— Campus Photos
— Faculty/Student Collaboration
— Fairfield News Articles
— Articles From the Press
— Links to Website
— Other Pertinent News
Do / Do not
ü Do tag individuals mentioned in posts/articles.
ü Do use 3-5 industry-relevant hashtags.
ü Do encourage department members internally to “Like”, Comment, and “Share” page’s LinkedIn content.
× Do not use casual tone or jargon.
STRATEGY (CONT.)
TIKTOK
For sharing short-form video specifically in the genres of dance, jokes, stunts, Q&A, and like forms of entertainment
Best for:
— Brand Awareness
University Specific Content Types:
ü Meet with Marketing and Communications
Do
ü Do consult Marketing and Communications
For sharing photos, videos, GIPHYs to quickly disseminate information
@FairfieldU is currently the only approved TikTok account for the University.
All requests for TikTok content or accounts must go through Marketing and Communications
Best for:
— Athletics
— Public Relations
Post Frequency: 5-10 posts/week
University Specific Content Types:
— Campus Photos
— Faculty/Student Collaboration
— Event Photos
— Fairfield News Articles
— Articles from the Press
— Links to Website
— Fairfield GIPHYs
Do
ü Use 1-2 hashtags per post.
ü Use appropriate GIPHYs (Fairfield specific are available).
ü Use polling and other features.
ü “Share” other University accounts.
ü “Share” publications relevant to your industry.
More specific strategies will differ per social network.
(CONT.)
APPROVED HASHTAGS
University Standard
#FairfieldU
#StagCountry
#JesuitEducated
Academic
#FairfieldBellarmine
#FairfieldMeditz
#FairfieldDolan
#FairfieldEgan
#FairfieldEngineering
#FairfieldSEHD
#FairfieldUAM
Student Life
#StagsUp
#Stags25, #Stags26, #Stags27, #Stags28, #Stags29, (etc. for all class years)
Athletics
#WeAreStags
#StagsCompete
#StagsLead
#StagsCare
#StagsGrow
#BuiltForLife
Commencement/Alumni
#OnceAStagAlwaysAStag
#StagGrad
#StagMates
#Stags25, #Stags26, #Stags27, #Stags28, #Stags29, (etc. for all class years)
ONGOING SUPPORT
The world of social media is everchanging—that’s what keeps it so exciting! As a manager of a University social media page, you have access to yearlong support. Whether your goals are to increase engagement on social or recruit more followers, Marketing and Communications is here to support and provide consult to help you reach your goals. Contact our team to set up quarterly or bi-annual strategy sessions.
COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE
Users of social media should be conscientious about the content they post and share in these mediums to avoid infringing upon a copyright owner’s intellectual property rights. Copyrighted works are any original work fixed in a tangible medium of expression. This includes books, articles, blog posts, photographs, videos, drawings, sculptures, and music either in sheet music or in digital or otherwise recorded form. Statistics themselves are not protected by copyright, but the decisions relating to arrangement, selection, and display represented in a graph, a chart, or other presentation of data likely are protected by copyright. Therefore, copying a graph could violate copyright law.
Also, please note that copyrighted works are not “free” or in the “public domain” when posted on the Internet. These works retain their copyright protection.
Pursuant to the Title 17 of the United States Code (the “U.S. Copyright Act”), a copyright owner has the exclusive right to:
1. authorize the reproduction of copyrighted work;
2. reproduce copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords; and prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work. Further, a copyright owner has the exclusive right:
3. to distribute copies of the copyrighted work;
4. to perform and authorize the performance of the copyrighted work publicly with respect to literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
5. to display the copyrighted work publicly with respect to literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work; and
6. to perform the copyrighted work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission with respect to sound recordings. See Title 17 U.S.C. § 106.
WHO OWNS COPYRIGHTS?
Common examples include authors, publishers, photographers, composers, musicians, choreographers, videographers, painters, sculptors, programmers, and actors.
WHAT CONSTITUTES “FAIR USE”?
The “Fair Use Doctrine” is an exception to Title 17’s rule (described above) that a creator has exclusive rights (and ownership) of his/her works. In short, this exception creates certain limited circumstances where a Social Media user does not need the permission of the creator (or subsequent copyright owner) to use his/her works. Specifically, Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act provides the following circumstances where permission is not required:
For purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research.
In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is fair use, the factors to be considered shall include: (1) the purpose and
More information about what constitutes fair use may be obtained on the United States Copyright Office website located at: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
It is difficult to define “fair use” and exactly where it applies. The four factors listed above reflect the Federal Court’s efforts to develop a set of criteria to determine (on a case by case basis) whether the Fair Use Doctrine applies, i.e. - whether the particular use falls within the paradigm of fair use or constitutes copyright infringement.
In light of the ambiguity surrounding fair use and the substantial legal penalties for violating a copyright, Social Media users must obtain written permission from the copyright owner to use copyrighted material when there is any question as to whether their use would constitute “fair use.” Even when a use of a copyrighted work is protected by fair use, provide attribution for work that is not yours.
More information about what constitutes fair use may be obtained on the United States Copyright Office website located at: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
OBTAINING PERMISSION TO USE COPYRIGHT MATERIALS
In order to legally use copyrighted work, you must obtain detailed written permission from the copyright owner as to the scope, duration, and location of the use. You must also obtain written consent for how to credit the copyright owner (i.e. the specific language to be included on your social media posting).
This process starts with identifying who the copyright owner is because copyrights may be owned by someone other than the original creator, and there may be more than one copyright owner of the underlying copyrighted work.
Places to begin looking for the identity of the copyright owner(s) include the Copyright Notice on the copyrighted work or the Registration of Claim of Copyright with the United States Copyright Office. Because the law does not require that copyrighted work either contain a Copyright Notice or Registration with the United States Copyright Office, you may have to search further. Collective Licensing Agencies (e.g. Copyright Clearance Center for print, SESAC for music, and Motion Picture Licensing Corporation for movie and audio- visual) are additional sources. However, this is not an exhaustive list, and identifying the copyright owner may prove challenging and can require significant research.
IMPLICATIONS OF POSTING CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
When you post content to social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, or Instagram, under the terms of their respective service agreements, you are automatically granting them a license –commonly known as an intellectual property (or IP) license – to use this content. Although the specific language of these agreements varies from platform to platform, the IP license is similar in that you typically are granting the sites permission to share your content all over the world without having to gain further approval from you, and without having to pay you any royalties. Some platforms also reserve the right to change, commercialize, or publicly perform or display your posted materials without express permission or compensation.
Also, worth noting, are the provisions that govern the license period. Some service agreements expressly state that you are granting them a perpetual IP license, while others indicate that your IP license ends when you delete your content or terminate your social media account, unless the content has been shared with others who have not deleted it. In both instances the net result is the same: the social media platform owns a license to use your posted content, for whatever purpose, in perpetuity.
Digital Media
Web Type Hierarchy
Typefaces that complement the signature are to be used for supplementary copy, such as address blocks, signage, and advertisements.
The recommended text fonts for use in Fairfield’s print materials is Libre Baskerville and Figtree. The suggested secondary sans serif font is Arial, and is primarily used for email correspondence.
On occasion, as recommended by Marketing and Communications, other complementary serif and sans serif fonts may be utilized.
Libre Baskerville Regular 60px/100px leading -25px letterspacing
Libre Baskerville Regular 45px/65px leading -25px letterspacing
All Stories Top Stories
Figtree SemiBold 26px/34px leading
Preparing you For Success
PREPARING YOU FOR SUCCESS
Figtree Bold All Caps 19px/24px leading
Figtree SemiBold 24px/29px leading
Figtree Regular 18px/29px leading
Card Title lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet elit Consectetuer
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula.
WEB TYPE HIERARCHY (CONT.)
BODY
Figtree Regular 18px/29px leading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore.
FEATURED QUOTE
Figtree SemiBold 24px/32px leading
BUTTONS
Figtree SemiBold All Caps 20px/32px leading 50px letterspacing
LINKS
Figtree SemiBold 19px/23px leading
Figtree SemiBold 18px/29px leading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse.”
— Fname Lname ’20
BUTTON TEXT
Fancy Link Text
inline link text
Web Color Accessibility
PRIMARY PALETTE
The primary website incorporates the core brand colors consistently. Black is used for H1, H2, and H3 headings, body text, and hyperlinks, while red is reserved for H4 headings and serves as an accent hue.
SECONDARY PALETTE
The secondary color palette complements the primary palette, working together to establish balance. These colors are utilized for text, background shades, and various elements across the platform.
COLOR ACCESSIBILITY (CONT.)
GRADIENT
Gradients create more visual interest and texture for backgrounds and hero spaces. They should be used sparingly to optimize their impact.
LIGHT GRAY (50% OPACITY)
HEX: #C8C8C8
ACCESSIBLE COLOR PAIRINGS
To guarantee web content accessibility, adhering to the WCAG 2 standards is crucial. The chart on the right displays color combinations meeting the AAA accessibility criteria for web usage. You can verify color contrast and ensure accessibility of color combinations using the WebAIM Contrast Checker.
AAA accessible when text is at least 19px tall and SemiBold.
WHITE
HEX: #FFFFFF
Web Accessibility
The Fairfield University website must meet basic accessibility standards. While many of these standards are integrated into the site’s framework, content contributors also play a crucial role in ensuring that content is accessible to a diverse audience.
TIPS FOR CREATING MORE ACCESSIBLE CONTENT
MAKE LINK TEXT INFORMATIVE
Let users know what they’re clicking and where they’re going. When possible, avoid phrases such as “click here.” This applies to links within your text and buttons. See more helpful link tips (bit.ly/3NAHg6i) from WebAIM.
USE AN ORGANIZED HEADING STRUCTURE
If users can scan a page and understand the context from your headings, you’re on the right track. A great heading structure helps users with or without screen readers and helps search engines too. See details on heading structure (bit.ly/3GfmCX3) from WebAIM.places throughout the site.
H1 Communication
H2 What You’ll Learn and Do
H3 Choose the path that works for you
H3 Driven by research, with a focus on evidence-based recommendations
H3 Enhance your skillsets
H3 Gain real-world experience
H3 Internship Opportunities
H3 Find Out More
H4 Explore Course Requirements
H4 Contact Us
H2 Career Outlook
USE ALTERNATIVE TEXT FOR EVERY IMAGE
If users can’t see your images or they choose not to display them, alternative text—or image “alt text”—provides them the context they need. Alt text depends on your page content and the image’s function—see a comprehensive guide to using image alt text.
Nurse talking with patient
DON’T USE IMAGES WITH EMBEDDED TEXT
Unless it’s an online flyer, avoid images with embedded text. No amount of alt text will help that image make sense to a screen reader.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
WHAT IS ACCESSIBILITY?
Accessibility is providing content to all people regardless of their hardware, software, language, location, or what their physical and sensory abilities may be. The video Web Accessibility Perspectives (bit.ly/3PFXzkh) is a great introduction to key accessibility topics.
Alternative text—users can see this if images don’t load.
The text on this image can’t be read.
Web Content
To maintain high-quality content over time, it’s essential to understand best practices and diligently manage both your pages and their distinct features. Below, you’ll find additional recommendations and resources to optimize your content efforts.
WHEN NAMING FILES, MAKE THINGS CLEAR
Be consistent, clear, and descriptive with your file naming especially when image files are shared amongst a large team. Consider labeling your file using the following name convention: site_ template_description. filetype. Kitchen Sink templates can be shortened to “KS” to keep character counts to a minimum.
HEADLINE LENGTH
Aim for short, easy to scan headlines when possible to give users immediate understanding of the content—especially with widgets that serve as quick call-outs.
Maintain page balance by keeping adjacent headlines (i.e., in columns) similar in length.
Be aware that long headlines for news stories or events will appear in multiple places throughout the site.
IMAGE FILE NAME: Homepage_Call-to-Action.jpg
NEW COPY DOCUMENT: Programs_Biochemistry_Web_Copy.doc
Example of a headline that’s too long—headlines and subheaders should be short and to the point.
Example of a KS Feature headline.
BUTTON AND LINKS? KEEP THEM CONCISE.
Similar to headlines, when possible, keep buttons and fancy links short, and avoid punctuation whenever possible. These are actionable and should be labeled to inform the user of the link’s destination or outcome. Avoid titles that are longer than 34 characters.
Avoid excessively long buttons, keep them to a single line.
With adjacent links and buttons, keep lengths as similar as possible.
WATCH YOUR WIDOWS
Similar to headlines, balanced line lengths also enhance legibility. Unlike print, a web page’s aspect ratio and column widths adjust according to device. Be mindful of how the text wraps from line to line to avoid widows (single words at the end of a line) whenever possible.
Avoid using too much copy for card description or in narrow spaces. Too many short lines of text can be difficult to read.
Web Imagery
When it comes to selecting images, it’s essential to choose high-quality selects. However, photos that are too large can sometimes slow down load times. Here are some tips and tools to get the most out of your images.
SHOOT FOR JPGS
Unless an image needs a transparent background, save your images as JPGs. Optimized JPG images typically yield smaller file sizes.
FIRST YOU SIZE. THEN YOU OPTIMIZE.
Before optimizing file sizes using Photoshop or another compression tool, ensure you are resizing to the appropriate pixel dimention requirements for use. If an image is intended to be 1920px wide, avoid saving it as 2500px.
TOOLS TO HELP
For compressing image file size:
• TinyPNG (online, free)
To resize and adjust quality:
• Pixlr (pixlr.com) free
• Photoshop
Web Photography
Photo selection plays a critical role in shaping your website’s identity. Users often notice images before they read any text on the site. Despite having access to a vast image library, choosing the right photography can still pose a challenge. Below are some recommendations on how to get the most from your photos.
QUALITY GOES A LONG WAY
When saving photos for your projects, check the image size and aspect ratio. Images that are sized incorrectly may appear blurry and unprofessional.
THOUGHTFUL SELECTS
Take care to choose images that add context to the information being provided.
USING STOCK? USE IT WISELY.
When choosing stock, be sure to select images that feel authentic to your audience and message. Avoid anything that feels posed, and do a reverse image search to see where others may already be using the image. Go to Google, select images in the upper-righthand corner, and add a thumbnail of the desired image to search.
CHECK USAGE RIGHTS
Make sure you have the right permissions to use an image— don’t just download from a Google image search or off someone’s site
ENHANCE YOUR IMAGES
For brand consistency, use Pixlr.com to make minor adjustments to images, like brightening washed-out colors or adjusting colors that seem off.
EMPTY SPACE ≠ FILLER IMAGE
Images should support surrounding content and help provide additional context or meaning.
Websites & Digital Content Sharing Accounts
Fairfield University Marketing and Communications manages and maintains all official University websites and digital content sharing accounts.
Any publicly available website or digital content sharing account created with the intent of representing the institution or its departments and programs must be approved by Marketing and Communications prior to creation.
Common examples of website and digital content sharing platforms include: Wordpress, Tumblr, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, Spotify, and Flickr.
In addition to the proper use of branded elements and logos, official websites and accounts must adhere to the following:
1. All website content must comply with laws governing copyright, trademark, and intellectual property. This includes but is not limited to text, photography, video, audio, music, graphics, and data. University-approved photography, video, and graphics are available for use on approved projects by Marketing and Communications.
2. University sites and accounts must comply with the latest WCAG accessibility guidelines.
3. Fairfield University sites and accounts must not advertise or promote commercial or political interests unrelated to the University.
Any websites and accounts that do not meet the above criteria will be deemed unofficial. Unofficial sites and accounts shall not claim to represent official views or opinions of the University and to the extent they articulate a relationship to the University, they must carry a disclaimer stating such. Unofficial websites and accounts must not use the University name or logos without prior approval from Marketing and Communications.
Unofficial website owners or content creators shall be responsible for adhering to all University policies applicable to them by virtue of their status with the University.
Marketing and Communications reserves the right to remove or disable any University website or digital content sharing account in violation of University policies or applicable laws.
For more information on digital media and processes, please visit: fairfield.edu/marketing
BULK EMAIL APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Only University-approved Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Email Marketing Platforms, and vendors (i.e. those approved by Legal and Marketing, with whom the University has entered a legally approved contract) may be employed. As such, neither individuals nor departments may use unapproved systems (see prior sentence as what is required from “approval”). To ensure compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act, bulk distribution of emails (i.e. 50 recipients or more) must be approved by Marketing and Communications and sent using authorized distribution tools.
Please contact your Marketing and Communications Integrated Marketing Manager with any questions.
Digital Boards
DIGITAL SLIDE FILE
— Digital Slide templates are available in Canva, and include proper fonts and color choices in accordance with brand guidelines.
— Files must be JPEG or PNG, no video files or MPEG. Canva designs can be converted into these formats.
— For legibility purposes, slides cannot contain more than 15 words. Vanity URLs (example: fairfield.edu/summer) are suggested to link to more information.
— Design services are available through Design & Print (average charge is $42.50-$85).
— Superior imagery is the way to have your digital slide stand out and add color. Fairfield-produced images are suggested. Abide by copyright rules with any outside sources.
UPLOADING POLICIES
— SLA (Service Level Agreement): Digital Slides must be submitted in Wrike by selecting the Digital Board Request category at least four days before you wish the slide to begin running.
— Digital Board Wrike ticket should be named as DB- Partner - Brief Topic (e.g., DB-SEHD-SeriesAI)
— Choose the date of the event or registration deadline as the end-run date, if applicable.
— Digital slides cannot run for more than two calendar weeks (excluding Arts/ Ministry/Athletics).
— No more than three slides per partner/department/organization can run at the same time (excluding Arts/Ministry/Athletics).
— Takeover locations/screens must be specified (e.g., Main Campus, Bellarmine Campus, Austin Campus, Barone Campus Center Only). Large Zone on Screen
pixels Digital Board Takeover Images
pixels (Athletic Department Use Only)
Photography
The Marketing and Communications Division prioritizes photography services in alignment with the strategic priorities of the University. We place the highest focus on providing images that support and enhance enrollment and recruitment, while providing media visibility and effective marketing for our premier University events.
For other photography needs, Marketing and Communications will supply a list of University-approved and vetted photographers, who can be contacted and booked directly.
To request photography for your event, please complete the form on the Marketing and Communications webpage and you will be contacted with further guidance.
Timing for booking and image retrieval will depend on the scope of the event and the lead time provided.
For image and photography requests, please visit: fairfield.edu/marketing
Photography & Image Style
COMPLIANT
Imagery and photography should display a premium look and feel—using strong visuals and composition.
For image and photography information, please visit: fairfield.edu/marketing
NON-COMPLIANT
Subjects in lifestyle or environment shots should feel natural, not staged.
Images using graphics should be abstract. Avoid the use of dual symbolism, double exposures, and amateur rendering.
Strong composition, with accurate branding on apparel, and blurred objects in the foreground and background demonstrate immersive depth.
Different perspectives offer a unique view and add a creative look to the material.
Positive interactions that evoke confidence and professionalism show the Fairfield experience.
Video & Motion Graphics
VISUAL STYLE
— Imagery should showcase a high-caliber student and faculty experience.
— Compositions should be friendly, inviting, and interesting. Varying use of wide and close-up angles will help to convey the feeling of the scenes to the viewer.
— The frame should be free from unnecessary distractions such as moving vehicles, trash receptacles, and unnecessary clutter on table tops (water bottles/coffee cups).
— B-Roll (supplemental) footage should feel natural, as if the viewer was a part of the experience.
— Subjects should avoid addressing the camera directly, unless intentionally waving or giving a “Stags Up” hand gesture.
BEFORE YOU FILM
— Where will this be shown? (e.g., program web page, social media, event)
— Identify Aspect Ratio/Frame Rate based on the usage of the final product.
— Coordinate with your on-camera talent if the project is pre-produced.
— Model Release forms must be completed and returned before production begins. Release forms for the University are available in both English and Spanish. Subjects under 18 years old will need a parent or guardian to sign their release form .
LOCATION
— The filming location should be quiet, with a non-distracting background behind the subject.
— The background should be relevant to the subject matter (e.g., an office, a lab space, a locker room, etc.).
— If a relevant space is not available, a blank wall is preferred.
VISUAL STYLE
VIDEO & MOTION GRAPHICS (CONT.)
CLOTHING
— Subject’s clothing should be solid with a neutral tone. Avoid white or very bright colors. Heavy patterns such as plaid or houndstooth should be avoided as well.
— Fairfield-branded gear is acceptable if it is appropriate for the subject matter of the video.
CAMERA
— Professional camera with the ability to adjust settings and monitor audio should be used.
— A sturdy tripod or electronic camera stabilizer should be used whenever possible.
PICTURE PROFILE
— Recordings should be in a LOG format when possible. If no LOG format is available, or if the operator does not know how to properly record in this format, a ‘flat’ picture profile is preferred. Do not record in a RAW format.
ASPECT RATIO
— Landscape orientation should be recorded in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
— Vertical orientation should be recorded in 9:16 aspect ratio. Note: Hosting platform may utilize a different ratio, 4:5 or 1:1. Expect frame cropping in either of these scenarios.
— 16:9 HD video (1920x1080) or Ultra HD/4K (3840x2160) is preferred.
ASPECT RATIO
FRAME RATES
— The final product should be considered when choosing a frame rate.
— Video playback in real-time should be recorded at 24 frames per second (fps) or 30fps.
— Video playback intended to be in slow-motion should be recorded at 60fps or 120fps.
— Finalized videos should be delivered and uploaded at the 24fps frame rate.
AUDIO RECORDING
— When recording interviews and testimonials, the microphone should be situated as close to the speaker’s mouth as possible, without obstructing the frame.
— A boom mic should be positioned overhead, out of frame isolating the speaker’s words from the background audio
— A lavalier microphone should be clipped onto the speaker’s collar or lapel, with the wire hidden as well as possible.
FRAME COMPOSITION
— Single camera interviews should be framed in a medium shot, from the waist to the top of the head (leaving appropriate head room).
— Two camera interviews should differentiate the angles between the cameras. The second angle should be more profile than the main camera angle. See example 1.
— The subject should be slightly off-center in the frame, facing into the center of the frame with appropriate lead room.
— Videos where the subject is reading from a teleprompter should be a center-framed medium shot, with the camera raised to meet the subject’s eye-level. See example 2.
FRAME COMPOSITION
VISUAL STYLE
Example 1
Example 2
VIDEO & MOTION GRAPHICS
& MOTION GRAPHICS (CONT.)
MUSIC
— Background music (underscore) should be sourced from a royalty-free music library. Alternatively, it can be an original composition created specifically for the video.
— Whether the underscore is from a music library or an original composition, a music license or written permission to use the music track must be provided.
LIGHTING
— Utilize video-specific lights with soft light modifiers when possible.
— The scene should be evenly and well lit, with a consistent color temperature across all light sources.
— Indoor scenes should typically be recorded at 3200K and outdoor scenes at 5600K.
GRAPHICS
— Interviews should include a lower-third graphic, with the speaker’s name, class year (if applicable), level of education (MS, MA, PhD etc) and position title. See example 3.
— Videos should end with the horizontal Fairfield logo with shield animation.
— Additional graphical elements are to be used in very limited instances, specifically athletic team intro videos, fundraising campaigns, or statisticdriven informational videos. See example 4.
— The recommended text fonts are Libre Baskerville and Figtree. The Italic, Light and Bold type styles may also be used to add design interest.
GRAPHICS
Example 3
Example 4
VIDEO
SECTION 4
Editorial
Composition Guidelines
PowerPoint and other presentation applications, like Canva and Prezi, are powerful tools for creating compelling and interactive messaging through the use of language, graphics, and multimedia. However, it is important to remember that overuse of the graphic applications could blur or crowd your message.
Clean, well-prepared documents and consistent identification are as much a part of brand identity as proper use of the logo and other branding elements. The following are guidelines for creating branded, professional documents for marketing and communications purposes.
POWERPOINT AND GENERAL DOCUMENT PREPARATION
The following are guidelines for creating branded, professional documents.
Keep it simple.
— Always start with a title slide with a header in large type size. Depending on the audience, name and date are recommended.
— Stick with one message per slide. More than one message can be distracting for your audience.
— Limit the amount of text. Slide titles should be short, and content should be bulleted on one- line with no more than six lines of text on any one slide.
— Graphic elements should add context and support your message. Good graphics can significantly add to learning; bad graphics can confuse and distract your audience.
— Maintain a consistent design with regard to colors, font styles, and graphics.
— Map out your “story.” What is the final result you strive for? Build backwards from there.
For PowerPoint templates, and similar resources, visit: fairfield.edu/marketing
TYPEFACE
The University fonts, for print and digital, are Libre Baskerville (serif) and Figtree (sans serif). Default options when those are unavailable are Times New Roman (serif) and Arial (sans serif).
DOCUMENT STANDARDS
Always:
— Type full, complete sentences with text in upper and lower case.
— Use title case for headlines. (e.g., Special Events and Performances)
— Enter all copy flush left.
— Type only one space after a period.
— Use single spacing except for press releases or other specific formats.
— Use only hard return (enter key) at the end of a paragraph or headline, not at the end of each line within a paragraph.
— Do not indent paragraphs.
— Avoid end- of- line hyphens. Re-wrap accordingly.
— Avoid widows (one word alone on a line at the end of a sentence).
WRITING
Different kinds of documents require different formatting and tone. However, basic style and rules of strong writing are universal.
Writing Style:
— Avoid overly sophisticated language.
— Capture and hold attention with subject matter that’s relevant.
— Keep communications simple and clear. Avoid overly long sentences.
— Get to the point. Focus on University positioning, features, benefits, and impact.
— Use humor (when appropriate).
— Include a call to action.
— Use active voice.
— Know your audience.
— Place yourself on the receiving end.
Composition Guidelines (CONT.)
TONE
Because we are a University, the general tone should be inviting, positive, active, and conversational. More serious communications should be geared to the specific audience.
— Avoid the tendency to include all descriptions, details, rules, and disclaimers.
— All brand impressions should be positive ones.
— Find the right balance between content and promotion.
— Keep copy short, sweet, and to the point.
PROOFING AND FACT CHECKING
— Double-check all facts, figures, and any information that comes from outside sources.
— Proof all company names, contacts, and titles for accuracy.
— Refer to their sources (website, business card, letterhead), not ours.
— When in doubt, check directly with the source.
— Exercise caution with company types (Inc., LLC, LLP, etc.).
COMPOSITION TITLES
— Italicize book titles, movie titles, opera titles, play titles, long musical compositions, television program titles, and names of newspapers and journals. Put names of songs, poems, and television program episodes in quotes.
— The Bible is an exception to this rule: its title, sections, and books are capitalized but not italicized or put in quotes.
GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, AND SPELLING
Fairfield University is an educational institution. It is especially important that we practice perfect English, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
REFERENCING FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY
— Use this punctuation and capitalization when referring to Fairfield as: ...the modern, Jesuit Catholic University. (See Appendix F for details.)
— Refer to Fairfield as a premier educational institution founded by the Jesuits and committed to fostering a strong sense of community.
— When using our web address in a sentence, use www.fairfield.edu.
— When using our web address alone, use fairfield.edu (drop www.).
OTHER PUNCTUATION
— Oxford Comma — in a series of three or more, use a comma before “and.”
The soccer, lacrosse, and basketball teams made it to the finals.
— Ampersand (&) — It should only be used if absolutely necessary for spacing issues. Otherwise spell out “and.”
— Do not capitalize seasons — winter, spring, summer, and fall.
— Use non-profit instead of not-for-profit when referring to Fairfield University.
— Contain your excitement — do not overuse exclamation points!!!
— Hyphen (-) — When used in a title case headline, uppercase both hyphenated words.
— Avoid hyphenating at the end of a line by moving the full word to the next line.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone
For consistency, phone numbers in digital and most print materials should read:
— 203-254- 4000 or 203-254-4000, ext. 0000
— Note that the extension is abbreviated with punctuation and not capitalized.
— The use of (203) 254-4000 for formal print invitations or 203.254.4000 for print promotions are both acceptable, but the above style with dashes is preferred.
Email Signature
For consistency, all email signatures should read:
First Last Name Title, Department
203-254-4000, ext. 0000 name@fairfield.edu
Editorial Style Guidelines
(Dictionary Style: In alphabetical order)
academic degrees
Fairfield University confers associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees.
Abbreviations: Do NOT use periods after the degree designation
— AA for associate of arts degree or associate’s degree
— AS for associate of science degree or associate’s degree
— BS for bachelor of science degree or bachelor’s degree
— BA for bachelor of arts degree or bachelor’s degree
— MA for master of arts degree or master’s degree
— MS for master of science degree or master’s degree
— PhD for doctorate or doctoral degree, EdD, DBA, MBA, RN, BSN, MSN, DNP, etc.
NOTE: You can have a doctorate or a doctoral degree, but not a doctorate degree.
NOTE: Continue to use periods for S.J. This is not an academic designation.
Example: Rev. Charles Allen, S.J.
Capitalization: Lowercase degrees in body of text.
— Joan received a bachelor of science degree in psychology.
— Juan earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
Apostrophe (or not):
— master of social work degree OR master’s degree in social work
— bachelor of sociology degree OR bachelor’s degree in sociology
academic departments — Capitalize.
— Accounting Department or Department of Accounting
For issues NOT covered in this guide, please refer to Merriam-Webster Dictionary (spelling, hyphenation, capitalization) or Chicago Manual of Style (style and usage).
academic programs — Treat subject programs like majors — do not capitalize unless it is a proper noun or the formal name of a program, e.g., “The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program is part of Fairfield’s highly rated nursing program.”
acronyms — On first reference, spell out the full name. Follow it with the acronym in parentheses if it is used at least one other time. Use the acronym as the second reference.
— She enrolled in the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) last semester. She is now taking her first SEHD course.
address
— The proper return address for Fairfield University Main Campus is: 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824- 5195
— The proper return address for Fairfield University Austin Campus is: 7951 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, TX 78757
— The proper return address for Fairfield University Bellarmine Campus is: 460 Mill Hill Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06610
adjectives — When two or more words function together as an adjective in front of the noun they modify, connect them with a hyphen.
No space on either side.
— Dr. Marcello is a well- respected member of the faculty.
Do not use the hyphen to connect -ly adverbs.
— The slowly moving elevator tested Monica’s patience, as she was already late for a meeting.
admission (NOT admissions)
Office of Undergraduate Admission
Office of Graduate Admission
advisor — Not adviser
afterward (no “s”)
alumni Do not use the terms “alum” or “alums.”
— alumnus One male graduate
— alumna One female graduate
— alumni Several male graduates or a group of graduates, including men and women
— alumnae — Several female graduates
ampersand — In text, do not use the ampersand symbol (&) as a substitute for and. Ampersands are allowed in title treatments, e.g.: John Charles Meditz: College of Arts & Sciences, but use “and” in running text, e.g.: School of Engineering and Computing.
NOTE: Designers have leeway to use the ampersand on posters, invitations, or in ads where space is at a premium or it functions as a design element.
apostrophes
Used to show possession or, in numerals, to show an omission.
— Mary picked up Don’s tickets by mistake.
— John was a member of the Class of ’67.
athletics — See Appendix C for list of varsity, club, and intramural sports. The Athletics Program encompasses all sports. “Sports” refers to the individual teams in the athletics program. (See student-athlete.)
Athletics Department or Department of Athletics
Not Athletic Department.
Benefiting, benefited — not benefitting, benefitted
Board of Trustees — Always capitalize “Board” when referring to Fairfield University’s Board.
— Mr. Gregman joined Fairfield University’s Board of Trustees.
— The Red Cross board meeting will take place at noon tomorrow.
NOTE: Other boards (of trustees or directors): only caps if it is formal title – the Stamford Hospital Board of Trustees vs. general discussion of IBM’s board of directors.
board member — Lowercase.
book titles — Italicize, and capitalize first letter of each word (except “a,” “and,” “the,” and conjunctions or prepositions of three letters or fewer).
buildings — See Appendix A for proper names and spelling of buildings on campus.
bullet points — In a list, use bullets to highlight specific points (no need for period after each point, as the unit is not a sentence). Be sure to begin each bullet with the same word type (such as a verb or a noun).
The study abroad program features:
• On-site coordinators
• Travel opportunities
• Supervised internships
• Fairfield University credit
In a sentence, use bullets to break the monotony of a paragraph or to highlight specific points. In this case, use punctuation (comma or semicolon depending on need) after each bullet.
Bullet points:
• emphasize key facts,
• provide visual relief, and
• increase reader interest.
campus — Lowercase unless it begins a sentence or is part of a formal Fairfield campus name.
Fairfield University campus names:
— Main Campus
— Bellarmine Campus
— Austin Campus
— 1720 Post
campuswide — One word.
catalog — Not catalogue.
capitalization
Course names — Capitalize course names because they are, in essence, titles. In a body of text, also use quotations.
— Mark is taking “Issues in Judaism” this semester.
Majors and minors — Lowercase majors, minors, subjects, and disciplines unless they are proper nouns or adjectives.
— Tyquan, a sociology major, also enjoys history and English literature.
— Judaic studies, American studies, etc.
Academic departments — Capitalize.
— Biology Department, English Department
Titles – See title entries
Associations and conferences — Capitalize the full names of associations, societies, meetings, and conferences. Lowercase the single word “association,” etc., in running text.
— Society of Teachers of English as a Second Language
— She attended the 33rd Conference on Social Justice in Asia.
century — Spell out centuries one through nine (first through ninth); use numerals for 10th and higher, unless the century is part of someone’s title.
— 19th- century literature (used as an adjective)
— Literature of the 19th century (used as a noun)
— Exception – When related to art history, centuries may be spelled out (a fourteenth- century work).
CEO — Spell out chief executive officer on first reference; use CEO for subsequent references. Same rule applies to CFO, COO, CTO, etc.
class years (see Appendix B for details)
Remove comma between name and first class year. Use a space between name and apostrophe for UGs only.
— Joe Smith ’13
— Ellen Smith MSN’15
— Chase Longhorn MFA’09
Exception: Use comma before a parent designation:
— John O’Malley, P’11,’09
Capitalize the formal name of a graduating class in all cases:
— Class of 1950 city, state — Capitalize “city” only when part of the city’s name.
— St. Peter’s College is located in Jersey City.
— The city of Baltimore has a wonderful harbor.
In text, a comma should follow the city, country, or state.
— While attending the conference in Houston, Texas, Dr. Horton met several colleagues with whom he hopes to collaborate.
code of conduct — Lowercase.
collective nouns and possessive pronouns
When a group is acting as a unit, it is considered a singular noun and therefore needs a singular verb or possessive pronoun.
— The crowd cheered its hardest and the Stags won the game.
— The basketball team won its ninth game of the season.
— The faculty is voting on changes to the handbook.
When using a plural noun to represent the group, a plural possessive pronoun or verb is needed.
— The players worked their hardest and won the game.
— Faculty members are voting on changes to the handbook.
commas — When referring to a Jesuit, set the S.J. following his name within commas.
— The Rev. Michael Cavanaugh, S.J., went on a mission trip to El Salvador. Oxford Comma: in a series of three or more, use a comma before “and.”
— The soccer, lacrosse, and basketball teams made it to the finals.
commencement — Do not use graduation. Capitalize when referring to Fairfield, and it’s used as a noun: Commencement, Commencement Exercises, Commencement Ceremony.
committee — When the entire, official (formal) name of a committee is used, capitalize the first letter of each word. On second reference, you may use Committee. Otherwise, use lowercase.
— John Jones served on the Trustees Advisory Committee for six years. He finds the work of the Committee fulfilling.
— The curriculum committee met last week to vote on the proposed course.
company/institution names
— Capitalize the full names of institutions and companies, and their departments and divisions.
— Abbreviate company, companies, corporation, and limited when these words appear at the end of a firm’s name.
— Omit Inc., P.C., LLC, and similar designations at the end of company/institution names, EXCEPT in donor lists.
access byte cyberspace cybersecurity
disk DOS dot-com download
email high-tech home page hyperlink
internet intranet login (noun) log in (verb)
log out (verb) my.Fairfield online shareware
URL voicemail web web page
website webmaster workstation
conferences – Capitalize conference titles (except articles and words of three letters or less).
Place conference presentations within quotation marks (same capitalization as above).
course names – Capitalize in lists. In text, capitalize and place inside quotation marks.
dashes
(–) an en dash, approximately the width of a capital N, is used to denote duration and has one space on each side.
(—) an em dash, approximately the width of a capital M, is used in place of a colon or parentheses, or to indicate an abrupt change of thought.
day(s) of week
When standing alone in text, spell out.
— We will meet on Tuesday to decide.
When day and date appear together, you may abbreviate the day (or opt not to) but be sure to use a comma after each element (including the year).
— We will meet on Wednesday, April 14, in Canisius 100.
— We will meet on Wed., April 14, in Canisius 100.
— We will meet on Nov. 3, 2020, to interview the next candidate.
Abbreviate in calendar listings (exception: formal invitations)
computer terminology Use the spelling and capitalization for these common computer and internet terms:
Dean’s List
decades — Do not use apostrophes when all four digits are used. Do not use apostrophe in front of s.
— The 1950s
— The ’50s
— Wrong — the 1950’s, the ‘50’s departments/divisions — Capitalize full titles of the University’s academic and administrative departments and divisions.
— Department of Biology or Biology Department
— Office of Financial Aid
— Advancement Division
— Marketing and Communications Division
— Office of the Provost directions regions — Lowercase when they indicate compass direction; capitalize when they refer to a region.
— She drove north on I-95.
— The storm brought floodwaters to the East Coast. states and cities — Lowercase sections of a state or city. Capitalize widely known sections of a city or if part of a proper noun.
— northern Michigan
— the Lower East Side of New York
dollar amounts — For even amounts, eliminate the decimal and numbers after.
— He paid the $15 fine.
ellipsis ( … ) — Treat an ellipsis like a three-letter word, placing a space before and after the three periods. Use to indicate a deletion of one or more words, particularly in a quote.
email — No hyphen; capitalize the e only when it begins a sentence.
Endowed chairs and professorships — Capitalize in all uses.
— Dr. Edward Deak, Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics, spoke at a recent conference on employment issues.
— Dr. Edward Deak holds the Roger M. Lynch Chair in Economics.
Note: the person who holds the chair is “professor” not “the chair.”
Note: non-endowed chairs are not capitalized
events — Capitalize the titles or names of lectures, dinners, and annual events, such as Orientation, Reunion, Homecoming, Alumni and Family Weekend, Jacoby-Lunin Humanitarian Lecture, etc.
faculty — Use with singular verb (see collective nouns entry).
— The faculty is voting on amendments to its handbook.
— Faculty members are pleased with the rank and tenure decisions.
faculty titles — Include the name of the faculty member’s School after his or her academic title.
— Dr. Michael Smith, assistant professor of economics in the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences
— Dr. Ameila Morchinski, professor of computer engineering in the School of Engineering and Computing
FAQs (Frequently asked questions) no apostrophe.
Fairfield University — Abbreviation: Do not use F.U. or FU — Ever.
Mailing address: 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
Web address: fairfield.edu
Schools (formal name and second reference):
— John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences Fairfield Meditz or Meditz College on second reference
— Charles F. Dolan School of Business Fairfield Dolan, Dolan School of Business, or Dolan School on second reference
— School of Education and Human Development — SEHD
— School of Engineering and Computing — SEC
— Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies — Fairfield Egan or Egan School on second reference
— Fairfield Bellarmine the Bellarmine program on second reference (not an official school)
foreign words — Generally italicize, with the exception of commonly known or frequently used words such as alma mater, alumni, or names of honor societies.
fundraiser, fundraising
first-year/freshman/freshmen — Use the preferred term, first-year student, whenever possible. Use the singular freshman as an adjective.
— The meeting for first-year students will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the John A. Barone Campus Center.
— The incoming freshman class has an average SAT score of 1300.
flyer grade levels
— K-12
— First grade
grades — Capitalize in text; form plurals by adding ’s.
— She received a B in mathematics.
— He received three A’s on his exams.
healthcare — One word.
Honorable, the
When used before a person’s name, abbreviate to Hon. and precede it with “the.” (lowercase the, uppercase Honorable)
hyphens — When two or more words function together as an adjective, connect them with a hyphen if they appear before the subject they’re modifying.
— Dr. Marcello is a well-respected member of the faculty.
Do not use the hyphen to connect -ly adverbs.
— The slowly moving elevator tested Monica’s patience, as she was already late for a meeting.
i.e. vs. e.g.
— i.e. translates to “in other words”
— e.g. translates to “for example” internet intersession — Timeframe between semesters when some courses are offered.
its/it’s — Do not confuse the pronoun its with the contraction it’s, which means it is.
— It’s time for Susan to catch her train.
— The company failed to report its falling earnings to stockholders.
italics — See titles: written works entry for usage.
junior/senior — Do not use a comma between a person’s name and the designation junior, senior, III, etc.
— John Dean Jr. went to his father’s alma mater.
— Mr. and Mrs. Michael Scarpetta III
— John Jones Jr. ’57
magazine/journal titles — Italicize, and capitalize first letter of each word (except “a,” “and,” “the”)
mailroom — One word.
majors/minors — Only capitalize majors that are proper nouns.
— Alta Kosydar earned a double major in nursing and Spanish. Mass — Always capitalize.
— Priests preside over or celebrate Mass. They do not “say” Mass.
— There is no “a” in front of Mass.
— See Appendix F for religious terminology
month — In text, if it stands alone, spell it out.
— John went to Nebraska in January for a conference.
When month is part of a date, abbreviate it (except March, April, May, June, July).
— Dr. Jones left on Jan. 4, 2014, for a conference in Mexico.
— Dr. Jones left on July 3 for the conference in Hawaii.
If month and year are together, spell month out. Do not use a comma between month and year.
— John’s conference took place in January 2003.
newspaper titles — Capitalize first letter of each word (except articles and conjunctions of three letters or less), and italicize. Include the word “The” if it is part of the masthead title.
— The Wall Street Journal
— the New York Daily News
noon / midnight — Do not precede with 12.
numbers
In text, spell out one through nine, except when referring to age, clothing size, percentages, or currency.
In text, use numerals for numbers 10 and beyond: 10, 21, 435, 1,435
offices — Capitalize initial reference. Office of Public Safety
online — One word. on-site — Hyphenated.
over/under — When referring to something that can be counted, use more than rather than over. The word over generally refers to spatial relationships.
— More than 1,600 people attended the concert.
— Over the past three years, John traveled to Greece five times.
Parents Leadership Council / Parents Fund — no apostrophe in “Parents”
percent
— In running text, always spell out percent and use with numerals, e.g., 90 percent.
— In tabular materials, charts, graphs, and similar uses, use the percent symbol (%), with no space between the number and the symbol, e.g., 90%.
plural — Use the letter “s” to indicate more than one subject; use apostrophe when indicating that the subject is used as an adjective/ possessive.
— The Burkes boarded the plane in Boston. (two or more persons boarded)
— The Burkes’ flight was delayed in Chicago. (Burkes is now possessive, and the flight belongs to both of them, so the apostrophe follows the “s”)
— Mary Burke boarded the plane in Boston. (one person)
— Mary Burke’s flight was delayed in Chicago. (possessive: her flight)
NOTE: When pluralizing a name that ends in “s” (e.g. Lucas), adding ’s is the preferred style (Lucas’s); however, Lucas’ is not incorrect.
prerequisite (and co-requisite)
president — Lowercase unless it immediately precedes the name of the person who holds the position. Note: Exception when referring to Fairfield’s President, which is always capitalized.
— Penelope P. Brainiak ’89 has just been named president of Alcorn Energy.
— Beginning at 1:30 p.m., President Nemec will address the community.
The President’s Circle — Always capitalize “The.”
quotation marks — Also see titles: written works entry for usage. In a quote, keep all periods, commas, and question marks within the quotation marks.
— As George Washington once said, “I love crossing rivers.”
— “I get a kick out of playing soccer,” admitted Pelé.
When a quote is divided by an attribution, format as follows:
— “I love going to soccer games,” said Mary Jones, “especially when it rains.”
— “I promise to keep my speech short,” said President Lincoln. “I’ll just write it on the back of this envelope.”
race and ethnicity — If race is relevant to the story, ask the subject how he or she defines his or her race and ethnicity.
religious titles — See titles
resident assistant — R.A. or resident assistant, lower case.
Note: not resident advisor
résumé — Includes accents on both ‘e’ letters.
Reverend / Rev. — Abbreviate before an individual’s name. Capitalize “the” only if it is at the beginning of a sentence.
— I would now like to honor the Rev. Sean Flynn, who served his parishioners faithfully and well.
If person is a Catholic priest, use “Fr.” on second reference.
— It was a joy to know the Rev. Sean Flynn, who served his parishioners faithfully and well. Fr. Flynn died in 1978 and is buried in Ireland.
— Use ‘the Most Reverend” for first mention of a bishop; “Bishop Surname” after that.
room numbers — Capitalize the word “Room” when combined with a number, separating with a comma.
— The meeting will take place in the Dolan School, Room 127.
R.s.v.p./ R.S.V.P. — Choose one, and use periods.
salutations — In business correspondence, use colon, even when addressing person by his/her first name; reserve comma for personal correspondence.
— Dear Mr. Smith:
— Dear Joe:
seasons — Lowercase if they refer to the time of year or a particular semester.
— She registered for one course in the fall semester, and will take two in the spring if she does well.
semesters — fall, spring, intersession (Do not capitalize.)
schools of Fairfield University — See Fairfield University entry.
School vs. school — Capitalize School when it refers to a specific Fairfield school. Do not capitalize when it refers to another school.
S.J. — Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
In text, use commas before and after in a Jesuit’s name. Given its meaning (“of the Society of Jesus”), S.J. modifies the name that precedes it.
— The Rev. Thomas Regan, S.J., was named provincial superior in 2003.
Sophomore Residential College Program — features three distinct colleges:
— Service for Justice Residential College
— Ignatian Leadership Residential College
— Creative Life Residential College
— states — See Appendix E for state abbreviations.
In text and lists, use traditional abbreviations (Conn., Minn., Calif., N.Y.).
Use postal abbreviations (CT, MN, CA, NY, etc) in mailing addresses only.
In text, if the state stands alone, spell it out.
— She traveled to New York for the event.
If combined with a city, abbreviate it (but don’t use the postal abbreviation).
— She traveled to Birmingham, Ala., to visit her parents.
Use comma and periods to write: Washington, D.C., and follow with a comma when in a running sentence.
— In Washington, D.C., the cherry blossoms were in bloom.
space between sentences — Use only one space after a period.
student-athlete — Member of a varsity team.
student handbook — Lowercase.
telephone numbers
The preferred style is: 203-254-4000
Extensions: Abbreviate the word extension with “ext.,” not “x.” Toll-free when used as adjective.
Note: At their discretion, designers have the option to use (203) 254-4000 or periods in design on posters, invitations, etc.
Example: 203.254.4000 time If you use a.m. or p.m., you don’t need to add “in the morning” or “in the evening.”
— Lowercase a.m./p.m. and use periods: (10:30 a.m.)
— For times on the hour, simply use the number (9 p.m.)
— Spell out noon and midnight (and do not precede with 12)
— In lists, use an en dash to separate the times: (3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.)
— In text, use the word “to” as a separator: (noon to 5:30 p.m.)
— The first a.m. or p.m. may be dropped for space: (1:30 - 4:30 p.m.)
Exception: when time spans a.m. and p.m., use both.
— The workshop runs from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
theater/theatre — Use theater for all generic references to auditoriums or buildings. Use theatre when referring to the theatrical arts or when it is part of a facility or company’s name.
— The theater held 400 students.
— Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Theatre titles: academic
Use PhD, DBA, EdD, etc. on first reference for those holding doctoral degrees. On subsequent references use the title, Dr., and last name only.
If a Fairfield faculty member, be sure to include his/her college or school.
— Samuel Barker, PhD, is a member of the Physics Department in the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences. With his colleagues, Dr. Barker is doing research in the field of electromagnetics.
— Mary McMorgan, PhD, is a member of the Finance Department in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. Channel 12 News recently spoke to Dr. McMorgan about the recommendations she has made on bank regulation.
assistant/associate/acting — Do not abbreviate; capitalize when part of a formal title that precedes the person’s name.
— Assistant Professor John Smith, PhD, was promoted to associate and received tenure.
— Dr. John Smith, associate dean, hopes to return to teaching when he completes his commitment.
dean — Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name. Lowercase in all other instances.
— Dean Richard Greenwald, PhD, met with first-year students at orientation.
— The dean schedules office hours every Thursday.
— Dr. Zhan Li, dean of the School of Business, attended the lecture.
professor — Treat the word professor as a formal title when it stands alone before a name. When professor is modified by another word, lowercase it regardless of placement.
— Professor Mary Billingsley
— mathematics professor Jazelle Evans
artist- in- residence/scholar- in- residence — Capitalize only when used as a formal title; always hyphenate.
Note: when capitalizing, both first word and “Residence” get caps: Artist-in-Residence, Scholar-in-Residence.
titles: government
Follow a senator or representative’s name by his/her party affiliation and state/town.
— U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D- Conn.
— U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D- Conn.
— State Rep. John Stone, R-Fairfield
— State Sen. John McKinney, R-Fairfield
Capitalize the names of government bodies and political parties.
— Democratic Party, State Senate
Use lowercase for civil and noble titles unless they precede an individual’s name. Capitalize the names of United States departments, bureaus, etc.
— U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Bureau of Investigation
titles: professional
Capitalize and spell out titles that appear before a name; lowercase titles that appear after a name.
— Vice President of Technology Gloria Jones
— Anthony Salerno, chief executive officer of Bankers Unlimited
titles: religious
For members of the Society of Jesus, precede the person’s name with Rev. and follow his last name with S.J. set off by commas. Use the abbreviation Fr. and the individual’s last name on second reference.
— The Rev. Michael Garrison, S.J., celebrated Mass on Saturday. Fr. Garrison visited his mother later in the day.
For all other clergy, on first reference precede the person’s name with Rev., the Reverend, the Most Reverend, Rabbi, Pastor, Cardinal, Archbishop, Bishop, or Monsignor, as appropriate.
For women’s religious titles (nuns, sisters), use first and last name followed by the initials of the religious order to which they belong. On second reference, use Sr. or Sister with the last name.
— Michele Larson, RSM, has taught at Fairfield for many years. Sr. Larson now serves on the Faculty Rank and Tenure Committee.
titles: written works
Capitalize all words of four or more letters in length.
Italicize the following (in alpha order):
art exhibit titles newspapers books plays journals podcasts magazines radio programs movies streaming service programs musical works television programs
Use “quotation marks” around: articles — journal paintings articles — magazine papers read at meetings/conferences articles — newspaper podcast episodes chapter titles poems and short stories titles course titles (in running text) songs dissertations speech titles essays theses lectures TV or streaming program episodes
underrepresented, underserved — no hyphens
United States — Capitalize and write out when used as a noun. Abbreviate U.S. (with periods) when used as an adjective.
University — Capitalize university when it refers to Fairfield. Do not capitalize when referring to another university.
— John Doe, PhD, represented the University at a scholarly meeting.
— The meeting was held at Santa Clara, and the university provided the attendees with lunch and a tour.
vice president — Do not hyphenate.
year
Abbreviated two- digit numeric years are preceded by an apostrophe (’); make sure it’s pointed in the right direction: (Class of ’97).
A span of years in the same century contains no apostrophe: (2002- 03). A span of years covering different centuries includes all digits: (1998-2001).
Avoid these common errors by using:
— The 1960s (no apostrophe)
— The ’60s (no apostrophe before ‘s’)
yearlong — One word.
Common Pitfalls
it’s: translates to “it is” (“It’s time to go home.”) its: this is the singular possessive pronoun (“The dog chewed its bone.”)
Their: plural possessive; refers to people, not a singular person There: refers to place They’re: contraction that means ‘they are’
Using pronouns “who” vs. “that”:
— “Who” is for humans:
“The writer who follows these rules will sound literate.”
— “That” is for objects:
“The rules that I am sharing are important.”
Appendix A
Buildings and Roads on Campus
Spell out the full name of all campus buildings on first reference. Spell out the full name on second reference unless indicated by additional options listed after each name.
Administration and Classroom Buildings
Main Campus
— Charles H. Allen, S.J., Alumni House (Allen Alumni House)
— Rudolph F. Bannow Science Center/Joseph F. MacDonnell, S.J., Atrium (Bannow Science Center)
— Bellarmine Hall
— Canisius Hall
— Charles F. Dolan School of Business (Dolan School)
— Media Center (former Conference Center)
— David J. Dolan House (Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality)
— Thomas F. Dolan Commons (north campus, technology administration)
— Donnarumma Hall
— Fairfield Post (1720 Post Rd.)
— Innovation Annex (School of Engineering and Computing)
— Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Administrative Center (Kelley Center)
— Loyola Hall
— Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies (Egan School)
— McAuliffe Hall
— Southwell Hall/ Kathryn P. Koslow Center for Marriage and Family Therapy Bellarmine Campus
— Campus Center
— Curley Science Center
— Loyola House
— St. Ambrose Hall
Arts
— Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
• Thomas J. Walsh Gallery
• Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Theatre
• Wien Experimental Theatre (Black Box)
— Bellarmine Hall Galleries
Athletics and Recreation
— Thomas J. Walsh Jr. Athletic Center (Walsh Athletic Center)
— Leslie C. Quick Jr. Recreation Complex (RecPlex)
— Leo D. Mahoney Arena (Mahoney Arena)
Campus Center/Student Life
— John A. Barone Campus Center (Barone Campus Center or BCC)
— Health and Wellness Center
— The Levee Chapel
— Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola
— Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Campus Ministry Center
Library
— DiMenna-Nyselius Library
Parking
— Kelley Parking Garage
Residence Halls
— The Quad:
• Campion Hall
• Gonzaga Hall
• Jogues Hall
• Loyola Hall
• Regis Hall
• Sr. Thea Bowman Hall
• 42 Langguth Hall
• 70 McCormick Rd.
— Apartment Village:
• 47 Mahan Rd.
• Meditz Hall
— Avery Dulles, S.J., Hall
— The Barnyard Manor
— John C. Dolan Hall
— Faber Hall
— Kostka Hall
— Claver Hall
— St. Ignatius Hall (Fairfield Jesuit Community)
— Townhouse Complex
Fairfield Prep
— Barron Center for Arts & Recreation
— Berchmans Hall
— Pedro Arrupe Hall
— Xavier Hall
Campus Street Names (and those they honor)
— Bellarmine Road (St. Robert Bellarmine)
— Coughlin Road (Rev. James H. Coughlin, S.J.)
— Fitzgerald Way (University Presidents Joseph D. FitzGerald, 1951-58; Rev. James E. Fitzgerald, 1958- 64; Rev. Thomas R. Fitzgerald, 1973-79)
— Langguth Road
(Rev. Laurence Langguth, S.J.)
— Leeber Road (Rev. Victor Leeber, S.J.)*
— Loyola Drive (Ignatius of Loyola)
— Lynch Road (Rev. Donald Lynch, S.J.)
— Mahan Road (Rev. George Mahan, S.J.)
— McCormick Road
(Rev. Joseph McCormick, S.J.)
— McInnes Road (Rev. William C. McInnes, S.J., president 1964-73)
— Mooney Road
(Rev. Christopher Mooney, S.J.)
— Murphy Road (Rev. Henry Murphy, Rev. Thomas Murphy)
— O’Neil Way (Rev. Lawrence O’Neil, S.J.)
— Porter Road (Dr. Phyllis Porter)
— Stonkas Road (Karen Sontkas ’74)
— Stuart Way (Mr. Chester Stuart)*
— Riel Way (Mr. Arthur Riel)*
— Ross Road (Dr. Donald Ross)
— Walters Road (Dr. Joan Walters)
* Original faculty member
Appendix B
Class Year Format
undergraduates
— Use space but no comma between name and class year
— An alumna’s name (woman) goes inside the parentheses if:
Her husband is not an alumnus
Her husband is an alumnus, but from a different class year (see below for examples).
grad alumni
— No comma between name and class year (Smith MA’xx)
— No space between degree and year (MA’04) undergraduate parents
— Use comma between name and the “P” designation (Smith, P’xx)
— List their children by class year, beginning with most recent year (Taylor, P’AA’26,AS’25)
— No space between P’xx or P’AAxx or P’ASxx
— No spaces between multiple class years: P’xx,’xx,’xx
students
undergraduates
— John Smith ’04
— Mary Jones ’07, Jim Lynch ’06, and John Smith ’04 placed first.
Use one space between name and year. When students are members of the same class, you may use class name.
— Sophomores Mary Jones, John Smith, and Jim Lynch became lectors.
— Ted Tyn and Mike Garner, both juniors, scored two runs against St. Peter’s.
graduate students — Do not use class year designation for current graduate students because most go part-time and are not part of a specific class.
alumni undergraduate associate’s degree
— Michelle Miller AA’25 (for liberal arts or computer science majors)
— Andy Micale AS’25 (for business and health studies majors) undergraduate bachelor’s degree
— Martin Greenberg ’75 graduate degree
— Bethany Silberg MA’03 undergraduate dual degree
— Kristian Dodge AA’25,’27 undergraduate and graduate degrees
— Bart Jackson ’92, MA’98
alumnae who have married and changed last name
— Rebecca (Anderson) O’Neill ’98
— Ann (Barkley) Bacon MA’83 hyphenated names
— Lisa McMasters- Gray ’63
— Jack Rydell-Davis ’75, MS’89
alumnus and non- alumna wife
— Garrett ’93 and Bridget Dean
— Bridget and Garrett Dean ’93 alumna and non- alumnus husband
— John and Sarah (Barker ’79) Bailey
— Sarah (Barker ’79) and John Bailey married alumna and alumnus
— Tucker and Grace (Ribideau) Jackson ’89 (same class year)
— Grace (Ribideau) and Tucker Jackson ’89 (same class year)
— Tucker ’89 and Grace (Ribideau ’93) Jackson (different class years)
— Grace (Ribideau ’93) and Tucker Jackson ’89 (different class years)
— Andres Stefanik AS’26,’28 and Cathy Gabor ’28 (same undergrad year, one associate’s degree, different surnames)
— Cacha (Diaz AS’25,’27) and Thom Holtz AA’25,’27 (same undergrad and grad years, different associate’s degrees) alumnus or alumna using two last names
— Elizabeth Rocco Barton ’82
parents — Uses same format as for graduate alumni.
Note: keep comma between name and “P” non- alumni parents
— William and Beverly Marcus, P’AA’25
— William and Beverly Marcus, P’AS’25,’27
— Gregory and Cindy Charles, P’06,’03,’99
— Ed Deak, PhD, P’98 alumnus parent and non- alumna wife
— Charles ’65 and Martha Haliburton, P’87
— Martha and Charles Haliburton ’65, P’89,’87 alumna parent and non- alumnus husband
— Luke and Maria (Rizzi ’82, MS’84) Pickard, P’04
— Maria (Rizzi ’82, MS’84) and Luke Pickard, P’04
married alumna and alumnus who are parents
— Joel ’79 and Carol (Karra ’78) Ackerman, P’08
— Carol (Karra ’78) and Joel Ackerman ’79, P’08
LIST OF SPORTS
Varsity Sports
— baseball (men’s)
— basketball (men’s and women’s)
— cross country (men’s and women’s)
— golf (men’s and women’s)
— field hockey (women’s)
— lacrosse (men’s and women’s)
— rowing (men’s and women’s)
— soccer (men’s and women’s)
— softball (women’s)
— swimming/diving (men’s and women’s)
— tennis (men’s and women’s)
— volleyball (women’s)
Club Sports
— baseball (men’s)
— basketball (men’s and women’s)
— cricket (men’s)
— e-sports
— equestrian (coed)
— field hockey (women’s)
— golf (coed)
— ice hockey (men’s and women’s)
— lacrosse (men’s and women’s)
— martial arts (coed)
— rugby (men’s and women’s)
— running (coed)
— sailing (coed)
— ski and snowboard (coed)
— soccer (men’s and women’s)
— softball
APPENDIX C (CONT.)
— tennis (coed)
— ultimate frisbee
— volleyball (men’s and women’s)
Intramurals
— badminton
— basketball (3x3 and 5x5)
— basketball tournament
— cornhole
— dodgeball
— e-gaming
— flag football
— floor hockey
— golf
— kickball
— lacrosse (women’s)
— pickleball
— soccer (indoor and outdoor)
— softball
— spikeball
— street hockey(outdoor)
— table tennis
— tennis
— volleyball
Other Recreational Organizations
— cheerleading
— dance ensemble (ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern, tap)
— dance team
Appendix D
ATHLETIC TERMINOLOGY
All-America, All-American — When referring to the team, use All-America Team, use AllAmerican when referring to an individual.
— He was a High School All-American.
Tom Werney, a Preseason All-America Team member, will captain the Stags this season.
Athletic Ticket Office — The office, which is within the Athletics Department, is responsible for the ticket sales for all athletic events. It should be capitalized.
baseball/softball
— RBI (sing.), RBIs (plural)
— hit and run (v.), hit-and-run (n., adj.); pinch hit (v), pinch-hit (n., adj.)
— left-hander (n.)
— at-bats
— bread-and-butter pitch (a pitcher’s most reliable pitch)
— ground-rule double (This occurs when a ball is hit and lands fair, but then becomes unplayable because it leaves the field of play. The hitter must stop at second base.)
— backstop
— pitchout (when a pitcher intentionally pitches away from home plate in an effort to aid the catcher in throwing out a stealing base runner)
— passed ball (a pitch that is not caught by the catcher)
— line drive
— double play
— base on balls (another way to say walk)
— walkoff (a hit that ends a game, ie. walkoff single, a walkoff home run)
— home run
— twinbill, two- game set, doubleheader basketball
— field goal
— in the paint, in the key, in the lane (the area from the foul line to the basket)
— free throw, free-throw line
— charity stripe (the foul line)
— man-to-man defense, zone defense
— full- court press
— layup, jump shot, three-point attempt, threepointer, dunk
— beyond the arc (a three-point attempt)
coach — Use lower case unless being used as a title.
— Head Coach Andrew Baxter announced the signing of five recruits.
— Andrew Baxter is the head coach of the men’s lacrosse team.
conference affiliations — Fairfield is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The men’s lacrosse team plays in the Coastal Athletic Association.
cross country — No hyphen.
double-double — Is used whenever a player tallies doubles digits in any two statistical categories.
— Deng Gai registered a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
— Janelle McManus tallied a double-double with 24 points while dishing out 11 assists.
golf
Numbers:
— He has a 3 handicap; a 3-handicap golfer
— A par-4 hole, a 7-under-par 64, the par-3 seventh hole
high school — When used as part of the school’s name, it should be capitalized, otherwise it should be lowercase.
— Jane Smith was a four-year letterwinner for the Solvay High School softball team.
— Following his high school career, he gave up swimming and focused on baseball.
honors
— All-League, All- County, All- Conference, All-Star
— MVP, Most Valuable Player
— Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year
— Player of the Week, Rookie of the Week
— All-Star Team, First Team All-League, All- OHSA Second Team
invitational — Capitalize when part of a title.
— The women’s golf team will participate in the Third Annual Hoya Invitational.
— The men’s golf team played in five invitationals during the fall season.
lacrosse
— face off (v), faceoff (n., adj.)
— man-down goal, man-up goal
— hat trick (when one player scores three or more goals in a contest)
— in the crease (the circle that goes around the goal)
— the cage (the goal)
— between the pipes (the goal)
— long-stick midfielder, long-pole middie (a midfielder who uses a defensive stick)
— short-stick defensive midfielder, defensive middie (a midfielder who plays on the defensive line)
letterwinner
MAAC Championship/MAAC Tournament
— The word championship and tournament should be capitalized because it is the official title of the event. It is not correct to say MAAC Conference Championship; the word
conference is a part of the MAAC acronym.
— Fairfield University hosted the 2004 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship.
— The win gave the Stags the number one seed in the MAAC Tournament.
MAAC honors — Capitalize the honor when being used as a title.
— Fairfield swept the weekly MAAC honors as Meghan King was named Player of the Week, Janna Breitenwischer was selected Rookie of the Week and Brett Maron was chosen Defender of the Week.
— Cathy Dash was named First Team All-MAAC while Candice Lindsey was named All-MAAC Second Team.
— Beth Loffredo was named the MAAC Player of the Year and was a First Team All-MAAC selection.
mascots — A team or university mascot may be used on second reference when discussing a team. A mascot name can stand alone and does not need to be paired with a school name, unless it is a first reference. Fairfield University’s athletic teams are known as the Stags.
— Fairfield dropped an 11-10 heartbreaker to Manhattan College on Friday evening. Jenna Jones, who scored six goals and added one assist, led the Jaspers.
MVP — Most Valuable Player. Capitalized with no periods.
National Letter of Intent (s)/ National Letters of Intent (pl) — Capitalize. Can be shortened to NLI (s) or NLIs (pl) on second reference.
— Fairfield received a National Letter of Intent from Jim Johnson, a 6-5 forward from Syracuse, N.Y. Johnson will join three other student-athletes who have already signed NLIs to play for the Stags.
— The Fairfield men’s lacrosse team received seven National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.
NCAA Championship/Tournament —
The words championship and tournament should be capitalized in this use because it is the official title of the event.
— Fairfield University served as the host of 2004 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship First- and Second-Rounds.
— The Stags received their first NCAA Tournament berth in 1998 when they defeated Loyola, 78-76 in the MAAC Championship.
numbers — Use AP style and spell out any number under 10. EXCEPT: listing a player’s height.
— Doug Soucy went three for five at the plate with two singles and a double.
including a three for five performance from beyond the arc.
— Pete Vlahakis went 17 for 19 in face- off attempts.
— Sean Flynn, a 6-3 defender, gives the Stags a commanding presence on the back line.
postseason — No hyphen.
preseason — No hyphen.
redshirt — A designation given to a studentathlete who has been granted a fifth-year of eligibility by the NCAA.
— Tom Werney, a redshirt senior, has been named captain of the men’s lacrosse team for the upcoming season.
runner-up, runners-up
Senior Woman Administrator — This is an official title that is given to the most senior woman administrator within an Athletics Department. soccer
Positions:
— forward, midfielder, defender, striker, sweeper, back
Typical terms:
— the pitch (the field), match (game)
— header, cross, throw-in, one-touch, flick, through ball
— far post (the goal post most distant from the ball)
— near post (the goal post nearest the ball)
— free kick, indirect free kick, corner, corner kick, penalty kick
— cross bar, in the box
— offside
— breakaway, one- on- one
— chip pass, chip shot (a ball that is lofted over the defender’s head)
— hat trick (when one player scores three or more goals in a contest)
— volley (a kick that is made without the ball touching the ground)
— half-volley (a kick that is made just as the ball is rebounding off the ground)
— tackle, poke tackle, slide tackle (to take the ball away from the opposing player)
— wall (a tactical maneuver in which players stand as a line to protect the goal against a free kick.)
Sport clubs – Sport clubs differ from varsity athletics as they are not a part of Athletics Department at Fairfield University, but fall under the Department of Recreation. Likewise, each team is organized and APPENDIX D (CONT.)
— Meka Werts shot seven for 11 from the field,
— goalkeeper, keeper (A soccer goalkeeper should NOT be referred to as a goalie or a goaltender.)
APPENDIX D (CONT.)
STATES
managed by students with guidance from the Director of Sport Clubs. See Appendix H for a list.
student-athlete, student-athletes
swimming
— 400-meter breaststroke (on first reference)
— 400 breast (on second reference)
— 200-yard medley relay
— 200 IM tennis
Scores:
— At No. 1 singles John Smith defeated Jim Johnson 6- 0, 3- 6, 6-4
— At No. 2 singles Jim Jackson defeated Jason Jones 6- 0, 7- 6 (11-9)
— Down 40-love, Jackson rallied four-straight points to pull even.
— At deuce, Smith served two-straight aces to take the game.
Typical terms:
— Cross-court
— No. 1 singles player
triple- double: Used when a player tallies double- digits in any three statistical categories.
— Ashley Hanohano registered a triple- double with 20 assists, 12 digs, and 10 kills.
volleyball
Positions:
— libero, defensive specialist
— outside hitter, right side hitter
— middle blocker, middle hitter
— setter
Typical terms:
— dig, set, attack, kill, ace, dink
— back-row, front-row
— back-row attack
— jump serve
New Hampshire N.H. NH
New Jersey N.J. NJ
New Mexico N.Mex. NM
New York N.Y. NY
North Carolina N.C. NC
North Dakota N.D. ND
Oklahoma Okla. OK
Oregon Ore. OR
Pennsylvania Pa. PA
Rhode Island R.I. RI
South Carolina S.C. SC
South Dakota S.D. SD
Tennessee Tenn. TN
Texas Texas TX
Utah Utah UT
Vermont Vt. VT
Virginia Va. VA
Washington Wash. WA
West Virginia W. Va. WV
Wisconsin Wis. WI
Wyoming Wyo. WY
Appendix F
Jesuit background and terminology/ Other religious terminology
(Much of the information that follows was adapted from Do You Speak Ignatian? A Glossary of Terms Used in Ignatian and Jesuit Circles, Xavier University)
A.M.D.G. — Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (Latin) –
This motto of the Society of Jesus means: for the greater glory of God.
discernment — A process for making choices in the context of Christian faith, when the option is between several choices, each potentially good. In the Ignatian* model, this involves prayer, reflection, and conversations with others, with attention given both to the rational (weighing the pros and cons) and the affective (feelings, emotions, and desires).
Ignatian — An adjective derived from the noun Ignatius (of Loyola).
Note the proper spelling: Ignatian.
Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) — He was the youngest child of a noble Basque family fiercely loyal to the Spanish crown. Raised to be a courtier, he was trying to defend the fortress town of Pamplona in 1521 when a French cannonball shattered his leg. During a long convalescence, he found himself drawn
to spiritual reading, specifically the illustrated life of Jesus. After his recovery, Ignatius set out for the Holy Land to realize his dream of converting the infidel. Slightly more than a year later, he realized that he needed an education to be able to help souls, and began attending school in Barcelona with boys a quarter of his age before moving on to other Spanish university cities. In each, he was imprisoned and interrogated for speaking to people about spiritual matters without a theology degree or priestly ordination.
Turning his back on his homeland, Ignatius went to the University of Paris, then the foremost university of its time. After five years he received a master of arts degree. After graduating, Ignatius, Francis Xavier, and Peter Faber joined together to form the apostolic community that would become the Society of Jesus. Unanimously elected superior by his companions, Ignatius spent the last 16 years of his life in Rome directing the fledgling order, while others traveled across Europe, the Far East, and eventually the New World, founding schools as a means of helping people to find God in all things.
IHS — The first three letters, in Greek, of the name Jesus. These letters appear as a symbol on the official seal of the Society of Jesus.
F (CONT.)
Jesuit — Noun: a member of the Society of Jesus. Adjective: pertaining to the Society of Jesus.
magis — Latin for more. The spirit of generous excellence in which ministry and life are to be carried out, always striving for the greater good, the greater glory of God (similar in concept to the business practice of continuous quality improvement).
men and women for others — In an ideal world, what alumni of Jesuit schools should be. In the words of Joseph MacDonnell, S.J., professor of mathematics at Fairfield University: “Our hope is that students leave here wanting for others the same good things they want for themselves.” Peter- Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., described it as teaching students to make “no significant decision without first thinking of how it would impact the least in society.” [the poor, the marginal, those who have no voice]
mens sano in corpore sano — Latin for a sound mind in a sound body, often used to affirm the importance of athletics and physical recreational as integral to the development of the whole person.
service in faith and the promotion of justice — At a 1975 assembly, the
Society of Jesus adopted as a hallmark of any ministry called Jesuit: the service in faith of which the promotion of justice is an absolute requirement. In other words, Jesuit education should aspire to help students move toward a mature and intellectually adult faith, enabling them to develop a disciplined sensitivity toward the suffering of our world, and a will to act for the transformation of unjust social structures that cause that suffering.
The Society of Jesus — A Catholic religious order of men founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola and a small group of his multinational friends in the Lord. They saw their mission as one of being available to go anywhere and do anything to help souls, especially where the need was greatest. Today, Jesuit priests and brothers minister in nearly every country of the world.
the Spiritual Exercises — An organized series of spiritual exercises put together by Ignatius of Loyola from his own personal experience and that of others to whom he listened. They invite the retreatant or exercitant to meditate on the central aspects of Christian faith and contemplate (imaginatively enter into) the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The Spiritual Exercises is a handbook to help the guide who coaches a person engaged in making the Exercises. The goal is the attainment of spiritual freedom — the power to act, not out of social pressure or personal compulsion, but out of the promptings of God’s spirit in the deepest core of one’s being.
The Spiritual Exercises take 30 days of focused, directed prayer. Realizing that most people cannot disengage from life to do this, Ignatius adapted the Exercises so it is possible to make the full Exercises part-time over a period of six to nine months.
Religious Terminology
archdiocese — Lowercase when it stands alone; capitalize as part of a proper noun.
capitalized words — The following words are always capitalized:
Blessed Sacrament Blessed (when used as an ecclesiastical title)
Virgin Eucharistic
Minister Latin Rite
Lent Lord’s Supper
Mass New Testament
Scripture Scriptures
F (CONT.)
Bible — Capitalize, in regular type and without quotation marks, when referring to the Scriptures in the Old Testament or the New Testament. Capitalize related terms: the Gospels, the Scriptures, the Holy Scriptures, the Gospel of John.
Lowercase biblical in all uses and bible when used in a non-religious sense. Avoid abbreviating the names of individual books of the Bible. To cite chapter and verse, use the following format: Psalms 23, Job 2:1-5.
catholic, Catholic —
On first reference, use Roman Catholic, Roman Catholic Church, or Roman Catholicism when referring to the denomination of which the Society of Jesus, is a part.
On second reference, use Catholic, Catholic Church, the Church, or Catholicism, unless context demands that you make a distinction between Roman Catholics and other Catholic faiths.
Lowercase catholic when it is used to mean general or universal.
diocese — Capitalize as part of a proper name; lowercase all other uses. Fairfield is part of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
God — Capitalize God in references to the deity of all monotheistic religions and in all noun references. Lowercase personal pronouns referring to God.
Lowercase all references to deities of polytheistic religions and references to false gods.
God the Father Holy Ghost Holy Spirit Gospel, Gospels, gospel — Capitalize when referring to any or all of the first four books of the New Testament. Lowercase in other references.
Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ
Jewish holy days — The High Holy Days are Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Other holy days include: Hanukkah, Passover, Purim, Shavuot, and Sukkot. All Jewish holy days and the Jewish Sabbath start at sunset before the day marked on most calendars.
liturgy
Mass — It is celebrated, not said, and can be also offered, as in “A Mass was offered for the repose of her soul.”
parish — Capitalize when part of a formal name or governmental jurisdiction. Lowercase when standing alone or when used as a plural. pontiff — Always lowercase, as this is not a formal title.
pope — Capitalize when used as a title before a name; otherwise lowercase.
priest — Always lowercase, as this is a vocational title.
province — Capitalize as part of a proper name; lowercase all other uses.
religious affiliation — Capitalize the names and related terms applied to members of the orders; He is a member of the Society of Jesus. He is a Jesuit.
rosary — is recited or said, never read.
sacraments — Capitalize the proper names used for the sacramental rite that commemorates the life of Jesus Christ or signifies a belief in his presence: Holy Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, Communion.
Lowercase the names of other sacraments: baptism, confirmation, matrimony.
synagogue — Capitalize only when part of a formal name.
References to Fairfield’s Jesuit Catholic Heritage
— Fairfield is a modern, Jesuit Catholic university: the comma after modern establishes “modern” and “Jesuit Catholic” as two distinct, equal ways to describe Fairfield University.
— Fairfield is the modern, Jesuit Catholic University: when “a” is changed to “the,” University is capitalized because it specifically references Fairfield.
• NOTE: When referring to Fairfield’s Jesuit Catholic mission, there is no comma between Jesuit and Catholic because “Jesuit” modifies “Catholic” as a particular expression of Catholicism. (most common usage)
• If referring to Fairfield’s Catholic, Jesuit tradition, there is a comma because the intent changes to present “Catholic” and “Jesuit” as two separate, complementary descriptors. (less common usage)
Ad Majorem Dei
Gloriam
For