Our Name
"Student Enrollment, Engagement & Services" is the preferred use of our name. An ampersand is always used in place of "and" and it is acceptable to use SEES after the first formal reference.
Use "Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ" on the first reference and in a prominent place in the publication. "Old Dominion" or "the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ" is acceptable in subsequent references. Limited use of "ODU" is permitted.
Student Enrollment, Engagement & Services employees are dedicated to student success and enrich the campus-based experience so all may belong and thrive. We strengthen our community through a culture of care and service that unifies enrollment, engagement, and active learning. Celebrating academic and inclusive excellence, our forward-focused graduates are equipped with knowledge, skills, and tenacity to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Â
Student Enrollment, Engagement & Services will inspire and nurture a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and empowerment for campus-based students and employees to succeed. Â
Diversity - Different histories, traditions, values, identities, and perspectives of individuals Â
Innovation - Forward-thinking approaches to improve our campus community Â
Student Success - Multifaceted outcomes including holistic growth, academic achievement, civic engagement, and preparation for future endeavors. Â
Well-Being - Optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential Â
The Division of Student Engagement & Enrollment Services values the uniqueness of our Monarch community. The word "engagement" reflects our commitment to embracing the differences in our cultural backgrounds, perceptions, beliefs, traditions, world views, socioeconomic status, and cognitive and physical abilities.
We will strive to serve as the pre-eminent model for engaging every student to achieve their own success. Our core values are fueled by our responsibility and actions toward community development and engagement, cultural competence and understanding, physical and mental wellness, and inclusion for every member of ODU. We will embrace our greatest strength - the diverse composition of our student body and workforce.
SEES Writing Style Guide
Academic Calendar/Terms
Lowercase names of terms in text.
- The 2022 fall term runs from August through December.
Academic Degrees
Faculty are identified by their names and academic rankings on the first reference. Use their surnames on subsequent references. Use the guide below when it's necessary to specify their degrees.
Bachelor's Degrees
Lowercase, including the major area of study.
- She has a bachelor's degree in modeling and simulation. (preferred)
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts. May use capitalized BA or BS or B.A. or B.S., as long as it is consistent throughout the text.
Master's degree
Lowercase, including the major area of study.
- He earned a master's degree in physics. (preferred)
- Master of Science in chemistry or Master of Arts in history. May use MS and MA, or M.S. and M.A., as long as they are used consistently in the text.
Doctoral degrees
Lowercase, including the major area of study.
- Berhanu Mengistu, a professor of public service in the Strome College of Business, received his doctorate from the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ of Delaware. (preferred)
- In a list: Holly Gaff, Ph.D., and Karen Sanzo, Ed.D.
- Following Associated Press style, the title "Dr." is used only for medical doctors, dentists or veterinarians.
- However, after introducing the faculty member, as a courtesy, they may be acknowledged as "Dr." once on second reference. This is an exception to Associated Press style.
- Doctorate is the noun; doctoral is an adjective
- Professor Sylvain Marsillac holds a doctorate in materials science and engineering;
he earned a doctoral degree from the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ of Nantes in France.
Associate degrees
Lowercase, not possessive.
- She earned an associate degree before transferring to ODU to complete an undergraduate
degree in history.
If listing a person's degree, use their highest degree or professional designation. Limit the list to three
credentials; any more hampers readability.
- Karen A. Karlowicz, Ed.D., RN
The type of degree is sufficient without adding the word "degree."
- She earned her Ph.D. in English this fall.
- He was the first to earn a Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity.
Degree programs are not capitalized within text unless the program is a proper noun.
- Samantha Salvia, Old Dominion's first Rhodes Scholar, is a 1996 graduate in civil and
environmental engineering. - Old Dominion offers bachelor's degrees in African American and Asian studies.
When the title precedes the name of the person, it is uppercase.
- President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., was unanimously chosen in 2021 by the Board of Visitors.
- His family includes First Lady Marisela Rosas Hemphill, Ph.D., and their two children.
- Professor Michelle Kelly was elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science.
Lowercase titles that follow a name. Eminent Scholar is capitalized regardless of where it is placed in a
sentence.
- Brian Hemphill is Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ's ninth president.
- Shaomin Li is an Eminent Scholar and professor of management.
Acronyms & Abbreviations
Use acronyms and abbreviations after the formal name has been mentioned. If a program is named only once in text, do not add its acronym in parentheses.
- Student Engagement and Enrollment Services (SEES)
- Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography (CCPO)
- Information Technology Services (ITS)
- Engineering Systems Building (ESB)
- Graduate Program in International Studies (GPIS)
Advisor
When referring to those who advise at Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, advisor is preferred.
Use "adviser" for external audience.
Alumnus, Alumni
An alumnus is a person who has attended or graduated from a particular school, college, or university; the plural is alumni. The term alum is also used in casual writing to describe such a person. The term alumnae (the feminine plural of alumnus) is used in the names of some women's groups, such as the Alumnae Council of Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.
Ampersand
An ampersand (&) may be used in graphic marks and acronyms as well as in official names of companies, organizations, and publications. Never use an ampersand instead of the word and in text.
- Student Engagement & Enrollment Services
- Jane Smith majored in international studies in the School of Arts and Letters.
Capitalization
ODU's capitalization style calls for less, rather than more, when it comes to the use of uppercase. When possible, rearrange elements to use lowercase. This increases readability for your audience.
Departments & Offices
Lowercase unless it is part of an official name.
- The political science department, the art department, admissions office
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Department of Physics; Career Development Services
91¶ÌÊÓƵ
Capitalize "91¶ÌÊÓƵ" when referring to Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, specifically, but not when referring to universities in general.
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is Virginia's entrepreneurial-minded public research institution
located in Norfolk, Va. The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is situated on 335 acres . . . - The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ today petitioned the General Assembly for additional state funding.
- If you want a university that embraces a multicultural student body and faculty, Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is the place for you.
Semester terms
Fall semester, Spring semester, and summer semester may be capitalized when referring to a specific semester. General references to semesters should be lowercased. Seasons of the year are not capitalized.
City of Norfolk
Capitalize the c in city when it is a part of an official name of a municipality, committee, or event. Lowercase the word when making general references.
- This city is a great place to live.
- The City of Norfolk has many restaurant options.
Classes, Courses
Uppercase when referring to specific courses: CHEM 117, Foundations of Chemistry.
Creative Work
Books, films and song titles are capitalized appropriately and surrounded by quotation marks. Magazine and newspaper names are italicized. Also, always be sure to use the correct full name of newspapers.
- Tim Seibles' latest book is titled, "Fast Animal"
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ has been mentioned in The Virginian-Pilot
Comma
SEES follows AP Style when it comes to the appropriation of commas. ODU SEES does not use the serial comma and instead follows the following examples:
- We ate apples, oranges and bananas.
- A combination of discipline, brutally honest advice and down-home humor
Commonwealth
Virginia is one of four U.S. commonwealths, but limit "commonwealth" to formal statements.
Otherwise, use "state."
- The Commonwealth of Virginia filed suit in October 2016, seeking civil penalties...
- Old Dominion has a reputation as one of the most military-friendly universities in the state.
Cyber
Generally combined as one word, no hyphen.
Dates
When there is a specific date, the months August through February are abbreviated, while the months March through July are not. If there is no specific date for that month, the month is not abbreviated.
- Fall break this past semester ran from Oct. 12-15
- Campus life blossoms best during the month of September
- Spring break this year is from March 10-15
Decades
Use of Arabic figures to indicate decades of history: the 1920s, the '80s.
Email (no hyphen)
There is no hyphen in the email.
E-Magazine
In the text, it would be lowercase: e-magazine.
First-Generation College Student
A hyphen is used to avoid ambiguity and to form a single idea from two words. Only use first gen when the context is informal, and the audience is familiar with the term.
Inclusive Language
Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ avoids words that contain discriminatory connotations. Use these suggested
alternatives:
"best man for the job" - best candidate,"chairman" - chair, chairperson, departmental chair, "craftsman" - artisan, "foreigner"- international student, "foreman"- supervisor, "manned the booth" - staffed the booth, "man-made" - synthetic "Policeman" - police officer.
To avoid a "student he/she" construction, you may directly address the student ("you") or use plural
- Ex: Students must speak with their faculty advisor to drop a course after the deadline.
NONDISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE
The Student Engagement & Enrollment Services supports the use of inclusive language, avoiding words that contain discriminatory connotations. Replace the following terms with these suggested alternatives:
"Chairman" - Chairperson, chair, departmental chair
"Policeman" - Police officer
"Best man for the job" - best candidate
"Manned the booth" - staffed the booth
"Man-made" - synthetic
"Foreigner" - International student
"Foreman" - supervisor
"Craftsman" - artisan, designer
To avoid a "student he/she" construction, you may directly address the student ("you") or use plural
- Ex: Students must speak with their faculty advisor to drop a course after the deadline.
Latina/o - Latinx
The term "Latinx" has emerged in academia as a popular way to refer to those whose ancestors came from a Spanish-speaking land or culture or a Latin American country.
- Latino is appropriate for all-male groups; Latinos is plural. Latina designates a group of females; Latinas, if plural.
- Hispanic designates a person from - or whose ancestors were from - a Spanish-speaking land or culture. It is also generally acceptable for those in the U.S. Be specific when possible, such as Cuban, Puerto Rican, Brazilian or Mexican American.
Location
"Street", "Boulevard" and "Avenue" are always abbreviated if accompanied by a numbered address. They are spelled out in all other cases. "Road" and "Route" are always spelled out.
- The ODU campus runs parallel to Hampton Boulevard
- The physical address of ODU is 5115 Hampton Blvd.
Names
Leo Online
Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary - ODU's founding name
The Norfolk Division of William and Mary; the Norfolk Division
Preview - ODU's name for orientation
Teletechnet
National anthem (lowercase)
- The song is "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Numbers
Spell out whole numbers below 10; use figures for 10 and above. Use the same rule for ordinals.
- Old Dominion is one university in the state.
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ has been its own institution for more than 50 years.
Percent
The symbol is permitted in text as well as statistical and tabular data.
- ODU awards $200 million in financial aid each year; 67% of its undergraduates receive financial assistance.
Preschool
Pre-K, grades K-12, preschool students
Race-Ethnicity
In June 2020, the Associated Press and many other media organizations reset their style to capitalize Black and Indigenous in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying a shared sense of history, identity and community among people.
A few guidelines:
- Black is generally used as an adjective: Black literature, Black culture, Black studies
- White remains lowercase.
- African American is an alternative for a Black person in the U.S. from Africa or in the African
diaspora. It is not always interchangeable. Many cultures that have settled in the United 91¶ÌÊÓƵs proudly identify their dual heritage, such as Somali Americans or Caribbean Americans. Be specific. - Native Americans or American Indians are acceptable general references in the U.S. when referring to two or more Indigenous tribes. When possible, refer to them as citizens from their specific tribal affiliation.
- In Alaska, the Indigenous groups are collectively known as Alaska Natives.
SEES Units
Admissions Enterprise
      Undergraduate Admissions
      Graduate AdmissionsÂ
      International AdmissionsÂ
Assessment and PlanningÂ
Campus Life Central OfficeÂ
Center for Career & Leadership Development
Center for Orientation, Retention, & Exploration - COREÂ
Chartway Arena
Customer Relations Management (CRM) & Integrated Systems
Dean of Students Office
Enrollment MarketingÂ
Financial Aid
Health Promotion
Housing & Residence Life - HRL
Monarch Assistance PartnersÂ
Intercultural Relations - IR
Military Connection Center - MCC
Monarch Card & Mail ServicesÂ
Office of Counseling Services
Office of Educational AccessibilityÂ
Recreation & Wellness - Rec Well
SEES Budget Office
SEES Communications - SEES Comm
SEES MarketingÂ
SEES Technology SupportÂ
Student Accountability & Academic Integrity Â
Student Engagement & Traditions - SET
Student Health Services
91¶ÌÊÓƵ Village BookstoreÂ
Webb Student CenterÂ
Women's & Gender Equity Center - WGEC
That/Which
If the clause can be omitted without leaving the noun it modifies incomplete or without materially altering the sense of what is being said—or if it could be enclosed in parentheses—use which; otherwise, use that.
In other words, that is better used to introduce a limiting or defining clause, which to introduce a non-defining or parenthetical clause. The word which should be preceded by a comma and refers to the word directly before it.
- The Ohio River, which flows to the Mississippi, forms in Pittsburgh.
- The river that forms in Pittsburgh is the Ohio.
- Generally speaking, which refers to things, who to persons, and that to either persons or things.
- The man who went to the store was my uncle.
- My old car, which I dearly loved, was relegated to the junk heap.
- The book that you sent arrived yesterday.
Also:
The crew that worked here left last week.
Times
Use numerals for the hours of the day. Use lowercase letters for and periods between a.m. and p.m. Also use noon and midnight, not 12 p.m. or 12 a.m. Do not use :00 for time that falls on the hour (except to accommodate specific design considerations on invitations, posters, course catalogs, or similar materials).
- 4 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. (not 4 PM, 4 P.M., 4:00 p.m., or 4 pm)
- 10 in the evening (not 10:00 in the evening or 10 p.m. in the evening)
- from 9 a.m. to noon (not from 9 a.m. to 12 noon)
Use numerals for the time of day when it is followed by the contraction o'clock:
- My appointment is at 8 o'clock.
Use numerals for precise times.
- Her bus will arrive at 3:05 this afternoon.
- I'll be there at 11:15 in the morning.
No comma is necessary between a time and a day or date.
- Her paper is due by 5 p.m. July 12.
Titles
A person's title is always capitalized if used before his or her name. If the title is mentioned after it is lowercase.
- John R. Broderick is the president of Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ President John R. Broderick
Titles/Books/Publications
Books that are not reference books are set off with quotation marks. Magazines, newspapers, journals and reference books have no italics or quotation marks. Radio and TV shows are put inside quotation marks.
- "A Mathematical Nature Walk" by John Adam, a math professor and photographer
- Time magazine, The New York Times
- "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" On NPR
- "Car Talk" on NPR
- MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
Trademarks
The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ's trademarks include:
"Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ"
"Old Dominion"
"ODU"
"Monarchs"
"Old Dominion Monarchs"
The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Corporate logo with crown
The athletics crown logo
The athletics Lion logo
The athletics Lion shield logo
Big Blue logo
The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Seal
All other names, including "Monarchs", symbols, initials, colors, images, graphic designs or other indicia that refer to the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ are protected by United 91¶ÌÊÓƵ federal and state law. The trademarks are updated continually. A current listing of registered trademarks is available from the Director of Trademark Licensing and Enforcement.
United 91¶ÌÊÓƵs
Spell out United 91¶ÌÊÓƵs when used as a noun; use U.S. (with periods) when used as an adjective or in tables and graphs.
- People of many different ethnic origins live in the United 91¶ÌÊÓƵs.
- The U.S. Congress is in session now.
Units
All offices that fall under the SEES area of support are preferably known as "units".
- The Office of Financial Aid is one unit we support.
Voicemail
Voicemail is one word.
Academic Calendar/Terms
Lowercase names of terms in text.
- The 2022 fall term runs from August through December.
Academic Degrees
Faculty are identified by their names and academic rankings on the first reference. Use their surnames on subsequent references. Use the guide below when it's necessary to specify their degrees.
Bachelor's Degrees
Lowercase, including the major area of study.
- She has a bachelor's degree in modeling and simulation. (preferred)
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts. May use capitalized BA or BS or B.A. or B.S., as long as it is consistent throughout the text.
Master's degree
Lowercase, including the major area of study.
- He earned a master's degree in physics. (preferred)
- Master of Science in chemistry or Master of Arts in history. May use MS and MA, or M.S. and M.A., as long as they are used consistently in the text.
Doctoral degrees
Lowercase, including the major area of study.
- Berhanu Mengistu, a professor of public service in the Strome College of Business, received his doctorate from the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ of Delaware. (preferred)
- In a list: Holly Gaff, Ph.D., and Karen Sanzo, Ed.D.
- Following Associated Press style, the title "Dr." is used only for medical doctors, dentists or veterinarians.
- However, after introducing the faculty member, as a courtesy, they may be acknowledged as "Dr." once on second reference. This is an exception to Associated Press style.
- Doctorate is the noun; doctoral is an adjective
- Professor Sylvain Marsillac holds a doctorate in materials science and engineering;
he earned a doctoral degree from the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ of Nantes in France.
Associate degrees
Lowercase, not possessive.
- She earned an associate degree before transferring to ODU to complete an undergraduate
degree in history.
If listing a person's degree, use their highest degree or professional designation. Limit the list to three
credentials; any more hampers readability.
- Karen A. Karlowicz, Ed.D., RN
The type of degree is sufficient without adding the word "degree."
- She earned her Ph.D. in English this fall.
- He was the first to earn a Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity.
Degree programs are not capitalized within text unless the program is a proper noun.
- Samantha Salvia, Old Dominion's first Rhodes Scholar, is a 1996 graduate in civil and
environmental engineering. - Old Dominion offers bachelor's degrees in African American and Asian studies.
When the title precedes the name of the person, it is uppercase.
- President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., was unanimously chosen in 2021 by the Board of Visitors.
- His family includes First Lady Marisela Rosas Hemphill, Ph.D., and their two children.
- Professor Michelle Kelly was elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science.
Lowercase titles that follow a name. Eminent Scholar is capitalized regardless of where it is placed in a
sentence.
- Brian Hemphill is Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ's ninth president.
- Shaomin Li is an Eminent Scholar and professor of management.
Acronyms & Abbreviations
Use acronyms and abbreviations after the formal name has been mentioned. If a program is named only once in text, do not add its acronym in parentheses.
- Student Engagement and Enrollment Services (SEES)
- Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography (CCPO)
- Information Technology Services (ITS)
- Engineering Systems Building (ESB)
- Graduate Program in International Studies (GPIS)
Advisor
When referring to those who advise at Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, advisor is preferred.
Use "adviser" for external audience.
Alumnus, Alumni
An alumnus is a person who has attended or graduated from a particular school, college, or university; the plural is alumni. The term alum is also used in casual writing to describe such a person. The term alumnae (the feminine plural of alumnus) is used in the names of some women's groups, such as the Alumnae Council of Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.
Ampersand
An ampersand (&) may be used in graphic marks and acronyms as well as in official names of companies, organizations, and publications. Never use an ampersand instead of the word and in text.
- Student Engagement & Enrollment Services
- Jane Smith majored in international studies in the School of Arts and Letters.
Capitalization
ODU's capitalization style calls for less, rather than more, when it comes to the use of uppercase. When possible, rearrange elements to use lowercase. This increases readability for your audience.
Departments & Offices
Lowercase unless it is part of an official name.
- The political science department, the art department, admissions office
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Department of Physics; Career Development Services
91¶ÌÊÓƵ
Capitalize "91¶ÌÊÓƵ" when referring to Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, specifically, but not when referring to universities in general.
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is Virginia's entrepreneurial-minded public research institution
located in Norfolk, Va. The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is situated on 335 acres . . . - The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ today petitioned the General Assembly for additional state funding.
- If you want a university that embraces a multicultural student body and faculty, Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is the place for you.
Semester terms
Fall semester, Spring semester, and summer semester may be capitalized when referring to a specific semester. General references to semesters should be lowercased. Seasons of the year are not capitalized.
City of Norfolk
Capitalize the c in city when it is a part of an official name of a municipality, committee, or event. Lowercase the word when making general references.
- This city is a great place to live.
- The City of Norfolk has many restaurant options.
Classes, Courses
Uppercase when referring to specific courses: CHEM 117, Foundations of Chemistry.
Creative Work
Books, films and song titles are capitalized appropriately and surrounded by quotation marks. Magazine and newspaper names are italicized. Also, always be sure to use the correct full name of newspapers.
- Tim Seibles' latest book is titled, "Fast Animal"
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ has been mentioned in The Virginian-Pilot
Comma
SEES follows AP Style when it comes to the appropriation of commas. ODU SEES does not use the serial comma and instead follows the following examples:
- We ate apples, oranges and bananas.
- A combination of discipline, brutally honest advice and down-home humor
Commonwealth
Virginia is one of four U.S. commonwealths, but limit "commonwealth" to formal statements.
Otherwise, use "state."
- The Commonwealth of Virginia filed suit in October 2016, seeking civil penalties...
- Old Dominion has a reputation as one of the most military-friendly universities in the state.
Cyber
Generally combined as one word, no hyphen.
Dates
When there is a specific date, the months August through February are abbreviated, while the months March through July are not. If there is no specific date for that month, the month is not abbreviated.
- Fall break this past semester ran from Oct. 12-15
- Campus life blossoms best during the month of September
- Spring break this year is from March 10-15
Decades
Use of Arabic figures to indicate decades of history: the 1920s, the '80s.
Email (no hyphen)
There is no hyphen in the email.
E-Magazine
In the text, it would be lowercase: e-magazine.
First-Generation College Student
A hyphen is used to avoid ambiguity and to form a single idea from two words. Only use first gen when the context is informal, and the audience is familiar with the term.
Inclusive Language
Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ avoids words that contain discriminatory connotations. Use these suggested
alternatives:
"best man for the job" - best candidate,"chairman" - chair, chairperson, departmental chair, "craftsman" - artisan, "foreigner"- international student, "foreman"- supervisor, "manned the booth" - staffed the booth, "man-made" - synthetic "Policeman" - police officer.
To avoid a "student he/she" construction, you may directly address the student ("you") or use plural
- Ex: Students must speak with their faculty advisor to drop a course after the deadline.
NONDISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE
The Student Engagement & Enrollment Services supports the use of inclusive language, avoiding words that contain discriminatory connotations. Replace the following terms with these suggested alternatives:
"Chairman" - Chairperson, chair, departmental chair
"Policeman" - Police officer
"Best man for the job" - best candidate
"Manned the booth" - staffed the booth
"Man-made" - synthetic
"Foreigner" - International student
"Foreman" - supervisor
"Craftsman" - artisan, designer
To avoid a "student he/she" construction, you may directly address the student ("you") or use plural
- Ex: Students must speak with their faculty advisor to drop a course after the deadline.
Latina/o - Latinx
The term "Latinx" has emerged in academia as a popular way to refer to those whose ancestors came from a Spanish-speaking land or culture or a Latin American country.
- Latino is appropriate for all-male groups; Latinos is plural. Latina designates a group of females; Latinas, if plural.
- Hispanic designates a person from - or whose ancestors were from - a Spanish-speaking land or culture. It is also generally acceptable for those in the U.S. Be specific when possible, such as Cuban, Puerto Rican, Brazilian or Mexican American.
Location
"Street", "Boulevard" and "Avenue" are always abbreviated if accompanied by a numbered address. They are spelled out in all other cases. "Road" and "Route" are always spelled out.
- The ODU campus runs parallel to Hampton Boulevard
- The physical address of ODU is 5115 Hampton Blvd.
Names
Leo Online
Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary - ODU's founding name
The Norfolk Division of William and Mary; the Norfolk Division
Preview - ODU's name for orientation
Teletechnet
National anthem (lowercase)
- The song is "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Numbers
Spell out whole numbers below 10; use figures for 10 and above. Use the same rule for ordinals.
- Old Dominion is one university in the state.
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ has been its own institution for more than 50 years.
Percent
The symbol is permitted in text as well as statistical and tabular data.
- ODU awards $200 million in financial aid each year; 67% of its undergraduates receive financial assistance.
Preschool
Pre-K, grades K-12, preschool students
Race-Ethnicity
In June 2020, the Associated Press and many other media organizations reset their style to capitalize Black and Indigenous in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense, conveying a shared sense of history, identity and community among people.
A few guidelines:
- Black is generally used as an adjective: Black literature, Black culture, Black studies
- White remains lowercase.
- African American is an alternative for a Black person in the U.S. from Africa or in the African
diaspora. It is not always interchangeable. Many cultures that have settled in the United 91¶ÌÊÓƵs proudly identify their dual heritage, such as Somali Americans or Caribbean Americans. Be specific. - Native Americans or American Indians are acceptable general references in the U.S. when referring to two or more Indigenous tribes. When possible, refer to them as citizens from their specific tribal affiliation.
- In Alaska, the Indigenous groups are collectively known as Alaska Natives.
SEES Units
Admissions Enterprise
      Undergraduate Admissions
      Graduate AdmissionsÂ
      International AdmissionsÂ
Assessment and PlanningÂ
Campus Life Central OfficeÂ
Center for Career & Leadership Development
Center for Orientation, Retention, & Exploration - COREÂ
Chartway Arena
Customer Relations Management (CRM) & Integrated Systems
Dean of Students Office
Enrollment MarketingÂ
Financial Aid
Health Promotion
Housing & Residence Life - HRL
Monarch Assistance PartnersÂ
Intercultural Relations - IR
Military Connection Center - MCC
Monarch Card & Mail ServicesÂ
Office of Counseling Services
Office of Educational AccessibilityÂ
Recreation & Wellness - Rec Well
SEES Budget Office
SEES Communications - SEES Comm
SEES MarketingÂ
SEES Technology SupportÂ
Student Accountability & Academic Integrity Â
Student Engagement & Traditions - SET
Student Health Services
91¶ÌÊÓƵ Village BookstoreÂ
Webb Student CenterÂ
Women's & Gender Equity Center - WGEC
That/Which
If the clause can be omitted without leaving the noun it modifies incomplete or without materially altering the sense of what is being said—or if it could be enclosed in parentheses—use which; otherwise, use that.
In other words, that is better used to introduce a limiting or defining clause, which to introduce a non-defining or parenthetical clause. The word which should be preceded by a comma and refers to the word directly before it.
- The Ohio River, which flows to the Mississippi, forms in Pittsburgh.
- The river that forms in Pittsburgh is the Ohio.
- Generally speaking, which refers to things, who to persons, and that to either persons or things.
- The man who went to the store was my uncle.
- My old car, which I dearly loved, was relegated to the junk heap.
- The book that you sent arrived yesterday.
Also:
The crew that worked here left last week.
Times
Use numerals for the hours of the day. Use lowercase letters for and periods between a.m. and p.m. Also use noon and midnight, not 12 p.m. or 12 a.m. Do not use :00 for time that falls on the hour (except to accommodate specific design considerations on invitations, posters, course catalogs, or similar materials).
- 4 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. (not 4 PM, 4 P.M., 4:00 p.m., or 4 pm)
- 10 in the evening (not 10:00 in the evening or 10 p.m. in the evening)
- from 9 a.m. to noon (not from 9 a.m. to 12 noon)
Use numerals for the time of day when it is followed by the contraction o'clock:
- My appointment is at 8 o'clock.
Use numerals for precise times.
- Her bus will arrive at 3:05 this afternoon.
- I'll be there at 11:15 in the morning.
No comma is necessary between a time and a day or date.
- Her paper is due by 5 p.m. July 12.
Titles
A person's title is always capitalized if used before his or her name. If the title is mentioned after it is lowercase.
- John R. Broderick is the president of Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ
- Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ President John R. Broderick
Titles/Books/Publications
Books that are not reference books are set off with quotation marks. Magazines, newspapers, journals and reference books have no italics or quotation marks. Radio and TV shows are put inside quotation marks.
- "A Mathematical Nature Walk" by John Adam, a math professor and photographer
- Time magazine, The New York Times
- "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" On NPR
- "Car Talk" on NPR
- MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
Trademarks
The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ's trademarks include:
"Old Dominion 91¶ÌÊÓƵ"
"Old Dominion"
"ODU"
"Monarchs"
"Old Dominion Monarchs"
The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Corporate logo with crown
The athletics crown logo
The athletics Lion logo
The athletics Lion shield logo
Big Blue logo
The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Seal
All other names, including "Monarchs", symbols, initials, colors, images, graphic designs or other indicia that refer to the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ are protected by United 91¶ÌÊÓƵ federal and state law. The trademarks are updated continually. A current listing of registered trademarks is available from the Director of Trademark Licensing and Enforcement.
United 91¶ÌÊÓƵs
Spell out United 91¶ÌÊÓƵs when used as a noun; use U.S. (with periods) when used as an adjective or in tables and graphs.
- People of many different ethnic origins live in the United 91¶ÌÊÓƵs.
- The U.S. Congress is in session now.
Units
All offices that fall under the SEES area of support are preferably known as "units".
- The Office of Financial Aid is one unit we support.
Voicemail
Voicemail is one word.