Cal Poly Humboldt Editorial Style Guide is maintained by the Office of Marketing & Communications to assist University communicators in delivering their message with clarity and consistency whether in print or online.
Cal Poly Humboldt relies primarily on the Associated Press Stylebook (often referred to as "AP Style") for the majority of its public communications. This does not cover academic writing, which may need to conform to various styles such as Chicago Style, MLA, or otherwise. Please contact the University Library for specific information regarding academic style.
These guidelines are intended to provide clarity on items specific to Cal Poly Humboldt and higher education that are not covered by AP Style.
AP Style books are available online at apstylebook.com.
Important Update: University Name
Brand Name & Usage
Over the next few months, the campus will use a phased approach to transition Cal Poly Humboldt to it's new designation—California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The University will informally be called Cal Poly Humboldt and Humboldt, depending on usage.
Body Copy
When referring to the University in the main body of your content use:
– In most cases, use Cal Poly Humboldt.
– Humboldt is acceptable on second and subsequent references and when using a casual tone.
– California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt should only be used when referring to the full formal name is necessary for context. NOTE: there is no comma in Cal Poly Humboldt.
– University (capitalized) is reserved for official university communications only.
– DO NOT USE acronyms such as CSPUH or CPH. At this time, there are no official acronyms for the University.
Headlines
– In many cases, use Cal Poly Humboldt
– Humboldt is acceptable as long as Cal Poly Humboldt is used in the body copy.
General Notes & Tips
Brand Voice
Cal Poly Humboldt generally uses a casual and friendly tone when communicating with its audiences. Reserve a formal tone of writing for official documents and communications, for example when communicating with students about requirements for degree completion or with agencies about grant funding.
Information about the University's brand, including core messages and graphic standards, is online at brand.humboldt.edu.
General Writing Advice
Most written communication should include the following:
Headline - catchy and interesting
Body Copy - easily understood at a glance
Call to Action - A clear next step in the process
A
Abbreviations and Acronyms
From the AP Stylebook … "avoid alphabet soup." While a few universal acronyms and abbreviations are acceptable (Mr. and Mrs., or NASA for example), most times the reader benefits from the use of the full name or spelling of an object.
The MultiCultural Center has been active on campus for more than three decades. The center organizes such annual events as the Social Justice Summit and the Lunar Celebration.
When necessary, spell out the first reference followed by the abbreviation:
Welcome to Cal Poly Humboldt, home of the Lumberjacks! At Humboldt, you'll find 51 majors ranging from Astronomy & Physics to Wildlife.
Academic Departments by College
Our editorial standard is to use an ampersand in department, program, college, and building names. Do not use a comma before an ampersand.
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Department of Anthropology
Department of Art + Film
Department of Communication
Department of Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies
- Department of Dance, Music & Theatre
Department of English
Environment & Community M.A. Program in Social Sciences
Department of Environmental Studies
Department of Geography
Department of History
International Studies
Department of Journalism & Mass Communication
Department of Native American Studies
Department of Philosophy
Department of Politics
Department of Religious Studies
Department of Sociology
Department of World Languages & Cultures
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Department of Computer Science
School of Engineering
Department of Environmental Science & Management
Environmental Systems M.S. Program
Department of Fisheries Biology
Department of Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management
Department of Geology
Department of Mathematics
Natural Resources M.S. Program
Department of Oceanography
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Department of Wildlife
- School of Engineering
College of Professional Studies
- School of Applied Health
School of Business
Department of Child Development
Department of Economics
School of Education
- Leadership Studies
Department of Psychology
Department of Social work
Academic Degrees
Generic degrees are lowercase.
master's degree
bachelor's degree
doctoral degree or doctorate
Specific degrees are uppercase.
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Doctor of Philosophy
Juris Doctorate
Medical Doctorate
Master of Science
Master of Fine Arts
Master of Arts
Master of Public Policy
Master of Social Work
Abbreviations are always uppercase.
B.A.
B.S.
M.A.
M.S.
M.S.W.
Ph.D.
J.D.
Academic Titles
In general, a title that precedes a name is capitalized, Cal Poly Humboldt President Tom Jackson, Jr., California State University Chancellor Joseph I. Castro. If not used prior to a person's name, the title is no longer formal and should be lowercase. Tim Bean, professor of wildlife, recently authored a book on porcupines.
Avoid using Doctor (or Dr.) unless referring to medical degree
In most cases avoid using the term lecturer. Incorrect: "Lecturer Joe Kramer talked about history with his class." Preferred term is instructor.
Professor—do not use Assistant or Associate Professor titles unless required for meaning. Professor Klein scheduled a rain date for his botany class. or Schwartz, who was promoted to Associate Professor last year . . .
ACT
Use only initials in referring to American College Testing.
Advisor/Adviser
Preferred spelling is Advisor.
Ages
Always use numerals to indicate age. The boy is 15 years old. An 8-year-old law.
Alder Hall
See residence halls entry.
Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute
Founded in 1982, the Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute has the dual purpose of studying specific examples of heroic and conventional altruism and seeking out ways to enhance altruism and prosocial behavior in society.
Alumni
Use the following guide when referring to graduates of Cal Poly Humboldt. See "Latin prefixes" for guidance on which form of alumnus/alumna to use.
One major: John Smith ('98, Business Administration)
Multiple majors: Jane Smith ('98, Business Administration, Kinesiology)
Multiple degrees, different subjects: Bob Smith ('98, Biology, '00, M.S. Wildlife)
Multiple degrees, same subject: Bob Smith (‘98, Biology, ‘00 M.S. Biology)
Preferred style for alumni who did not graduate: Jane Jones, who attended Cal Poly Humboldt from 2004 to 2006, was named committee chair.
a.m., p.m.
Lowercase, with periods. Avoid redundancy, 8 a.m. this morning.
And and &
Use the Ampersand (&) when listing a college, department, program, or building name, such as Housing & Residence Life or Behavioral & Social Sciences Building. Do not use a comma before an ampersand—Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies.
Annual
An event cannot be described as an annual event until it has occurred for at least two consecutive years. Use inaugural or mention that planners hope to host the event annually.
Art A
Houses office and classrooms for the Department of Art.
Art B
Houses office and classrooms for the Department of Art.
Associated Students
The official body through which students participate in the governance of campus. A.S. acceptable on second reference.
Awards
Capitalize the names of awards: Distinguished Faculty Awards, Outstanding Student Awards, Distinguished Alumni Awards, etc.
B
Baiocchi House
Houses the Younger Toddler and Middle Toddler classrooms. See the Children's Center entry.
Bay
Capitalize as part of a proper name, Humboldt Bay.
Behavioral & Social Sciences Building
Contains classrooms, laboratories, and offices for Department of Anthropology, Department of Mathematics, Department of Native American Studies, Department of Psychology, Department of Sociology, and the Goudi'ni Native American Arts Gallery.
Biannual, Biennial
Biannual means twice a year. Biennial means every two years.
Bimonthly
Means every other month. Semimonthly means twice a month.
Biological Anthropology Research Center
Located in the Behavioral & Social Sciences Building, the Biological Anthropology Research Center provides training and research opportunities in biological anthropology for Humboldt students.
Boat Facility
A 6,500 square foot Boat Storage Facility built in 1999.
Brero House
Houses the Native American Center for Academic Excellence, which operates the Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program. See entry for Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence.
Bret Harte House
Houses offices of the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication.
Brookins House
Houses faculty offices for the Department of Biological Sciences.
Buck House
Houses the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology. See Campus Center for Appropriate Technology entry.
C
California Center for Rural Policy
Located in the Little Apartments, the California Center for Rural Policy is a research center committed to informing policy, building community, and promoting the health and well-being of rural people and environments.
California Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
A cooperation among Humboldt, the Dept. of Fish & Game, and US Dept. of the Interior to conduct research that benefits fish, wildlife, their habitats, and ecosystems.
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Founded in 1913 as a teachers college, Cal Poly Humboldt is the northernmost campus in the California State University system. Use Cal Poly Humboldt on first reference. When writing in a formal tone, University is acceptable on second reference. When using a more casual tone, such as with student recruitment materials, Humboldt is acceptable on second reference.
Former names include:
Cal Poly Humboldt Normal School
Cal Poly Humboldt Teachers College
Cal Poly Humboldt College
California State University, Humboldt
Cal Poly Humboldt
Call letters
Use all caps and hyphens to separate the type of station from the call letters. KHSU-FM.
Campus Apartments
A four-level complex comprising 54 apartments.
Campus Events Field
Located at 17th and B streets, location of special events and club sports practices.
Campus Center for Appropriate Technology
CCAT acceptable on second reference, located in the Buck House.
Campus Events
Capitalize the name of major campus events, including:
Spring Preview
Welcome Home to Humboldt
Homecoming & Family Weekend
Commencement
The Canyon
A residence hall complex comprising eight buildings: Alder, Cedar, Chinquapin, Hemlock, Madrone, Maple, Pepperwood, and Tan Oak Halls. See residence hall entry.
Cedar Hall
See residence hall entry.
The Center for Applied Sociology Analysis and Education
Located in the Behavioral & Social Sciences Building, the Center for Applied Sociology Analysis and Education provides graduate students with opportunities to gain applied sociology experience within the community.
Ceramics Lab
Formerly the campus laundry facility, the building now houses special rooms for kilns and glazing, throwing and handbuilding areas, and an outdoor kiln for raku firings.
Capitalization
Titles with Personal Names
Capitalize titles when they precede the name: President Obama, Chancellor White and Professor Doe met this week. In text, titles following the names or used alone are lowercase: The chancellor and Sara Flores, Ph.D., professor of anthropology, met today.
Capitalize titles in formal listings such as in an agenda for the Board of Trustees' meetings.
Capitalize formal names of departments and boards:
The Department of Politics
The Humboldt Advancement Foundation Board
Second reference would be lower case:
The department focuses on current events and political philosophy.
The board moved to adopt the new bylaws.
Academic Majors, Minors/Courses
Lowercase all majors except those containing proper nouns. His major is English; her major is engineering. Sue is majoring in Asian studies. General subjects are lowercase algebra, chemistry, but the names of specific courses are capitalized Algebra I, Introduction to Sociology.
Capitalize the formal names of buildings, lowercase on second reference.
Siemens Hall is named for former Humboldt President Cornelius Siemens. The departments of Business, Economics, and Human Resources are all located in the hall.
For more information on capitalization, visit the California State University Chancellor's Office style guide.
Chinquapin Hall
See residence hall entry.
Cities and States
Use commas to separate the name of a state when it follows a city:
The bus ride ended in Eureka, Calif., at 5 p.m.
Spell out the names of the 50 U.S. states when they stand alone.
Note about use of United States: Use "U.S." only as an adjective, otherwise spell it out. "She studied U.S. culture of the 1950s." "She studied the culture of the United States from the 1950s."
Do not abbreviate the names of the following states: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah.
Use the following abbreviations for state names, avoid using postal abbreviations (in parentheses).
Ala. (AL)Md. (MD)N.D. (ND)Ariz. (AZ)Mass. (MA)Okla. (OK)Ark. (AR)Mich. (MI)Ore. (OR)Calif. (CA)Minn. (MN)Pa. (PA)Colo. (CO)Miss. (MS)R.I. (RI)Conn. (CT)Mo. (MO)S.C. (SC)Del. (DE)Mont. (MT)S.D. (SD)Fla. (FL)Neb. (NE)Tenn. (TN)Ga. (GA)Nev. (NV)Vt. (VT)Ill. (IL)N.H. (NH)Va. (VA)Ind. (IN)N.J. (NJ)Wash. (WA)Kan. (KS)N.M. (NM)W.Va. (WV)Ky. (KY)N.Y. (NY)Wis. (WI)La. (LA)N.C. (NC)Wyo. (WY)
Do not use states with these U.S. cities: Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Boston, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Miami, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Dallas, Minneapolis, San Diego, Denver, New Orleans, San Francisco, Detroit, New York City, Seattle, Honolulu, Oklahoma City, Washington
Classes
Use uppercase when referring to specific class. Class of 2017. Lowercase otherwise. The incoming freshman class was the largest in the school's history.
Colleges
Note the official names of Humboldt's four colleges.
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
College of Extended Education & Global Engagement
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
College of Professional Studies
College Creek Complex
Located on the northwest portion of campus, the complex comprises the College Creek Community Center, College Creek Field, the College Creek Field Locker Rooms, and the Del Norte, Mendocino, Shasta, and Trinity residence halls.
College of Natural Resources & Sciences Core Facility
A shared workspace for students and faculty of the College of Natural Resources & Sciences. Facilities include the Main CNRS Core Research Facility and Office, and several satellite locations. More information.
Commas
In general, use the serial comma (also referred to as an Oxford comma) following "and" in a list of items. The college offers courses in person, online, and in hybrid formats.
Composition Titles
Apply the guidelines listed here to book titles, computer and video game titles, movie titles, opera titles, play titles, poem titles, album and song titles, radio and television program titles, and the titles of lectures, speeches and works of art.
Do not punctuate channels, such as PBS, ABC, Discovery Channel, etc.
Italicize publication names: The New York Times, Humboldt magazine, War and Peace, The Journal of Applied Mathematics and its Uses
Put article or composition titles in quotes: "For the Birds: The Challenges of Avian Research," "An Interdisciplinary Approach to Issues Affecting Phytoplankton on the California Coastline."
Coral Sea Research Vessel
An outdoor classroom for Humboldt students to study and conduct research on the ocean, used primarily by its fisheries, wildlife, biology, and geology programs.
Creekview Complex
A residence hall complex comprising four three-story buildings and a central recreational facility with a laundry room.
CSU Campus Names
Adapted from the Calstate.edu Styleguide.
The first mention in text should always be the complete, formal name of the campus. Use no commas in shortened campus names. Continue using a comma when the full campus name is spelled out. (Please note Maritime, Channel Islands and San Marcos do not have a comma in their formal names. The correct names are California State University Maritime Academy, California State University Channel Islands and California State University San Marcos.)
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Campus Abbreviations
If it is necessary to use a shortened campus name when many or all campuses are mentioned, we recommend the following abbreviations.
For Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Chico, Dominguez Hills, East Bay, Fullerton, Long Beach, Monterey Bay, Northridge, Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Marcos: CSU (Location Name)
For Fresno, Humboldt, San Diego, San Francisco, San José, Sonoma and Stanislaus: (Location Name) State
For Pomona and San Luis Obispo: Cal Poly (Location Name)
For CSU Maritime Academy: Cal Maritime
For California State University, Los Angeles: Cal State L.A.
Cypress Hall
See residence hall entry.
D
Data
A plural noun, it normally takes plural adverbs and pronouns. Data were gathered.
Dates, Days, Times, and Seasons
When listing an event time and date, using the following sequence: Time, day, date.
The event takes place at 9 a.m., Monday, Dec. 5.
Use figures for days of the month. Omit the ordinal designations of nd, rd, st, th.
August 3, 2017.
Punctuate a.m. and p.m.
Use the short version of time to conserve space; 5 p.m. not 5:00 p.m.
Use noon rather than 12 p.m.
Lowercase seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
David E. Webb Language Learning Center
Located in the Behavioral & Social Sciences Building, provides a state-of-the-art learning environment for language students, including digital audio listening capabilities, dedicated foreign language word processing and language software, Internet access and a networked laser printer. The facilities are open to all Humboldt students.
Del Norte Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Dennis K. Walker Green House
Built in 1982, the 11,500-square-foot Dennis K. Walker Greenhouse houses 1,000 species representing 187 plant families and is one of the largest teaching collections of living plants in California. Named for Dennis K. Walker, Professor Emeritus of Botany and a 1960 alumnus.
Department names
Official department names are uppercase. Academic department names are formatted as follows: Department of History. See Colleges entry for list of academic departments.
Dorms, dormitories
Use residence halls instead. See residence hall entry.
E
Emeritus
See Latin Suffixes entry.
Endowed Chair
Use the full title of the chair on first reference only. OK to omit in photo captions.
Forestry Professor and Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology Stephen Sillett.
Experimental Greenhouse
Located just behind Brookins House, part of the CNRS Core Research Facility's satellite locations.
F
Facilities Management
Located at 14th and B streets, responsible for the maintenance of the campus' physical assets. As with other departments on campus, capitalize its proper name.
Faculty
When writing about the faculty as a whole, faculty should be treated as a collective noun and take a singular verb: The faculty is in favor of the new schedule. When writing about individuals, use faculty members to avoid noun-verb difficulties: Five new faculty members joined the University Senate.
Fern Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Feuerwerker House
Located near Library Circle, houses the Center for International Programs.
Fickle Hill Observatory
Located off campus, used for teaching and research in Astronomy courses. Observatory contains a 16-inch telescope and a 12-inch telescope—both GPS-located and computer-controlled—as well as several smaller telescopes.
Fishbowl
A meeting space located with the University Library.
Fisheries Hatchery
Located near the Wildlife & Fisheries Building, houses recirculating aquaculture systems.
Forbes Gym
Located near the Kinesiology & Athletics Building, named for Joseph M. Forbes, a former director of Athletics and football coach.
Fiscal year
The 12-month period that an organization uses for bookkeeping purposes. The University's fiscal year begins July 1 each year and ends June 30 of the following calendar year.
Forestry Building
Located on 17th Street, houses offices, classrooms, and laboratories for Department of Forestry and Wildland Resources.
Founders Hall
Formerly the Administration Building, it is the oldest building on campus.
Fulkerson Recital Hall
Recital hall located in Music B building, named for Charles Fulkerson, music professor, 1941-77.
Fundraising and Fundraiser
Always one word
G
Gist Hall
Formerly the College Elementary School, named for Arthur S. Gist, president, 1930-49.
Goodwin Forum
Meeting space in Nelson Hall East, named for Edward Goodwin, Cal Poly Humboldt College Advisory Board member, 1950-74, chair 1968-73.
GPA
Acceptable on all references for grade point average.
Graduation Year
Use the following rules to list a person's graduation year.
One major: John Smith ('98, Business Administration)
Multiple majors: Jane Smith ('98, Business Administration, Kinesiology)
Multiple degrees separate years with comma: Bob Smith ('98, Biology, '00, M.S. Wildlife)
Graduate degree indicate with abbreviation: Barbara Smith ('99, M.A. English)
Gravity Research Laboratory
Located in the Science A building and operated by the Department of Physics, houses research projects focusing on short-range tests of Newton's 1/r2 law and the weak equivalence principle, searches for new fundamental forces and investigates the mechanism behind dark energy.
Great Hall
Meeting space located in the College Creek Community Center.
Green & Gold Room
Meeting space located in Founders Hall, original location of the library at Cal Poly Humboldt Teacher's College.
H
Hadley House
Located on Laurel Drive, houses the offices for the Educational Opportunity Program.
Hagopian House
Located near Library Circle, houses the offices of Youth Educational Services.
Harry Griffith Hall
Located at the intersection of B and Harpst streets, named for Harry Griffith, education professor, 1939-66.
Humboldt Earthquake Education Center
Operated by the Department of Geography, the Humboldt Earthquake Education Center offers workshops concerning earthquake education. It engages in other outreach activities, including publishing earthquake preparedness materials such as Living on Shaky Ground.
Humboldt Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research
An interdisciplinary institute, the Humboldt Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research seeks to improve the economic, social, physical, and environmental health of individuals and communities through the interdisciplinary scientific study of marijuana.
Humboldt Marine and Coastal Sciences Institute
An interdisciplinary institute that serves as a forum for coordinated development, funding, and execution of marine science research, education, and outreach efforts at Humboldt.
Humboldt Science and Mathematics Center for Teaching and Learning
Founded in 2005, the Humboldt Science and Mathematics Center for Teaching and Learning offers programs and professional support for future teachers as well as practicing professionals.
Hemlock Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
The Hill
A residence hall complex comprising Redwood and Sunset halls. See residence halls entry.
Honorary Degrees
All references to honorary degrees should specify the degree was honorary. Do not use with Dr. See a list of recipients of honorary degrees from Cal Poly Humboldt here.
Human Performance Lab
Located in the Kinesiology & Athletics Building, the lab offers cardiovascular fitness, body composition assessments, nutrition analysis, and personalized fitness programs to Humboldt and the community.
Cal Poly Humboldt Bookstore
Located in the University Center. In addition to textbooks, the bookstore oversees retail shops for general books, computers, and Lumberjack clothing.
I
Institute for Cartographic Design
Affiliated with the Department of Geography and its Kosmos Lab for teaching cartography, the Institute for Cartographic Design is intended to provide cartography students with a transition from theoretical to applied map design before graduation and to provide a centralized cartographic design service on campus specializing in cartographic and information design in all formats from paper to web to animation.
Institute for Entrepreneurship Education
Founded in 2008, the Institute for Entrepreneurship Education is designed for interdisciplinary study and also focuses on "social entrepreneurship," instilling instruction with an ethic of social responsibility.
Institute for Redwood Ecology
Promotes the study of redwoods and other tall trees and to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific research on their biology and the forests they create. Created by an endowment from Kenneth L. Fisher.
Institute of Harm Reduction Research, Policy and Practice
The Institute of Harm Reduction Research, Policy and Practice has the mission of advancing research, policy, and practices that reduce harm to people, communities, and the environment from problematic use of alcohol and other drugs, as well as problematic drug policy responses.
Institute of Health and Human Performance
Operated by the Department of Kinesiology & Recreation Administration, the Institute of Health and Human Performance supports the local community in health promotion activities. The Institute's facilities support research and training opportunities for Humboldt faculty and students in a broad range of topics related to health, human performance, disease prevention, physical activity, and nutrition.
Institute of the Music Department for External Music Studies
The Institute of the Music Department for External Music Studies provides opportunities for the collective and individual study of music. The institute provides valuable faculty oversight of the operations of the Humboldt Music Academy, Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop, Chamber Music Workshop, and Brass Chamber Music Workshop.
Institute for Spatial Analysis
Located in the Forestry building, the Institute for Spatial analysis is dedicated to the expansion of spatial analysis methodologies across disciplines and the full spectrum of real world issues.
Institute for the Study of Alternative Dispute Resolution
The Institute for the Study of Alternative Dispute Resolution offers workshops concerning environmental disputes, family and interpersonal disputes, and workplace disputes.
J
Jenkins Hall
Located on Laurel Drive, currently unused building. Named for Horace (Pop) R. Jenkins, professor of industrial arts.
Jensen House
Located near the Schatz Energy Research Center, houses offices of the Children's Center.
Jolly Giant Commons
Located on Granite Ave., houses offices for Housing & Residence Life, the J Cafeteria, the Jolly Giant Commons rec room, mailroom, and several meeting spaces.
Juniper Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
K
Kate Buchanan Room
Large meeting space located in the University Center, named for Kate Buchanan, assistant English professor and associate dean of students, 1946-68.
Kinesiology & Athletics Building
Built in 2008 and located at the top of Union Street, houses the offices of the Department Kinesiology & Recreation Administration, laboratories, the campus pool, studios, and Lumberjack Arena.
Kosmos Lab
Located in Founders Hall and operated by the Department of Geography, the lab houses software and equipment for student studying mapping and cartography. Named for "Kosmos," the five-volume work by naturalist and geographer Alexander Von Humboldt.
L
Latin Suffixes
Use the following guide for the correct versions of alumni/alumna and emeritus/emerita.
Alumna, singular feminine
Alumni, singular masculine
Alumnae, plural feminine
Alumni, plural male or mixed
Alum, casual single
Do not use the terms "alumn" or "alumns" or "alums"
Emeriti Professors, retired faculty members who retain their rank
Emerita, singular feminine
Emeritus, singular masculine
Emeritae, plural female
Emeriti, plural male or mixed
Laurel Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Library Circle
The bus circle located next to the library off of Plaza Avenue.
Little Apartments
Located on Plaza Ave., houses the offices for NorCal Small Business Development Center and the California Center for Rural Policy.
Lumberjack Arena
Located in the Kinesiology & Athletics Building, the arena is the main playing space for athletics teams including volleyball and basketball. Accommodates 1,850 attendees in a 17,655 square-foot space.
L.W. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm
Located off campus, a field experiment station for forestry researchers, an outdoor classroom for educators, and a demonstration area for forestry extension professionals. Schatz Demonstration Tree Farm acceptable on second reference.
M
Madrone Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Maple Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Majors
Many, but not all, majors are contained within academic departments of the same name. The Department of History offers a major in history. The Department of Sociology offers a major in sociology and a major in criminology & justice studies.
Concentrations are courses of study within a major. Literary studies is a concentration within the English major.
Lowercase majors and concentrations unless they contain a proper noun.
See Majors & Programs for a full list.
Marine Wildlife Care Center
Located off 17th Street, the center is activated to care for oiled seabirds in the event of a spill along California's North Coast.
Marketing & Communications
Part of the Division of University Advancement, the office provides services including media relations, marketing campaigns, web development, print production, bulk mailing, and crisis communications.
Mary Warren House
Located on 14th Street, houses the Children's Center Preschool serving children ages 3 to kindergarten entrance.
Mascot
Humboldt's mascot is a Lumberjack, and his name is Lucky Logger.
Mendocino Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Music Complex
Comprises the Music A and Music B buildings, houses the Fulkerson Recital Hall, Department of Music offices, and practice studios.
Motto
The Cal Poly Humboldt motto, "Phos Aletheia" (Greek for "Truth and Light"), was adopted during Cal Poly Humboldt College's 50th anniversary year.
MultiCultural Center
Note the spelling. Located in the Balabanis House.
N
Native American Forum
A large event and meeting space with a capacity of 128.
Natural Resources Building
Located on 17th Street, houses offices, laboratories, and classrooms.
Natural History Museum
Located off campus, focuses on the Earth and its biota through time.
Nelson Hall West & East
Located west of University Center, houses Division of University Advancement and some units of the Division of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs. Named for Hans Nelson, California State Assemblyman and Senator, 1912-1931.
Nonprofit
One word.
North Coast
As a region of California, North Coast is upper case.
O
Oh SNAP!
Food Pantry located in RWC 122
P
Pepperwood Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Phone Numbers
Phone Numbers—casual punctuation is preferred, i.e. 707.826.5000. Also acceptable is standard punctuation, i.e. (707) 826-5000.
R
Radio Stations
KHSU 90.5 FM is a non-profit community station licensed to Humboldt and located on the Humboldt campus.
KRFH 105.1 FM is the student-run station managed by the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication.
Recreation & Wellness Center
Located south of Redwood Bowl, houses offices for Club Sports, Center Activities, the Student Recreation Center, the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, and the wellness component of the Student Health & Wellness Center.
Redwood Bowl
Located east of Founders Hall, the stadium and main playing field for Cal Poly Humboldt. Also location of annual commencement ceremonies.
Redwood Plaza
Located south of Redwood Bowl, outdoor gathering space built in 2008.
Redwood Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Residence Halls
Avoid "dorms" or "dormitories" in all cases. Use "residence halls" instead. Residence halls are grouped into living areas for freshmen and transfer and returning students. Living areas are further broken into residence complexes, comprising several residence halls.
Campus Apartments
Canyon Complex
Alder, Cedar, Chinquapin, Hemlock, Madrone, Maple, Pepperwood, and Tan Oak Residence Halls
College Creek Complex
Del Norte, Shasta, Trinity, and Mendocino Residence Halls
Creekview Complex
Fern, Juniper, Laurel and Willow Residence Halls
Cypress Residence Hall
The Hill Complex
Redwood and Sunset Residence Halls
River Institute
Seeks to conserve and restore river ecosystems locally, nationally, and internationally through multi-disciplinary research, education, policy reform, improved management practices, and creative restoration strategies.
S
Schatz Energy Research Center
The Schatz Energy Research Center was established from an endowment from the estate of L.W. Schatz. One of the foremost fuel cell development and energy analysis laboratories. Schatz Center is acceptable on second reference.
Science Complex
Located between Laurel Drive and B Street, comprises Science Building A, B, C, and D. Houses offices of several departments within the College of Natural Resources & Sciences.
Sculpture Lab
Located near the Campus Apartments, a 6,132-square foot facility includes a range of equipment for casting metal and metal fabrication.
Shasta Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Siemens Hall
Located on the University Center Quad, houses offices for Department of Economics, School of Business, the University President, Provost, and several other administrative offices. Named for Cornelius (Neil) Siemens, president, 1950-73.
Student Business Services Building
Located at intersection of Harpst and Rossow streets. Houses Admissions, Financial Aid, the Registrar, offices of Division of Administrative Affairs, the University Police Department, and more.
Student Health Center
Located near Library Circle, houses Student Health & Wellness Services.
Social Networking
Brand names are uppercase and often contain uppercase within the name, e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.
Student Recreation Center
Located next for Forbes Gym, houses facilities for strength and cardiovascular training, indoor climbing, personal training, group fitness classes, and an indoor field house.
Sunset Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Swetman Child Development Laboratory
A laboratory designed to provide a model preschool for children, create a learning center for University students. Child Development Lab acceptable on second reference.
T
Tan Oak Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Telonicher House
Located on Laurel Drive, houses offices for the Department of Communication. Named for Fred Telonicher, professor of zoology and physical education.
Telonicher Marine Laboratory
Located in Trinidad, Calif. Established in 1965 to provide a center for marine and environmental science teaching and research. Open to the public. Named for Fred Telonicher, professor of zoology and physical education.
Theatre Arts Building
Houses offices for the Department of Theatre, Film & Dance, the studio for KHSU-FM, and the Van Duzer Theatre.
Third Street Gallery
Located off campus, an Art gallery in Old Town Eureka
Titles
False titles
Avoid using a false title, often derived from an occupational title or other label: First in his class John Smith. Coordinator of Consumer Sales and Point-of-Purchase Displays Ann Jones. Instead, use the occupation or label in an appositive form or as separate clause: John Smith, who was first in his class. Ann Jones, the coordinator of consumer sales and point-of-purchase displays.
See academic titles entry.
Trinity Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
U
University Center
Located near Nelson Hall, houses offices for Associated Students, the University Center Information Desk, the Humboldt Bookstore, and the Kate Buchanan Room.
University Library
Located between Plaza Avenue and Laurel Drive, offers access to books, government documents, index, reference, and full-text databases. Library is acceptable on second reference.
University Senate
Capitalize on all references.
USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Redwood Sciences Laboratory
Located at the eastern boundary of campus, part of the USDA Forest Service's network of regional research stations. Redwood Science Lab acceptable on first and subsequent references.
V
Van Matre Hall
Located south of Founders Hall, houses classrooms for the Department of Geology and offices for Information Technology Services. Named for Nelson Blieau Van Matré, president, 1914-1924.
Vascular Plant Herbarium
Located in the Science D Building, contains roughly 104,000 specimens, with a strong emphasis in the flora of northwest California and southwest Oregon. Established in 1960.
Vertebrate Museum
Containing over 8,000 specimens, the teaching and research collection is the second largest of its kind in the CSU System and is particularly strong in marine mammals of the Pacific.
W
Wagner House
Located on L.K. Wood Boulevard, houses offices of KHSU-FM.
Walter Warren House
Located on 14th Street, houses offices of Indian Natural Resources, Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP).
Warren House
Located on Laurel Drive, houses offices for the Waste Reduction and Resources Awareness Program.
Web Terms
website - one word, lowercase
webpage - one word, lowercase
internet - lowercase
web - lowercase
eBook
iPhone, iPad, iPod
email (not e-mail)
Wildlife & Fisheries Museum
Located near the Science Complex, houses classrooms, laboratories, and offices for the Department of Fisheries Biology and the Department of Wildlife.
Wildlife Museum
Located in the Wildlife & Fisheries Building, houses over 15,000 bird and mammal specimens.
Willow Residence Hall
See residence halls entry.
Y
Youth Educational Services
Located in the Hagopian House near Library Circle, supports Humboldt students in creating and implementing volunteer programs through service learning, which includes educational and experiential components. Y.E.S. acceptable on second reference.