Web Editor Reference Guide

This web page provides at-a-glance suggestions, tips and guideline reminders that all Kent State web editors should become familiar with.

University Style Compliance

Statistics and Annual Updates

The Facts & Figures page displays several points of pride. It is audited and updated annually at the beginning of the fall semester. All changes will be made before Oct. 1.  Mark you calendar to update any references on your site. 

Leadership, Department Name and Location Changes

Read press releases that contain information that may need updated on your website. Mark your calendar to make the change within a week of the change.

Division administrators should review the University Leadership site every semester to confirm the information is up-to-date.

If a department name or location changes please notify Web Team by submitting the Website Name Change Request Form.

Recent Department Name Changes

Departmental Name Changes
Correct Incorrect

Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship
- second reference: Ambassador Crawford College
- acronym: ACCBE 

 College of Business
Fraternity and Sorority Life Greek Life
Information Technology Information Services
Office of University Events and Protocol Office of University Ceremonies
School of Peace and Conflict Studies Center for Applied Conflict Management
Building Names

BUILDING NAME CHANGES
Correct Incorrect Notes
The John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design The Center for Architecture and Environmental Design   
Ritchie Hall Oscar Ritchie Hall (One-name policy for named halls)
Schwartz Center Michael Schwartz Center (One-name policy for named halls)
Lefton Esplanade Esplanade  
McGilvrey Hall   (Frequently misspelled)
MACC Annex Gym Annex  
University Library Main Library or Library (For the name of the building)
MAC Center MACC or M.A.C.C.  
Student Recreation and Wellness Center (SRWC) SWRC (No acronyms)
University Auditorium in Cartwright Hall Cartwright Auditorium  
Kiva KIVA (Not capitalized)

Quick Text Tips

One word and all lowercase

One word

  • online
  • website
  • email (no hyphen)

All lowercase

  • internet
  • web
Kent State email address

(not University email address, KSU email address, Kent email address, FlashLine address) 

Advisor

use the -or ending, not –er

Ampersand (&)
  • University style uses “and,”  not an ampersand unless an ampersand is part of the proper name of a nonuniversity entity or if it is being used as a navigation or  design element in the website
  • Use "and" — avoid & (ampersand) — in names of Kent State programs, offices, departments, schools, colleges and divisions.
Phone number treatment
  • xxx-xxx-xxxx (use hyphens, not parentheses)
  • Note: You can use Siteimprove to locate phone numbers on your site.
Date and time treatment

Date/Month Treatment

  • January 2010 (not abbreviated without a date)
  • Jan. 15, Feb. 21, March, April, May, June, July, Aug. 22, Sept. 23, Oct. 31, Nov. 11, Dec. 12 (abbreviated with a date)

Time treatment 

  • 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
  • 8:15 a.m.–noon
  • noon is not capitalized
Guidelines around KSU
  • When referring to the university, avoid KSU. Spell out Kent State University in first reference, and then use Kent State or university in subsequent references.
  • When university is used alone to mean Kent State University, it is in lowercase.
Department names

On first reference, full department names are written out in entirety and capitalized (i.e., University Relations and Development). On second reference, it may be shortened and lowercased (i.e., development).

Treatment of Kent State terminology and spelling/case
  • catalog (not graduate catalog, undergraduate catalog)
  • eight-campus system NOT network
  • Kent State ID number (not Banner ID)
  • FlashLine user name (not FlashLine ID, user name, email ID, user ID)
  • FLASHcard (not FlashCard, Flashcard, FlashCARD)
  • FlashLine (not Flashline or Flash Line)
  • Kent Core (not LER)
  • KSUview
  • FlashFest
  • See You @ College
  • Student Green
  • Preview KSU! 
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