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Nomenclature

Cornell's colleges and schools — including four "contract colleges" ("statutory colleges" is not an approved term) that are operated by Cornell under contract with New York state — encompass over 100 fields of study. These nomenclature standards ensure that the university and each college and school are represented in a clear, consistent way. This adaptable naming system allows for flexibility, portability and clarity in both written and verbal forms and provides formal, standard and shorthand iterations.

Definitions

Written Identity

  • A “formal” written identity is a name used in business and legal documents, titles, headers and first impressions.
  • A “standard” written identity is a slightly shorter name used in the first iteration of copy and as the default name in most instances.
  • A “shorthand” written identity is the minimum standard for the name in headlines, second and other iterations in copy and less formal uses.

Verbal Identity

  • A “standard” verbal identity is a name spoken in the first iteration and as the default name in most instances.
  • A “shorthand” verbal identity is the minimum standard for the name spoken in second and other iterations and less formal uses.

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Standard

Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Shorthand

Cornell CALS

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Shorthand

Cornell CALS, CALS

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

Standard

Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning*

Shorthand

Cornell AAP, AAP

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

Shorthand

Cornell AAP, AAP

* AAP operates two off-campus study programs: one in New York City called The Gensler Family AAP NYC Center and one in Rome called Cornell in Rome. If the NYC name is repeated in a page, the second mention can be AAP NYC.

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences

Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences

Standard

Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences

Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences

Shorthand

Arts and Sciences, A&S

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences

Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences

Shorthand

Arts and Sciences, A&S

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University College of Engineering

Standard

Cornell Engineering

Shorthand

Cornell Engineering

COE

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Engineering

Shorthand

Cornell Engineering

COE

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University College of Human Ecology

Standard

Cornell Human Ecology

Shorthand

Human Ecology, CHE

HumEC

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Human Ecology

Shorthand

Human Ecology, CHE

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Standard

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Shorthand

Veterinary College

Vet School, Vet College

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Shorthand

Veterinary College

Vet School, Vet College

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science

Standard

Cornell Bowers Computing and Information Science

Shorthand

Cornell Bowers CIS

CIS, Bowers

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Bowers Computing and Information Science

Shorthand

Cornell Bowers CIS, Bowers

CIS

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Standard

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Cooperative Extension XXX County, Cornell Cooperative Extension XXX Team/Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension XXX XXX Counties, CCE XXX County

Shorthand

CCE

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Cooperative Extension XXX County, Cornell Cooperative Extension XXX Team/Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension XXX XXX Counties, CCE XXX County

Shorthand

CCE

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

Standard

Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy

Cornell Brooks

Shorthand

Brooks School

Brooks, BPP

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy

Shorthand

Brooks School, Brooks

BPP

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell Law School

Standard

Cornell Law School

Shorthand

Law School, Cornell Law

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Law School

Shorthand

Law School, Cornell Law

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Johnson College Business, Cornell College of Business, Cornell Johnson College of Business, Cornell Johnson College

Standard

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

College of Business

Shorthand

SC Johnson, SC Johnson College

JCB, COB, CCB, SCJ

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

College of Business

Shorthand

SC Johnson

JCB, COB, CCB, SCJ

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

Charles Dyson School, Charles H. Dyson School

Standard

Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

School of Applied Economics and Management

Shorthand

Dyson School

Dyson

Verbal Use
Standard

Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management

Dyson Applied Economics and Management

Shorthand

Dyson School or Dyson

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration

Peter and Stephanie Nolan School, Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, Cornell School of Hotel Administration

Standard

Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration, Cornell Nolan School

SHA or School of Hotel Administration, Hotel School

Shorthand

Nolan Hotel School or Nolan School

Nolan SHA, NSHA, SHA

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration

School of Hotel Administration, SHA

Shorthand

Nolan Hotel School, Nolan School or Nolan

Nolan SHA, NSHA, SHA

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School, Samuel Curtis Johnson School, Johnson Graduate School, School of Management, Johnson School of Management

Standard

Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management

Shorthand

Johnson School

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management

Johnson Grad School, Johnson Grad School of Management

Shorthand

Johnson School or Johnson

JCB

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell Tech

Standard

Cornell Tech

Cornell NYC Tech, Tech Campus

Shorthand

Cornell Tech

Tech

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell Tech

Cornell NYC Tech, Tech Campus

Shorthand

Cornell Tech

CTech, Tech

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University Library

Standard

Cornell University Library

Cornell University Libraries, Cornell Libraries

Shorthand

Library

CUL

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell University Library

Cornell University Libraries, Cornell Libraries

Shorthand

Library

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University Graduate School

Standard

Graduate School

Shorthand

Graduate School

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell University Graduate School

Shorthand

Graduate School, Grad School

GS

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions

Standard

Cornell University School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, Cornell University School of Continuing Education *, Cornell University Summer Sessions **

Summer Sessions or Continuing Ed

Shorthand

Cornell SCE

CSCE, SCE

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell University School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, Cornell University School of Continuing Education *, Cornell University Summer Sessions **

Summer Sessions

Shorthand

Cornell SCE

CSCE, CESS

* "Cornell University School of Continuing Education" is acceptable, especially when writing about sessions other than or in addition to the Summer Sessions.

** "Cornell University Summer Sessions" is acceptable when writing specifically about the summer term.

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Standard

ILR School

Shorthand

ILR School, ILR

ILRS

Verbal Use
Standard

Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Shorthand

ILR School, ILR

ILRS

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University or Weill Medical College of Cornell University (DBA: Weill Cornell Medicine)

Standard

Weill Cornell Medical College * (DBA: Weill Cornell Medicine)

Weill Cornell

Shorthand

Weill Cornell Medicine

Weill Cornell, Weill, WCM

Verbal Use
Standard

Weill Cornell Medicine

Weill Cornell

Shorthand

Weill Cornell Medicine, Weill Cornell

Weill, WCM

* Weill Cornell Medical College is used when referencing the medical college only (and is not inclusive of the research and care missions). Otherwise, Weill Cornell Medicine is the standard.

Approved    Not approved

Written Use
Formal

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (DBA: Cornell University for and on behalf of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar)

Standard

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar

Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Weill Cornell, Medicine Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar

Shorthand

WCM-Q

WCMQ, WCM – Q, WCMC-Q

Verbal Use
Standard

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar

Cornell Qatar Weill Cornell, Cornell, Cornell in Qatar, Weill Cornell in Qatar

Shorthand

WCM-Q

WCMC-Q

Approved    Not approved

Location Names

Cornell University has multiple campuses and locations across New York state, the United States and the world. Our naming standards require distinct names and titles that prioritize the institution name over the city or location name and provide clear associations with the university and between units.

Need help? Request a consult using our consultation form for use of names and logos.

Written & Verbal Use

Using the university name when including all units at all locations

Using the university name to speak for a single unit or location

Approved    Not approved

Written & Verbal Use

The Cornell University Main Campus, The Cornell University Main Campus in Ithaca, The Ithaca Campus

Cornell Ithaca

Approved    Not approved

Written & Verbal Use

The Weill Cornell Medicine Campus, The Weill Cornell Medicine Campus in New York City, The Weill Cornell Campus

Cornell University NYC Campus, Cornell NYC Campus, Weill NYC Campus

Note: Weill Cornell Medicine is a unit within Cornell University with separate locations from the main campus.

Approved    Not approved

Written & Verbal Use

The Weill Cornell Medicine Campus in Qatar

Cornell Qatar Campus, Cornell Qatar

Approved    Not approved

Written & Verbal Use

The Cornell Tech Campus, The Cornell Tech Campus in New York City

Cornell University NYC Campus, Cornell NYC Campus, Cornell NYC Tech Campus

Note: Cornell Tech is a unit within Cornell University with separate locations from the main campus.

Approved    Not approved

Written & Verbal Use

Cornell AgriTech Campus

Cornell Geneva

Note: Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York, is part of CALS on the Ithaca campus. Cornell AgriTech retains the designation “New York State Agricultural Experiment Station” but its use is optional, as needed. The ‘T’ in Cornell AgriTech is capitalized in all instances.

Approved    Not approved