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 University College of Human Ecology
Shorthand
Human Ecology, CHE
HumEC
Verbal Use
Standard
Cornell University College of 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