VCOM Brand Guide

Academic Degrees Referring to different academic degrees requires various forms of capitalization. The following are examples of correct forms of terms used when referring to academic degrees: • undergraduate degree (never undergrad) • graduate school (never grad school)

Student Advocate Association (SAA) Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS) Student Government Association (SGA) Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Student Osteopathic Internal Medicine Association (SOIMA) Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Student Osteopathic Surgical Association (SOSA) Via Wellness Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA) States Spell out state names when using in written paragraphs or headlines. Use postal abbreviations in written addresses or lists. Correct: • The VCOM-Carolinas campus is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. • The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Carolinas is located at 305 Howard Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

Oregon

OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI

U.S. Postal abbreviations Alabama AL Alaska AK Arizona AZ Arkansas AR California CA Colorado CO Connecticut CT Delaware DE Florida FL Georgia GA Hawaii HI Idaho ID Illinois IL Indiana IN Iowa IA Kansas KS Kentucky KY Louisiana LA Maine ME Maryland MD Massachusetts MA Michigan MI Minnesota MN Mississippi MS Missouri MO Montana MT Nebraska NE Nevada NV New Hampshire NH New Jersey NJ New Mexico NM New York NY North Carolina NC North Dakota ND Ohio OH Oklahoma OK

Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee

Texas Utah

Vermont Virginia

• associate degree • bachelor’s degree • master’s degree • doctorate • Bachelor of Arts • Master of Science

Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

WY Commonwealth/Territory District of Columbia DC Puerto Rico PR Virgin Islands VI Four states are legally commonwealths rather than states.These include Virginia, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.The distinction is necessary for formal use. Example: The Commonwealth of Virginia gave VCOM recognition as an outstanding institution. Capitalize commonwealth only when using the full proper name. United States The preferred abbreviation for the United States is U.S. (periods, no space). In headlines, however, it’s US (no periods).The abbreviated form of United States of America is USA (no periods).

College Use an uppercase C for “College” when referring to VCOM in text. Correct: The College is a four-year osteopathic medical school. “Class of” vs. OMS OMS I, II, III, IV For internal or external communications to osteopathic educational institutions, the class year designation of “Osteopathic Medical Student (OMS) may be used. Class of [year] When writing for outside publications, website or social media - which may be read at a future date, then the class graduation year designation is used. (continued)

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VCOM BRAND GUIDE - IDENTITY AND STYLE MANUAL