Laura McMasters
Laura is the director of alumni affairs and annual giving at UT Southern.
Formal name of the statewide organization, and is always used as the first reference in all external communications.
On second reference, UT Foundation (capitalized as shown) should be used.
Subsequent reference may use “the Foundation” or UTFI (both capitalized as shown).
Used as a proper name, UT Foundation Board of Directors and UTFI Board are capitalized, as are committee names, such as Directorship committee. The word committee is not capitalized.
The following capitalizations are used in reference to titles of members of the board:
When not in reference to a specific person, capitalizations are not used:
University of Tennessee is the administrative/governing body for the statewide University of Tennessee system. On second and subsequent reference, UT System (capitalized as shown). The UT System may be referred to as “the University” on second or subsequent mention and, if so, University must be capitalized.
UT System is the statewide collective. The campuses, institutes, divisions, offices, properties and facilities statewide that make up the University as a whole.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
UT Knoxville or UTK
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
UT Chattanooga or UTC
University of Tennessee Southern
UT Southern or UTS
University of Tennessee at Martin
UT Martin or UTM
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
UT Health Science Center or UTHSC
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
UT Institute of Agriculture or UTIA
University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service
UT Institute for Public Service or IPS
University of Tennessee Space Institute
UT Space Institute or UTSI
University of Tennessee Alumni Association
UT Alumni Association or UTAA
University of Tennessee Research Foundation
UT Research Foundation or UTRF
University of Tennessee Research Park at Cherokee Farm
UT Research Park or UTRP
Uppercase College when used as part of the proper name of a college; lowercase otherwise.
On first reference, use the full name of a department or administrative area, and capitalize all words except prepositions. On second and subsequent reference, when only a partial name is used, lowercase as shown.
The table below lists the official names of the UT Foundation offices and senior staff titles.
Office Name | Senior Staff Title(s) |
Office of the President | University of Tennessee Foundation President Kerry Witcher |
Office of Business | Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
Office of Planned Giving | Assistant Vice President Planned Giving |
UT Alumni Association | Assistant Vice President Alumni Affairs and Advocacy |
Office of Advancement Services | Assistant Vice President Advancement Services |
Office of Communications | Director of Communications |
Chattanooga | Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of the UC Foundation |
Health Science Center | Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs |
Institute of Agriculture | Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement |
Knoxville | Vice Chancellor for Advancement |
Martin | Vice Chancellor for University Advancement |
Southern | Vice Chancellor for Advancement |
Capitalize in reference to a specific, named campus event:
UT Chattanooga Homecoming 2021
Lowercase in general use:
Anne looked forward to the family’s homecoming.
The four seasons are not capitalized.
Semesters are not capitalized: fall semester, spring break, summer session.
Religious holidays are capitalized, as are most secular holidays.
Within body copy on websites, emails and press releases, the abbreviation Dr. is used only before the name of a person who holds a medical (MD or DVM) degree. Use Dr. in first reference as a formal title before the name of an individual who holds a doctor of dental surgery, doctor of medicine, doctor of optometry, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of podiatric medicine or doctor of veterinary medicine.
The form Dr., or Drs., in a plural construction, applies to all first-reference uses before a name, including direct quotations. Do not continue the use of Dr.in subsequent references.
Do not use Dr. before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees. Instead, when necessary or appropriate for a specific audience: Andrew Hicks, who has a doctorate in chemistry, was lead researcher. In a list: Andrew Hicks, Ph.D.
Generally, use words in reference to numbers one through nine, and numerals in reference to numbers 10 and above.
Numerals are always used to refer to time of day, dates, ages, percentages—with “percent” always spelled out, not indicated by the percent sign:
If the specific age is used as an adjective or as a substitute for a noun, it should be hyphenated. Don’t use apostrophes when describing an age range.
Generally, the same guideline applies as in words and numerals. Use words to refer to ordinal numbers first through ninth, and numeral versions of ordinal numbers 10th and above.
Note: Word processing programs like MS Word often superscript ‘th’ and ‘st’ in a smaller font size automatically, but in both print and online, we plan to use the same font size and weight.
Use figures: 865-555-1500. Use hyphens, not periods.
For toll-free numbers: 800-111-1000.
If extension numbers are needed, use a comma to separate the main number from the extension: 865-555-1500, ext. 2.
Always use figures in numbered addresses. Abbreviate Ave., Blvd., and St. and directional cues when used with a numbered address. Always spell out other words such as alley, drive and road. If the street name or directional cue is used without a numbered address, it should be capitalized and spelled out.
If a street name is a number, spell out First through Ninth and use figures for 10th and higher.
No apostrophe: 1920s, 1980s, mid-1970s
Spell out thirties, forties, fifties, sixties
When referring to online content in print or in text, our preferred practice is to drop “http://”, “https://” or “www” in URL (web address) references. Most web servers will accept URLs with or without “www” and redirect as necessary, or the “www” prefix may conflict with another subdomain (example: alumni.tennessee.edu).
There may be exceptions in cases when the URL won’t work for certain browsers if the “www” is not inserted as part of the address. It is recommended that the URL be tested and confirmed— including whether the use of “www” is necessary — before it is included in written communication. Treat each case as practical considerations demand.
These same rules apply to writing for the web or digital platforms. In a digital context, present URL references as actual hyperlinks, linking to the full https:// URL in the link itself, but dropping the https:// or “www.” in the text itself.
When referencing a URL (web address) on social media, be sure to test and confirm the full URL and copy and paste. Social media platforms each have their own way or conventions of displaying a web preview or shortening a hyperlink.
Brand Guidelines for the University of Tennessee Foundation are maintained by UT Foundation Communications.
(865) 974-2115
utfi@utfi.org
Laura is the director of alumni affairs and annual giving at UT Southern.
Key dates to remember for fiscal year-end processing.
Adam is the director of development for the Haslam College of Business at UT Knoxville.