Names
“Old Dominion University” should always be referred to by this formal name upon first reference. “Old Dominion” or “the University” is acceptable in subsequent references. Restrained use of “ODU” is permissible. Please keep the name of the university prominent.

Symbols
See Graphic Guidelines

Colleges

• The College of Arts and Letters (Arts and Letters)
• The College of Business and Public Administration
  (College of Business)
• Darden College of Education (College of Education
  or Darden)
• Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology
  (Batten College or College of Engineering)
• The College of Health Sciences
• The College of Sciences

University Location
When describing Old Dominion University’s location, it should always be noted that the main campus is located in Norfolk, Va., one of the seven major cities which make up Hampton Roads, a metropolitan community with a population of more than 1.5 million citizens, just minutes from the popular Virginia Beach oceanfront and a short drive to historic Colonial Williamsburg. Depending on the audience, you may want to add the university operates centers in Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach, Tri-Cities and on the Peninsula.

University/Campus Description
When describing the university, Old Dominion should be referred to as “a state-assisted, doctoral research institution.”

The campus is best described as follows:
“Old Dominion’s campus is situated on more than 188 acres bounded on one side by the Elizabeth River and on another side by the Lafayette River. The northern section of the campus is the oldest portion consisting of shaded brick walkways and stately buildings, while the southern end of the campus features newer academic buildings which line an eight-acre lawn.”

University Village reference:
On the east side of campus is University Village, a 75-acre expansion area with classroom buildings, student apartments, the Ted Constant Convocation Center, shops, parking, a hotel (under construction) and a research park (Fall 2007).

In addition, depending on your audience, please note that "two of our residence halls, Whitehurst and Rogers, have waterfront views."

University History
During the risky years of the Great Depression, a small group of scholars with a determined vision launched the school that would become Old Dominion University. In 1930 the university began as a one-building branch of the College of William and Mary, the nation’s second oldest institution of higher education. Early classes at the college’s Norfolk Division included a two-year program for teachers and freshman and sophomore engineering classes that prepared students for Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in Blacksburg, Va. (Virginia Tech).

Word of the new branch spread. Enrollment numbers leapt quickly, as did the variety of course offerings. The two-year school evolved into a four-year branch, awarding its first four-year bachelor's degrees in 1956, then gained full independence as a state-supported college in 1962, taking on the name Old Dominion College. Soon the college was greatly expanding its research facilities and preparing to offer doctoral degrees, and in 1969, the Board of Visitors authorized that the name of the institution be changed to Old Dominion University.

Today, the vision that started with a core of education-minded leaders lives a life of its own. Now the institution is a powerhouse for higher education with six colleges: The College of Arts and Letters, The College of Business and Public Administration, Darden College of Education, Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology, The College of Health Sciences and The College of Sciences. Old Dominion has been offering master’s degree programs since 1964 and doctor of philosophy degrees since 1971. Students at Old Dominion currently choose from 67 baccalaureate programs, 65 master’s programs, two education specialist degrees and 26 doctoral programs.

Capitalization
UNIVERSITY: We recommend capitalization in many cases when referring to Old Dominion University, but not when referring to universities in general. When the university acts like a person, and in formal uses (commencement), capitalize “University.” When “university” is used as a place or as an adjective, it takes the lowercase treatment.

Examples:

1. Old Dominion University is a state-assisted, doctoral research institution located in Norfolk, Va. The university is situated on 188 acres . . .
2. If you want to attend a university that has a diverse and exciting student body and faculty, Old Dominion University is the place for you.
3. The University today petitioned the General Assembly to recognize its need for additional state funding.

TITLES: Should only be capitalized when preceding the name of the person the title is referring to. They should be lowercase when following the name of the person, set off by commas (the preferred style). For example, “President Roseann Runte” or “Roseann Runte, Old Dominion University’s president.”

COAST: Should be lowercase when referring to the physical shoreline: for example, “Atlantic coast,” or “east coast,” but capitalized when referring to regions of the United States lying along those shorelines: “Atlantic Coast states,” the “East Coast.”

TELETECHNET: Always use all capital letters.

ACADEMIC DEGREES/DEPARTMENTS:
Bachelor’s degree: Should not be capitalized as in “bachelor of science (B.S.)/bachelor of arts (B.A.).” May use capitalized “BA” or “BS” with or without periods as long as they are consistently referred to in this way throughout the document.

Master’s degree: Should not be capitalized as in “master of science (M.S.)/master of arts (M.A.).” May use “MS” or “MA” with or without periods as long as they are consistently referred to in this way throughout the document.

Doctoral degree: Should not capitalize “doctorate (Ph.D.) in psychology.” People who hold this degree may be referred to as “Dr. John Jones,” but if this prefix is used, “Ph.D.” should not be used as a suffix. At Old Dominion, it is generally preferred that faculty and administrators who hold a doctoral degree are referred to on the first reference as “John Jones, Ph.D.,” rather than “Dr. John Jones.”

Degree Program: With the exception of languages, degree programs should not be capitalized when used within text. Examples: “Samantha Salvia, Old Dominion’s first Rhodes Scholar, is a 1996 graduate in civil and environmental engineering. Old Dominion offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English.”

Abbreviations & Acronyms
Both abbreviations and acronyms should only be used after the formal name has been mentioned. (See campus buildings section for a partial list of acceptable abbreviations/acronyms)