Editorial Style Guide

This style guide should be followed in Michigan Ross publications, emails, and on the Michigan Ross website. For style questions not covered here, please contact Nicholle Cardinal, writer/editor at ndcard@umich.edu. You may also refer to the U-M style guide for additional questions.

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Referring to the School Marketing Copy & Social Media Boilerplate Abbreviations & Acronyms Capitalization Dates Dean Headlines Phone Numbers Ross Leadership Team Times

Referring to the School

Official and Informal Names

Official name: Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan
Informal name: Michigan Ross

For Press Releases and Online News

Headlines: Michigan Ross
First reference in press releases: Ross School of Business
First reference in online news: Ross School of Business
Second reference: Michigan Ross
Further references: Michigan Ross is preferred, but Ross is OK to use

Marketing Copy & Social Media

Marketing copy

In formal marketing copy, the first reference of the school should be the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. For subsequent references, use Michigan Ross.

Social media

Michigan Ross is preferred. Ross is accepted.

Brand Voice Framework

Boilerplate

About Michigan Ross

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a diverse learning community grounded in the principle that business can be an extraordinary vehicle for positive change in today’s dynamic global economy. The Ross School of Business mission is building a better world through business. Through thought and action, the Ross community drives change, innovation, and leadership that improves business and society.

Michigan Ross is consistently ranked among the world’s leading business schools. Academic degree programs include the Bachelor of Business Administration, Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA (Online and Weekend formats), Executive MBA, Master of Accounting, Master of Business Analytics, Master of Management, Master of Supply Chain Management, and PhD. In addition, the school delivers programs for individuals and custom executive education programs targeting leadership and management development, strategy, operations, governance, and human resource management. For more information, visit MichiganRoss.umich.edu.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

See the University of Michigan style guide for general abbreviation and acronym guidance.

In general, spell out degrees on first reference, EXCEPT for MBA and PhD, which are widely known and acceptable in all references. Acronyms for other degrees may also be acceptable on first reference in special cases such as headlines.

Ross academic degrees

MBA, PhD, MAcc, MBAn, MM, MSCM, BBA (Note: Graduates of part-time MBA programs receive an MBA degree, not an “EMBA” or “WMBA”)

Ross academic programs

Full-Time MBA — FTMBA
Weekend MBA — WMBA
Online MBA — OMBA
Executive MBA — EMBA
Global MBA — GMBA
Bachelor of Business Administration — BBA
Master of Accounting — MAcc
Master of Business Analytics — MBAn
Master of Management — MM
Master of Supply Chain Management — MSCM
PhD

Capitalization

Use lowercase for occupational titles and uppercase for endowed academic titles.
Samuel Anderson, assistant professor of accounting, conducted research.

Academic titles

Professors’ titles can be vexing as they tend to be long. Try to run the title after the name if possible.

When referring to a professor who holds an endowed position, capitalize the title even when it comes after their name.
Gautam Ahuja, the Harvey C. Fruehauf Professor of Business Administration, assisted with the study.
If a person holds endowed and non-endowed titles, capitalize each as indicated above. List the endowed title first.
Bill Lovejoy, the Raymond T. Perring Family Professor of Business Administration and professor of operations and management science, will speak at the event.
These rules apply in editorial contexts. Different rules may apply in citations or lists in agendas, programs, invitations, etc.

For additional guidance, please see the University of Michigan Style Guide.

Dates

The year is not necessary if it’s clear from the context.
When a date occurs in the middle of a sentence, use a comma after the year.
Abbreviate months as follows when used with a date: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. Do not abbreviate March, April, May, June, July.
Spell out months without a date.
She applied in November 2023.
Note: These rules apply in editorial contexts. Different rules may apply in ads, agendas, programs, invitations, etc.

Dean

As of August 2022, Sharon F. Matusik is the Edward J. Frey Dean of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. She is also the Stephen M. Ross Professor of Business.

On first reference, when the permanent dean is mentioned, their full title must be included, either as the Edward J. Frey Dean or the Edward J. Frey Dean of Business.

Whenever the title is used alone (without reference to the school or the endowed professorship), the term “of Business” is included.
Sharon F. Matusik, Edward J. Frey Dean of Business
When the school or her endowed professorship is referenced, the title becomes “Edward J. Frey Dean.”
On second reference and beyond, whenever the dean’s name is mentioned, she should be referred to as “Dean Matusik.”

In cases where the dean’s bio is needed, the below should be used:

Sharon F. Matusik

Edward J. Frey Dean

Stephen M. Ross Professor of Business

Matusik is a distinguished scholar whose expertise spans strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. An academic leader, she has a strong record of accomplishment in student success; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and community engagement.

Matusik’s research has been published in top academic journals and is frequently cited in the management field. She has received multiple awards for research, teaching, and service to her profession.

A first-generation college student, Matusik earned a BA in economics and English with honors from Colby College. She earned a PhD in strategic management from the University of Washington School of Business Administration.

Headlines

We use title case for headlines. (Capitalize the first letter of most words, but not articles, coordinating conjunctions, or short prepositions.)

2023 Michigan Ross MBA Grads Are Being Offered Higher Salaries, Receiving More Consulting Offers, and Landing Jobs on the Coasts

Phone Numbers

Use hyphens, no parentheses.
734-764-1817

Ross Leadership Team

For information on the Michigan Ross Leadership Team, visit the Michigan Ross Leadership page.

Times

Use lowercase letters and periods.
8 p.m.
Use a colon only when the time is not on the hour.
9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. — 1:30 p.m.
Time ranges that are entirely a.m. or p.m. should be separated by a hyphen.
1-3 p.m.    11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Time ranges that are a combination of a.m. and p.m. should be separated by an en dash.
7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
The word “noon” should not be capitalized unless it is at the start of a sentence.
The meeting is at noon.    Noon is when the event begins.