Clear and consistent punctuation and style contribute to the professionalism of BMCC. Consider these elements when writing copy; they help articulate our positioning and tell BMCC stories in a distinctive way.
With the exceptions listed below, the Associated Press Stylebook serves as the primary reference guide for punctuation, italicization, and capitalization.
Our Official Name
Borough of Manhattan Community College remains the school’s official name and is the accepted first usage.
Our Verbal Identity
For external communications, Borough of Manhattan Community College should always be spelled out on the first reference, after which BMCC or Borough of Manhattan CC is acceptable.
For internal communications, BMCC is acceptable after the full name has been introduced in shorter copy such as ads, brochures, posters, guides, and other collateral marketing pieces.
For web communications, the acronym BMCC is an acceptable first usage given the overall context of the website communications (the official visual identifier appears on all pages). Unacceptable usages include:
- “Manhattan Community College”
- “Borough Community College”
- “Bmcc”
Never precede Borough of Manhattan Community College with the word “the.” Our name should always appear in English. Never translate it into another language, even in non-English documents.
Specific Style Rules for External Communications:
Where possible, for media relations purposes, Borough of Manhattan Community College should always precede the name of a division, faculty member or professor. For example:
Borough of Manhattan Community College Jane Doe, Vice President for Development
An acceptable alternate:
Jane Doe, Vice President for Development at Borough of Manhattan Community College
On the second reference, individual names should be preceded by the appropriate title: Dr., Ms., Mr.
Names of our academic programs should be preceded by Borough of Manhattan Community College on the first reference:
Borough of Manhattan Community College’s Business Management Program
An acceptable alternate:
The Business Management Program at Borough of Manhattan Community College
Acceptable short-form identifier for offices and departments include:
Student Affairs at Borough of Manhattan Community College
“Student Affairs Office”
Boilerplate Language
Standard Text for Press Releases
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) is part of the City University of New York (CUNY), awarding associate degrees in more than 50 fields and ranked #1 among community colleges nationwide in granting associate degrees to minority students, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education. BMCC is a diverse teaching and learning community committed to advancing equity and the intellectual and personal growth of students. Visit www.bmcc.cuny.edu to learn more.
