Expanded Brand Guidance FAQ

Our name is Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. 

“The” is not necessary in front of the name. An ampersand, not the word “and,” should be used between the donors’ first names.  

• Ex. Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University is in Norfolk. (correct)
• Ex. The Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University is in Norfolk. (incorrect)

Consistent usage of the name during this crucial period of introduction will help establish our new brand identity and acknowledge the generosity of our philanthropic supporters’ historic gift.

As such, all stakeholders should use the institution’s full name — Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University — on first and second references in all contexts, including presentations, prepared remarks, promotional materials, news releases and stories and copywriting.

On third reference, Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University is acceptable.

The model for our naming taxonomy is as follows: 

Tier 1:

• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University 

Tier 2:

• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University
• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University
• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS School of Health Professions at Old Dominion University
• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Joint School of Public Health at Old Dominion University  

Tier 3:

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences [Department or Program Name] at Old Dominion University 

• Ex: Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Career Advising at Old Dominion University 
• Ex: Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Surgical Assisting at Old Dominion University 

The formula of program name in the name of college/school at Old Dominion University also may be used in internal and external communications:

• Ex. The School of Medical Diagnostics and Translational Sciences in the Ellmer College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University held its sixth annual White Coat Ceremony on May 25. 

We recognize that in some cases, character limits may prohibit the use of the full name— or those of its
schools and colleges. In such cases, approved variations are listed below.

Please note: Shorten “Old Dominion University” to “ODU” before removing the first name of the donors.

• Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU (preferred)
• Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU (if necessary)
• Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU
• Ellmer College of Health Sciences at ODU
• Ellmer School of Nursing at ODU
• EVMS School of Health Professions at ODU
• Joint School of Public Health
• ODU [Program Name] i.e. ODU Counseling & Art Therapy
• [Department, Residency] at ODU i.e. Dermatology at ODU

The group’s full name is Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at Old
Dominion University.

The full name should be used on first reference. On second reference, use EVMS Medical Group at Old
Dominion University.

For departments within the EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University, first reference should be:

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University
Department of [name]

Second Reference: EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University Department of [name]

Eastern Virginia Medical Center (EVMC) will continue to be used to reference the medical campus comprised of Eastern Virginia Medical School and EVMS School of Health Professions, both part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, as well as Sentara Health, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and the City of Norfolk Public Health Department.

When referencing the buildings associated with Eastern Virginia Medical School and the EVMS School of Health Professions, refer to “Old Dominion University’s Eastern Virginia Medical School campus.”

• Ex. “The free breastfeeding awareness event will be offered at Old Dominion University’s Eastern Virginia Medical School campus.”
• Ex. “The closure affects all of the Eastern Virginia Medical Center, including Old Dominion University’s Eastern Virginia Medical School campus.”

Ellmer College of Health Sciences is located on Old Dominion’s main campus in the new Ellmer College of Health Sciences building (1019 W. 41st Street, Norfolk, Va.)

Ellmer School of Nursing is located at ODU’s Virginia Beach Higher Education Center (1881 University Drive, Virginia Beach, Va).

The Joint School for Public Health is located at Old Dominion’s main campus in Hampton Hall, 4608 49th Street, Norfolk, Va.)

You can visit myPortal to review an abridged brand book and to access logos for the overall institution (Tier 1) and the five colleges/schools and the EVMS Medical Group (Tier 2). An expanded brand book with enhanced guidance on typography, graphics and color is in production.

The Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University embroidery is to be affixed on the right side of all lab coats. Personalization on the lab coats (e.g. names, titles, degrees, departments, divisions, etc.) to be embroidered on the left side above the pocket.

Coats may include up to three lines of embroidery. The first line should be the person’s name and credentials. The second line should be the person’s title. The third line should be the department or program. Coats must include block lettering, not script and thread should match Panton 540 as closely as possible. 

The Weekly Pulse and our online newsroom will be rebranded and continue to serve Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. EVMS Magazine also will be rebranded and continue as a stand-alone publication.

Both communications channels will broaden coverage to include the Ellmer College of Health Sciences, the Ellmer School of Nursing and the Joint School of Public Health. Please be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks.

University Communications and Marketing & Communications are working to update ODU’s Editorial Style Guide to reflect additions and adaptations made as a result of the integration.

The ODU guide should be used as a reference for all communications. If you have questions or require assistance, please reach out to news@evms.edu.

A few key changes related to the integration:

Academic degrees

Use degree/academic credential on first reference for both doctoral and nondoctoral degree holders. Subsequent references for all doctoral degrees should include “Dr.” For nondoctoral degree holders, use the last name only on subsequent references.

• Ex. Vice Dean for Medical Education John Smith, MD, attended the conference. Dr. Smith said it
  was particularly insightful.
• Ex. Professor of Public Health Jan Smith, M.P.H., attended the conference. Smith said it was
  particularly insightful.

If listing a person's degree, use their highest degree or professional designation. Limit the list to three credentials.

Follow AP Style and use periods in most degrees (Ph.D., M.P.H.). Do not use periods with MD and MDequivalents,
including DO or MBBS.

• Ex. John Smith, MD, Ph.D.

When listing professional honors, credentials and certifications on business cards, follow the punctuation
standard set by the certifying organization.

• Ex. John Smith, MD, Ph.D., FACS

Degree names

Capitalize degree names.

• Ex. Master of Science in Reproductive Clinical Science; Master of Applied Science in Anatomical Science; Bachelor of Arts in History

Healthcare

Written as one word in all cases.

Said vs says

Use “said” for quote attribution.

• Ex. “The center will focus on addressing health inequities,” said Dr. Smith.

Yes. You can refer to brand messaging in the abridged brand book or use the language below. University Communications and Marketing & Communications teams also are available to assist you.

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University represents the most comprehensive health sciences center in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Grounded in a commitment to the diverse communities in which it serves, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University is developing a larger pipeline for healthcare professionals and leading the transformation of the health and economy of Hampton Roads and beyond. Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University was founded July 1, 2024, following the integration of Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) (est. 1973) into Old Dominion University (ODU) (est. 1930). For 50 years, EVMS held an honored position in American history — both as a school of medicine founded by a community-led grassroots effort and as a pioneer in medical innovation, including research that led to the birth of the country’s first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization. ODU is Virginia's forward focused public doctoral research university with more than 24,000 students, a top R1 research institution recognized nationally for academic excellence, social mobility and access. Military friendly and home to an energetic residential community and initiatives that currently contribute $3.8 billion annually to Virginia's economy, ODU is a leader in the commonwealth.

Digital letterhead, Zoom backgrounds and presentation and email signature templates are available on myPortal.

Printed stationery, envelopes, business cards and other materials should be ordered through Old Dominion’s approved process as outlined on the university’s Procurement Services’ Contract & Purchasing page. (Scroll to “Purchasing at ODU” and select “Business Cards and Stationery.”) If you need a template created, please submit that request to Marketing & Communications via Function Point or news@evms.edu.

Approval must be obtained for all communications and marketing materials from Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Marketing & Communications at Old Dominion University or Old Dominion’s Division of University Communications. (For more information, see University Policy 2010.)

These materials include, but are not limited to, advertising, signage, social media, presentations, printed publications, including brochures, magazines, annual reports, event programs and postcards, along with promotional products or merchandise, recruitment materials for students, alumni and faculty/staff videos and web pages.

If the logos do not reproduce well on a particular product, then do not use that product or use an ODU mark. For embroidery, a minimum production size should be set to ensure it reproduces well. Please work with vendors to set the minimum production size for embroidery.

Steps to purchase communication and marketing materials

For materials designed by Marketing & Communications:

1. Departments should continue to input requests into FunctionPoint. If you need a FunctionPoint account, reach out to news@evms.edu. Our team is working diligently to assist all requests in a timely fashion in the order they are received.
2. Once you have a final file, you can reach out to contract vendor(s) to obtain a quote. Locate contract vendors for printing and promotional items at https://www.odu.edu/procurement/contracts. In some instances, Marketing & Communications will act as a liaison with the vendor on completion and delivery of the final product. Please communicate with your department account representative for more information on a project basis.
3. Once you have obtained a quote from a Contract or SWAM vendor, you can place an order via either PCard (up to the cardholder’s per transaction limit not to exceed $4,999.99) or an electronic eVA purchase order.

For materials designed outside of Marketing & Communications:

1. Materials created outside of Marketing & Communications must be submitted to our department for review. Please reach out to news@evms.edu for questions about the approval process.
2. Once you have obtained approval from Marketing & Communications, you can reach out to contract vendor(s) to obtain a quote. Locate contract vendors for printing and promotional items at https://www.odu.edu/procurement/contracts.
3. Once you have obtained a quote from a Contract or SWAM vendor, you can place an order via either PCard (up to the cardholder’s per transaction limit not to exceed $4,999.99) or an electronic eVA purchase order.

Find more information on Procurement Services’ Contract & Purchasing page. (Scroll to “Purchasing at ODU” and select “Communication & Marketing Materials — Printing & Promotional Products.”)

Through a partnership with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), the Old Dominion Licensing Office monitors use of the University's indicia and manages more than 180 licensees producing products bearing the institution's logos.

Per Old Dominion policy, “a licensed vendor must be used for all campus merchandise, whether for departmental use, promotional giveaway items or for fundraising resale. Please obtain appropriate approval from your department's leadership before ordering. Once you have obtained the appropriate approvals needed, you may choose a licensed vendor to manufacture your product.” Find out more.

Please continue to input requests for all designed materials into FunctionPoint. If you need a FunctionPoint account, reach out to news@evms.edu. Legacy ODU colleges should continue to request services through University Communications.

Yes. This form is to be used for the submission of content related to the integration. Please note that 30 days of lead time is requested for all communications to allow time for the appropriate level of approvals.