Naming Conventions

The information below outlines naming conventions for Indiana University Indianapolis and the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis. Usage will be context-dependent (e.g., for clarity, brevity, SEO). The information presented here is intended as a quick reference and may not be all-inclusive for every situation.

For additional information, please visit University Communications and Marketing’s Name Use Guide for IU Indianapolis. UCM may update these guidelines at any time.

  • First reference: Indiana University Indianapolis
  • Subsequent references: IU Indianapolis
  • Informal, limited usage (e.g., social media copy): IU Indy
  • Possessive: IU Indianapolis’s (The Chicago Manual of Style for possessives)
  • Acronym: IUI
    • Does not outright replace IUPUI in existing copy
    • Use primarily for social media handles
    • Use sparingly to refer to the campus similar to other IU campuses (IUB, IUE) in internal documents
    • Is never used in brand marks

Depending on the context or medium, “Indiana University” may be spelled out or abbreviated as “IU” on first reference.

  • First reference: Indiana University School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis, IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis
  • Subsequent references: IU School of Liberal Arts, School of Liberal Arts
  • Informal usage: LibArts (e.g., “I’m a LibArts Jaguar”)
  • Acronym (predominately used in internal communications): SLA

The relationship between departments and programs and the IU School of Liberal Arts should be established on first reference. Depending on the context “Indiana University” may be spelled out or abbreviated as “IU” on first reference. It is abbreviated for brevity’s sake herein.

  • Departments: IU School of Liberal Arts [Department Name] in Indianapolis, Department Name] in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis,
    • Examples: IU School of Liberal Arts World Languages & Cultures Department in Indianapolis, Anthropology Department in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis, Department of English in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis,
  • Programs within a department: IU School of Liberal Arts [Program Name] in [Department Name] in Indianapolis, [Program Name] in [Department Name] in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis
    • Examples: IU School of Liberal Arts Program in French in the World Languages & Cultures Department in Indianapolis, Pre-Law Program in the Department of Political Science in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis
  • Interdisciplinary programs: IU School of Liberal Arts [Program Name] in Indianapolis, [Program Name] in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis
    • Examples: IU School of Liberal Arts Africana Studies Program in Indianapolis, Museum Studies Program in the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis

A special note about using “IUI” with the department/program name:

  • Acceptable use in social media handles only: instagram.com/IUIEnglish, facebook.com/IUIMedicalHumanities
  • Incorrect in running text: IUI History is a department in the IU School of Liberal Arts; I am a student in the IUI Journalism and PR Department, Religious Studies is a department at IUI

The relationship between centers and institutes and where they are housed should be established on first reference. Depending on the context or medium, “Indiana University” may be spelled out or abbreviated as “IU” on first reference. It is abbreviated for brevity’s sake herein.

If managed, administered, or governed by IU Indianapolis (i.e., those that formerly started with “IUPUI” in their name): “IU Indianapolis XYZ Institute”

  • Example: IU Indianapolis Arts and Humanities Institute

If managed, administered, or governed by the IU School of Liberal Arts: “XYZ Center at IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis”

Examples: Center for Africana Studies and Culture at the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis, Center for Religion & American Culture at the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis, Institute for American Thought at the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis

Students who attended classes on the IUPUI campus were considered Indiana University or Purdue University students. Their degrees were conferred by either IU or Purdue, depending on the degree. Degrees were never conferred by IUPUI. All degrees from the IU School of Liberal Arts are granted by Indiana University.

What is most recognizable to people outside the IU system is that the degree is granted by Indiana University, so most graduates will want to prioritize sharing that information. Where it makes sense in text or conversation to note a degree was earned on the Indianapolis campus, then, by all means, graduates may include it.

Here is an example of how a degree would appear on a resume:

Aug. 2020 – May 2024Indiana UniversityIndianapolis
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

Here are examples of how you might refer to your degree in running text:

My undergraduate degree is from Indiana University. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English.

My graduate degree is from Indiana University. I earned Master of Arts in Public Relations. I attended classes on the Indianapolis campus.

I graduated from Indiana University in Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

Looking for additional brand guidelines or marketing assets?Visit the IU School of Liberal Arts Marketing Toolkit.