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Simmons-specific Naming Conventions and Rules

University Name

References to the University:

  • For formal use and first mention, use “Simmons University.”
  • For informal use and second mention, use “Simmons” or “the University.”

Capitalize the word “University” only when it refers specifically to Simmons:

  • The University completed its very successful $100 million “Campaign for Simmons.”

The possessive of Simmons is Simmons with an apostrophe after the final “s,” without an additional “s”:

  • Simmons’ (not Simmons, Simmon’s, or Simmons’s)

Simmons alumnae/i may refer to “Simmons College” on their resumes or other personal materials, but any official or University-produced materials must use “Simmons University.”

Simmons History 

Refer to the University Archives website for information on the official history of Simmons University, including a list of University presidents, milestones for building projects and fundraising campaigns, timelines, and more.

Schools, Offices and Other Groups

For formal use and first mention, use the full name of the school preceded by “Simmons University” or followed by “at Simmons University.”

  • Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences
  • School of Library and Information Science
  • School of Management
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Sciences and Health Professions
  • School of Social Work

On second mention, the “Simmons University” may be dropped and named schools may use a shortened identifier.

  • Gwen Ifill School

Second mention in internally facing documents may use the school acronyms. Never use school acronyms in formal or externally-facing communications.

  • Ifill
  • SLIS
  • SOM
  • SON
  • SSHP
  • SSW

When referring to Simmons alumna Gwen Ifill:

  • Formal use and first mention: Gwen Ifill ‘77, ‘93HD
  • Informal use and second mention: Gwen Ifill or Ifill

For formal use and first mention of Simmons offices and departments, precede the department name with “Simmons University”:

  • Simmons University Department of Biology

Second mention in externally-facing documents can be shortened to:

  • Simmons Department of Biology or Simmons Biology Department

Second mention in internally-facing documents can be shortened to:

  • Department of Biology or Biology Department

Capitalize the first letter of each word when referring to the official name of a Simmons office or department:

  • Children’s Literature Department
  • Department of Biology

References to President Wooten vary according to the context:

  • Formal use and first mention: President Lynn Perry Wooten
  • Informal use and second mention: President Wooten

References to Provost Stephanie Cosner also vary according to context:

  • Formal use and first mention: Provost Stephanie Cosner
  • Informal use and second mention: Provost Cosner

For formal use and first mention of the board of trustees, precede the name with “Simmons University”:

  • Simmons University Board of Trustees

Second mention can be shortened to:

Board of Trustees Capitalize “trustee” only when it is used as a title:

  • Trustee Regina Pisa is chair of the Simmons University Board of Trustees.
  • Linda Paresky recently retired from her position as a trustee.

Capitalize “dean” only when it is used as a title:

  • Formal use and first mention: Heather Shlosser, Dean of the School of Nursing
  • Informal use and second mention: Dean Shlosser

References to other members of Simmons leadership (example formatting):

  • Formal use and first mention: Kerri Brophy, Vice President, Chief Marketing, Enrollment, and Communications Officer
  • Informal use and second mention: Brophy (not Ms. Brophy)

When referring to graduates of Simmons, we recommend using the term “alumnae/i” for all general references, rather than “alumnx,” unless referring to a specific individual’s gender or a group of individuals. In that case, use “alumna” for one woman or “alumnae” for a group of women; alumnus for one man or alumni for a group of men. For nonbinary or genderqueer students, the shortened “alum” may be used.

When listing the name of an alum, it should be followed by their class year and degree as much as possible. 

Class and Class Years

Capitalize the word “Class” only when it refers to a specific class

  • Class of 1965
  • Our Class enjoyed its 30th Reunion.

For undergraduate alumnae/i

Include an apostrophe before the class year

  • Jane Simmons ’36

For graduate school alumnae/i, include an apostrophe before the class year, and follow the class year with the degree designation. There is no space between the year and degree designation.

  • Janelle Smith ‘15MS n Julie Simmons ’77MSW

Abbreviations for master's and doctorate degrees can be found on the Academic Degrees and Programs page.

For students who have completed a certification

  • Use “C” without a space between the year and the letter (’03C).

For alumnae/i with multiple degrees from Simmons

Put the degrees in chronological order, starting with the oldest, and separate with a comma

  • Janice Simmons ’87, ’03MS

For alumnae/i with dual degrees from Simmons

Put the degrees in alphabetical order (including the degree name, “Master of...” and then on the degree subject/area if the degrees are the same) and separate with a comma, with certificates always listed last

  • Ellen Smith ’11MA, ’11MS
    For Master of Arts in Children’s Literature and Master of Science in Library and Information Science: Library Services to Children
  • Abby Simmons ‘19MSW, ‘19C
    For Master of Social Work with Certificate in Trauma Practice

For recipients of an executive education program

  • Use “EE” without a space between the year and the letter (’02EE).

For honorary degree recipients who graduated from Simmons

Separate the dates with a comma and use “HD” without a space between the year and the letter

  • Lisa Mullins ’80, ’05HD

NOTE: With some fonts, when typing an apostrophe at the beginning of a numeral, the computer defaults to a “backwards” apostrophe. To correct this, type two apostrophes in a row and delete the first one.

NOTE: The Master of Arts in Business degree that was previously offered by Simmons has been retroactively converted to a Master of Business Administration (MBA), with the approval of the Registrar’s Office, and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) name should be used instead.

When referencing a group of Simmons students as “Sharks,” use a capital “S.” Shark-themed language should be used primarily by Simmons Athletics and not in external communications for the wider University.

  • The Simmons Sharks beat UMass 5-2.