After alumni names, list the degree and class year. Omit periods from abbreviations of academic degrees, and place the abbreviated degree after the name, separated by commas, List the two-digit graduation year with an apostrophe on the left, facing left.
Include comma after the name. Add a comma after the class year if it is part of a running sentence, as in the second set of examples below.
If the graduate has earned more than one degree, list them starting with the highest degree. Put commas in between degrees and their class years. For listing completed residency years, see the section “Residents” below.
- John Smith, MD ’74, PhD ’67
- Jane Doe, PhD ’73
The following constructions are also acceptable:
- Jane Doe is a 1973 College of Nursing alumna.
- John Smith, MD, is a 1991 CU School of Medicine alumnus.
Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degrees
Do not use degree abbreviations for bachelor’s or associate’s degrees earned at CU. In these cases, only list the years that the degrees were earned. See the example below.
John Smith has many ties to the University of Colorado, including earning his bachelor’s degree in psychology and neuroscience in 1985, and a medical degree in 1990.
- John Smith, ’85, MD ’90
- Smith, ’85, MD ’90, is now a major benefactor supporting the CU School of Medicine.
Class of __
When referring to a class as a whole, capitalize the name of the class and write out the full graduation year (Class of 1967).
Degrees Earned in the Early 20th Century and Before
If the alumna/us earned their degree in the early 1900s or before, do not abbreviate the class year. This avoids confusion with the early 2000s.
- Ex. Sarah Smith, MD 1917, not Sarah Smith, MD ’17
Doctoral Degrees
In the first instance that an individual with a doctorate degree is referenced, include their degree abbreviation (John Thomas, PhD). For later references, do NOT use a courtesy title. Use last name only (Thomas).
Non-Doctoral Degrees
In the first instance that an individual with a non-doctoral degree is referenced, include their degree abbreviation (Sarah Smith, RN). For later references, use the last name (Foot-Lucero).
Honorary Degrees
When referring to someone who holds an honorary degree, spell this out in the text, as in first example below. Do not use Dr. before the name of an individual whose only doctorate is honorary. Avoid using abbreviations such as Hon. PhD.
EXAMPLE
- Henry Strauss was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Colorado.
Other Listing Types:
Below are a number of listing types using the example Jane Doe, PhD ’61, MD ’59, ’55.
- If she had a non-CU-alum spouse:
- Jane Doe, PhD ’61, MD ’59, ’55, and John Doe
- If John were also a CU alum:
- Jane Doe, PhD ’61, MD ’59, ’55, and John Doe MD ’60, ’55
- If John, the CU alum, were listed alone:
- If Jane was being listed on an event program with a fellow CU alum whose only CU degree is a bachelor’s:
- Jane Doe, PhD ’61, MD ’59, ’55, and Henry Strauss ’51
- If Jane only had an MD from CU and was being listed on an event program with a fellow CU alum whose only CU degree is a bachelor’s:
- Jane Doe, MD '59, and Henry Strauss '51
- If Jane had an alumni colleague, but their undergrad was not from CU:
- Robert Smith, PhD '61, MD '59