UBC Brand Updates

UBC Brand Updates

Find out the latest news about the UBC Brand.


July 26, 2021 — New “Editorial Style Guide for UBC Communicators” available

Jul 26, 2021

Version 2.0 of the Editorial Style Guide for UBC Communicators has just been released. Highlights include:

    • Update of inclusive language best practices, in consultation with UBC Equity & Inclusion Office (page 37)
    • Addition of graduation style guidelines (page 14)
    • Clarification of the use of serial commas (page 20)
    • Clarification of style differences on internal facing communications vs external facing communication (including use of surname on second reference for external communications but given name for an internal, more informal audience; page 5)

Download the style guide here and feel free to contact Carolyn Ali (carolyn.ali@ubc.ca) with any questions. Remember to download the May 2021 (Version 3.0) update of the Indigenous Peoples: Language Guidelines as well.


May 19, 2021 — Updated “Indigenous Peoples: Language Guidelines” now available

May 19, 2021

An updated version of the Indigenous Peoples: Language Guidelines is now available here.

Updates include:

    • Considerations on when to use “Indigenous peoples” vs “Indigenous Peoples”
    • Considerations for using “non-Indigenous,” including alternatives to this sometimes-polarizing antonym
    • Further context on the emergence and use of “Indigenous” as a preferred term
    • Why it’s important to be more specific than “Indigenous” when addressing First Nations, Métis or Inuit subject matter
    • When to use and not use “Nation”
    • Expanding upon oral and written land acknowledgements
    • When to use and not use an Indigenous organization’s logo
    • Updated resources/references

The guidelines were created with the advice and input of Dr. Linc Kesler, former Director of the First Nations House of Learning and Senior Advisor to the President on Aboriginal Affairs, and Kevin Ward, Research and Communications Officer from the First Nations House of Learning, as well as with consultation with colleagues at UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver.


December 17, 2020 — Revised guidelines for doctoral titles

Dec 17, 2020

UBC has expanded the use of the doctoral title. See page 13 of the Editorial Guide for UBC Communicators, which has been updated with these changes. Other revisions to the guide are in progress; check back in 2021.

Download the Editorial Guide for UBC Communicators here.


October 22, 2020 — UBC Zoom Backgrounds Available

Oct 22, 2020

Looking to add a bit of campus to your online meetings? Download a UBC backgrounds to use in your next Zoom call.

All backgrounds are available on UBC’s Flickr account.


May 25, 2020 — COVID-19 Photoshoot Protocols

May 25, 2020

We each have a personal responsibility to practice safe physical distancing and to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The university photographer comes in close contact with many people during the course of his workday, which heightens his potentiality as a vector for infection transfer. UBC has created guidelines that must be adhered to when organizing a photoshoot with the university photographer during this time. Please download the guidelines here.