Communications and Public Relations

The official name of the institution is Christopher Newport University. The preferred shorthand version is Christopher Newport. Writers can also use “the University." The abbreviated form "CNU” should be used sparingly. It is often most effective to combine all three forms to avoid repetition. From 1960-91, the institution was called Christopher Newport College (CNC). Writers should take care when their subject is historic, or when writing about alumni, past administrators or events.The correct name must also be used with regard to the awarding of degrees. Refer to alumni collectively as “Christopher Newport alumni,” with no CNC or CNU designation. Christopher Newport became a university in 1992.

The mission of Christopher Newport University is to provide educational and cultural opportunities that benefit CNU students, the residents of the commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. CNU provides outstanding academic programs, encourages service and leadership within the community, and provides opportunities for student involvement in nationally and regionally recognized research and arts programs. Our primary focus is excellence in teaching, inspired by sound scholarship. At CNU, personal attention in small classes creates a student-centered environment where creativity and excellence can flourish. Our primary emphasis is to provide outstanding undergraduate education. We also serve the commonwealth with master’s degree programs that provide intellectual and professional development for graduate-level students. We are committed to providing a liberal arts education that stimulates intellectual inquiry and fosters social and civic values. CNU students acquire the qualities of mind and spirit that prepare them to lead lives with meaning and purpose. As a state university, we are committed to service that shapes the economic, civic and cultural life of our community and commonwealth.

Christopher Newport University, a small, academically selective public university, is grounded in the principles of liberal learning and dedicated to the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service.

• We celebrate the values inherent in the liberal arts and sciences and live as a community of honor to inspire our students to lead lives of significance.
• We aspire to be a preeminent, public liberal arts and sciences university.
• We pursue excellence in all that we do and dedicate ourselves to those initiatives that will strengthen our teaching, our scholarship, our academic programs and disciplines, and our campus community.
• We are building an intimate, diverse, residential community that will attract the most academically talented, inquisitive and intellectually adventuresome students.
• We ignite in our students a love of learning, a sense of responsibility and civic duty. Our graduates are instilled with the knowledge and confidence to engage as responsible leaders and citizens in their communities, the nation and the world.

• We will always put students first.
• We will remain committed to liberal learning.
• We will provide access and opportunity to a diverse community.
• We will be actively engaged in shaping the economic, civic and cultural life of this community.
• We will always offer outstanding teaching.

All academic and administrative departments and colleges are embodied by the Christopher Newport brand. When these units produce communications intended for consumption by a general audience, they must adhere to the standards described in this document.

The organizations displayed below are a part of the CNU brand; however, they may also be involved in activities independent from Christopher Newport, such as colloquia, conferences, workshops, etc. They may also have their own branding and/or logos, which must be designed by or approved for use by OCPR.

• Applied Research Center
• Center for American Studies
• Center for Community Engagement
• Center for Wetland Conservation
• Judy Ford Wason Center for Public Policy
• LifeLong Learning Society
• Public History Center
• Reiff Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution

OCPR develops and maintains marketing strategies in consultation with independent brand units as needed. In general, these units are responsible for their own strategies and identity and editorial standards and may not be subject to OCPR oversight.

• Department of Athletics
• Einstein’s Cafe
• Ferguson Center for the Arts
• Retailers in the David Student Union

Student organizations are responsible for developing and creating their own communications; however, any materials using Christopher Newport logos or branding must be approved by OCPR.

Christopher Newport University’s name, logo, designs, photographs, product identifiers, slogans, trademarks and service marks may not be used in any commercial manner without the prior written consent of the Office of Communications and Public Relations. The university counsel may also provide oversight in certain cases.

The Christopher Newport University institutional logos are displayed below. All logos are shown in the official Christopher Newport blue, Pantone Matching System (PMS) 288. Logos may also be displayed in black or in white.

The sails are appropriate for institutional and academic use only. Text or other graphic elements may not be superimposed on the sails. Department personnel and students must request permission to use the institutional logos. The request form is available at ocpr.cnu.edu.

The university seal is only used on official documents and at the discretion of the Office of the President.

The Department of Athletics uses many different logos. A sampling is displayed below.

Athletics logos are appropriate for athletics and school spirit applications. The Department of Athletics must approve any use of athletics logos. Visit CNUsports.com for more information.

The Ferguson Center for the Arts (FCA) must approve any use of the FCA logo.

The Christopher Newport Alumni Society or OCPR must approve any use of the alumni logos.

The official name for Christopher Newport University athletics teams is “Captains,” with no apostrophe. The name Captains can be used to refer to all or any part of the Christopher Newport community; however, no descriptor may precede or modify Captains, or refer exclusively to a department or student organization. Do not use Lady Captains, Fighting Captains, Greek Captains, History Captains, etc. The only exception is the marching band, the Marching Captains. Departments are encouraged to use spirit phrases such as “Go Captains” or “Captain for Life.”

CNU departments may use an identity marker or logo on departmental materials and event programs, signage, etc. OCPR designs such elements in several templates. OCPR must approve any use of departmental branding when used in conjunction with official CNU branding for an external or off-campus audience. Some examples are shown below.

The official university colors are displayed below, including PMS numbers; cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) values; red, green and blue (RGB) values; and hexadecimal codes. Black and white are also in the official CNU color palette.

Institution Colors

CNU blue

• Pantone: 288
• CMYK: 100/86/26/20
• RGB: 0/44/118
• Hex: #002c76

CNU silver

• Pantone: 877
• CMYK: 51/40/39/4
• RGB: 132/136/139
• Hex: #84888b

Athletic Colors

Athletics blue

• Pantone: 286
• CMYK: 100/82/10/2
• RGB: 0/57/116
• Hex: #0039a6

Athletics silver

• Pantone: 429
• CMYK: 37/26/26/0
• RGB: 165/172/176
• Hex: #a5acb0

Official fonts approved for use are shown below. Contact Information Technology Services for font installation.

The standard descriptive copy used in publications and media releases appears below. It may not be altered in any way.

A four-year public university in Newport News, Virginia, Christopher Newport University enrolls 5,000 students in rigorous academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences through the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Social Sciences, and the Luter School of Business. CNU offers great teaching and small class sizes as well as an emphasis on leadership, civic engagement and honor.

A statement about the CNU website may be added as follows:

For more information about Christopher Newport and its programs, please visit cnu.edu.

Christopher Newport's nondiscrimination notice appears below.

Christopher Newport University does not discriminate in admission, employment or any other activity on the basis of race, sex, color, age, religion, veteran status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or political affiliation.

Contact the director of Title IX and equal opportunity for more information.

Learfield Licensing Partners handles the licensing of Christopher Newport brands and marks. Contact the Department of Athletics for more information.

Any design elements that depict or represent Christopher Newport or any of its entities (signage, name tags, podium design, conference banners, etc.) must be approved by OCPR. All directional and/or event signage on campus must be 24” x 36,” printed on 1/8” white weatherproof display board (e.g., Celtec) and displayed in a black A-frame. A sign must be displayed on each side of the A-frame. Typically, the event information is displayed on one side, and a greeting (e.g., Welcome to Christopher Newport University, Thank you for visiting Christopher Newport University) is displayed on the reverse. Use approved fonts and colors when making signs (see sections 4.2 and 4.3). All signs must be approved before use. Contact OCPR for more information.

All print and web advertising that uses Christopher Newport logos, identity markers, images or photographs must be produced in association with OCPR, including advertising for student activities.