Logo Dos and Don'ts
Marketing Messages
Laker for a Lifetime

Photography
Typography
Trademarked use of name
Copyright
Affirmative action statement
Boilerplate copy

Photography

Photography that illustrates the university's and the area's best attributes and represents the values of the university is available through the photography unit of Grand Valley's News and Information Services (NIS) Department. They manage all official university photography. Their mission is to document people, places, and events that best represent the vibrant campus community for news and promotional purposes. The NIS photography unit also maintains the university photography archives.

When publishing photographs in print or on the Web, it is important to have the recognizable subjects in the photo sign a release form, regardless of whether or not they are a student or employee of Grand Valley.

For information about requesting files or new photography, as well as a photo release form, please visit www.gvsu.edu/nis/.

Photographs of university building projects used by consultants, contractors, suppliers, or vendors for marketing or communications purposes should credit Grand Valley State University as the owner of the building in the photograph.

Typography

Do not attempt to match the text of a brochure or other communications piece to the logotype. In most cases it is preferable to use contrasting fonts. It is recommended to minimize the number of typefaces in one publication to no more than two or three. Some suggested complementary and contrasting fonts are shown below. These suggested fonts give a few options for publications and maintain a recognizable look for academic audiences.

Trademarked use of name

The institution's proper name is Grand Valley State University. After the first use of the full name it is appropriate to shorten it to Grand Valley State or Grand Valley. GVSU is only appropriate to shorten in informal contexts, when space is limited, or if Grand Valley has been used so often it becomes distracting. GV should only be used in internal, informal documents.

The following are registered trademarks:

GVSU®
Grand Valley State University®
Grand Valley State®

The following are trademarks:

GVSU Lakers™
Grand Valley State University Lakers™
Grand Valley State Lakers™

NOTE:
The university has additional legal rights in all words, phrases, images, and letters that when used give the appearance of a university connection or endorsement including, but not limited to:

Grand Valley
GV
Lakers

The circle R version of the logo must be used in all applications.

Example:

Copyright

All printed materials should include the following copyright information:

© [year] Grand Valley State University

Example: © 2010 Grand Valley State University

It is not permissible to copyright certain departments.

Example: © 2010 Grand Valley State University Institutional Marketing

Affirmative action statement

For publications, use one of the following affirmative action statements. The full affirmative action statement can be found in the Administrative Manual or in the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.

Preferred version:
Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. It is committed to protecting the constitutional and statutory civil rights of persons connected with the university. [Date of publication—mm/yr]

If space is an issue, you may use this version:
Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. [Date of publication—m/yr]

Example:
Grand Valley State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. 6/10

Boilerplate copy

For publications, use the approved copy provided below to briefly summarize the university.

(126 words)

Grand Valley State University, established in 1960, is a four-year public university. It attracts nearly 25,000 students with its high-quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley provides a fully accredited liberal undergraduate and graduate education and has campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids, and Holland, and regional centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. Grand Valley is a comprehensive university, serving students from all 83 Michigan counties and dozens of other states and foreign countries. Grand Valley offers 82 undergraduate and 30 graduate degree programs. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships. Grand Valley employs more than 2,000 people and is committed to providing a fair and equitable environment for the continued success of all.

(111 words)

Grand Valley State University is a four-year public university. It attracts nearly 25,000 students with high-quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley is a comprehensive university, serving students from all 83 Michigan counties and dozens of other states and foreign countries. Grand Valley offers 82 undergraduate and 30 graduate degree programs from campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids, and Holland, and from regional centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships. Grand Valley employs more than 2,000 people and is committed to providing a fair and equitable environment for the continued success of all.

(82 words)

Grand Valley State University attracts nearly 25,000 students with high-quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley is a comprehensive university serving students from all 83 Michigan counties and dozens of other states and foreign countries. Grand Valley offers 82 undergraduate and 30 graduate degree programs from campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids, and Holland, and from regional centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships.