Faculty and Expert Naming Conventions in Courses

Markette Pierce Updated by Markette Pierce

Faculty and Expert Naming Conventions in Courses

Faculty and Lecturer Naming Conventions

Not all subject matter experts are referred to as "Professor" in our courses. Use the guidelines below to determine how to reference someone throughout your course(s):

  • Ph.D.-holding faculty or lecturer: Professor X
    • Example: "Professor X will discuss further in the video below."
    • For a Sr. Lecturer who is a Ph.D., we refer to them the way they expect their students to, as "Professor X."
  • Non-Ph.D.-holding faculty or lecturer: Mr. X or Ms. X
    • Example: "Mr. X will discuss further in the video below."
Should a faculty member request it, then we can make an exception when appropriate. There have been instances in the past when a faculty member specifically asked to be called "Mrs.", so we made that call to say "Mrs." per her strong request. Please get approval from your ID Director on a case-by-case basis if a faculty member requests such an exception.

Use the full title in bios, like the homepage and thank you page, but not when referring to the person in text.

  • Example: Julia Child, Visiting Associate Professor, The Hotel School, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. Professor Child will demonstrate...

Non-Faculty Member and Expert Naming Conventions

  • Experts’ bios are supplied by their corporation or organization.
  • Use the person's professional title as they provide it to you in bios and in text references. If there is no professional title, use Mr. or Ms. 

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