AISES Branding Guidelines were created to ensure the professional quality of organizational communications. Our goal is to maintain a cohesive identity internally and externally by promoting consistency in written materials and visual representation.
The Advancing Indigenous Science and Engineering Society, formerly the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, is commonly referred to as AISES.
You may also use “AISES – Advancing Indigenous Science and Engineering Society” or “Advancing Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (AISES)” when referencing the organization.
Avoid the apostrophe (trademarks are not properly possessives). Instead use AISES as a descriptor: the AISES mission (not “AISES’ mission”), or with an “of ” construction: the work of AISES (not “AISES’ work”).
AISES is a national nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers.
AISES is a national nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers. Since 1977, AISES has supported individual student and professional members across the U.S. and Canada through chartered college and university chapters, professional chapters, tribal chapters, and affiliated PK-12 schools. Members benefit from diverse STEM-focused programming and events that support STEM careers and promote student success and workforce development in multiple crucial areas. To learn more visit aises.org.
The vision of AISES is for the next seven generations of Indigenous people to be successful, respected, influential, and contributing members of our vast and ever-changing global community.
AISES was founded in 1977 by American Indian scientists, engineers, and educators. In view of the high dropout rates and low college enrollment and graduation rates of American Indians compared with all other ethnic groups in the United States, and the severe underrepresentation of American Indians in the science and engineering fields, Native professionals resolved to create an organization that would identify and remove the barriers to academic success for Native students.
AISES is a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status, and is primarily funded by government and private contracts, as well as other donations, contributions, and revenue from individuals and membership dues. Through a variety of programs, AISES offers financial, academic, professional, and cultural support to Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands from early education to professional career development. AISES builds partnerships with tribes, schools, other nonprofit organizations, corporations, foundations and government agencies to realize its goals. AISES especially helps Indigenous North Americans and Pacific Islander students prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
The AISES logo combines symbols representing historic Native knowledge with modern portrayal. The “A” represents preservation of the traditional structure of the Indian family and cultural values. The round portion of the symbol portrays the sun’s rays striking a predetermined marker, like the Sun Dagger site in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, or the Pueblo at Casa Grande, Arizona, indicating the proper time to plant corn in the Spring. The discovery of these markers is heralded as one of many examples of scientific and engineering achievement of ancient Native peoples. The square represents a kernel of corn.
When the AISES logo is used alone, it should be sufficiently isolated from illustrations, photographs, copy, or images that might detract from the logo’s prominence
This guide is supplemented by the latest editions of the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. In cases of conflict, the Branding Guidelines supersedes the AP Stylebook and the AP Stylebook supersedes Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary.
Aboriginal
“Aboriginal” is preferred to “Aborigine.” Always use in reference to people as a noun and adjective, with an initial cap. Like “Native” and “Indigenous,” ”Aboriginal” may also be used to refer to the original presence of anything in any region, and in most of these instances it would be lowercase
acronym
An acronym is an abbreviation comprising a sequence of initials pronounced as a single word, like “AISES.” Many other abbreviations are initialisms — a sequence of initials pronounced as separate letters, like “FBI.” This guide refers to both as acronyms. In general, acronyms should be spelled out on first reference with the acronym placed in parentheses immediately following only if the acronym used is subsequently in the same document. Refer to the AP Stylebook for the few acronyms that are permissible on first reference.
ad hoc
Refers to groups, committees, boards, and so forth that have been assembled for a limited purpose. It should not refer to actions or decisions. It is not a synonym for “episodic.”
administration
Lowercase (the “Nixon administration”).
adverbs
Do not insert a hyphen after the “-ly” ending of adverbs. (“Federally” and “tribally” are adverbs.) Note that not all words that end in “-ly” are adverbs (“Family” is a noun).
advisor
Advisory Councils
There are seven AISES advisory councils:
Academic Advisory Council (AAC)
Canadian Indigenous Advisory Council (CIAC)
Corporate Advisory Council (CAC)
Council of Elders
Government Relations Council (GRC)
Professional Chapter Council (PCC)
Tribal Nations Advisory Council (TNAC)
affect/effect
“Affect” as a verb means “to influence”; “effect” means “to cause, to bring about.”
AISES
Avoid the apostrophe (trademarks are not properly possessives). Instead use AISES as a descriptor: the AISES mission (not “AISES’ mission”), or with an “of ” construction: the work of AISES (not “AISES’ work”).
AISES Annual Report
AISES issues a report that provides an overview of how the organization is run and its current status, including consolidated financial statements as well as its partners, sponsors, and donors and the programs, events, awards, and member benefits that set it apart. The annual report is used in direct mail and other marketing activities.
Alaska Native
“Alaska Natives” refers to the Indigenous people of Alaska. Not “Alaskan Native” or “Native Alaskan,” which refers to anyone born and raised in Alaska.
a.m./p.m.
American Indian:
Also acceptable are “Native American,” “Native,” and “Indigenous.”
ampersand/&
Spell out ampersands as “and” whenever possible
blood quantum
The phrase “blood quantum” is acceptable in reference to enrollment credentials. “Full-blood,” “half-blood,” “quarter-blood,” “half-breed,” and “mixed-blood” are not.
Board of Directors
Capped in all references to the AISES Board of Directors, including the shortened form: “the Board.”
brackets
Use square brackets to set off words within quotations that are an editor’s insertions and not part of the actual quote.
brand names
See trademarks.
bylaw(s)
Canadian miscellany
In Canada a number of Native-specific usages differ from U.S. conventions:
“Reserve” is the preferred term for “reservation.”
“Aboriginal,” which appears in the Canadian constitution, is the preferred term for Native people.
“Native” is an accepted, though not necessarily preferred, alternative to “Aboriginal.”
“Indigenous” is used within Canada much as it is used in the United States.
“First Nation” is the preferred term for a particular Native group or government, comparable to American tribal nations. Note that “First Nations” does not include the Métis Nation or the Inuit; the inclusive abbreviation for Indigenous Canadians is “FNMI.”
“Indian” is not a preferred term in Canada; never “American Indian.”
“Band” is more widely used than “tribe.”
capitalization
Capitalize initial words in a sentence, proper nouns, and official names and titles. Universally identifiable regions should be capped as one word (“Midwest,” “Southwest,” “the South”), but directions of the compass should be lowercase (“continue south two miles”). Generally, do not initial-cap regions of a state or nation (“northern New York,” but “Southern California”). Avoid full caps.
century
The numeration of centuries follows the general rule for numbers: spell out numbers under 10; use numerals for 10 and above (“first century,” “15th century”).
chair/chairman/chairwoman
Use “chair” except when “chairman” and “chairwoman” are actual titles. Avoid “chairperson.”
commas
Insert a comma before the last item in a series (chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry).
compliment/complement
A “compliment” is praise; ”complement” implies completion.
complimentary
Free of charge (or expressing a compliment)
compound modifier
Generally hyphenate before the noun: a 10-year-old girl; a long-term contract; a hard-working student.
compound nouns
Consult the dictionary.
computer science
CS is acceptable on second reference.
Dakota/Lakota/Nakota
A confederacy of different tribal bands with different dialects that make up the Oceti Sakowin (see Seven Council Fires), or Great Sioux Nation. The Sioux
primarily live on reservations in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Montana.
database
dates
Use Arabic figures with no letters (-th, -nd,-rd, -st). Spell out months whenever possible and separate elements of dates with commas — January 29, 2020. In a continuing sentence insert a comma after the final element (month or year). Month abbreviations are Jan., Feb., March, April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. Use the abbreviations only with a numbered day of the month.
diversity, equity, and inclusion
Diversity, equity, inclusion. DEI is acceptable on second reference.
direct mail
A form of marketing that involves sending a piece of promotional material through the U.S. Postal Service or other courier to a home or business.
disburse/disperse
“Disburse” is to expend money from a fund; “disperse” is to scatter.
dollar(s)/dollar sign
Except in direct quotes, use the dollar sign instead of spelling out the word “dollar(s).”
donor advised fund
e.g.
For the Latin exempli gratia (“for example”). Use it sparingly and avoid confusion with “i.e.” (“that is”).
ellipses
Three dots indicate missing words or trailing speech, usually at the end of a sentence. When material is missing directly after a complete sentence, there should be four dots (the first is the period ending the prior sentence).
et al.
Abbreviation for the Latin et alia (“and others”). Use it to refer to people (“etc.” is for things). Note there is a period after the abbreviation “al.” and not after the word “et” — use sparingly.
female/woman/women
“Woman” and “women” are preferred nouns. Generally, use ”female” as an adjective and avoid as a noun, especially where the adjective “male” would not be used.
First Nation/First Nations
Fort
Do not abbreviate.
foundation(s)
Spell out and capitalize as part of an official title (“the Ford Foundation”; but “the foundation”).
fractions
Spell out simple fractions using hyphens (“two-thirds”). Use figures for precise amounts larger than one, converting to decimals when practical. For mixed numbers leave a space between the whole number and fraction. See percent.
fundraising/fundraiser/fundraise
grantmaking/grantmaker
grassroots
Hawaii/Hawaiians
“Native Hawaiians” is appropriate when referring to the Indigenous people of Hawaii.
homeland(s)
One word except in official designations (Department of Hawaiian Home Lands).
i.e.
For the Latin id est, (“that is”). Use sparingly; do not confuse with “e.g.” (“for example”).
inbox
Inc.
Do not set off with commas even when the company does.
Indian
“American Indian,” “Native American,” “Native,” and “Indigenous” are preferred.
Indian Country
Capitalize both words on this legal designation signifying lands under U.S. jurisdiction within the exterior boundaries of reservations and lands considered “dependent Indian communities.”
“Indian Country”
can be applied to reservations and Alaska Native villages alike, but note that lands held by Alaska Native corporations are not “Indian Country” in the same sense as in the lower 48 states. The term does not apply to Hawaii, U.S. possessions, or any non-U.S. jurisdiction.
Indigenous
Use this term, capitalized, when referring to Native people. It is an adjective, so “Indigenous people(s).” Avoid attempted nouns such as “Indigenes” or “the Indigenous.” When distinguishing between “Indigenous people” and “Indigenous peoples,” follow the rule discussed under Native below.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Iroquois Confederacy
Also known as the Six Nations, the Iroquois League, or in their own term “Haudenosaunee” (People of the Longhouse). The alliance consists of the Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida (of New York), and Tuscarora.
internet
italics
Italic type is for highlights and emphasis; avoid entire blocks of text in italics as it is difficult to read.
judgment
Jr./Sr.
No preceding comma and no comma follows in a continuing sentence.
Listserv
Initial cap is how AP recommends running this full-cap trademark for a software program that maintains email discussion groups.
millions and greater
Replace the zeros with the appropriate word (six million, 73 billion)
mission statement of AISES
AISES is a national nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers.
Mount
Do not abbreviate.
NAISEF
National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair
NAIVSEF
National American Indian Virtual Science and Engineering Fair
Nation
Capitalize as part of an official name or title; “the Navajo Nation’; “the nation” on subsequent reference.
Native
Capitalize when referring to Native people(s) or their activities: “Native language,” “Native crafts,” “Native lifeways” are correct in reference to the activities of Native people(s) or culture. But in a reference to crafts native to the region, “native crafts,” no capital, even if the crafts native to the region were Native crafts.
Native Hawaiian
“Native Hawaiian” is appropriate when referring to the Indigenous people of Hawaii. “Hawaii native” is anyone born and raised in Hawaii.
nonprofit
One word, no hyphen. Generally avoid the term “not-for-profit” unless required in reporting documents. The international term for nonprofits is “non-governmental organizations (NGOs).”
numbers
Spell out one through nine and use numerals for 10 and above for both cardinal and ordinal numbers. Spell out numbers that begin sentences. When numbers above 20 are spelled out, a hyphen connects the “-ty” ending with the following word: “forty-three,” but “one hundred forty-three.”
ongoing
online
parentheses with other punctuation
When an entire sentence is enclosed in parentheses, the closing punctuation mark stays within the closing parenthesis. Question marks, exclamation points, and closing quotation marks precede a closing parenthesis if they belong to the parenthetical material and follow it if they belong to the surrounding sentence. Periods precede closing parentheses only when the entire sentence is parenthetical. Commas, semicolons, and colons do not precede a closing parenthesis.
people/peoples
“Peoples” implies sovereign nationality, whereas “people” implies a more casual association. Use the term “Native peoples” where the distinction should be made, or as a term of respect. In general, “Native peoples” is preferred, but “Native people” can be used where it seems more appropriate, as in referring to a small number of Native people who are engaged in everyday pursuits, like attending a powwow.
percent/percentages
“Percent” is one word, always spelled out; the quantity is never spelled out even when less than 10 (“6 percent”; “60 percent”). Reserve the percent sign (%) for tables, columns, and charts. Quantities less than one should be preceded by a leading zero (“0.81 percent”).
planned giving
Commonly conveyed through a will or trust an arranged as part of an individual’s estate planning, these gifts typically amount to a major future donation in the form of cash, equities, or property. Questions about arranging a planned gift should go to the director of marketing.
possessive apostrophe after final “s”
For common and proper nouns ending in “s,” use only the possessive apostrophe (“Nora Mapes’ cat,” not “Mapes’s”).
potlatch
The equivalent in Alaska, the Northwest, and parts of Canada of the Plains “giveaway” — a traditional ceremony of recognition and sharing.
PowerPoint
powwow
pre-college
pre-college (not precollege)
publications
Winds of Change magazine — The AISES flagship publication is distributed five times a year: Spring (digital), Summer (digital only), Fall (print and digital), Conference Wrap-Up (digital only), and Special College Issue (digital). Content includes feature articles on topics of community interest, news of members and the organization, and information to support readers at every stage on their STEM path. The Special College Issue features the Top 200 Colleges for Indigenous Students.
AISES Now e-newsletters are published quarterly featuring AISES events and news.
resource(s)
A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively.
report(s)
Give a spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated.
region/regional
AISES chapters are divided into seven regions across the U.S. and Canada, with a student regional representative from each.
resume
No accent marks in noun form.
robotics
Technology behind the construction and operation of robots in automation.
Seven Council Fires
The “Oceti Sakowin” is the correct historical terminology for what is often referred to as the “Great Sioux Nation.” The name comes from the distinct encampments — the Seven Council Fires — of the different bands that gathered every year.
slash
The slash, or virgule, has its uses, but its meaning is unclear when used to separate two terms (does “hot/cold” mean “hot and cold” or “hot or cold”?); the only acceptable use is “and/or,” but even then try to rewrite the sentence to avoid this construction.
social media
Follow all brand guidelines when posting on behalf of AISES.
socially responsible investing/SRI
Lowercase spelled out term. The initialism “SRI” can be used on subsequent reference, but not in reference to socially responsible investors.
Sphero BOLT
An app-enabled robotic toy that AISES uses in grant-funded computer coding training programs.
sponsors
AISES has the support of several levels of sponsors. Before using a sponsor name or logo, check with business and program development to be sure you have the latest information.
start-up
state abbreviations
Spell out state names whether standing alone in text or appearing with a city or town. For datelines in press releases, use abbreviations in the AP Stylebook. A comma and a space come between town and state: Albuquerque, New Mexico. In a continuing sentence, a comma follows the state name.
STEAM
Acronym for “science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.”
STEMM
Acronym for “science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.”
STEM
Acronym for “science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”
tax-exempt/tax exemption/501(c)(3)/Section 7871
Hyphenate “tax-exempt” when used as an adjective, but not “tax exemption” when used as a noun.
telephone number style
Periods (not dashes or spaces): 888.888.8888
titles
Titles of organizations or organized groups should be capitalized on first reference and subsequent reference if the entire formal title is used again. Subsequent references that are shortened are lowercase (the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council becomes “the council” or “the tribal council”).
Professional titles of individuals should be capitalized when they appear before the name as part of the name (Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter), but lowercased when they follow the name (Ashton Carter, secretary of defense). Titles may be abbreviated only with the person’s full name. (Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower; General Eisenhower). Titles that appear without the name or in apposition to the name (not set off by a comma) are lowercase (“the beloved queen Elizabeth II”).
Do not capitalize occupational titles (the astronaut John Herrington, the musician Joann Shenandoah, former president and peanut farmer Jimmy Carter).
Terms denoting positions of tribal leadership are capped with or without the individual’s name: Principal Chief; Tribal Governor.
Courtesy titles like “Ms.” and “Mr.” should appear only in correspondence.
titles of publications, creative work
Use double quotation marks around minor titles: unpublished documents and published essays, newsletter articles, newspaper articles, magazine articles, policy position papers, research papers, songs, episodes of TV series.
Use italics for titles of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, works of art, films, and plays.
Names of court cases are italicized, but official names of specific legislation are not. Titles of standard reference books like dictionaries are always in plain text, as are the Bible, the Koran, the
Book of Mormon, and any other scriptural volume of an established religion.
tool
Do not overuse as a synonym for “method” or “venue.”
trademarks
Capitalize trademarks but lowercase any precedin articles (a, an, the); treat shortened forms of the name as you would any common noun; replace internal asterisks, etc., with a hyphen; and drop stylized typographic elements (“the Ford Foundation” and “the foundation,” not “The Ford Foundation” or “the Foundation”; “E-Trade”, not “E*Trade”;“Yahoo”, not “Yahoo!”)
tribal leadership
Titles denoting tribal leadership are always capped, with or without a leader’s name (Principal Chief; Governor).
Tribe
Capitalize as part of an official name, but the “Rosebud Sioux Tribe” becomes the “tribe” on subsequent reference.
underscoring
In general, do not underscore, with the rare exception of direct mail.
underway
United Nations/United States
May be abbreviated with periods as nouns and adjectives.
web
webpage
website
well-being
-wide
The suffix is closed on words listed that way in Webster’s, but otherwise hyphenated (“nationwide”; “reservation-wide”).
widows/orphans
These terms describe single words or short lines standing alone at the bottom (orphan) or top (widow) of pages or columns in a layout. Avoid them.
Wi-Fi
