Key Narrative Requirements

What are the key narrative requirements?

  • Clear, concise language that best represents the university overall is key. To achieve this, it is best to plan what you want to communicate before you begin writing. Ask yourself:
    • How does my message support the university’s brand?
    • What does this say about UNT and my college/school/department?
  • Write using the UNT voice so that you appropriately represent UNT’s personality. To achieve this, it is best to use language that is:
    • Confident — knowledgeable and proud of UNT (its people, places and things)
    • Friendly — warm, welcoming and supportive (also personable, collegial)
    • Sincere — authentic, open, real, knowledgeable
    • Inspiring — imaginative, proud, original
  • Always be accurate. Use the UNT Fact Site for approved, vetted facts and brag points.
  • Follow the recommendations in UNT’s Styleguide.
  • Respect the university’s name.
    • Spell out University of North Texas on first reference, which must be in the first or second sentence of your copy.
    • Use UNT or "the university" (avoid using University, with uppercase U) on second reference.
    • Do not use North Texas when referring to the university. The only approved uses of North Texas are by Mean Green Athletics.
  • For college/school level communications:
    • University of North Texas and/or UNT must appear before or in conjunction with the college name.
    • Use full college name on first reference.
    • Avoid acronyms such as COM, CVAD, COB, etc., especially for external audiences.
  • For department, program, initiative or center communications:
    • University of North Texas and/or UNT must appear before or in conjunction with the department/program/initiative/center name.
    • Use full department/program/initiative/center name on first reference.
    • Avoid acronyms, especially for external audiences.
  • Use additional writing resources, including:

If you have any questions or need guidance on narrative branding, contact UBSC at 940-565-2108.