The decision whether or not to capitalize a word depends on many factors including the word's position in a sentence and its function.
Titles are capitalized when they immediately precede names and are used as part of the names.
Examples:
- Chancellor Dr. John M. Mason Jr. said …
- Associate Professor Cynthia Mara said …
Titles are lowercased if they follow names or are used to help describe or identify people further.
Example:
- David Morand, professor of management, …
Also:
- instructor in, not instructor of
- professor emeritus, not emeritus professor
- professor of, not professor in
- research associate in, not research associate of
Note: It is redundant to refer to someone as:
- Dr. Ann Lastname, Ph.D.
- Use either Dr. Ann Lastname or Ann Lastname, Ph.D.
When the title includes the specific name of an academic or administrative unit, the name of the unit is capitalized.
Example:
- Donna Howard, associate director of the Office of Student Life.
Department/office names
When referring to office names and administrative areas: capitalize the formal name of the office, but use lowercase informally.
- Jason had an appointment in the Office of Student Aid.
- Carmen was late leaving the student aid office.
Do not capitalize the reference to a general administrative area of the University in which a person works, but when referring to the proper name, it may be capitalized.
- She has worked in food service for fifteen years.
- She has worked in Housing and Food Services for fifteen years.
Honors
Capitalize when it is the formal name of campus program: Campus Honors program; Penn State Harrisburg Honors Program
Lowercase in informal use: honors program, honors student, honors courses