Event Flyer Content & Branding Guidelines

To ensure clarity, consistency, accessibility, and strong institutional branding, all College of San Mateo event flyers intended for college-wide, community-facing, or external audiences must follow the guidelines below.

Include Event Information

All flyers should clearly include:

Event title

Brief event description or purpose

Date

• Day of the week
• Month spelled out and full date (no ordinal numbers)

Time

• Start and end time using lowercase am/pm without periods
• Do not include unnecessary zeros

Location

• Building name/number and room
• Campus site when applicable (College of San Mateo, Coastside, etc.)

Hosting unit(s)

• Department(s), program(s), learning community(ies), or campus unit(s)

Attribution Standards

• Event flyers and event listings may acknowledge partner or host departments, programs, learning communities, or campus units.
• Individual staff or faculty names may not be included on flyers or public-facing event listings.
• Use department or program names in place of personal names.

Branding Requirements

For college-level and externally visible flyers:

• Spell out College of San Mateo on first reference
• Use only approved college logos and brand marks
• Do not alter, recreate, stretch, recolor, or modify logos
• Maintain consistent visual identity whenever possible

Editorial Style (Required)

All flyer content must follow our College of San Mateo Editorial Style Guide. 

Key standards for event materials include:

Dates

• Spell out months (January, February, March, etc.)
• Do not use ordinal numbers

Correct: February 12, 2026
Incorrect: Feb. 12th, 2026

Times

• Use lowercase am/pm without periods
• Do not include unnecessary zeros

Correct: 11 am – 1 pm
Incorrect: 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Campus & Program Names

• Capitalize official department and program names
• Spell out College of San Mateo on first reference

General Formatting

• Use clear, straightforward language
• Avoid excessive punctuation or decorative formatting

Accessibility & Readability

Flyers should:

• Use legible fonts and strong color contrast
• Avoid overcrowded layouts
• Ensure key event details are immediately visible
• Include registration links or QR codes when applicable

Guidelines Scope

These guidelines apply to:

• College-wide events
• Community-facing events
• External promotion materials

Student club and student life flyers are managed separately through ASCSM and Student Life.

CRM Review & Support

Community Relations & Marketing is available to review flyers for:

• Brand consistency
• Editorial compliance
• Clarity and accessibility

Early collaboration is encouraged to avoid revisions close to event dates.