Colorado Mountain College Marketing Spanish Style Guide

Spanish Glossary Guidelines for Written Translations

Purpose

The Spanish Glossary is an institutional resource designed to ensure accuracy, consistency, and inclusivity in all Spanish-language written communications at Colorado Mountain College (CMC). It standardizes terminology across departments while respecting the diversity of Spanish language use.

Scope

The glossary must be used for all official written communications, including but not limited to:

• Admissions, advising, and financial aid materials
• Program descriptions, forms, and policies
• Web content and public-facing announcements
• Student services communications
• Signage across campuses

Internal notes or informal correspondence may use regional variations; however, official published materials must align with glossary standards.

Use

• CMC Spanish/Formal Spanish (Middle Column): To be used in all official written translations for consistency across the college.
• Verbal Spanish/Notes (Right Column): Provides cultural and regional variations for staff reference, useful in spoken communication with students and families.

Oversight

• The glossary will be housed centrally (e.g., CMC Central Services Marketing department) to ensure accessibility for all staff and faculty.
• Have a Marketing staff member to approve all written materials in Spanish.
• The President’s Office and the Spanish Committee will maintain oversight.
• A Spanish Glossary Committee (comprised of bilingual staff and faculty) will review and update the glossary annually, or more frequently as needed. This document is a living document which will be subject to continuous addition of terms as needed by our marketing department and campus specific needs.
• Suggestions for new terms or revisions may be submitted through a shared process (communication directly to the Spanish Committee).

Equity Lens

All glossary terms should reflect student-centered, inclusive, and accessible language, avoiding jargon and ensuring clarity for Spanish-speaking students and families across diverse cultural backgrounds. Use the term Spanish speakers to describe the audience of this document, not a specific nationality. In Spanish it is: hispanohablantes.

Recommendation: The glossary be adopted as the official reference for all CMC Spanish written communications, with annual review to ensure it remains accurate, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.