Name Usage
Minnesota State University, Mankato is the official full name of the university and should always be used as the first reference the university in text. Subsequent references can be shortened to one of the approved versions.
Official Usage:
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Approved Shortened Usage:
- MSU
- Minnesota State Mankato
- The University
Do Not Use:
- MNSU
- M-State
- MSU-Mankato
- Minnesota State University
- Minnesota State (except when used with intercollegiate athletics)
Maverick/Mavs
Minnesota State University, Mankato students, student-athletes, athletic teams, alumni, and employees can all be referred to as Mavericks. Mavericks is preferred to the shortened, informal Mavs, but both uses are acceptable in most uses, with certain limitations described below.
- Mavericks should be used for all official Athletic communications as well as all official game-day competition gear, including uniforms, helmets and all other game-day accessories.
- Mavs can be used on team and fan leisure apparel as well as in informal communications such as hashtags and social media posts. It may not be used in official Athletic communications, on game-day competition gear, or as an official name of the University’s athletic program (ie, Minnesota State Mavs or MSU Mavs).
When referring to intercollegiate athletic programs, use either the singular Maverick or the plural Mavs:
- Mavericks Football
- Mavs Soccer
Mav
The use of “Mav” as part of a naming convention for University-related services, resources, and groups must be approved by University Marketing and Communications prior to use.
Minnesota State
Minnesota State is the official name of the system of 26 colleges and 7 universities to which Minnesota State University, Mankato belongs. It should not be shortened to Minn State or MN State.
Minnesota State is also an approved name for Minnesota State Mankato’s athletic programs. When it is used in reference to the athletic program or to one of its teams, it should always be followed by a modifier: Minnesota State Mavericks, Minnesota State Athletics or Minnesota State Softball, for example.
