Canonical sources: Portal philosophy, posture, and language live in
/docs/planning/champion-portal/source/README.md.
Use these sources (includingCHRIST_CENTERED__IDENTITY_STATEMENT.md) when writing specs or user-facing copy. Prefer quoting/paraphrasing over inventing new language.
AI Context Bundle File 5 of 8
Purpose: Definitive guide to terminology, tone, and vocabulary
Authority: All user-facing copy MUST follow these standards
Last Updated: April 2026
The Alumni Network gives every Belmont alum a home base. By showing up, every alum is already a Champion.
This was formalized during Phase 12 (Source-Alignment Review):
| Principle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Default to “alumni” | Use “alumni” when referring to members generically (counts, directory, search, descriptions) |
| Reserve “Champion” | Only for celebratory/recognition moments — after opt-in, milestones, Champion Role features |
| Never gatekeeper “Champion” | “Champion” is recognition, not something to earn, qualify for, or achieve |
| Never generic synonym | If you could substitute “member” and it reads fine, use “alumni” instead of “Champion” |
| External-facing copy | Lead with “alumni” and “Bruins” — inclusive, no gatekeeping |
| Internal-facing copy | Use “alumni” as default; celebrate with “Champion” only in special moments |
| No proper site name currently | Avoid naming the site in user-facing copy. In docs, use “Alumni Network.” Externally, prefer “your community” |
| Term | Definition | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni | Singular AND plural. Any Belmont graduate. | “Welcome! Find fellow alumni near you.” |
| Bruin | Any Belmont alum (informal, friendly) | “Connect with fellow Bruins” |
| Champion | An alum who opted in via the Champion Role quiz (Tier 2) | “You’re already showing up as a Champion” |
| Alumni Network | The platform at belmontalum.com (docs/internal only) |
“Sign in to your alumni community” (in user-facing) |
| District | A metropolitan area (Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas) | User-facing community unit |
| Region | Multi-state area (Southeast, Midwest) | Internal only, NEVER user-facing |
| Community | Any grouping of alumni (district, college, major, affinity, industry) | “Your Nashville community” |
| Community Leader (CL) | An alumni Champion who coordinates their community (Tier 3) | Singular |
| Community Leadership Council (CLC) | The collective body of all CLs | Plural/group reference |
| Connection | A mutual link between two alumni enabling messaging | Always mutual (both parties) |
| Connection Request | A one-way request to connect | Has type: Say Hi, Career Advice, or Networking |
| Connections Hub | The /connections page showing connections and pending requests |
|
| Content Submission | Alumni-submitted news story or event idea, pending staff review | |
| Tier | Engagement level: Member (1), Champion (2), Community Leader (3) |
| Term | Meaning | Format |
|---|---|---|
| BUID | Belmont University ID | Internal primary key |
| BQID / Contact ID | BruinQuest (CRM) identifier | C-000000000 |
| Alumni | Singular AND plural | NEVER “alumnus” or “alumnis” |
| We Are | We Are NOT |
|---|---|
| Warm | Sterile |
| Inviting | Recruiting |
| Personal | Corporate |
| Celebrating | Pressuring |
| Hospitable | Transactional |
| Encouraging | Demanding |
| Context | Tone | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Success messages | Celebratory! | “You did it!”, “Welcome!” |
| Error messages | Helpful, not blaming | “Let’s try that again” |
| Empty states | Encouraging, action-oriented | “No messages yet — start a conversation!” |
| Onboarding | Friendly guide | “Let’s get you set up” |
| Confirmations | Warm and clear | “Got it!”, “You’re all set” |
| ❌ Avoid | ✅ Use Instead |
|---|---|
| users | alumni, you |
| prospective students | fellow Bruins, alumni |
| submit | share, send |
| request (as verb) | reach out, ask |
| network (verb) | connect |
| utilize | use |
| facilitate | help, make possible |
| leverage | use, build on |
| ❌ Cold/Corporate | ✅ Warm/Human |
|---|---|
| “User authenticated successfully” | “Welcome back, Jane!” |
| “Profile incomplete” | “Almost there!” |
| “No results found” | “We couldn’t find anyone matching that search” |
| “Error: Invalid input” | “That doesn’t look quite right — mind trying again?” |
| “Action required” | “One quick thing before we continue” |
| ❌ Avoid | ✅ Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Submit | Share / Send / Save |
| Cancel | Never mind / Go back |
| Delete | Remove |
| Contact | Connect / Send a Connection Request |
| View Profile | See Profile |
| Learn More | Find Out More |
Empty states should encourage action, not shame:
| ❌ Bad | ✅ Good |
|---|---|
| “No messages.” | “Your inbox is empty — start a conversation!” |
| “No connections.” | “Connect with fellow Bruins to start messaging” |
| “No Champions found.” | “No alumni in Portland yet — could you be the first?” |
| “No events.” | “No events scheduled. Want to host one?” |
| “Profile incomplete.” | “Add a photo to help others recognize you” |
At its core, the Alumni Network is about giving every Bruin a seat at the table.
Use when: Welcoming new alumni, describing the community, empty states
Small, concrete steps have the power to ripple outward and create real change.
Use when: Calls to action, encouraging engagement, celebrating contributions
The Alumni Network is designed to meet alumni where they are.
Use when: Describing roles, explaining flexibility, reducing pressure
Everyday wins deserve celebration just as much as headline moments.
Use when: Recognizing contributions, sharing stories, thank you messages
| Word/Phrase | Why | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| “users” | Impersonal | “alumni,” “you” |
| “prospective students” | Wrong audience | “fellow Bruins,” “alumni” |
| “utilize” | Corporate jargon | “use” |
| “leverage” | Corporate jargon | “use,” “build on” |
| “synergy” | Meaningless buzzword | Be specific |
| “stakeholders” | Internal term | “community,” “alumni” |
| “Champion Portal” | Old/internal name | “your community” or omit |
| “Alumni Network” | Avoid as proper name in UI | “your community” or omit |
Before publishing any copy:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Alumni | Singular AND plural. Any Belmont graduate. (Never “alumnus” or “alumnis”) |
| Alumni Champion | An alum who has opted in via the Champion Role quiz — Tier 2 |
| Alumni Network | The external portal at belmontalum.com. Internal/docs only — avoid as a proper name in user-facing copy |
| Almost Alumni | Current students/graduating seniors with a BUID but no degree records yet |
| Bruin | Any Belmont alum (informal, friendly) |
| BUID | Belmont University ID — primary alumni identifier |
| BQID (Contact ID) | BruinQuest ID — CRM identifier, format: C-000000000 |
| Champion Role | One of four types: Community Builder, Connection Advisor, Digital Ambassador, Giving Advocate |
| Champion Verified | Full account status after staff links BUID — full portal access |
| Community | A grouping of alumni by shared attribute. Seven types: district, college, major, affinity, industry, custom, national |
| Community Leader (CL) | A Champion assigned to lead a specific community — Tier 3 |
| Community Leadership Council (CLC) | The collective body of all Community Leaders |
| Connection | A mutual link between two alumni enabling messaging. Always mutual |
| Connection Request | A one-way request to connect. Types: Say Hi, Career Advice, Networking |
| Content Submission | Alumni-submitted news or event idea, reviewed by staff before publishing |
| District | Metro area from ZIP code (Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas). User-facing term for geographic communities |
| Email Verified | Account status after confirming email — can log in with limited access |
| Engagement Team | Belmont staff who recruit, verify, and support alumni |
| Lookup Portal | Internal staff tool at alumnilookup.com |
| Membership Type | Account classification: alumni, almost_alumni, honorary, parent, friend |
| Region | Large geographic area — internal reporting only, NOT user-facing |
| Tier | Engagement level: Member (Tier 1), Champion (Tier 2), Community Leader (Tier 3) |