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Redefining What's Possible - Campaign Launch
In general, colleges and universities struggle to differentiate themselves. Many can claim “Small class sizes,” “Expert faculty” and “State-of-the-art” this-and-that. What makes “Redefining What’s Possible” more than just a marketing line is the rich and dynamic ecosystem that is built, curated, nurtured and evolved by our faculty and staff – empowering our students to be the heroes of their own stories – to actively reach for and craft their new reality and claim their future on their own terms – made possible by the foundational support they find within the UCM community. We are their guides, mentors, counselors and sometimes their drill sergeants.
UCM is not some magical place where anything is possible just because you enroll here. It’s hard work, but a community of support makes it possible. It takes desire, grit and a willingness to grow. And it’s personal. That’s what we do better than any other university community – we personalize the resources, opportunities and support, ensuring each student can succeed; however they define success. That makes “Redefining What’s Possible” more than an empty promise.
In 2023, we surveyed and interviewed potential students, parents, current students, past students, faculty and staff. We enlisted outside consultants. We studied the current national attitudes and predictive enrollment models and then shopped our competition and ourselves. Our goal in developing the “Redefining What’s Possible” campaign is to speak directly to the students who will most likely flourish in our community – a right fit student for UCM.
In February 2024, we began editing and curating UCM stories of all shapes and sizes. In March 2024, we started sharing the stories that help demonstrate what’s possible at UCM. We’ll continue to collect stories and shape them into engaging marketing pieces as our brand campaign evolves and redefines what’s possible in marketing UCM.
Ready to get started? Click here to get your "Redefining What's Possible" email signature.
What does this campaign mean to our campus community?
Listen to stories and insight directly from faculty, staff and students who live this campaign's culture everyday.
What does a new brand campaign mean for me, a campus partner?
A lot, actually. This is an opportunity to share your program or department’s story with a broader audience. This campaign relies on student stories and real-world demonstrations of all that is possible at UCM. The more student stories you share with IMC, the more your program and department-specific stories can be used in recruiting.
Areas we’re most interested in:
- Internships
- Visually interesting in-class experiences
- Out-of-class educational opportunities
- Hands-on experiences
- Student stories of overcoming obstacles (physical, mental and emotional)
- Innovative examples/stories of supporting student success
The more lead time you can give us, the better.
Use the new brand campaign as an opportunity to update your marketing and recruiting efforts. Contact anyone in IMC, and we’ll be happy to help.
University of Central Missouri Brand vs. “Redefining What’s Possible” Brand Campaign
Our “UCM Brand” is visually represented in our official logos, colors and icons. It also includes our university mission, vision and values. But more than that, the UCM Brand is the accumulated experiences, interactions, feelings, communications and perceptions each person has with the university. This makes all of us UCM brand ambassadors, and that is why it’s important to know how to utilize both the UCM Brand and the Brand Campaign.
The Brand Campaign is used primarily in our recruiting efforts. Its elements are not designed for institutional pieces like environmental graphics (building signs, light post banners, directional signage, etc.) or for “evergreen” materials that will last longer than the life of the current marketing campaign.
- The Brand Campaign complements the overall UCM Brand without replacing it.
- The UCM Brand is designed to be relevant for multiple years and even decades.
- The Brand Campaign will change and evolve each recruiting season. It’s designed for flexibility and adaptability.
- A strong and consistent visual and messaging identity is the keystone to our UCM Brand and the Brand Campaign.
Launch and Integration Timeline
March 27, 2024: Brand Campaign Launch (Internal)
The UCM community is at the heart of our new marketing campaign. Your involvement is critical. Not only does the campaign rely on your stories, experiences and examples, but your interactions with students, parents and campus visitors are invaluable. We want you to be involved in our campaign from the beginning. In March, we’ll start sharing the campaign with you, our valued internal stakeholders, to build excitement, generate additional stories and demonstrate what’s possible.
August - September 2024: Brand Campaign Launch (External)
Because this is a recruiting campaign, most marketing materials will be launched at the beginning of fall 2024, which is the fall 2025 recruiting season. A lot of work will go on between March and August, and we’ll need your involvement from time to time. You may notice enhancements to the recruiting pages on our website. Our social media may start to look different. But the entire campaign won’t be visible until late summer. Look for updates on the campaign’s progress through UCM Daily.
Do we stop using our “Opportunity in Action,” “Learning to a Greater Degree” and “Choose Red” materials now?
Yes.
“Learning to a Greater Degree” and “Choose Red” are such old campaigns that any materials
created at that time are very out of date (and look like it). Please contact IMC,
and let’s talk about replacing them.
“Opportunity in Action” is a newer campaign, and as long as the content of the pieces is up-to-date, those materials should be used rather than thrown out.
Please do not reorder any materials using any of these old campaign themes.
Are there marketing guidelines for using the new “Redefining What’s Possible” visuals and themes?
Yes.
You’ll find the guidelines here. Or skip the 60+ pages of guidelines and start your project with IMC. We’re available,
without cost, to UCM departments and offices. And we’ve read the guidelines, so you
don’t have to.
Additional Questions?
If you have additional questions, please call Integrated Marketing and Communications at 660-543-4640 and ask to speak with our brand specialist.