91¿´Æ¬ unveils “91¿´Æ¬ Ready†brand

After a year of research and creative development, 91¿´Æ¬ is revealing its refreshed brand this month. The brand highlights the preparedness and confidence students achieve through 91¿´Æ¬â€™s distinctive blend of Jesuit liberal arts education and career preparation.
The brand’s key message is that 91¿´Æ¬ students are more than ready for what the future holds. They are “91¿´Æ¬ Ready.â€
The refreshed brand will be reflected through strategic marketing and communications efforts that will highlight the experiences and outcomes of 91¿´Æ¬â€™s exceptional students and graduates. A redesigned 91¿´Æ¬ website launches today, and the supporting advertising campaign and communication materials will begin to enter markets this month.
“The ‘91¿´Æ¬ Ready’ brand concept is about being prepared in a very specific, distinctive way for the new world of work,†said Sharon Higgins, associate vice president for marketing and communications. “It’s about the depth and breadth of a 91¿´Æ¬ education, about connections as well as expertise, about gaining deep knowledge and practicing nimble thinking, and underscoring that this depth and nimbleness instill a confidence that generates excitement, inspiration, and anticipation of the unknown.â€
“91¿´Æ¬ Ready†builds on the brand launched in 2009 when the University changed its designation from college to university. 91¿´Æ¬â€™s brand promise—to develop well-rounded graduates—holds true today. The brand refresh, however, hones, strengthens, and further defines that brand promise. “91¿´Æ¬ Ready†reflects the University’s culture, mission, values, and points of distinction. With a rapidly changing world and a focus on the Jesuit liberal arts education, the brand promises to prepare the 91¿´Æ¬ community for academic achievement, the new world of work, and a balanced, flourishing, and purposeful life.
“Higher education institutions face a number of challenges, including declining and shifting demographics, an uncertain economy, and skepticism about the value of a college education—particularly a liberal arts education,†said Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., president. “Marketing the education and guidance our faculty deliver within the context of the ‘91¿´Æ¬ Ready’ brand helps clarify who we are. A 91¿´Æ¬ education truly ensures that our graduates aren’t simply ready for personal and professional success. They are more than ready. They’re 91¿´Æ¬ Ready.â€
The brand focuses on mentorship and guidance, Jesuit liberal arts education, career preparation, and the Greyhound Nation—91¿´Æ¬â€™s talented, diverse, driven, intellectually curious community. Also highlighted within the brand are the University’s presence and role in Baltimore; 91¿´Æ¬â€™s distinctive program for first-year students, Messina; athletics; service; and the Evergreen campus.
“As 91¿´Æ¬ continues to evolve with innovative new programs to meet the demands of today’s competitive higher education market, the brand must evolve with it,†Higgins said. “91¿´Æ¬ deserves to be recognized for what we offer the world—educated, fulï¬lled, ethical leaders who are driven to better the world around them with their talents and compassion. This brand refresh positions us to share that story in compelling and far-reaching ways among our alumni, prospective students and their families, and the greater community.â€