Clinton Community College Unveils “New Look”

Monday, July 09, 2012

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 11, 2012) Clinton Community College is sporting a new look for the first time in almost eight years. The college recently unveiled its new branding and marketing identity.

President John E. Jablonski said, “Over the past couple of years, the college has been hard at work on its new strategic plan, including mission, vision and values. With that done, it’s time for us to present ourselves in a way that reflects our pride.”

The College’s re-branding effort started back in December with the selection of a branding and marketing strategy consultant. A search committee that included students, faculty and staff screened more than a dozen applicants for the job. In the end, the college search committee chose Stamats of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, national leader specializing in re-branding efforts for higher education.

President Jablonski said, “We were excited to work with Stamats because of their reputation within higher education. They have done work with other colleges within the SUNY System, and they offered us the maximum return on our investment.”

Stamats made multiple visits to the college and conducted dozens of interviews and focus groups with students, faculty and staff as well as off-campus stakeholders.

Stamats Principal Consultant Beatrice Szalas said, “After a day on campus, we came away impressed by Clinton’s commitment to the local community, the resilience and strength of Clinton students, how dedicated the faculty and staff are to student success—and, of course, the spectacular setting on Bluff Point overlooking Lake Champlain. Although the college’s location may seem superficial, students, faculty, and staff clearly draw inspiration from the history and the views. The commitment, resilience, and dedication of the people of Clinton Community College blend with the location to create a campus where great things can begin."

“The new logo and tagline reflect these elements,” Director of College Relations, Jaime Kazlo Watson said. “Whether you’re on the Lake, on the Interstate or on one of the local highways, the iconic image of the former Hotel Champlain can been seen from miles away.”

Stamats Lead Designer John Foster said “In the new logo, the college’s primary building takes center stage between the fluid waves and the angular mountains. It glows above the water like a beacon. The clean, contemporary angles of the stylized roofline draw the eye up to the mountains behind. The graphic elements rest on the solid foundation of the college’s name, set in American Standard, a serif typeface that is at once academic and friendly, just as Clinton is.”

“It was important for us to engage the entire campus community with this project.” President Jablonski said. “We received valuable input from all of our constituent groups. Through countless iterations, it was our students, faculty, staff who shaped the final results.”

The tagline for Clinton Community College will now be, “Start Up Here.”

Stamats Senior Writer Joan Benson said, “The tagline, “Start Up Here” blends student aspirations for upward mobility with the distinctive, elevated campus, and also echoes the economic development role the college plays in the community.”

President Jablonski said, “It’s a tagline that works well for the College. It can be used in so many ways to showcase all the great things happening “Up Here” at Clinton. “Start up here on the Bluff; start up here in the North Country; or start ‘up’ as in ‘upward,’ by enrolling at Clinton.”

The cost of the branding and marketing strategy was born by the “Moore Innovation Fund,” a private endowment managed by the Clinton Community College Foundation. No taxpayer or student monies were used. The six-month, $30,000 contract resulted in the new logo, tagline, brand book, web site design template and numerous templates for various print and electronic media.

President Jablonski said, “It was important for us to complete this project without using any money from the college’s operating budget. We are very sensitive to the fact that these are tough financial times and everyone is being asked to do more with less. We felt this project was too important to put on the back burner so we are thankful we were able to use the “Moore Innovation Fund” to completely fund this project.”

Clinton Community College may have a new “look” and “feel” but one thing that hasn’t changed is the college’s commitment to student access and success.

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