Archive for May, 2010

05.28.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Ad Campaign in creative phase only

A story in the media today implies that NC State has made the decision to go back to the “We all go to NC State” ad campaign of the mid-1990s.  That is not the case.

While I like the message at the end of the ad and have blogged about it here and talked about it around campus, we’re not ready to go there.  This is one of several directions we’re considering.  We haven’t even gotten the Chancellor involved in the discussion, and I can tell you, nothing will happen without his involvement.

So for now, keep the ideas coming.  The creative process doesn’t happen overnight.  Red does mean go at NC State.  NC State is North Carolina’s University (and North Carolina is a pretty cool state). And when we have big challenges to address and problems to solve, we look to NC State.

Have a great holiday.

Passion Rules!

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05.25.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Why Branding is Important to NC State

I had a good conversation today with James Gallagher from the Triangle Business Journal about university communications and our efforts to develop a new NC State television spot.  We talked about why branding is necessary in higher education and it got me thinking about a story we put together about university branding back in 2005.  I think it’s still pertinent today and have made a number of edits to bring it up to date.

Branding is an investment in the future.  It is an investment in the university’s ability to compete effectively for students, faculty, staff, and funding.

In the competitive world of higher education, universities must continually compete for top students, faculty and staff in order to remain viable.  We do not operate in a vacuum.  Our peers all market aggressively and many have already begun their own branding campaigns.

The reality is, the most recognizable university “brands” consistently attract the best students, faculty and staff; secure the most funding; gain the greatest accolades, and receive the most recognition in the press.  All of which are critical factors in the health, growth and long-term success of an institution.

The objective of our branding effort at NC State is to build the kind of public image that instills confidence.  Confidence on the part of the best students to select NC State University over one of our peer universities.  Confidence on the part of faculty and staff to want to be a part of a prestigious institution.  Confidence on the part of our alumni that their investment in time, money and passion is well placed. And confidence on the part of the Legislature and other funding bodies to invest more aggressively in an institution that is producing great returns for the state of North Carolina and the nation. (more…)

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05.20.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Key Messages in development!


KEY MESSAGE I:
Everything you can imagine

NC State, the largest university in North Carolina, provides big-school opportunities in a global innovation hot spot while fostering a tight-knit community in one of the nation’s most desirable places.

Aligns with:

  • Producing leaders for the state, nation and world
  • Creating educational innovation

KEY MESSAGE II:
Driving the economy every day

NC State provides results that drive the economy – bringing critical thinking skills and discipline-based knowledge to all sectors of society through education, dynamic discoveries, and solutions to real-world problems.

Aligns with:

  • Fueling economic development

KEY MESSAGE III:
Solutions for your world

NC State touches lives. With North Carolina roots and a global reach, we deliver solutions that anticipate and meet the needs of society.

Aligns with:

  • Improving health and well being
  • Driving innovation in energy and the environment

KEY MESSAGE IV:
We all go to NC State!

When the stakes are high and the dreams are big.

And the world we build for our children depends on how we answer some very tough questions.

We all go to NC State!

Passion Rules!

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05.19.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Student perspective on NC State marketing

NC State student John Tucker is a disciple of NC State.  No, it’s not a religion, but Tucker is passionate about the place.  He gets it when I close my blogs with Passion Rules!  Last week I asked people to comment about our marketing efforts here on campus and Tucker had a lot to say. Good stuff, all.  He even produced his own version of an NC State television commercial.  More good stuff.

Whether you agree with him or not, for John Tucker, Passion Rules!  See his comments and television commercial below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIMu2Dz0×4U

The current NC State commercials aren’t REALLY NC State. Ask a student what they think of the commercials- they’re ostly used as punch lines to jokes (Nano what?). To most people those commercials feel just that- too commercialized. The best way to sell something is to connect a certain feeeling and emotion to the product that way everytime that person has that certain feeling, it reminds them of the product (NC State). Yes, the bridge commercial is high tech and nice, but it doesn’t create a connection to the consumer. They are great commercials, to air during a TED talk or on the History Channel. (more…)

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05.18.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Chancellor addresses budget in N&O op-ed

By Randy Woodson

Public universities like N.C. State are critical to the nation’s ability to maintain its edge in the global economy. They are especially important to states like North Carolina where emerging technologies and innovation are rapidly replacing more traditional economic models.  In an area like the Research Triangle that is heavily dependant on technology and innovation for its continued success, they are even more important.

NC State is an institution that has a clear understanding of its mission and a passion for connecting that mission to the people of the state and the nation.  It serves as an economic engine for the area and it helps train the workers of tomorrow.  The state’s continued support of higher education is critical if we’re to continue meeting those expectations.

An analysis of the latest available data indicates the economic impact of N.C. State and its alumni in the local economy totals about $4.2 billion annually.  We are also responsible for the creation of around 64,000 jobs. That’s approximately 20 percent of the Wake County workforce. (more…)

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05.13.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Innovations in Sustainability is Topic of Upcoming CIMS Meeting

by Anna Rzewnicki

Innovations in Sustainability is the focus of the spring meeting of the Center for Innovation Management Studies (CIMS), an NSF-funded research and outreach center based in the North Carolina State University College of Management.

The meeting will be held May 25 through 27 at the Marriott City Center in downtown Raleigh, N.C. Registration is open until May 18, with registration details available online at cims.ncsu.edu.

(more…)

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05.12.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

We all go to NC State, North Carolina’s University!

Been thinking a lot about university branding lately.  With a new Chancellor on board and his vision starting to crystallize, hard to fight the urge to put his words into message form.  Wouldn’t it be great if there was something simple and all encompassing like We Fulfill Dreams or The Gator Nation.

Budgets are another concern.  Is this the right time to spend a significant amount of dough on a new TV commercial for use on the network broadcast of Wolfpack athletic events.

Between us communicators, I’m not sure.

I keep coming back to two themes;  North Carolina’s University or We all go to NC State.  It may have been a while since you’ve seen the last one, but it’s pretty good! Could even be better.

Teachers go there for inspiration

Business leaders go there for the vision

Kids go there for heroes

Working people go there for the opportunity

When the stakes are high and the dreams are big,

And the world we build for our children depends on how we answer some very tough questions.

We all go to N.C. State!

Full of pride and passion. Full of aspiration and promise. Still fresh after all these years.  What do you think?  A tweak here and there, and off we go…to NC State…in 3D!!!

Passion Rules!

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05.11.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Do your homework, part II

Jeff Braden’s comments regarding a recent letter to the editor in the N&O has generated quite a bit of discussion.  Some loved it.  Some not.  Jeff wanted to point out that the editors had to delete a paragraph from his original letter — we can only assume — to make it fit.  Too bad.  The graph was a good one.

Here, in it’s entirety, is Jeff’s letter.  Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Passion Rules!

1 of Many

Too bad the writer of the letter “shocks from the left”  didn’t do their homework before turning in the essay.  The  refrain is familiar—that leftist, liberal professors force students to read popular anti-American screeds under the guise of required summer readings for incoming freshmen. She seizes on this summer’s reading selections at Duke, UNC-CH, and NC State as proof of that liberal conspiracy, declaring “college faculty” select titles “to persuade young people to reject everything they thought was good.” (more…)

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05.10.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Dean Braden says “Do your homework!”

CHASS Dean Jeff Braden had a letter to the editor in the N&O over the weekend in response to a letter earlier in the week criticizing the summer reading materials at N.C. State, Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.  My hat’s off to Jeff.  He calls ’em as he sees ’em and he’s not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom, be it to the left or right. 

Eric Ferreri highlights Braden’s letter and the letter he countered in his News & Observer Blog, Campus Notes.

A point/counterpoint on liberalism in academia

http://tinyurl.com/237osvh

Too bad the writer of the letter captioned “Shocks from the left” didn’t do more homework. Her refrain is familiar – that leftist, liberal professors force students to read trendy anti-American screeds under the guise of required summer readings for incoming freshmen. She seizes on this summer’s reading selections at Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State as proof, declaring that college faculty select titles to persuade young people to reject everything they thought was good.

Really? Here at N.C. State, last year’s summer reading selection was “Three Cups of Tea,” a book that describes Greg Mortenson’s efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Adm. Mike Mullen described Mortenson’s efforts as the single biggest blow to the Taliban and requires all U.S. officers serving in Afghanistan to read the same book we asked our 2009 freshmen to read. (more…)

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05.07.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

NC State women assigned submarine duty

How cool is that.  Two NC State women will be among the first females to serve on submarines, the United States Navy announced yesterday.

Midshipman Megan Bittner, 22, from Chesapeake, Va., and Officer Candidate Karen Achtyl, 25, from Rochester, N.Y. will be commissioned as ensigns in the U. S. Navy on May 14. On May 15, the two students will graduate from North Carolina State, Magna Cum Laude. Bittner will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Green Chemistry and Engineering and a minor in Naval Science. Achtyl will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Business Management.

sub-210

Following their commissioning and graduation on May 15, Bittner and Achtyl will attend Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S. C., before being assigned their first submarine.

“I don’t believe the Navy could have picked two finer females to pioneer the entrance of females in the submarine community,” said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Timothy Nichols, executive officer of the North Carolina Piedmont Region NROTC consortium, which includes Duke University, the University of North Carolina and N.C. State.

“These are two outstanding midshipmen and the perfect candidates to be officers and leaders in the submarine force. They are both ready and eager to start their Navy careers.”

(more…)

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