August 11th, 2016 by WCBC Radio
Allegany College of Maryland, on the occasion of its 55th anniversary, has redesigned its website and created a new logo to replace one adopted 20 years ago when ACM changed its name from Allegany Community College. The measures are part of new marketing initiatives intended to give images of the college a more contemporary look and to strengthen brand recognition in the communities it serves. Both the new logo and the redesigned website are now in use as is the new college slogan, “Engage Your Future.”
The phrase underscores ACM’s reputation as a source of credit and continuing education programs that enables students to achieve academic goals and pursue successful careers and meaningful lives.
“I’m confident that the community will be pleased with the results of this ‘rebranding’ effort,” said ACM’s president, Dr. Cynthia Bambara.
“The new logo and website project a modern image that reflects the college’s reputation as a dynamic institution offering quality education to meet individual and community needs. The new slogan reinforces the message.”
Kim Leonard, chair of ACM’s board of trustees, was likewise pleased with the rebranding and expressed his gratitude to those involved.
“All parties interested in seeing the college succeed in its mission as a lifelong learning community had a role,” he said. “The process used was another sign of our dedication to excellent and responsive education.”
The new logo is a graphic symbol whose three sides represent the groups – students, community and faculty and staff – who together advance and fulfill the important mission of the college.
The triangle’s green side stands for students and the life they bring to ACM campuses while a blue side represents faculty and staff and their role in making education possible.
The logo’s gray-shaded base, which represents the community, symbolizes a solid foundation for the college while the triangle’s top points ACM upward in a positive direction.
The redesigned website features a homepage with brighter colors and cleaner layout, a rotating gallery of photos of students and campus scenes and important dates and announcements for both them and the community.
Other features include news articles about the college, tabs that access comprehensive information for current and prospective students, especially academic offerings and related services, as well as icons for social media platforms used by ACM.
The new college logo and slogan and the redesigned website are among measures that reinforce an image of ACM as an institution that improves the lives of students and strengthens the community.
These “rebranding” efforts are part of a strategic marketing plan that ACM has undertaken to support its mission, boost student enrollment, promote academic services and position the college as an economic as well as education leader in the region.
The process to rebrand the college, including develop a new logo and slogan to advance ACM going forward, is the result of a nearly year-long endeavor that involved a broad spectrum of interests.
Focus groups were convened to seek the opinions of current and prospective students, faculty and staff members and board of trustees members as well as representatives of the communities that ACM serves.
"Allegany College of Maryland is an incredible resource for our region,” said David Jones, vice president of Advancement and Community Relations, the college unit that spearheaded the marketing initiative.
“The rebranding process provided the opportunity to listen to our faculty, staff, students and community and to better explain not only what we are about, but our commitment to our community."
Additional uses of the new logo and slogan will be seen in forthcoming print publications. This includes the college view book, which has undergone a complete revision for the coming academic year.
More information about the college is available at its website, www.allegany.edu, or by calling 301-784-5000.
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