April 16, 2019

With more than 100 years of tradition as a regional university, Western Illinois University has held a rich story to tell but hasn’t had the platform to share that with their audiences. 

WIU has tasked Up&Up with creating a clearly defined brand to move the university forward. Ultimately, the brand will showcase the university’s history, bring a new light to the positive initiatives happening on both campuses, and evolve the university as one community to reach more students who share their Leatherneck values. 

“I originally heard a success story shared by Up&Up at a conference. It was a rare find to meet an agency that was not only specifically focused on higher ed, but also had a unique collaborative approach to projects,” said Suzanne Pritchard, university marketing director for WIU. “In working with Up&Up, we find that they are strategic while gathering a vast amount of information, and then they magically distill it down to the essence of who we are as an institution in a very organized way.”

With roots as a teacher’s college, WIU has always invested in mentorship and holistic development on their two campuses, Macomb and Quad Cities. The university has built student-centered communities grounded in those principles, showing how a public school can provide personalized attention to each individual. The Up&Up team felt personally connected to WIU’s vision of continually investing in those core values: academic excellence, quality academics and faculty, educational opportunity, personal growth, and social responsibility.

“It has been so exciting to get to know the Western Illinois team and understand who they are as an institution,” said Beth Blume, president of Up&Up. “Their tenacity, seen in their commitment to student success, is unlike any other school we have had the privilege of working with. We are looking forward to telling their story in the coming months as we get closer to launching their new brand with them.”

The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, integrated, pre-professional, and certificate programs. Outside of the classroom learned-focused experience, students have access to more than 150 organizations and 19 NCAA sports teams to build their talents, make connections, and become leaders.

For more information about WIU, visit wiu.edu.