New Brand Strategy & Logo Reflect Commitment to Helping Students Turn Potential into Career Success

Sept. 14, 2010 - PRLog -- In a time when many colleges and universities try to be all things to all people, Central Penn College has a clear understanding of its unique focus. Through the recent completion of a year-long brand strategy engagement, Central Penn has renewed its commitment to providing students with an education that eliminates boundaries, opens new horizons and turns potential into career success. This research-based process resulted in a new image for the college. Bright, new logos are cropping up across the Summerdale campus, as well as Central Penn’s Lancaster and Lehigh Valley locations. Alumnus Bill Kobel ’81, vice president of strategy and integrated communications at Harrisburg-based JPL, led the brand strategy engagement.

“We’ve definitively said this is the space that we own in higher education and no one does it better than we do,” said Kobel. “Central Penn has never made that kind of statement before, and I stand behind it 100 percent.”

Over the past ten years, Central Penn has grown to a bachelor’s degree-granting college, opened two continuing education centers in the state and serves online students in 13 states. Today, Central Penn is still growing with more than 1,200 students, 19 bachelor’s and associate degree programs and 12 fully-online degree programs.

“The incredible growth the college has experienced made it more important than ever for Central Penn to make sure it is delivering on the professional, career-focused education it has become known for – that it is helping students reach their ultimate potential,” said President Todd A. Milano. “Central Penn needed to ensure that it was positioning itself for the future, while also focusing on what the college does best.”

Kobel, using his education and experience in communications and strategic planning, along with his team at JPL, led the charge to define the quality of education and college experience Central Penn provides, how faculty and staff interact with students and each other as part of its culture, and how the college positions itself through marketing and public relations. The in-depth research project resulted in a clearly defined and focused brand – a brand that is intensely focused on students’ potential and transforming their career dreams into reality. A brand that eliminates boundaries, opens new horizons and turns potential into career success.

“The new brand resonates with the same kind of student who was coming to Central Penn years ago and that enthuses me because that means the college has stayed true to who it is,” Kobel said. “Back then it was about our drive, desire and potential as students and, to this day, Central Penn still helps students unlock their potential.”

The engagement culminated in a progressive new look and tagline. The tagline “You Can. You Will.” describes the enterprising students who are a good match for Central Penn. The globe icon was designed to communicate that the student’s world is opened up by Central Penn. The student’s perception of the world, and its potential, is changed. To create the icon, the design team started with a round shape to convey a holistic nature, complete – not just of the education but continual learning. The icon appears to be tilted into motion and the arrows convey direction to the viewer. The two round blocks of color are intertwining paths that represent both Central Penn and the student. The maroon represents Central Penn as it has stood for 129 years. The student is represented by the energetic orange.

“Confident and hard working have long been used to describe Central Penn graduates,” said Milano. “With that in mind, I think that “You Can. You Will.” thoroughly expresses the college’s history and future.”

The brand strategy engagement resulted in much more than just a new look. It will be seen throughout all of the college’s processes. All interactions that students have with faculty and staff members, and all decisions made by administration will be based on this brand and helping students turn potential into career success.

“I would like to thank Bill Kobel for his efforts, not only in this branding process, but also for his commitment to his alma mater by serving for years on the college’s board of directors, currently as vice chair,” said Milano.

Kobel, who graduated in 1981 as a mass media major, started his career in central Pennsylvania. He honed his communications skills as manager of marketing communications at Capital BlueCross and director of corporate communications at Synertech. His next move brought him to Platinum Equity, a Los Angeles-based global mergers and acquisition firm. As vice president of marketing, communications and strategic planning, he helped rebuild marketing departments for distressed companies. In 2006, Kobel was brought on board at JPL where he played a key leadership role in developing the growth strategy, business plan and rebranding effort that expanded JPL from a production company to a strategic, integrated communications firm.

“To be able to bring my experience back to Central Penn – the place where I first developed the foundational skills as a communications professional – is both exciting and gratifying,” said Kobel. “I like working with people who have their hearts in the right place and who want to do the right thing for the students and the college.”

In 1881, Central Penn College established its roots as a career-focused school in Pennsylvania’s state capital of Harrisburg, Pa. Outgrowing its location, Central Penn made the move to its current scenic, residential campus in Summerdale in 1970, just four miles from downtown Harrisburg. In December of 2000, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Education approved Central Penn College’s operation as a four-year degree granting college.

Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1977, Central Penn’s traditional and continuing education students take advantage of accelerated degrees, small class sizes, free lifetime career services, and faculty and staff who provide students with personalized attention. Bachelor’s degrees can be earned in three years and associate degrees can be earned in 15 to 22 months. Based on the college’s most recent one-year graduate survey, 88.2% were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education.

Central Penn’s career-focused, professional atmosphere lends itself to appearance and attendance policies for traditional students so they can build professional wardrobes and develop good habits. Also, internships and capstone courses are required, and students work to fulfill community service requirements. The college’s mission is to provide an education that prepares its graduates for employment or advancement in their chosen field, continue their education and be contributing members of society.

“At Central Penn, you can look forward to meeting caring faculty who not only support your professional dreams, but also take the time to get to know you as an individual,” said Milano, when describing what students can expect when coming to Central Penn. “Add to that your desire to succeed and you will transform your career dreams into reality.”

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Central Penn College offers career-focused bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, online programs and certificate programs. Whether students want to hone their skills or earn a degree, Central Penn helps turn potential into career success.