After a fifteen-month process of planning and work, the final major component of a brand refresh – a new website – launched on January 24, 2022. Last fall, Chowan began unveiling its new look beginning with Admissions pieces and marketing.  The launch of the new website is the latest in the University’s efforts to enhance its brand identity, and promote its new rally cry “All Together, Chowan.” 

The web redesign was coordinated by the University Relations and Communications, which worked closely on the project with Admissions Marketing and Communications. The new website reflects input from numerous stakeholders throughout the University that included faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other key stakeholders. To ensure that the new website follows best practices, Chowan also partnered with Campus Press to build the new site in WordPress. 

The University began its initiative to enhance its brand identity in summer 2020, and in November 2020 partnered with 5° Branding to assist in the development of a brand refresh and new website. The project began with a research and discovery phase that included surveying university constituents from current students to alumni and donors, and a campus visit to hold workshops with students, faculty, and staff of the University. From this, the new Chowan University rally cry was created: “All Together, Chowan.” The University institutional mark and tagline, “Faith in your future” did not change. 

From the rally cry and discovery phase, 5° Branding and the University began refreshing its marketing materials beginning with Admissions. “It’s been so exciting sharing new, fresh pieces that represent all the growth Chowan has experienced and the amazing things we have to offer,” shared Vera Landrum,  Assistant Director of Admissions Communication (Marketing). “The new branding is something students have really gravitated toward and been excited about as Admissions Counselors meet with them during their travels and on-campus visits.”

The project has been a significant focus of University Relations and Communications, and although the redesigned website has launched and new materials have been created for Admissions, work on the project will continue as the new website provides the best platform for elevating the university brand and telling the Chowan story. 

“As a graduate of Chowan, someone who spent over a decade in Admissions, and has now been charged with University Relations and Communications, I am excited to have led this project that is essential to elevating the Chowan brand,” shared Kim Bailey, Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Director of University Relations and Communications.  “A unified brand message is vital to telling the Chowan story; whether someone is a Chowan College Brave or a Chowan University Hawk, the one thing we all have in common is we are, “All Together, Chowan.”