“WHY SIU?” in 30 seconds
Imagine you’re in an elevator and a fellow passenger asks, “So what makes SIU different?” This person has no frame of reference. And you have very little time to explain. It’s tough to disseminate the SIU brand beyond the people who know us best in a concise and meaningful way. We’ve crafted this elevator speech for just such an event.
Elevator Speech Southern Illinois University has all the brains of a nationally ranked research university and all the heart of a small college. Which means that we continue to focus on teaching and mentorship even as we pursue cutting-edge research. Our faculty are some of the most-cited experts in their fields, and they still give students the personal attention they deserve. It’s these relationships that propel us and shrink the distance between where we are and where we want to be. And why, at SIU, big things will always be within reach.
Without you, these are just words and pictures.
The success of any branding effort depends on the people
who live and exemplify the brand every day. Your contributions make this university the powerhouse that it is. Every interaction you have with parents, students, alumni, or donors is an opportunity to shape perceptions and create lasting impressions. And those are the best ways to carry our message forward.
It’s time to reintroduce SIU.
We all know that SIU makes lives better. Our work
has produced gamechanging innovations and launched hundreds of thousands of fulfilling careers. We constantly challenge ourselves to provide a top-tier education to more students. And despite all of these things, misperceptions linger. In order to move forward, we are changing the conversation. To do this, University Communications partnered with Lipman Hearne to launch a branding campaign. And this brochure serves as a formal introduction—a way to make sure we’re all aware of the work and how we’re telling the SIU story. It’s our hope that you will get acquainted with this campaign, so that when we talk about SIU, we speak with one clear, strong, authentic voice. Because when we do that, prospects adjust their first-choice selection, local leaders realize that they have an unmatched partner in Carbondale, and everyone holds little doubt that SIU is an educational powerhouse worthy of tier-one respect. An institution where big things are always within reach.
SPEAK WITH confidence.
We’ve written some key talking points to equip you with ways to describe the University to those who don’t know SIU. They highlight some of the distinguishing characteristics of SIU that set us apart from other universities. Think of these as messages that you can use to help frame your thoughts as you talk about SIU.
Talking points The brains of a nationally ranked research university. The heart of a small college. We found the perfect balance of
teaching and research without compromising on either. We’ve designed our campus in a way that brings people together and fosters a close community of scholars. Because we think a top-tier education should also be a hands-on experience.
We’re powered by relationships and driven by an insatiable academic appetite. It’s the exchange of ideas, the
shared thrill of discovery, and the deep respect for our campus and community that define our culture. It’s these relationships that propel us and shrink the distance between where we are and where we want to be. And why, at SIU, big things are always within reach.
For those with a desire to learn, we offer an academic experience that will take them as far as they want to go. Our students have everything they need to make their
college experience challenging, exciting, and completely their own. Because we believe that initiative should always be rewarded and there’s no such thing as too ambitious.
Unparalleled access. At SIU, we’ve made it part of our mission
to dismantle anything that stands between people and discovery. We constantly challenge ourselves to ensure that every person has the same level of opportunity.
This is an ongoing conversation.
If you have any questions about the process, the work, or how you can help, you can go to siu.edu/brand for more answers. Or email us at universitycommunications@siu.edu.
One destination for every journey. People are drawn to SIU from every county in Illinois, every state, and more than 100 countries. We’re the first stop for the independent-minded who understand that the beaten path won’t take them where they want to go. For additional information, Contact
University Communications Southern Illinois University 618-453-2276 universitycommunications@siu.edu
We know who we are.
Now let’s tellthe world.