Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) has a new advertising campaign that includes billboards and advertisements as a way to increase student enrollment.
The NEIU logo is still the same, but the new tagline is “Learn in the city. Lead in the world.” The logo was designed by Matt Byerly, and the final design was chosen with help from focus groups of students, faculty and staff.
Director of marketing, Julie Wright said that the goal in the development of the tagline was to keep in mind some of the themes that emerged from strategic planning, including the university’s mission and vision.
NEIU has been advertised in newspapers and online in the past. “However, one of the university strategic goals that developed from the planning process specifically called for the development of branding, as well as implementing enhanced marketing and public relations communications,” said Wright. “This was the first step in reaching that goal.”
The billboards were put up in January and can be found through March at a number of locations, including 3606 S. Ashland Ave. (facing North), 3679 W. Grand Ave. (facing East), 2924 N. Central Park Ave. (facing south), 2945 E 87th St. (facing East), 1740 S. Damen Ave. (facing south), and 1322 N. Pulaski Rd. (facing south). There are also two additional bridge billboards, one on Peterson Avenue and the other on Cicero Street, which will be up until June.
The CTA will also be advertising for 4 weeks in April on the exterior and interior of their buses from two of the CTA bus garages. Wright, who served on the planning committee, said that from the positive responses that the committee has received so far, she feels that the ads were successful.