Augusta Tech plans rebranding to better reflect future of college, region
Augusta Technical College is changing its logo, slogan and even its mascot's appearance to help reacquaint the school to the community, amid a job climate filled with people considering new careers.
"The message we have now will definitely resonate with people who have been on the fence to improve their lives – people who kept saying, ‘You know, what I really want is to go to college,’ but they keep putting it off,” Augusta Tech President Dr. Jermaine Whirl said.
The school’s new tagline, he said, “will push the button to say, ‘Go do it.’ If you want to change your career, go do it.”
Last October, Augusta Tech announced its plan to establish specific workforce "identities" at each of the school's four campuses to reflect an emphasis on filling the Augusta area's most in-demand jobs.
Under the plan, Augusta Tech will establish a much larger health sciences campus bordering Augusta’s medical district. Also, Tech’s Grovetown campus will emphasize advanced manufacturing, a field that relies on innovative technology; and its Thomson campus will focus on supply chain innovation.
Still-emerging plans for the Burke County campus have included boosting training for careers in agricultural technology and energy.
About 20% of U.S. workers have changed careers during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey conducted by insurance company Prudential Financial. A recent Microsoft survey found 46% of respondents were employed but looking for other jobs.
Specifics about Augusta Tech’s rebranding will be revealed at 1 p.m. Feb. 7 at the school’s Information Technology Center Atrium. The announcement also will be streamed on Facebook Live.
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Augusta Tech worked with local advertising agency Wier/Stewart last fall to conceive a logo and color scheme intended to generate public familiarity similar to that of Augusta University’s logo, which incorporates that school’s iconic bell tower, Whirl said.
Tech’s new logo “is ‘Augustan,’ if that makes any sense,” he said.
Tech’s mascot will remain the cougar alongside other local big cats, AU's Jaguars and Paine College’s Lions. The new mascot logo will show the Tech cougar roaring and baring his fangs.
“I think people are going to like it,” Whirl said. “My son loves it. As a 9-year-old, he said, ‘Dad, I want a hat with that cougar!’ I think it'll get people excited.”
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta Tech plans rebranding to better reflect region's future
