The University’s new logo policy may be a surprise to student groups, but the trend of creating consistent image policies is not a new idea. Many universities nationwide, including Washington State University and USC, have already developed similar “graphic identity programs” that specify which university logo can be used and who should use it.
University officials recently announced their new graphic identity policy that requires ASUO-funded groups to use the ‘O’ logo on all new on-campus and off-campus publications. Since the announcement, which took place at an October ASUO Programs Council meeting, some student groups have spoken out against the policy. The University is the only Oregon University System school with such specific requirements, which apply to all new materials such as flyers, posters and letterhead published by ASUO-funded groups.
Oregon State University implemented its graphic identity program in a similar fashion as the University of Oregon, announcing its inception in 1999 and giving affected groups three months to use existing supplies. While the program suggests several logos that can be used, it doesn’t force student publications to comply.
Ann McLaughlin, executive assistant to the vice president for university advancement at OSU, said most requests to use the logo come from external groups.
“Typically we don’t get many student groups wanting to do companion logos,” she said.
Similarly, Portland State University only
allows departments and offices to use the logo for “purposes which promote the goals of the university.” According to its Web site, Portland State also reserves its seal for official documents and its athletic symbol for the Department of
Intercollegiate Athletics.
Western Oregon University’s publication policy states student groups must get a “stamp of approval” from the Office of Public Relations and Communications before putting posters on bulletin boards around campus. Even with this requirement, Western Oregon officials do not require groups to put the official logo on the posters.
“It’s not anything that anybody has felt should be a requirement for student programs and activities,” said Jim Adams, public relations director for Western Oregon.
Eastern Oregon University, Southern Oregon University and the Oregon Institute of Technology only require student groups to append logos on publications going off campus.
Eastern Oregon graphic designer Kevin Smith said student group publications distributed off-campus must carry the official logo, while publications that stay on-campus do not. Despite the open on-campus policy, Smith estimated that 95 percent of publications carry the logo anyway.
“We try not to dictate policy to them too much,” he said.
Southern Oregon public relations coordinator Christina Dunlap said they encourage student groups to use the logo on their publications, but the policy is not enforced for student groups.
“We don’t punish them if they don’t carry the logo,” she said. “We don’t have any kind of thing in place that forces them to use the logo.”