Saint Peter's College is Now Saint Peter's University

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Saint Peter's University today announced that it has officially made the transition from college to university. The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education approved the College's application for university designation earlier in the year and today Saint Peter's University is unveiling an entirely new brand for the institution.  

"For more than 140 years, Saint Peter's has prided itself on providing students the very best experience in higher education," said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter's University. "An extensive curriculum, individualized attention and Jesuit principles that nurture the mind and spirit prepare students for the world -- professionally and spiritually. As Saint Peter's University, these core objectives will not only remain in place, but also grow stronger. Even though our name has changed, our commitment to student success and personal growth will always remain the same."  

Saint Peter's original charter from 1872 granted the College all of the "powers, functions and prerogatives of a university;" however the Saint Peter's community first began consideration of official university designation in the 1990s, approximately 15 years after the launch of its first master's degree program. Four years ago, Saint Peter's began an intense period of preparation that culminated with an application submission at the end of 2011. Saint Peter's is now reflective of a comprehensive university as it now grants bachelor's degrees in more than 45 majors, five master's degrees, and two doctoral degrees. Additionally, approximately 40 percent of degrees awarded are at the graduate level.

"The transition to university status will strengthen market awareness of the range of undergraduate and graduate programs available at Saint Peter's and re-introduce Saint Peter's as the comprehensive institution of higher education that it actually is," said Jeffrey Handler, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, at Saint Peter's University.  "The concept and messaging surrounding the new brand will help us to communicate our academic excellence in areas such as business, education, nursing, criminal justice and science and will serve to reinforce our leadership in urban higher education that connects our graduates to jobs within an ever changing global economy."

The University worked with a branding and market research firm to carry out significant research to determine the best concept for the new brand and identity. The visual brand includes a new logo, seal, colors, web address, updated social media pages, signage and more. The core message of the new brand is focused on how Saint Peter's University prepares graduates to apply their learning through rigorous academics, encourages spiritual growth and develops graduates who are confident in their abilities because of the personal attention they receive.

All of the visual and verbal branding updates are designed to reflect the unique attributes Saint Peter's has to offer as a diverse campus with access to the country's biggest metropolitan area combined with the Jesuit traditions that prepare students to be caring, contributing members of society.

The new Saint Peter's logo is the primary representation of the University and it incorporates a modern twist on traditional typography as well as a shield that represents the core values of Saint Peter's. The shield includes diagonal bends in the upper left hand corner, which tie into Saint Peter's history as they were part of the original shield adopted in the early 1900s. They represent the house of Onez, part of the house of Loyola. Saint Peter's keys in the upper right hand corner symbolize the University's patron, Saint Peter, and the kingdom of heaven. The 1872 on the bottom of the shield is the founding year of Saint Peter's.

The updated social media sites for Saint Peter's University can be found at www.facebook.com/saintpetersuniversity, www.facebook.com/saintpetersalumni and @saintpetersuniv on Twitter.

Saint Peter's University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment.

Contact: Sarah Malinowski
(201) 761-6239
[email protected]

SOURCE Saint Peter's University