Communication and Brand Resources

The resources provided here are intended to supply information, tools and access to the elements that can help us maintain effective, consistent communication about Purdue’s College of Education. It is important that we use correct logos, fonts and language as we communicate with our many audiences: students, faculty, donors, alumni, campus colleagues, and external stakeholders.

The college’s Director of Communication is available to give advice, answer questions and help with projects – especially those that impact audiences beyond the College.

Branding Guidelines

Please remember that the College of Education’s messages and materials should always align with the Purdue Brand Guidelines.

See Purdue Marketing and Communications’ visual identity page for guidelines on colors, fonts, and graphic element usage.

Logos and Fonts

It is essential that our communication pieces use the correct logos provided by the University. There may still be old, outdated logos lurking about, so before using a logo, or reordering brochures, letterhead, or other items, check to see if you are using the current logo.

Logos:

These are the College logos:

College of Education logo side-by-side

College of Education logo stacked

Below are various approved downloadable options for use.

These are the department logos:

Logo Guidelines

Review general guidelines about how to use the right file type, color mode and file format.

There are specific university guidelines about which logos we can use as an academic unit. Just because it is on the Internet and easily copied, doesn’t mean it can be used!

Fonts:

Typography is a robust vehicle for our brand voice. It contributes to how our messages are read and communicated. Acumin Pro is our sans-serif family and a workhorse for our communications. United Sans adds a rigid and collegiate accent. Source Serif Pro, our serif family, performs well at small sizes, in longer-form text and in more sophisticated applications. Used together, these three typefaces create a clear hierarchy and keep our content legible and engaging. These fonts are available to all users with an Adobe Cloud license, see the font installation page for more information.

These are the official University fonts:

• Acumin Pro: Use this family of fonts for headlines, subheads, callouts and body copy
• Source Serif Pro: Use this font for sophisticated headlines, subheads, and body copy
• United Sans: Use this font for callouts, factoids, and numerals, and adding special emphasis

Alternate System Fonts

Our brand typefaces may not always be available to everyone for use in Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and other digital applications.

In these situations, use the alternate fonts listed here, which are freely available on all computers. 

• The substitute for Acumin Pro: Franklin Gothic
• The substitute for Source Serif Pro: Georgia
• The substitute for United Sans: Impact

Writing About the College

Our vision statement helps articulate and distinguish the unique value of Purdue’s College of Education: Launching the future through the discovery and development of human potential.

To increase our visibility and develop our unique identity, we need to use common language. Through market research, key words and phrases have been developed to help us tell the story of the College of Education. Try to use these words as your write (and speak) about the college. They are:

• Life-changing •
• Complex • Best-in-Class • Scholarly • Rigorous • Welcoming • Accomplished • Vibrant • Curious •

Even when we are communicating within the college, it is important to use the communication guidelines. E-vites, presentations, posters, agendas, and signs are all examples of when we should use proper logos, language, and fonts.

Think about the audience who will be reading what you write and make adjustments when needed. We communicate not only with academics but with students and working professionals.

Remember to identify ourselves as the College of Education collectively, then as departments, centers, staff, faculty and students. For example, CATALYST is a center within Purdue’s College of Education.

As you pull create communications piece, ask yourself, “Does this piece…

• Clearly identify Purdue University and the College of Education by using the correct logos?
• Use strong, positive language about the college and our people?
• Use approved colors, fonts, and graphical elements?
• Include images that are up-to-date and, ideally, authentic with actual College of Education people/programs?
• Provide sufficient information for desired next steps (the call to action), such as website address, personal contact information, or event details?

Boilerplate Language:

This is short, standard language that briefly describes the institution and its priorities. This should be used without alteration in any document including, for example, grant proposals, materials created for events or by outside organizations partnering with the College of Education, on promotional materials for specific programs or offices/institutes.

College of Education: Purdue’s College of Education meets the challenges of educating 21st century learners by discovering what works in education. The college prepares highly qualified educators and conducts research that informs how teachers teach and students learn. With a focus on integrated P-12 STEM education and a commitment to social justice and diversity, graduates are prepared to be leaders in education, business and society.

Purdue University: Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Web

It is important that we maintain a cohesive design and consistent navigation throughout the college site. Continuity provides a more meaningful user experience and reinforces key messages about who we are and the work we do.

New Websites

If you need a new web page on the College of Education domain (www.education.purdue.edu),  submit a New Project Request. Examples of websites that should be part of the College of Education web framework include departments, academic programs, centers, institutes, offices, and labs. It is expected that faculty and staff in those areas work with the college web staff to coordinate implementation and content development.

Other related websites that would not be appropriate for the college website framework include faculty websites, grant/project websites, courses, and student organizations. While the college staff cannot create and maintain these sites, there are resources available to college personnel by submitting a New Project Request form.

Below are some general guidelines for faculty websites, grant/project websites, courses, and student organizations:

1. For personal faculty websites, faculty are encouraged to use an external non-Purdue system so the site will follow them if they happen to leave Purdue or retire, and their site will not be subject to Purdue service cancelations or disruptions.
2. For Purdue research projects, faculty are encouraged to request a WordPress site from the central ITaP “web services” group: https://www.purdue.edu/itap/webservices/services/wordpress/

Below are some examples of College of Education WordPress research/project websites hosted by ITaP (note that they are using the education.purdue.edu domain, which is like having them in the main EDU website, yet they are hosted by ITaP):

• https://abil.education.purdue.edu/
• https://disruptive.education.purdue.edu/
• https://gems.education.purdue.edu/
• https://paraimpact.education.purdue.edu/
• https://puede.education.purdue.edu/

Existing Websites, News and Events

Keeping our college websites up-to-date and accurate is essential to our overall communication efforts. If you need to update information on a page for which you are responsible, or if you see an error on the site, please submit a ticket.

Event Calendar

To add an event to the College of Education calendar, please submit an event request form.

Individual Website Photos

If you would like to use your own photo on our website directory, be sure to meet the following headshot requirements:

• current color photo
• jpg format
• centered and front view of full face
• standard headshot (head and shoulders)
• simple background
• proper lighting
• eyes open and visible
• wear prescription glasses if you normally do so
• high quality (or resolution) photo size (2 MB)
• Do not send photos of you with a hat, sunglasses or other items that obscure the face; severe glare on glasses; shadows; other visible people or objects in the photo; inappropriate expressions.

All photos are subject to approval. Contact the Director of Communication if you’d rather have a professional photo taken.

If your photo meets the requirements, send it to the EdIT team at edit@purdue.edu so the online directory can be updated. To update your faculty profile, please submit a ticket.

Promotional Items

To comply with Purdue brand standards and trademark policy, departments and academic units must use an approved Purdue licensee and follow the use guidelines and the standards within the University’s brand manual.

The college Director of Communication is familiar with those requirements and can help you develop promotional items that are within university licensing standards and college brand standards.