At Ithaca College, everything begins with our mission: to educate, engage, and empower students to transform themselves and the world through theory, practice, and performance.
Our mission doesn’t live only in classrooms—it comes to life in every conversation, every collaboration, and every moment of discovery that happens on and off South Hill. Our brand strategy and guidelines reflect that same spirit.
We see our brand the same way we see our students: full of potential and always growing. It’s not a logo, a campaign, or a tagline. It’s a living expression of our values—a reflection of the connections we build, the experiences we shape, and the stories we share.
Just as our educational philosophy blends theory, practice, and performance, our brand philosophy balances thought, expression, and action. It’s rooted in authenticity, brought to life through creativity, and sustained through a balance of consistency and continuous evolution.
Every voice in our community helps shape it. Each story, design, and message adds dimension, reminding the world that Ithaca College is a place where people learn by doing—and do so with purpose.
The Ithaca College brand strategy captures the essence of the IC experience—hands-on learning, mentorship, and interdisciplinary exploration—while aligning with our mission to prepare students for a lifetime of possibilities. Through the framework of theory, practice, and performance, our brand communicates that education here is both personal and powerful: it connects passion to purpose and empowers students to chart their own nonlinear paths toward success.
Our brand positioning defines how we stand out in a crowded higher education landscape and serves as the foundation for how we tell our story. It’s built around a set of guiding pillars that bring our mission to life—clarifying what we stand for and how we express it across every message and medium. These pillars unite our voice and give every story, design, and interaction a shared direction. Explore the positioning page to learn how the positioning and supporting pillars shape the way Ithaca College connects meaning, relevance, and authenticity in everything we do.
Our brand hierarchy brings our strategy to life across every corner of Ithaca College. It ensures that each school, department, and program shares in one cohesive identity while keeping the flexibility to highlight what makes their stories unique. This framework helps us stay consistent without losing creativity—one brand, many voices, all connected by purpose. Visit the hierarchy page to see how our unified structure strengthens every message, aligning individuality and consistency across the entire Ithaca College experience.