Mount St. Joseph University, a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Charity, of Cincinnati  will have a new look when the designation changes from College of Mount St. Joseph effective July 1, 2014.

“We wanted the logo for Mount St. Joseph University to convey our rich heritage, but also show how we’re moving forward with the designation to university,” said Tony Aretz, Ph.D., president of the Mount. “The strong shield gives a nod to the future of our excellent academic programs.”

The Mount selected the shield inscribed with MSJ and ‘1920.” Its centerpiece is a sunburst with a cross in the middle, representing its heritage to the Sisters of Charity. The logotype gives the sense of tradition and heritage along with a timeless, modern feel. The shield also signals the serious nature of the Mount’s transition from college to a university; a bold move that will allow us to establish new areas of education and academics. Icon Marketing, a Florence, Ky.-based company specializing in brand marketing, designed the logo.

Six logos were selected for stakeholders to give feedback. More than 1,400 responses were received from students, prospective students, alumni, faculty and staff, Board of Trustees and Sisters of Charity members. A social media campaign called #MountLogoMadness extended the opportunity to the public for input. The feedback included adding the year and changing the font from the original design.

“The logo process reinforced what we believe our stakeholders feel about the Mount,” said Aretz. “That’s a good thing because we know our mission and academics hold true regardless if they are students or graduated 20 years ago. We are enthusiastic about the next steps as we transition to Mount St. Joseph University and sharing our story.”

The logo work had to be completed by mid-April to meet deadlines to get ready for the next school year, including creating new apparel and spirit wear. The Mount’s athletics uniforms, which already say MSJ, will get a fresh look in the future.

The Mount’s designation change to University positions the Mount to leverage its expanding academic offerings including increasing its number of graduate programs for masters and doctorate degrees, as well as implementing online programs.

The College of Mount St. Joseph is an undergraduate and graduate Catholic college that provides an interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curriculum emphasizing values, service and social responsibility.