Arrrrrrgggghh! (The Union Institute's New Name)

With little fanfare, The Union Institute has announced its new name:

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY

The press release is at:
http://www.tui.edu/WhatsNew/News/new_name.html

(Where do the idiots who make up academe come up with these things?)

 

So do you get to choose which?

"My degree is from the Union Institute"

"Well... Mine is from the Union university"


I sounds like two schools to me, Kind of like the Claremont Colleges.

Claremont McKenna College
Harvey Mudd College
Pitzer College
Pomona College
Scripps College

NOT one a University... And yet it works for them.

Dan Snelson

 

ARRRRRRGH! that would be "IT sounds like..."

Dan

 

Strangely enough, I don't think I'd mind the new name so much if they had left out the damn ampersand. Union Institute University would be more like, say, New School University (in NYC, which is quite prestigious thanks to its drama school). But the ampersand reminds me too much of "Trinity College & University."

Ah, well, maybe they were trying to save the hassle of reprinting all of the almuni diplomas. I'll be just as happy to stick with my old one.

 

It looks like they were torn between keeping the Union identity and adding the university tag to the name.

John

 

Well, it could have been worse. A lot worse.

For the record, I liked the old name just fine, and saw no reason to change it. And, the new name reminds me of......nah, I won't repeat it. I think Steve is depressed enough already.


Bruce

 

While I think it's a clumsy name, it could ba a lot worse... like Packing Material College (aka Excelsior), Argosy, or even Capella.

At least they didn't go with the "Let's misspell a word and make it cool" approach, ala Cingular or the "Let's make up a word", like Verizon.

 

Thanks, Bruce, but I'm not depressed about it. I think it's idiotic, but not depressing. After all, I will always be a graduate of The Union Institute, just as my M.A. will always be from Vermont College of Norwich University (as opposed to Vermont College of The Union Institute).

I just feel kind of sorry for the poor schmucks that are stuck with institutions after they change their names. (Especially the ones at Argosy.)

 

Ooops... what about Claremont Graduate UNIVERSITY (formerly Claremont Graduate SCHOOL)?

(Considered attending there once... the tuition nearly killed - me on the spot!)

BruceP in Colorado Springs

 

I wish names had more sticking power. One of the schools from which I received a degree has been named (in order) South Texas State Teachers College, Texas College of Arts and Industries, Texas A & I University, and Texas A & M University at Kingsville. Definitely sounds like four different schools, but it's the small cozy little college in the Wild Horse Desert.

Tom Rogers

 

I found it yesterday while looking at their website. It is a hideous and uninspired decision. Hell, I'd have opted for U. of Sarasota (now that it might be available) over this!

Rich Douglas, apparently one of those poor schmucks.

 

When I first saw the subject line, I thought that The Union Institute had gone for a dramatic avant-garde statement:

Arrrrrrgggghh!

Students at many universities have privately felt that their school should be renamed that.

'The Union Institute and University' is OK. I guess that they wanted to keep their old name but felt that they had to cram the word 'university' in there somewhere.

They should be aware that the initials 'UIU' are already taken, though.

 

Thank goodness they didn't choose "International Ohio University." Just thinking about my tuition bill gives me the willies.

Rich Douglas

 

It could have been a lot worse (Union Institute, College & University?). Anything could’ve been possible from an agency (Northlich—now there’s a creative brand name ) whose claim to fame is “helped bring Charlie The Tuna back to national television in 1999.”

Northlich, however, does not appear to be doing so well. See http://cincinnati.bcentral.com/cincinnati/stories/2001/10/29/daily43.html


Gus Sainz

 

The Claremont Colleges are not a University. "The Claremont Colleges consortium is like no other in the country. Each institution is autonomous, with its own campus, administration, academic focus, and educational philosophy."

 

The new name consisting of both "institute" and "university" appears to give people an "unsteadiness" perception. I predict it will change again pretty soon.

 

I agree - probably in a few years, when they get another president who wants to put his or her mark on the place, much like the current president (who is thought by much of the administration and staff to be quite a control freak).

 

Rich, congratulations! You've finally come out of your "Union closet!!!" (Even though most of us knew it all along.)

 

Someone could make a lot of money becoming a Naming Consultant to DL institutions that want to be taken seriously. This is unfortunate.

 

Thanks. I've not quite returned yet, but the stage is set. Paula and I just bought a house, so I had to put it off. I hope to begin anew in March.

Rich Douglas