Georgia State Menu
Georgia State Menu
  • PRMC
  • Georgia State Menu
  • Georgia State Menu

Main navigation

Public Relations and Marketing Communications

Main navigation

Branding

Branding

Students walking in front of student Center

WHAT IS GEORGIA STATE'S IDENTITY?

There is only one Georgia State University. No other institution shares its history, its campus footprint, its mission and vision, the members of its university community or its relationships with others. All of these elements—and more—compose Georgia State’s unique identity. Defining the university’s distinctive identity in a way that is clear, understandable, memorable and authentic is important and challenging.

YOUR ROLE

As a member of Georgia State’s family, you have a special role to play in helping students, elected officials, business leaders and others understand what makes this university uniquely important to them—and also to our fellow citizens across the state and beyond.

Brand Positioning

The positioning statement and key messages allow for vigorous and productive communication that support all of Georgia State, while at the same time establishing common threads that can be reinforced in unit communications to maximize the impact of Georgia State’s distinctive position. We hope you’ll align with the university’s position as appropriate to your unit-level goals and the university’s strategic plan.

Identity Pillars

There are four supporting concepts that further clarify the university’s distinctive identity. While the sum of these key messages speaks to the uniqueness of the university, some of the pillars are more relevant than others to the university’s key audiences.

Positioning Statement

A positioning statement is a lens through which we communicate and emphasize the authentic, distinct attributes of the university.

Georgia State, an urban public research university and national model for student success, provides students and faculty with unsurpassed access to opportunities in Atlanta, the cultural and economic center of the Southeast.

Defining Georgia State

Use this copy when you need to summarize Georgia State’s major assets and distinctive qualities.

Georgia State University is an enterprising urban public research institution in Atlanta, the leading cultural and economic center of the Southeast. With six campuses throughout metro Atlanta, the university provides its faculty and more than 52,000 students with unsurpassed connections to the opportunities available in one of the 21st century’s great global cities. A national leader in graduating students from diverse backgrounds, Georgia State provides a rich experience with award-winning housing, hundreds of student clubs and organizations, and one of the most diverse student bodies in the country. Students, faculty and alumni enjoy a unique campus personality and culture based on ambition, hard work, dedication and perseverance.

Importance of Identity

Why is communicating Georgia State’s unique identity important?

The United States is home to thousands of universities and colleges, about a third of all the world’s higher education institutions. These institutions compete for students, world-class faculty and researchers, and funding from philanthropic and governmental entities. For Georgia State to be recognized and heard amid other higher education voices requires a commitment to clear, concise and focused communications.

To help faculty, students and others make informed decisions—and to attract the attention and investment of individuals and organizations who might not otherwise consider Georgia State—members of the university community must communicate and operate in ways that consistently and transparently reflect the university’s vision, mission and position.

Individually and collectively, our actions and the many ways we carry out Georgia State’s mission build credibility for the university’s identity.

THESTATEWAY®

Most universities try to be all things to all people. Few clearly identify and articulate the key differentiators that make them unique.  Everyone claims to have “excellent faculty, “world-class facilities” or “real-world experiences.” At Georgia State, we have created a campaign that clearly defines what makes us different. We tell that same story over and over – to our community, to the media, in our advertising and to prospective students – and use consistent messaging under the heading of THESTATEWAY®.

Find the latest rankings and quick facts at About Georgia State.