July 31, 2006

NEW UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MAGAZINE HITS CAMPUS

After months of listening, much creative thinking and lots of hard work, the University of Houston unveiled a new name and look for its magazine.

Faculty and staff were the first to preview the full-color publication titled The University of Houston Magazine, which replaces Collegium magazine. It will include more alumni, student and faculty accomplishments and campus news.

“When I arrived here nearly three years ago, I promised to hit the ground listening,” said UH President Jay Gogue. “So in evaluating communications to our alumni, we surveyed more than 14,000 Cougars, and we heard them. We took their recommendations to heart and now are introducing a redesigned magazine.”

The Office of University Marketing conducted the research last fall with the assistance of
Performance Enhancement Group, a national research firm. UH surveyed alumni on their communication needs and interests, their feelings about the university and their opinions of current communication efforts, said Darcie Champagne, director of the Office of University Marketing.

The result is The University of Houston Magazine with a subtheme of “We Heard You,” Champagne said.

The magazine’s new sections include a question-and-answer article with an outstanding alumnus or alumna, a nostalgic look back in history with a comparison to campus life today, alumni class notes and information on how alumni can connect with the campus. The publication’s design emphasizes crisp, bold graphics, including an arresting piece of cover art by illustrator David Cutler, bright colors and photography.

Additionally, UH will increase the magazine’s frequency and circulation from twice yearly to 105,000 alumni, faculty and staff to three times a year to 174,000 alumni and the campus community.

“We feel that these changes will dramatically impact how connected our alumni feel to UH, and will help build pride in their alma mater,” Champagne said.

The first edition of the The UH Magazine ties into the recently released study that details the UH System’s $3 billion economic impact on the region. One article focuses on Harris County Judge Robert A. Eckels, who graduated from the university in 1980. Eckels discussed Houston’s Hurricane Katrina evacuation shelter and the biggest challenges the city faces, among other topics.

Other stories cover such subjects as the Institute for Multi-Dimensional Air Quality Studies and the Community Design Resource Center. Profiles highlight faculty and administrators such as Barbara Henley, assistant clinical professor and assistant to the Graduate College of Social Work dean, and Mike Young, UH Small Business Development Center director.

Now, magazine’s staff members are hoping their “We Heard You" edition has a lot of people saying, “We Read You.”