Message from Bob Beagle, Vice President
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Bob Beagle, coordinating the URI Presidential Forums this spring. On May 11, Dr. David Dooley was named URI's 11th president. |
Welcome to the Division of University Advancement Web site. It's hard to believe that another academic year has come and gone. During the weekend of May 16-17, URI graduated nearly 3000 undergraduate and graduate students. Although it rained on Sunday and forced Commencement into the Ryan Center for the first time, the weather could not detract from the excitement and the joy of graduates and their families.
Now we look toward the fall semester, where we anticipate a new freshman class of more than 3000. Applications and paid deposits are running slightly ahead of last year, with a tilt toward out-of-state students.
If you have been on campus recently, you've noticed the light pole flags on Upper College Road bearing our “Think Big. We Do.” brand theme, with its accompanying tagline graphic (a globe with the University seal as shown on our revised URI Web site). Together, these elements proclaim that URI, with its uniquely small, quaint setting, is a preeminent university whose students, faculty, and alumni are doing work that has a meaningful impact in Rhode Island and beyond.
Although Rhode Island continues to be a major focus for us, we are implementing a paid media plan that also places an emphasis on out-of-state students and out-of-state alumni. Our efforts include online advertising (for the first time), ads in U.S. News & World Report, billboards in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York, and paid radio and TV advertising in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, plus broadcasts of URI athletic events.
Two newly created 30-second branding spots started airing in mid-March and will continue through the spring. We have released a new branding publication designed to tell the story in words and pictures about the impact of URI around the world. The ads and the new publication are complemented by our new brand video "Who We Are" that you can view on the University web site.
Our branding program recently received the Silver Award in the 24th Annual Admissions Advertising Awards competition, sponsored by the Admissions Marketing Report, the nation's leading marketing publication for higher education. Our Silver Award was in the Total Advertising Campaign category.
During the recent Commencement weekend, we welcomed back to campus nearly 200 members of the Class of 1959. Since the class only has a little more than 400 surviving members, this was a high percentage. Coming from all over the United States, the alums enjoyed being with each other again, touring the campus, attending guest lectures and workshops, and having a number of social occasions. On May 29 and 30, we will welcome our Golden Grads (alums who graduated more than 50 years ago).
As we swing into summer, the campus and the greater URI community are excited about the arrival of the University of Rhode Island's 11th President, Dr. David Dooley. He and his wife Rev. Lynn Baker-Dooley will be officially joining us in July. Dr. Dooley is currently the Provost of Montana State. He has am impressive resume in teaching, scholarship, research, and administration. While he will lead the University toward a greater emphasis on research and the generation of new resources, he is also known as a leader strongly committed to teaching, to the value of the undergraduate experience, and to the vital role of a campus community.
If you are planning a trip to New England this summer, we hope you will find time to visit us. New England, Rhode Island, and URI are wonderful this time of year. If you can't stop by for a personal visit, please visit us through our Web site, which is filled with updated information, videos, and live Web cam shots from the campus.
Best,
Bob Beagle
For more information about
Advancement at the University of Rhode Island, please contact:
Bob Beagle, Vice President for University Advancement
Alumni Center
73 Upper College Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Phone: 401-874-2291
Fax 401-874-2292
Email: rbeagle@advance.uri.edu
