Names Recommended by Naming Committee
January 25, 2009
On Friday evening, the MUW Naming Committee gave me a list of three unranked names. They are Reneau University, Waverley University and Welty-Reneau University. In a few days, the committee will provide me with pros and cons for each name.
These names come as a part of the envisioning process "MUW 20/20: Envisioning Our Future, Fulfilling Our Promise" we launched in August 2007. It was an opportunity to look at our current strategic plan that ends in 2009...just before the 125th anniversary, which we are currently celebrating and highlighting through the end of this semester.
This effort involved broad participation from local and statewide community members, staff, faculty, students and alumni. As a result, various committees were formed to work on specific tasks to benefit MUW.
One such committee was the Identity Committee, which recommended that in order to grow and compete that we establish ourselves as promoting leadership for our students and that we change the name of the university because it "impedes the success of communicating the true identity of the university and therefore future student recruitment efforts." The Identity Committee was not alone. Economic development leaders and local government officials also supported the name change.
At the Fall Kickoff Luncheon on campus in August 2008, I announced that I would recommend to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning that the name of the university be changed based on the Identity Committee's report.
A 30-person Naming Committee, made up of faculty, staff, students, alumni and community leaders was formed shortly after and held its first meeting in September. I charged the committee with coming up with a name that is reflective of who we are, takes into consideration that we are a public institution with a public mission, honors the past and is marketable.
During the months of October and November, the Naming Committee sought anonymous suggestions for a new name via an online web page and through the mail. More than 180 different names were suggested. The committee worked hard during the holidays to narrow the field for consideration after receiving more than 1,000 submissions from the public.
I will give the list of names to The Cirlot Agency in Jackson to be test marketed. The firm specializes in brand strategy, public relations and market research. Work by the agency is expected to take four to six weeks.
After The Cirlot Agency completes its work, the findings will be released to a smaller committee including the Faculty Senate president, Staff Council president, Student Government Association president, Alumni Association president and MUW Foundation Board of Directors chair. The committee will recommend one of the names to me for a decision and recommendation to the IHL Board and the Mississippi Legislature.
I want to thank Dr. Sue Jolly-Smith for her tireless efforts and each one of the committee members for serving the university in this important way. The committee reached out to hear as many voices as possible in this process.
All three names are excellent, and I look forward to seeing which one comes out on the top.
Dr. Claudia A. Limbert, President
