Unveiling a new identity… Milligan changing name to University status on June 1
Published 4:11 pm Wednesday, May 13, 2020
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Milligan President Bill Greer unveiled the two new logos that will represent Milligan's change to University status on June 1, 2020. On the left is the university logo and on the right is the logo for Milligan athletics.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Milligan President Bill Greer unveiled the new logo for the University's sports teams beginning June 1.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Milligan President Bill Greer talks about the new logo that will represent Milligan University beginning June 1, 2020.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
For the third time in school history, Milligan College will be changing to a new identity on June 1, 2020, when College is removed and University is added to the name as Milligan University.
Milligan President Bill Greer took time on Wednesday to unveil the two new logos for the University as one represents the identity of the school and the second will be the new logo for Milligan athletics going forward.
Founded in 1866 as the Buffalo Male and Female Institute, the school was elevated to collegiate status in 1882 and renamed Milligan College.
According to a Milligan promotional piece, while many things have changed since then, Milligan has remained rich in purpose and dedicated to molding mind and spirit within the Christian liberal arts tradition.
And now a new chapter begins.
“I think anytime you start into a new era, a new exciting kind of venture even though we are continuing on a 154-year history, it’s important to have a fresh, new look,” said Greer about the importance of the logo change. “That builds excitement and enthusiasm among our constituency and certainly among our students and alumni.
“I think they are going to be really excited when they see it.”
Even though the school is changing its name, Greer said students and the community can expect the same level of education and service it has provided since its inception.
“In reality, we have done the heavy lifting over the past several years,” stated Greer in response to what would have to change. “We really became a University a number of years ago when we reorganized our academic programs into schools and started adding additional graduate programs.
“Such as the seminary program, such as our Physician Assistant program and we have added a couple of doctoral degrees now. So, really our array of curricular offerings is that of a University and the organization reflects that.
“So, we have really done the work already so I am not sure that we will see that much change except visual our new logo,” Greer continued. “Our sign out front will change, the signs on the highways have already changed which was pointed out to me.”
Greer said that it was important that the changes were made ahead of changing the name.
“In some cases institutions have changed names to be aspirational to try to get to that point, but we became a University first and became recognized as one first and then looked at ourselves and said what are we and what should our name be,” Greer said.
“We concluded that Milligan University was it.”
Students were made aware of the change last fall so there will be no surprise when they are finally able to return to school as Milligan is planning to open the campus back up in the fall and welcome students back. Staff was notified of those intentions this week.
“They have thought of themselves as being university students for a while,” Greer stated. “Particularly since last fall when we announced this change would be happening.
“We are going to continue to make sure our academic programs are the very best they can be. There are a lot of challenges for high ed as certainly this virus situation has made it difficult for us to maintain our ongoing operations but we are forming a number of planning committees right now across campus right now to make sure we have a safe return home this fall.
“And that we are able to continue carrying on the tradition of excellence that we have maintained for so long.”
Milligan University will continue to offer over 100 undergraduate academic programs and 13 graduate programs including two doctorate programs.
