Press release from campusLink:
campusLink Wins Gold Medallion for Marketing Campaign
Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), and Citilink were honored at this year’s National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 3 Conference in Indianapolis. The District includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and the Ontario Province of Canada. campusLink received Gold in the “Government Relations and Community Relations Project” category in this year’s Medallion Awards for marketing efforts over the last fiscal year.
Judges comments included:
- Not missing a single component. Plan is well thought-out and executed.
- It seems to touch every aspect that a rider (reader) would need to be informed about the subject matter.
- Brochures are easy to read and have a wealth of information well-prioritized.
- Signage well-designed.
- Scavenger hunt event a nice touch.
- Professional looking all the way around.
Together, the three organizations introduced a new circulator transportation route linking three campuses (Ivy Tech-Northeast’s Coliseum Campus, Ivy Tech-Northeast’s North Campus, IPFW), student housing, apartments, and shopping districts with existing bus routes to reduce congestion and improve access. campusLink has been a collaborative effort from the early planning stages all the way to implementation. The marketing staffs of both Ivy Tech-Northeast and IPFW worked together with Citilink to ensure materials have been of high quality with an aggressive marketing plan on a shoestring budget.
“The strength of this three-way partnership has far exceeded my expectations,” said Betsy Kachmar, assistant general manager of Citilink. “We look forward to the continued growth of this service through Spring 2012 – and hopefully beyond.”
The campusLink project is funded through Spring 2012 with a Congestion and Mitigation Air Quality Act along with matching payments from each of the institutions. Total ridership for the 2009-10 academic year came to 36,353, and year-to-date ridership is 70 percent higher than this time last year.
In addition to increased ease of transportation around campus, campusLink is an effort to get students used to the idea of public transportation. This includes a discount monthly pass sales program for Ivy Tech and IPFW students and employees. In the first year, 2,650 Citilink discount passes were sold, and general Citilink monthly pass usage increased 112%.
The campaign entry has been submitted to the NCMPR’s prestigious national Paragon Awards, and those winners will be announced at the 2011 national conference, scheduled March 13-16, 2011, in Philadelphia.
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with nearly 200,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne is the largest institution of higher learning in northeast Indiana, offering nearly 200 prestigious IU and Purdue degrees and certificates. More than 12,000 students of diverse ages, races, and nationalities pursue their education on our 662-acre campus. IPFW combines challenging academic programs with student-centered flexibility at an affordable price. The university’s exemplary standards in teaching and research provide unparalleled value for career preparation and professional development in an ever-changing global market. The university’s commitment to service makes it an economic, cultural, and societal leader in the region. IPFW is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Citilink’s mission is to provide safe, courteous, and dependable public transportation at the most reasonable cost to our community. Getting you where you need to go – wherever life takes you.
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