The Activist

Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: Opinion

Recently an email was sent to all RWC students with the invitation to participate in a survey exploring the potential for a name change. As part of our shared governance structure, it's important for students to share their feedback about this issue: your perspective is a key component in our research as we consider this major change. I encourage you to complete the survey as the more opinions and comments received will provide a richer insight into the name change.

The name change is being contemplated thanks to student responses from a recent marketing research project that also included potential students and the general public. That input indicated that such a change would benefit the College by strengthening the connection to the UC brand and by reinforcing our physical location in the Blue Ash community.

The proposed change would mean the College's official name under the Higher Learning Commission, our accrediting body, would change from University of Cincinnati-Raymond Walters College to University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College. This change allows us to use the common form of UC/Blue Ash for marketing efforts, alleviating possible confusion by our various publics and ensuring the full value of our connections to the University and our surrounding community.

Another point raised in that research was the lack of name recognition of Raymond Walters: many folks just simply do not know that Dr. Walters was the president of the University of Cincinnati from 1932 to 1955, the longest tenure of any UC president. When the University's first regional campus opened in 1967 in Blue Ash, it was named to honor President Walters. (For photos and more information about Dr. Walters, please visit http://www.rwc.uc.edu/community/who_ray.htm).

At this point, the name change is under consideration only: any official change would have to be approved by the University's Board of Trustees and would incorporate some type of suitable honoring of Dr. Walters, in recognition of his accomplishments for the University and our history as a college.

Please take the time to complete the survey: your comments will help us make a more informed and superior decision.

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