Windsor Proud is the theme of a new awareness and enrolment campaign officially launched Friday with an event at the Stephen and Vicki Adams Welcome Centre hosted by interim UWindsor president Douglas Kneale.

The campaign features current students and will tell their UWindsor stories through the use of billboards, cinema ads, social media, and traditional advertising. The campaign will be featured in Windsor-Essex, southern Ontario, the greater Toronto area, and Detroit during the fall and winter.

“This is about so much more than just a recruitment campaign. It is a declaration of confidence — confidence in ourselves as a university, as a community, as a place where our students, staff, faculty, and friends are proud of what we have made, what we have built, and what we are creating for the future,” said Dr. Kneale. “It’s time to say that out loud.”

Windsor Proud’s focus on spirit and attitude comes at a time of unprecedented growth at the University in terms of enrolment, research, and new buildings. It also comes when the Windsor region is experiencing renewed optimism and economic growth and neighbouring Detroit is in the midst of a significant rebirth.

The Windsor Proud campaign is an opportunity to communicate all of these things — and more — to potential students as well as the campus community, Windsor-Essex and the province.

Another theme of the Windsor Proud campaign is “Made in Windsor” — the message being that the University is a place where experiences are made for life. That could be independence, friendships, or collaborations with peers and faculty members.

Windsor Proud comes two years after the University launched PROMISE@uwindsor.ca. The Promise campaign set out to change the conversation about the University of Windsor. The Promise campaign is confident and positive and speaks to the potential of students and the commitment of faculty. Last year, the campaign developed into Future Full of Promise, and also included the launch of a capital campaign, Place of Promise.

The Promise campaign and Windsor Proud were both developed in co-operation with the Toronto-based marketing company ScottThornley+Company (STC).

“From the beginning, we’ve been inspired by the many students, faculty, and alumni we have had the honour to meet with throughout this process,” said Marsh Thornley, vice-president of client service for STC. “We say about our work that ‘we are storytellers’ and the truth is there is no better story than the story of the University of Windsor. Full of promise, and now, full of pride.”

Staff and faculty wishing to support the Windsor Proud campaign may download the image at right to add to their email signatures.

Earlier this year, the Promise campaign was recognized with a silver award in the 33rd annual Educational Advertising Awards. More than 2,200 entries were received for the U.S.-based competition from over 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools. UWindsor was one of only four Canadian universities recognized by the competition.