News

Higher education is a competitive sector: Dalhousie competes with universities across Canada and around the world for students, faculty and staff as well as for funding, support and partners. Our reputation is not only key to our success in these areas, but also influences our performance in university rankings (which in turn, influences our reputation). To help us truly take our place nationally and internationally as one of Canada’s top-tier universities, we need to focus our efforts on building and enhancing our reputation.

The research project provided insights on the university’s opportunities and challenges in the competitive post-secondary landscape, as well as our current reputation and key drivers of reputation. It also outlined areas where we can improve and enhance our reputation.  

These insights have helped inform both 100 Days of Listening and Dal’s new Strategic Direction, and have also been key to informing our refreshed brand standards.

All of us play a role in building Dal’s reputation: it’s built in the classroom, online, in the street and in our interactions with each other. It’s also built in our reports, presentations, brochures, advertising, websites, etc. To help our materials be recognized and enhance Dal’s reputation, we have introduced a Brand Style Guide and Tool Kit.

The guide outlines the brand model and details how to incorporate Dalhousie-specific messages, look and feel into our communications, while respecting and representing the many unique and diverse stories we have to tell. The new brand guidelines add a breath of fresh air to Dal's communications and provide guidance to help make our efforts more distinct, effective and efficient.

We're excited about this refreshed look and feel: it helps differentiate Dal and will play a key role in enhancing the university’s reputation.

You can check out the new Brand Guide and Tool Kit online. Staff looking for guidance on using the guide can contact Creative Services. Find out more about reputation in Chapter 8 of 100 Days of Listening.

If you’d like someone from Communications and Marketing to present the reputation research results and outcomes to your group, please contact commark@dal.ca