New Spirit Logo and Cougars Climb Higher Campaign Released

Kean University is proud to announce the release of its new Cougar logo to promote University Athletics and school spirit.

The University is unveiling the new mark along with a new branding campaign "Cougars Climb Higher" that showcases all of the ways our world-class education helps students climb higher toward their professional and personal goals.

More than 2,000 students, faculty, staff and alumni provided feedback on three proposals for the new spirit logo, which is designed to replace a variety of Cougar images used over the years.

“So many people told us that Kean Cougars are fierce, resilient and determined both in winning athletic competitions and overcoming obstacles to achieve their degrees,” said Karen Smith, vice president of University Relations. “We incorporated that feedback into the final design of the logo and went one step further in launching our new branding campaign with that message.”

University Relations is releasing the new mark and campaign in coordination with Athletics, which will begin using the logo on Athletics gear and in its facilities in the Spring semester.

“It’s important for our athletes and fans to know this K mark stands for Kean so we can all rally around it,” said Jack McKiernan, director of Athletics. “This new logo is distinctly Kean. It looks different than other cougar mascots and is tied strongly to the University name, which will help build school spirit.”

Many people who voted on the logo proposals online and at Homecoming said it is important for the new Cougar to look fierce but not overly aggressive or frightening. The final design was adjusted so that his head and ears are tilted up as a show of pride.

“This option shows our competitive spirit and is elegantly designed in a way to display the perfect relationship between the distinguished and professional University and its amazing student, faculty and alumni spirit,” one graphic designer alumnus wrote.

The Cougars Climb Higher campaign will highlight the numerous ways that our students, faculty and alumni climb higher every day, from a student who is the first member of the family to attend college to a professor who achieves a national honor. The campaign will be rolled out around campus and through external advertising and marketing beginning in the spring semester.

The new logo will be used in conjunction with the University seal, which remains the academic mark of the institution.

The logo will begin being sold on apparel through the Barnes & Noble bookstore later this semester.

T-shirts and magnets with the new mark are being given away to students this week at the Miron Student Center. Follow @keanuniversity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out times and specific locations. Giveaways will also be available at Kean Ocean later in the Spring semester.