Branding decision: Harding Grad School changing its name

The graduate school campus in Memphis, Tenn.

Drum roll, please.
Harding University Graduate School of Religion is changing its name.
And the new name will be … Harding School of Theology.
Here’s a news release from Harding:

Harding School of Theology has been chosen as the new name for the Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, Tenn. The change comes at the end of a two-year process involving the dean, faculty, staff, alumni, advisory board, University president and board of trustees.
The process culminates in a rebranding strategy that seeks to reflect better the School’s goal of equipping and inspiring servants of Christ with deeper faith and higher standards of scholarship. “’Graduate School of Religion’ as a designation no longer communicates who we are,” explains Dr. Evertt W. Huffard, vice president and dean of the school. “We are much more interested in students knowing God than knowing religion.”
And while the name changes, the core values of the school remain the same. “The Graduate School is not changing its commitment to the word of God or to serving churches of Christ,” Huffard says. “Rather, this change helps us communicate those commitments.”
Huffard explains that Harding Graduate School has always focused on helping ministers be better equipped for the challenges of ministry. “That commitment is in no way changing,” he adds.
The name change has no associated administrative or academic changes. The school remains under the leadership of the Harding University president and board of trustees.
The rebranding will help communicate that the school is a caring, engaged academic community. “We have a relentless passion to understand and live the word of God,” says Mark Parker, assistant vice president. “We pray this entire process will allow us to communicate our passions and commitment better.”

Read a 50th anniversary feature on Harding Grad School from 2008.

• Feedback
  I’ve always thought the seminary’s name had a strange ring to it. The new name makes sense.

  Adam Gonnerman

  March, 30 2011

  Sad that we can no longer abbreviate it as HUGSR. I like the change, though.

  David Earl Blankenship

  March, 30 2011

  Name changes are hit or miss. Worked great for Rhodes College…but not so much for…oh…that one school…sheesh…you know the one I’m talking about! Pshaw. Oh well…As long as you guys don’t mess with that killer spiral staircase, I think we’re gonna be ok! Blessings!
  Also, PLEASE tell me my diploma still counts!!

  David Benson Rubio

  March, 30 2011

  The real questions are: how many credits transfer from another school and how many courses are available online globally via mobile handsets?

  Ed Dodds

  March, 31 2011

  As a new Graduate student presently. The name is a name. The excellent education is still to be administered by the outstanding administrative and educational staff at memphis. Sound like a plan!!!

  Bob Ortendahl

  March, 31 2011

  I guess it will look better on a diploma. More like the big schools of theology. Less provincial, and more 21st Century.

  Pat Shelbourne

  March, 31 2011

  Church of Christ members & Harding graduates deal with theology everyday with people we meet. Theological matters rather than religion is taking us in the right but same Godly direction!

  Don Sinquefield

  March, 31 2011