Columbia College asked its digital content partner DEG to help it communicate the offering of both virtual and in-person learning to students for the entire fall semester.
The coronavirus pandemic threw everyone a curveball, including higher education institutions hosting thousands of students on campus throughout most of the year. Some colleges already equipped with virtual learning options, such as Columbia College, were able to pivot to provide online classes for their students.
So, when the fall semester saw a continuation of social distancing and hyper-vigilant isolation, Columbia College sought to ease the minds of its students—and their parents—by offering several learning options.
The challenge
Founded in 1851, Columbia College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts and sciences college focused on helping students advance their lives through higher education, both online and on-campus at its more than 30 venues nationwide. When the COVID-19 pandemic showed no signs of slowing down as the fall semester approached, Columbia College asked its digital content partner DEG to help it communicate the offering of both virtual and in-person learning to students for the entire fall semester.
The strategy
Knowing many students—especially those entering their first semester of college—would be disappointed with the prospect of not experiencing the intended adventure of college, DEG focused on creating a positive and bright-colored message for Columbia College. The agency needed to appeal to both parents who are paying for school and the students enrolled in classes to get everyone to select the learning option that best suited their situation for the fall.