WE ARE

CU Anschutz

Unified. Recognized. Ready for What's Next.

CU Anschutz is a place of breakthrough science, exceptional care and transformative education. We are powered by a community of innovators, caregivers and learners who are shaping the future of health.

Thanks to your work, we have reached new levels of distinction in Colorado. Now, it’s time to elevate our visibility and reputation nationally. That starts with our brand.

In today’s competitive market, we need a brand that reflects our shared purpose and unifies our community under one bold, unmistakable identity ‒ a brand that’s simple, memorable and easy to connect with. One that represents what we are rather than simply where we are.

Why Brand Alignment Matters

Our brand is more than a logo. It’s how we show up in the world. It’s the clarity we bring to every message, every story and every interaction that makes us familiar and meaningful.

With over 500 logos and naming conventions currently in use across campus, our identity has become fragmented. This lack of consistency creates confusion and dilutes our impact.

To be seen, understood and remembered, we must speak with one voice.

Resulting in:

National Recognition

Helps position us as a leading academic medical campus, ensuring our voice carries influence broadly.

Recruitment

Attracts top faculty, researchers, staff and students who want to be part of a recognized leader.

Funding and Grants

Builds credibility with granting agencies and partners, signaling we are a strong and reliable investment.

Philanthropy

Inspires confidence in donors who want their contributions to fuel meaningful, high-impact work.

Partnerships

Encourages collaboration with industry, government and other institutions who see us as a trusted, innovative partner.

Community & Alumni Engagement

Strengthens pride and loyalty among alumni, local communities and stakeholders who amplify our story.

Our Anchor Brand: CU Anschutz

Leading institutions like ours create strong, recognizable brands by establishing a clear anchor brand, from which all else builds. This isn't about replacing the unique identities of our schools and programs. It's about reinforcing them through a unified anchor brand - CU Anschutz - that elevates every part of our campus.

What’s Changing and What’s Not

What’s changing: We’re aligning under a unified CU Anschutz brand identity ‒ bringing consistency to our naming, logos and messaging across campus. As part of this effort:

Our full campus logo will be updated, and we will remove the “medical campus” descriptor to better reflect our full scope and align with the CU System.

Logos for our schools and college will be refreshed to highlight the CU Anschutz brand more prominently, followed by the school name. Please note: the Colorado School of Public Health has its own set of tri-institutional brand guidelines and will not be changing at this time.

This updated structure strengthens our collective identity, making it easier for external audiences to recognize and trust the excellence associated with CU Anschutz.
By leading with a unified brand, schools, departments and programs gain greater visibility, credibility and connection to the broader impact of our campus.

Individual department, unit and program-level logos will be retired, in order to reduce fragmentation and strengthen our collective presence.

Editorial guidelines and naming conventions will be updated to reflect our unified brand, ensuring our shared identity comes through not only in our visuals but also in our written and spoken communications. References to schools, departments, units, centers, institutes, and programs will now lead with CU Anschutz (e.g., “CU Anschutz School of Medicine”), reinforcing consistency and strengthening recognition of the campus as a whole.

What’s not changing: Our mission ‒ and the work you do every day to carry it forward ‒ remain at the heart of CU Anschutz. This initiative is designed to support and elevate everything you do – making it easier for the world to recognize the excellence you deliver every day.

One Brand. One Voice. One CU Anschutz.

This is a collective effort and a shared opportunity. By aligning our brand, we strengthen our reputation and elevate our visibility among the leading academic medical centers in the country.

Thank you for taking part in this journey. Together, we’ll tell the CU Anschutz story with clarity, unity and pride.

FAQs

To distinguish ourselves at the national level, we need a unified, recognizable brand. Right now, CU Anschutz has over 500 different logos and naming conventions in use, creating confusion and diluting our impact.

When departments, units or programs use individual logos, we unintentionally compete with ourselves for recognition. A single, consistent brand strengthens every unit by tying your work to the credibility and visibility of CU Anschutz as a whole. This change isn’t about erasing identities. It’s about amplifying them under a shared, powerful brand.

To maintain a consistent and recognizable identity across CU Anschutz, exceptions to the brand guidelines are generally not granted. However, we understand that unique circumstances may arise. If you believe your situation requires special consideration, please reach out to the brand team with details. All requests will be reviewed carefully, with the goal of balancing individual needs with the integrity of the overall brand.

Marketing is accomplished through clear messaging, compelling storytelling and a strong value proposition ‒ not through logos or graphics alone. It’s about the impact you make, the audience you serve, and the way you communicate your mission.

The updated brand guidelines are designed to help you do exactly that. By aligning with the CU Anschutz brand, your department benefits from the credibility, reach and recognition of the entire institution. You’ll still have the tools to market your work effectively, including customizable templates for print, digital and social media.

This shift isn’t about losing identity ‒ it’s about amplifying who we are through a shared, trusted brand that opens more doors and builds lasting impact.

2025 Update: As part of the CU Anschutz brand alignment efforts, all individual school, department and unit logos will be retired. Moving forward, only the CU Anschutz logo and official school and college logos will be allowed. This is a phased effort, and you will be notified by campus leadership when your school/department is expected to implement.

CU Anschutz logos can be found on Image Relay (account required) under the “brand” tab.

While the campuswide brand alignment effort is phased, you are welcome to begin updating materials any time. The following changes will need to be made:

Remove logos from existing files
Update logos on e-newsletters
Use updated design templates provided by the Office of Communications
Review your marketing materials and externally facing websites for outdated naming conventions

As of September 2025, all school, department and unit logos have been removed from Image Relay. You can find updated CU Anschutz marks and new lockups for our five schools in Image Relay (please note: the Colorado School of Public Health has its own set of tri-institutional brand guidelines and will not be changing at this time). Exceptions to this include existing centers and institutes as these will be addressed in a later phase of the brand alignment effort.

To maintain consistency and unity across the campus, no department/program/unit can create a custom logo. Official CU Anschutz logos can be found in Image Relay. Other designs like supporting graphics can be created to complement an official logo, but there are specific parameters for these.

Alongside visual updates, changes to the campus editorial guide for written materials has been updated accordingly. Overall naming conventions for the university have changed and should be followed:

Our official names are CU Anschutz or University of Colorado Anschutz. Both are acceptable on first reference, depending on the audience.

Our university name is always upfront and leads. This will ensure constituent portions of the university are matched to the central brand.Examples:

CU Anschutz School of Medicine // University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine

For a more complete overview, including school and college naming conventions, please visit the full CU Anschutz Editorial Style Guide.

A Phased Approach

We are taking a phased approach to implementation, beginning with our academic programs. We will start with the School of Medicine this fall, working in close partnership with the dean and leadership team. With their engagement and support, we will set a strong foundation for the campuswide rollout to follow.

While one-on-one support will be provided according to the timeline below, all units are encouraged to begin using the new brand guidelines now. This website offers tools, templates and guidance to get your team started at any time.

Quick Links

Logos and Marks

Colors and Fonts

Brand Messaging

Editorial Guidelines

Branded Templates

Email Signature

Digital Asset Library

Social Media Directory

Contact Us

Contact the brand team with questions: [email protected]

FAQs

Office of Communications

CU Anschutz

Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

Aurora, CO 80045

[email protected]

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Tools & Resources

CU Campuses

CU Anschutz

Office of Communications

WE ARE

CU Anschutz

Unified. Recognized. Ready for What's Next.

Why Brand Alignment Matters

Resulting in:

National Recognition

Recruitment

Funding and Grants

Philanthropy

Partnerships

Community & Alumni Engagement

Our Anchor Brand: CU Anschutz

What’s Changing and What’s Not

One Brand. One Voice. One CU Anschutz.

FAQs

A Phased Approach

Quick Links

Contact Us

FAQs

Office of Communications

WE ARE

CU Anschutz

Unified. Recognized. Ready for What's Next.

Why Brand Alignment Matters

Resulting in:

National Recognition

Recruitment

Funding and Grants

Philanthropy

Partnerships

Community & Alumni Engagement

Our Anchor Brand: CU Anschutz

What’s Changing and What’s Not

One Brand. One Voice. One CU Anschutz.

FAQs

Why have the brand guidelines been changed and why can’t I use my department logo anymore?

Can I request an exception to the new brand guidelines?

If I can’t use my department logo anymore, how can we still market ourselves effectively?

Where can I find my school/department/unit logo?

What changes do I need to make and when?

What should I do with all the branded swag and stationary I have featuring my old logo?

Do I need to update our external and internal signage?

I don't see my logo on Image Relay anymore. Where can I find it? How can I get one made?

I want to create my own logo for my department/program/unit. Can I do that?

How does this impact university communications and writing?

Where can I go for support?

A Phased Approach

Quick Links

Contact Us

FAQs

Office of Communications