The University of Illinois System is launching an ‘Altogether Extraordinary’ campaign to increase the public’s knowledge about the University’s value and impact.

According to the press release, Tim Killeen, president of the UI System, said this initiative is intended to raise awareness to the University system among the public, policy makers, students, alumni, donors and more.

Tom Hardy, University spokesman, said in an email the marketing initiative is a key component of the major philanthropic fundraising campaigns launched in October by each of the system’s three universities.

The campaign’s purpose is to showcase the system’s state, national and global impact through the combined contributions of its universities in Champaign-Urbana, Chicago and Springfield.

“The U of I system is vastly distributed across the state — indeed, we’re doing good things in virtually every one of the 102 counties,” Hardy said.

According to the press release, the three campuses combined make up Illinois’ largest educators and has enrolled a total of 83,000 students last fall.

A public opinion survey mentioned in the press release said only about half of Illinois residents think the University of Illinois System contributes to the economy of the state. However, about $14 billion are put into the state’s economy each year because of the system.

New advertising tactics that will be put in place as part of the campaign include roadside billboards across the state, spots on Illinois National Public Radio and social media engagement.

The advertising will run through the last quarter of the 2018 fiscal year and a second round of marketing is being planned for fiscal 2019.

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