Most Guilford students have seen the phrase “Uniquely Guilford,” whether on the various banners throughout campus, the college website, or even the parking stickers on the back of their cars. Introduced to students at the beginning of the fall semester, the phrase is part of Guilford’s new marketing approach, highlighting qualities that set Guilford apart from other institutions.
Chief of Communications Ty Buckner described the phrase “Uniquely Guilford” as a “framework for authentic storytelling about Guilford and the value it has for students and alumni.” The phrase—rather than simply naming the characteristics that are unique to Guilford—encourages students and alumni to recall the individual experiences that have made their time at Guilford special.
While it may seem easy to downplay the phrase “Uniquely Guilford” as simply another college marketing strategy, it stands out among other approaches as one that aims to appeal to the student as an individual. While many colleges have chosen to market themselves based on their specific programs or rankings, Guilford has chosen to focus on what’s most important: students and their individual experiences at the college.
President Jean Bordewich says a Guilford education is unique because it is “crafted around [the student] and what [they] want to explore and how [they] want to develop as a human being.”
According to President Bordewich, Guilford, unlike its larger college and university counterparts, aims to provide students with a highly personalized education that offers them something much greater than a degree: the opportunity to discover themselves and grow as human beings.
President Bordewich emphasized this point, recalling a quote from the late professor Cyril Harey that described the education at Guilford as being about “human beings learning from other human beings about how to be human.”
President Bordewich said students are meant to graduate from Guilford equipped with both the content knowledge and character strength to not only secure a job in their desired field but also improve their communities and the world around them, as emphasized by the countless Guilford graduates who have entered public and community service.
President Bordewich also recalled how one Guilford alum expressed his fond experience walking across the stage at graduation, being told, “Now you have a Guilford education. Go out and change the world.”
According to Early College student Vihaan Sesetty, such impactful memories and a sense of individual empowerment are exactly what “Uniquely Guilford” is meant to evoke. Sesetty said seeing the phrase reminds him of “just how lucky [he is] to be at Guilford,” where he has the opportunity to explore his passions and craft his own personalized educational experience.
Yet, the unique qualities of Guilford stretch far beyond its focus on individual experiences and character growth—they can be traced back to the Quaker values on which the college was founded.
According to “Envisioning Guilford College 2027,” these Quaker values have manifested in Guilford’s focus on social justice, integrity, ethical leadership, and individual freedom and responsibility. The Guilford College education model differentiates itself through its emphasis on a Quaker-inspired, practical, and interdisciplinary liberal arts education that prioritizes personal development alongside academic advancement.
Of the many Quaker characteristics that continue to define Guilford, the Quaker spirit of resilience is certainly one of the most noteworthy. Guilford continues to adapt to changing ways of learning while remaining true to its individualized educational approach and focus on the student experience as a whole, said President Bordewich.
Guilford’s sense of resilience has also recently been spotlighted in the “Good for Guilford” campaign, which raised more than $6 million in donations, according to the Guilford College website. Strategically appealing to the unique individual experiences that define a Guilford education helped to rekindle positive memories in alumni and community members, sparking large sums of donations for Guilford in an effort to keep these memories alive.
Based on President Bordewich’s insights and the success of the “Good for Guilford” campaign, the “Uniquely Guilford” campaign has certainly been successful in drawing upon the qualities that set Guilford apart from other institutions and in sustaining its mission. While it remains uncertain whether the “Uniquely Guilford” campaign will continue into next year, Guilford’s focus on a personalized education, adherence to Quaker values, and rich history will certainly remain.
