3/12/03

NEW NAME FOR AU COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING OFFICE

AUBURN -- Auburn University will change the name of the Office of University Relations to the Office of Communications and Marketing, effective March 15.

AU President William F. Walker announced the name change in his state of the university address to the faculty on Tuesday.

Walker said the Office of Communications and Marketing will develop and implement strategies to more clearly define the university's image as a nationally prominent institution with worldwide impact.

With its new name, Communications and Marketing will continue to be part of the Office of the President.

The name change will carry with it a title change from executive director to assistant vice president for the head of the office, John Hachtel, who joined the university in September 2002.

Walker said the new title better reflects the nationwide responsibilities of the office and is more consistent with similar positions at most other major institutions.

Hachtel said the unit's new name, Communications and Marketing, is clearer and better defines the modern mission of the office.

"Many people outside the university did not know where to find the communications and marketing operations," he said. "Even many people on campus did not know what the name 'University Relations' meant. This will make us much easier to find and will give people a clear definition of what we do for the university."

Each segment of the unit will be led by a director. A nationwide search is underway for a director of communication services and a director of marketing.

The Office of Communications and Marketing is on the ground floor of Samford Hall.

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mar03:AU-namechange