Branding Campaign for the Town of Normal

Branding Campaign for
the Town of Normal

Table of Contents
Project Overview …………………………………………………………………..………..… 2
Description of Process …………….……………………………………………...……….…. 3
Survey ………..……………………………………………………………………....………… 4
Demographics …………………………………………………………....…….……… 4
Disclaimer …………………………………………………………....………………… 5
Select Questions and Summarized Responses ……………………….…...……… 5
Discussion of Select Data ………………………………………………….....……… 6
Research …………………………………………………………………………….....……… 8
Proposal ……………………………………………………………………….……..…….… 10
Mission and Vision …………………………………………………...……………… 10
Registered Student Organization …………………………...…………...………… 11
Town of Normal Committee ………………………………………………..……….. 12
Joint Board Details ………………………………………………………...………… 13
Logistics of Implementing ……………………………………………..…….……… 13
Event and Project Examples …………………………………....…….………….... 14
Sample Social Media Posts ………………………………..………..…….............. 15
Appendices ……………………………………………………………………...…………… 17
Appendix A: Full Survey Results ….…………………………..…………………… 17
Appendix B: Biographies ………………………………………………….………… 28
Team ………………………………………………...…...…………………… 28
Mentor …………………………………………………..…………………….. 30
Appendix C: Sources ……………………………………...………………………… 31
Branding Campaign for the Town of Normal | 1

Project Overview
Innovation Consulting Community
“The Illinois State University Innovation Consulting Community provides students with a
transformational learning experience guided by project mentors with the opportunity to
further develop a creative mindset to propose solutions to complex problems and
innovation in strategy. Solutions are provided to the profit and not-for-profit sectors.
“The communication and collaboration skills that students learn from working with other
Illinois State University students and Project Mentors across disciplines, and with real
world clients, in analyzing new and better ways to work and take advantage of new
technologies, are highly valued by employers. Participation in the projects and
supporting free innovation consulting learning events distinguishes students as
professionals immediately ready to add value upon graduation” (Kaufman, 2018).
Client Request
The Town of Normal, Illinois submitted the following request to the Innovation
Consulting Community at Illinois State University.
“The Town of Normal and Illinois State University have a cordial relationship but have
not developed or implemented a joint or cross-marketing effort. ISU is Normal’s largest
employer, and the University annually contributes millions of dollars to Normal’s
economy. Town of Normal has invested heavily in blocks adjacent to the University,
particularly in Uptown Normal. This investment enhances the viability of the Town’s core
and provides an “urban” neighborhood as a seamless extension of ISU’s campus. The
Town is seeking a joint branding and marketing strategy to promote Normal as the
proud home of a successful university which has benefited from the Town’s strategic
investments” (Kaufman, 2018).

Description of Process
Toward the beginning of the Fall of 2017 academic semester, five Illinois State
University students were placed on a team together through the Innovation Consulting
Community. This team was subsequently assigned the Branding Campaign for the
Town of Normal project. After meeting each other for the first time, the project team set
out to create a solution which best-fulfilled the client’s request.
See Appendix B for team biographies.
Meeting Times
The team of students met regularly on Mondays from 3:30 to 6:00 PM in the State Farm
Hall of Business at Illinois State University. Additionally, the team met occasionally with
their mentor throughout the process to receive guidance.
Initial Ideas
From the beginning, the team recognized the end goal - provide the client with a clear
path forward in regard to maximizing the relationship between Illinois State University
and the Town of Normal. Success would be anything which showed school pride,
portrayed the Town of Normal as an intriguing place to be, and made a personal
connection to the community. But how to get there included a long list of ideas, a few
listed below, in no particular order.
● Improve internship placement in Town of Normal and other companies
● Communicate that Uptown is a part of Normal, but Normal is much more
● Focus on “place making” - parks, schools, neighborhoods, Constitution trail
● Research benchmarks
○ Brown University (bad neighborhoods used to be a limiting factor to
enrollment. What did they change and how?); Madison, Wisconsin; Iowa;
What are other universities and cities doing?
● Illinois State University Community Tours
● Volunteer opportunities in the Town of Normal for students and residents
● Highlight current events rather than focus on creating new ones
● Review the Comprehensive Plan
● Meet with Illinois State University senior administration
Eventually, the team turned to implementing a survey with the expectation that it would
guide their efforts.

Survey
The project team’s first purpose in implementing a survey was to gather information
beyond their own experiences, regarding event attendance, community involvement,
and shopping habits, as well as general sentiment of Town and Gown relations.
Responses were collected from both residents of the Town of Normal and students of
Illinois State University. The team’s second purpose in implementing a survey was to
take the opinions of others and begin putting together ideas regarding how to raise the
participation rate of Town of Normal residents at Illinois State University events and
Illinois State University students at Town of Normal events - generally referred to as
Town and Gown relations. Though many questions did overlap between the two groups,
some questions were unique to residents or students.
Distribution of the survey included via the following methods.
● Town of Normal
○ Facebook
○ Twitter
○ Instagram
● Team Members
○ Illinois State University Facebook groups
○ LinkedIn
○ Group chats
The survey was received responses from February 22, 2018 to March 5, 2018.
Demographics
The survey received responses from 234 people. Of those people, 65 (40.6%) were
residents of Normal, Illinois and 139 (59.4%) were students at Illinois State University.
The majority of the Town of Normal residents surveyed…
● ...attend Illinois State University-sponsored events about once a month
● ...attend Town of Normal-sponsored events about once a month
● ...are not employed by Illinois State University

The majority of the Illinois State University students surveyed…
● ...are full-time students
● ...are upperclassmen
● ...live off-campus in apartments or houses
Disclaimer
This was a directional survey. The survey was based on a convenience sample, and is
not statistically significant.
Select Questions and Summarized Responses
See Appendix A for the full survey results.
Q7 | Upon graduation, do you plan to stay in Bloomington-Normal?

Q4 | Which of the following sources do you regularly use to obtain information about
upcoming events? Select all that apply.
Q27 | Please share any additional thoughts you have regarding Illinois State University,
the Town of Normal, and the relationship between them.
● Positive Sentiment
○ “I think both the town and ISU have done a wonderful job in recent years
trying to strengthen their cooperative relationship.”
○ “It’s a great place to be and go to school!”
○ “I love having ISU campus so close to the Uptown area. There’s a great
feel when dining or just strolling around Uptown/ISU.
● Negative Sentiment
○ “There needs to be a stronger Town/Gown relationship. I had no idea that
the general public is allowed to attend ISU function. That message doesn’t
come across clearly in event descriptions.”
○ “They tend to be separate of each other for the most part”
○ “Resident of Normal who have no affiliation with ISU should be invited to
learn more about the University.”
Discussion of Select Data
Asked only to students, Q7 resulted in a very low percent of “yes” answers (just 4.3%).
Most students do not plan to stay in the Bloomington-Normal area upon graduation.
Therefore, it is within the Town of Normal’s best interest to more deeply engage
students while they are here so that more will want to stay after graduation.

Q4 was asked to both students and residents. It is clear that the top method of obtaining
event information is Facebook. This is not too surprising given that Facebook is
increasingly used by a wide range of people, who span the generations. Additionally,
Facebook allows for easy event sharing and serves as a common place to ask
questions and interact with other people who may be interested in a particular event.
Word of Mouth and Television/Radio were the second and third most popular methods
of obtaining information, respectively. Knowing this information, it may be within the
Town of Normal’s best interest to focus their attention on conveying information in these
ways.
The verbatims from Q27 provide us with an interesting insight - it is clear that people
have differing opinions in regard to Illinois State University, the Town of Normal, and the
relationship between them. Some people discuss a strong relationship, but others say it
needs work. This comes as no surprise. Instead, it only validates the necessity of this
project.

Research
How will implementing a Town and Gown Registered Student Organization increase the
town’s “creative economy?” University graduates should be the cornerstone of local
economic development strategies. Studies have shown that students who feel like the
host community is more involved with the school are more enticed to stay. When Town
and Gown relations are considered negative, students are less inclined to stay in the
host town. The implementation of programs that aid in the development of students can
establish a connection between the students and the community. The increase of
relationships between towns and universities leads to “studentification” which is the
movement of students into traditionally non-student areas (Massey, 2014). The
implementation of an RSO will foster a relationship between the Town of Normal and
the students who attend Illinois State University - establishing a sense of a community
that cares about its students, and students that care about their community.
Examples of Successful Town and Gown Relationships
Penn State
Constant communications, relentless collaboration, actively involved students in
decision that affects them and the town. Joint committees with established
city-university liaisons help keep regular communication flowing; joint funding helps
ensure there’s a buy-in for both organizations. Top-down support is paramount in
strengthening the town-gown relationship. “The university president and mayor of the
city need to be supportive of the campus community. They need to buy into this so that
when you enforce something, you have backing” (Chenoweth, 2017). Penn State has
collaborated successfully with their local officials by addressing issues that have existed
in the community by staying in constant contact with community members who are
directly affected by the relationship between Town and Gown.

Clemson
According to Gavazzi, “The Princeton Review has ranked Clemson as the number one
public institution in the nation in the category “Town-Gown Relations Are Great” for the
past five years.” Their board is made up of an equal number of municipal and University
employees (Gavazzi, 2014). The board organizes, “social events that bring people
together that recaps great rewards for their students, their faculty and staff and the
neighbors in the city of Clemson” (Gavazzi, 2014). According the Joint Community
University Advisory Board’s (JCUAB’s) website, “the responsibilities of the board are:
strengthening the relationship between the City of Clemson and Clemson University,
strengthening relationships for the Clemson area and University communities, initiating
solutions in implementing partnership initiatives and preparing an annual budget with
expenses shared equally between the City of Clemson and Clemson University” (City of
Clemson, 2018).

Proposal
Based on the initial client request, their own and others’ experiences at Illinois State
University and in the Town of Normal, and further research regarding the topic of Town
and Gown relations, the project team proposes a joint Town and Gown Board,
comprised of both an Illinois State University Registered Student Organization and a
Town of Normal Committee. This board would allow increased opportunities for the
School and the Town to collaborate.
Mission Statement
To create a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship between Illinois State
University and the Town of Normal.
Vision Statement
Grow the relationship between ISU and the Town of Normal into a positive and
long-lasting one built on history, community, and pride.

Registered Student Organization
A Registered Student Organization would appeal to a variety of students at Illinois State
University, including a variety of majors. A few of the most relevant majors might include
those related to recreation, communication, marketing, sports, and arts, but any student
of any major could be involved. Furthermore, a Registered Student Organization can
help lead to more awareness, engagement, and satisfaction with what the town has to
offer and potentially increase the number of students that want to stay after graduation.
Individual Purpose
● Collaborate and plan events with the Town of Normal Committee
● Serve as liaison for Illinois State University, between ISU and the Town of
Normal
● Advertise joint events to the students of Illinois State University, including via
website and social media
Proposed Positions
● President
○ Keeps in regular contact with Town of Normal Committee president
○ Sends weekly email updates to Registered Student Organization
members
○ Helps create agenda for Joint Town and Gown Board meetings
○ Co-facilitates Joint Town and Gown Board meetings
● Vice President
○ Facilitates Registered Student Organization meetings
○ Helps create agenda for Registered Student Organization meetings
○ Maintains contact with faculty advisor(s)
● Secretary
○ Takes minutes at all meetings and sends to members of Registered
Student Organization
○ Takes attendance at Registered Student Organization meetings
● Treasurer
○ Budget and collaborate with Town of Normal Committee treasurer
● Faculty Advisor(s)
○ Monitor Registered Student Organization meetings
○ Spread word of events to Illinois State University faculty and staff
● Other Student Members
○ Provide ideas for, and input regarding, events
○ Assist in planning and execution of events

○ Spread word of events and Registered Student Organization news to
fellow students
Proposed Meeting Times
The Registered Student Organization will meet bi-weekly, for 60 minutes, separately
from the Joint Town and Gown Board.
Town of Normal Committee
While this would be the “Town of Normal” committee, it is important to note that some
people feel as though more than just Normal residents should be involved. As one
survey respondent put, “anything with ISU should include residents of Bloomington too.”
Should the Town of Normal move forward in implementation, they would be wise to
keep this in mind.
Individual Purpose
● Collaborate and plan events with the Illinois State University Registered Student
Organization
● Serve as liaison for the Town of Normal, between ISU and the Town of Normal
● Advertise joint events to the residents of the Town of Normal and beyond,
including via website, social media, and other available media outlets.
Proposed Positions
● President
○ Keeps in regular contact with Registered Student Organization president
○ Maintain contact with Mayor of the Town of Normal
○ Sends weekly email updates to Town of Normal Committee members
○ Helps create agenda for Joint Town and Gown Board meetings
○ Co-facilitates Joint Town and Gown Board meetings
● Vice President
○ Facilitates Town of Normal Committee meetings
○ Helps create agenda for Town of Normal Committee meetings
● Secretary
○ Takes minutes at all meetings and sends to members of Town of Normal
Committee meetings
○ Takes attendance at Town of Normal Committee meetings
● Treasurer
○ Budget and collaborate with Registered Student Organization treasurer

● Other Residents
○ Provide ideas for, and input regarding, events
○ Assist in planning and execution of events
○ Spread word of events and Town of Normal Committee news to fellow
residents
The Town of Normal Committee will meet bi-weekly, for 60 minutes, separately from the
Joint Town and Gown Board.
Joint Town and Gown Board
The Joint Town and Gown Board, consisting of members of both the Registered
Student Organization and the Town of Normal Committee, will be headed by the
presidents of both groups. The initiative of the board is to serve as the relationship
between campus and community.
The Joint Town and Gown Board will meet bi-weekly, opposite of individual Town of
Normal Committee and Registered Student Organization meetings, for 90 minutes.
Logistics of Implementing
Creating Registered Student Organization
Creating a Registered Student Organization (RSO) is a relatively quick and simple
process. A registration form is available online. Requirements include, but are not
necessarily limited to, the list below.
● List the name and contact information of the President
● List the name and contact information of the Treasurer
● List the name and contact information of three additional Illinois State University
student members
● A faculty advisor
● Officer Terms of Service
● List any emails, web addresses, and social media accounts associated with the
organization

Contact Information
● Email
○ studentorganizations@ilstu.edu
● Additional information
○ deanofstudents.illinoisstate.edu/involvement/organizations/registration/
Recruitment
A few ways to recruit people for the Registered Student Organization (RSO) and the
Town of Normal Committee may include the following.
● Festival ISU - Town of Normal could set up a table or tent with the Town and
Gown logo in order to inform people (namely students) about the new
organization and sign them up
● Collaborate with other RSOs on campus
● Connect with employees (of Normal and University)
● Promotion
○ Social media advertising
○ Print advertising
○ Radio/Television
Town and Gown Event and Project Examples
Project Ideas
● Paint the Town Red, Picnic Tables on Illinois State University Quad
○ Donated by the Town and Gown Board and local business leaders
○ Sold as creating a space for both families and students to enjoy on
campus
● Town and Gown Mentorship Program
○ Match local business professionals in every field with students interested
in the field
○ Semester- or year-long program
○ Wonderful way to connect students with the community and allow them to
explore internship or job opportunities
New Event Ideas
● Illinois State University’s Town-wide Tour
○ Free RedBird Express line to transport town residents around campus
○ Music and food on the quad, similar to Festival ISU

○ All (or most) buildings open and accessible to the public with student or
staff volunteers available to lead guided tours
● Paint the Town Red
○ Students ask local businesses for donations to purchase flowers to be
planted in areas of town that need cleaning up
○ Students will bring unity to the Town of Normal and Illinois State University
by making Normal a more beautiful place
● Paint the Town Red Gala
○ Town and Gown Board Sponsored event for local business leaders and
students looking to network
○ Both Illinois State University President and Town of Normal Mayor would
be perfect speakers for this event
○ Dinner served
○ A perfect time to recognize mentors and mentees established by Town
and Gown Board (previously discussed)
○ Proceeds could be collected to support future projects (such as picnic
tables, previously discussed)
Current Events, Suggestions
● Town and Gown Nights at University Events
○ Focus more on low attendance events. Including women’s sporting
events, theatre events, keynote speakers, and art shows.
● Illinois State University’s Homecoming Tree Lighting Ceremony
○ Block streets off to allow local food trucks to set up near campus, in a
further attempt to draw in both families and students
○ Celebration of the tree lighting should be a collaborative Town and Gown
Board event
● Town and Gown 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
○ New t-shirt designs that exhibit a Town and Gown logo
○ A new twist on the event could include making it a glow run or color run.
This could help introduce the concept of a Town and Gown relationship,
especially to those who are unaware of the term and current efforts.
Sample Social Media Posts
Below are three sample social media posts, for three different example events. Dates,
locations, and times are for visual purposes only and may not reflect actual event
details, should the event(s) be implemented.

Facebook
Hey Normal, Illinois and Illinois State University, the Town and Gown Board invites you
to to attend the Senior Art Show on campus tonight! It’ll be a great opportunity to see
the work of some of the most talented students at ISU before they graduate. Bring a
friend and don’t forget to stop by the Town and Gown Board table outside the event to
enter your name to win a raffle!
Twitter
ISU STUDENTS: Don’t miss your chance to Paint the Town Red! Get experience in
fundraising and event planning, make connections with local professionals, and make
Normal a more beautiful place! Learn more and sign up here: __________________
Instagram
Normal, IL residents: THIS DAY IS FOR YOU! Ever wondered what the inside of the
Illinois State University academic buildings looked like or wanted to explore the quad?
Come out to the Illinois State Town Wide Tour this Saturday, September 23 to see what
goes on on campus, listen to live music and enjoy food provided by campus favorites
like DP Dough and Windy City Wieners! You won’t want to miss this!

Appendix A: Full Survey Results
Disclaimer
This was a directional survey. The survey was based on a convenience sample, and is
not statistically significant.
Data
The survey received responses from 234 people. Unless otherwise noted, the questions
were asked to all survey participants. Answers marked by an asterisk (*) indicate that
they were added as an “other” option by someone who took the survey. Italicized
answers indicate that they are verbatim responses to an open-ended question.
Demographics
Q1 | Which of the following best describe you?
● Resident of Normal, Illinois | 95 (40.6%)
● Student at Illinois State University (full-time or part-time) | 139 (59.4%)
Q2 | What is your age?
● 18-25 | 151 (64.5%)
● 26-32 | 12 (5.1%)
● 33-40 | 16 (6.8%)
● 41-48 | 18 (7.7%)
● 49-55 | 15 (6.4%)
● 56+ | 22 (9.4%)
Q3 | What is your gender?
● Female | 148 (63.2%)
● Male | 86 (36.8%)
● Prefer not to say | 0 (0%)

Q8 | If “No” to Q7, please explain where you plan to go (city, state, or area)
Each unique response is listed below. Numbers in parentheses indicate multiple,
identical responses. Spelling and grammar errors were not edited.
● Chicago (16); Arizona (5); Chicago, IL (5); Chicago suburbs (3); City (2); Texas
(2); Schaumburg (2); Colorado (2); New york; Ottawa, IL; Chicago (University of
Illinois); Northwest Suburbs; Suburbs of Chicago; Joliet; Naperville; In the
suburbs of Chicago; Southern suburbs of chicago; Nashville, TN; Out of Illinois;
Somewhere in Tennessee; Chicago or out of state; Larger city or anywhere that
offers me a position that I cannot say no to; Chicago suburb; Somewhere south;
Northwest suburbs of Chicago; Not sure yet; A larger city; Chicago area;
Down-state Illinois; Chicago or the East coast; Palos Park; Chicago, IL or west
(Utah, Colorado, Northern California); Tinley Park; Colorado because I love it
there.; Naperville; Columbia, South Carolina; Yorkville, IL; I would like to live in a
bigger city; Return to the south suburbs; Unclear of yet, depends on the law
school I attend; Champaign Urbana; California; Unknown; Moline Illinois; Law
school somewhere else; Chicago or LA; California; Unsure; Northern Illinois;
Milwaukee, WI; TBD; Chicago or Nashville; not sure yet; Chicagoland area;
Chicago or Atlanta; Peoria or Chicago; Peoria, IL; Atlanta, GA; Don’t like the area
enough to stay; City, West Coast; Chicago or somewhere warm in the south;
North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; West; New York; I plan to move back to
my hometown. A small town in central Illinois.; Seattle, Washington, Arizona,
Oregon

Q9 | If “No” to Q7, is there a particular reason why you are choosing to leave the
Bloomington-Normal area?
● Job | 48 (50%)
● Family and/or friends | 30 (31.3%)
● Weather | 8 (8.3%)
● Weather, better value for your money, closer to Mexico (travel there a lot)* | 1
(1%)
● Grad School (dental school)* | 1 (1%)
● Opportunities* | 1 (1%)
● Law school* | 1 (1%)
● Continued education* | 1 (1%)
● The town needs to be more modern and have a city feel. Uptown is getting there.
But high rises, more lights, and way more bars would help this town out a lot.* | 1
(1%)
● More diverse selection of people* | 1 (1%)
● Desire* | 1 (1%)
● There is not a lot of industry here besides insurance. Also, it is a college town
and I wouldn’t want to stay here after I graduate* | 1 (1%)
Q10 | If “Yes” to Question 7, explain why you plan to stay in the Bloomington-Normal
area
● Community; It’s bigger than my hometown and it has more opportunities.
Chicago is too big, and this area is just the right size;Taking a year off before law
school and don’t want to move back with my parents; Lifelong resident, degree is
one that can remain local; I like living here; Job Opportunities
Residents
These questions (Q11-Q13) were asked only to those who answered “Resident” in Q1.
Q11 | Are you an alum of Illinois State University?
● Yes | 45 (47.4%)
● No | 50 (52.6%)
Q12 | Are you currently taking classes at Illinois State University?
● Yes | 5 (5.3%)
● No | 90 (94.7%)

Impression of the Town of Normal
Q18 | Based on your experience, how likely would you be to recommend living in the
Town of Normal to a friend? (1 being “Not Likely” and 5 being “Extremely Likely”)
● 1 | 9 (3.8 %)
● 2 | 9 (3.8%)
● 3 | 63 (26.9%)
● 4 | 86 (36.8%)
● 5 | 67 (28.6%)
Q19 | How satisfied are you with the variety of local small-businesses (shopping)? (1
being “Very Dissatisfied” and 5 being “Very Satisfied”)
● 1 | 4 (1.7%)
● 2 | 16 (6.8%)
● 3 | 73 (31.2%)
● 4 | 100 (42.7%)
● 5 | 41 (17.5%)
Q20 | How satisfied are you with the variety of local small-businesses (dining)? (1 being
“Very Dissatisfied” and 5 being “Very Satisfied”)
● 1 | 2 (0.9%)
● 2 | 17 (7.3%)
● 3 | 40 (17.1%)
● 4 | 103 (44%)
● 5 | 72 (30.8%)
Q21 | From the perspective of a student, how welcoming is the Town of Normal? (1
being “Very Unwelcoming” and 5 being “Very Welcoming”)
● 1 | 3 (1.3%)
● 2 | 2 (0.9%)
● 3 | 48 (20.5%)
● 4 | 100 (42.7%)
● 5 | 81 (34.6%)

Impression of Illinois State University
Q22 | How likely would you be to recommend attending Illinois State University to a
prospective student? (1 being “Not Likely” and 5 being “Very Likely”)
● 1 | 2 (0.9%)
● 2 | 4 (1.7%)
● 3 | 28 (12%)
● 4 | 68 (29.1%)
● 5 | 132 (56.4%)
Q23 | Based on your experience, rate the impact of Illinois State University students on
the surrounding community. (1 being “Negative Impact” and 5 being “Positive Impact”)
● 1 | 0 (0%)
● 2 | 5 (2.1%)
● 3 | 56 (23.9%)
● 4 | 106 (45.3%)
● 5 | 67 (28.6%)
Q24 | From the perspective of a resident, how accessible does Illinois State University
make its facilities (recreation/student center, library, academic buildings) to the general
public? (1 being “Not at all Accessible” and 5 being “Very Accessible”)
● 1 | 9 (3.8%)
● 2 | 31 (13.2%)
● 3 | 60 (25.6%)
● 4 | 84 (35.9%)
● 5 | 50 (21.4%)
Q25 | From the perspective of a resident, how well does Illinois State University promote
its events (athletics, performances, etc.) to the general public? (1 being “Not at all” and
5 being “Very well”)
● 1 | 4 (1.7%)
● 2 | 21 (9%)
● 3 | 63 (26.9%)
● 4 | 97 (41.5%)
● 5 | 49 (20.9%)

Q26 | From the perspective of a resident, how well does Illinois State University
circulate school news (awards/honors, crime reports, school closings) to the general
public? (1 being “Not at all” and 5 being “Very well”)
● 1 | 14 (6%)
● 2 | 32 (13.7%)
● 3 | 84 (35.9%)
● 4 | 74 (31.6%)
● 5 | 30 (12.8%)
Final Thoughts
Q27 | Please share any additional thoughts you have regarding Illinois State University,
the Town of Normal, and the relationship between them.
Each unique response is listed below. Numbers in parentheses indicate multiple,
identical responses. Spelling and grammar errors were not edited. Answers without
substance (i.e. a period, random letters, or dashes) indicate someone who did not wish
to answer as the survey required - such answers have been removed from the list
below.
● N/A (20); None (18); N/a (6); NA (6); Promote more info to students regarding
respecting others property and privacy (6); none (5); Na (4); na (3); No additional
thoughts (2); No other thoughts (2); Good relationship (2); I love it here!; Illinois
state and the town of normal is a great place but not somewhere id live after age
25!; There needs to be a stronger Town/Gown relationship. I had no idea that the
general public is allowed to attend ISU function. That message doesn't come
across clearly in event descriptions.; Corn fest is fun; It fits well together; I love
going to ISU and the Bloomington area and would highly recommend it!; I think
they go great together and Town of Normal does a great job of encorpoating
student life!; please fund more bus shelters for the city transit system. been out in
bad weather too often waiting for one of your buses.; They tend to be separate of
each other for the most part; I definitely sense the energy around Uptown that
students and ISU events can bring, but I’ll bet you can live your entire life here
without interacting with the University if you wanted to. I think a lot of people I
know do that. I just told someone that after 17 years here, I’ve never attended an
athletic event on campus. I’ve attended just a few cultural events on campus.
Usually I attend events associated with the Town or with Bloomington.; ISU

promotes sports far more than the arts--I almost never hear about student
recitals and performances (and if I do, it's often AFTER the fact). Meanwhile, it's
hard to ignore the sports, especially when the loudspeakers are blasting (I live
about a mile from Hancock, and the volume is so loud, it often drowns out my TV,
especially when weather is nice and the windows are open.; lkj;lkj; If I knew
about more we might attend more; I realized I loved the town when I went to isu
and just bought a house here last year after I graduated.; require students to do
some community service in the community; I think it's a little limiting to restrict the
first question to Normal residents and ISU students. I live in Bloomington and
have just as much interest and stake in the success of Normal, ISU and their
events.; Ttnone; I’m from Bloomington normal and I love the area. I think isu
does most promotion over the radio and that’s a dying source; No other
thoughts.; Parking is an issue for ISU events. It’s time for a parking deck across
from the fb stadium. Love the strong relationship between the town and
university!!!; ISU is great, Normal is wonderful but law enforcement is a problem.
Racial profiling, speed traps, etc. We pay their salaries and crime is limited.; It’s
very strong, and I hope it continues!; I think both Normal and ISU benefit from
each other!; I have lived in Normal for over 50 years and have always felt that
there is a positive relationship between the town and ISU. I am not an employee
of the university..; I think there is a robust relationship between the Town and
University. More could be done to highlight the economic impact that the
University has on the Town, and the achievements of our faculty and students.;
It’s great!; Resident of Normal who have no affiliation with ISU should be invited
to learn more about the University.; Good balance; Quit wasting the taxpayers
money; This should not be required; Could be better...the town doesn’t always
pay attention to ideas/changes that could be made to the community that benefit
students near the main campus.; ISU and Normal have been a great second
home for me. I will greatly miss this town and school when I graduate.; It would
be nice if the Town of Normal businesses would use more students for
internships. Freshmen orientation would be a GREAT place to put students with
businesses in their prospective fields.; While I appreciate having the University
as my neighbor, the students (in general) are less than welcome members of the
community. The housing situation becomes more of a problem every year -
especially as the University is moving out of the housing “business”. But we could

blame that on the developers, I suppose.; For the most part we are lucky to have
all of these young people in our midst, but I would like to see them show a bit
more respect for our community & it’s resources.; Safe and welcoming; any
discussion about the relationship between normal and ISU needs to include
bloomington residents of which i am one. Anyway, Normal and ISU have a
symbiotic relationship and it's great for everyone in the area.; I love having ISU
campus so close to the Uptown area. There's a great feel when dining or just
strolling around Uptown/ISU. I will say that sometimes parking discourages me
from attending ISU arts events. I'd also like to hear more of the arts events
promoted the way athletic events are promoted in the media. The College of Fine
Arts has a great Facebook page though.; I appreciate how ISU partners with Unit
5 Schools in various ways; Need more events for high schoolers so they can
connect to campus; Great School; I would love to see the the town be more
welcoming to the students...they play such an important role in our community’s
economy and culture.; N/a; 6; Good luck with your research!; I consider the
relationship between Town of Normal and ISU to be a positive and forward
thinking adventure...one cannot exist without the other. Outside of athletic
events, I do not feel invited or informed and would welcome opportunities to
participate in University activities.; The Town of Normal needs to focus more on
community needs/fixes and not so much on pet projects and beautification. That
should be secondary.; n/a; I think the relationship now is good. I think there is a
lot of room for improvement.; Love Normal; The Town (as an organization)
doesn't seem to take visible ownership or pride in the University. Lots of marquee
events, but little else. Lack of visible action to support the university as a
community. Don't see much "redbird pride" outside of Uptown. Plenty of
examples of cities that have developed meaningful relationships with higher ed,
projects and partnerships that go beyond picking up litter and raking leaves.;
None; I finds the Events feature on Facebook extremely helpful to be informed of
and track events at ISU and events sponsored by the town. Highly recommend
the use of this feature. It’s a great reminder of events as well as a way to see
which of your friends are also interested in attending the event.; NA; No
additional thoughts; I think both the town and ISU have done a wonderful job in
recent years trying to strengthen their cooperative relationship.; I think ISU is not
very wheelchair/scooter friendly in the dorms, sidewalks, and dining halls; Illinois

State is an amazing college. These past three years have been incredible.; The
Town of Normal seems extremely open and welcoming towards students at ISU.
However, I find that there is a lack of events that are interesting to students like
myself. I do love the shops and dining downtown and always bring my friends
and family there.; this is a great place!; i think that we need to promote events
that are going on more; Nothing; i would like to know more events that are going
on in the town of Normal but am not sure how to obtain that information; Normal
is a great town. The issue is a lot of students come from the Chicago Suburbs
where there are a lot of options and variety when it comes to shopping, things to
do, and food. It’s not to say that Normal is bad because it isn’t. It’s unique in its
own ways and I feel like a lot of students don’t fully appreciate the town for what
it is and has to offer.; They are very united; A great bondage that improves both;
More student inclusive events; Hi; Solid; i think they have a good relationship but
there is always room for improvement; Great; Peaceful; Both are great; I think
Normal is very welcoming and a safe region for ISU students; Awesome;
Wonderful town and University; The relationship is excellent. Their efforts to
coordinate have benefited both and makes it easy to recommend them as a
place to live and go to school. I wish more people attended arts events at ISU.;
It’s a great place to be and go to school!; Love both, great town for a school; The
Town is heavily dependent on a vibrant state university. The ISU has much to
gain by the Uptown Renewal and policy decisions made by the Town of Normal.
Better cooperation would help float all boats.; I’m good; Other (70)

Appendix B: Biographies
Team Members
Katie Jordan
Team Manager
Katie Jordan is a senior marketing major at Illinois State
University. She loves being involved in the College of Business
and is an active member of the College of Business Executive
Council and Phi Gamma Nu - Professional Business Fraternity,
in addition to the Innovation Consulting Community. She’s the
captain of the ISU Women’s Club Volleyball team and dreads
having to give up her favorite sport when she graduates in May! Katie has had
experience in marketing as an intern at The American Red Cross and Heartland
Community College Athletic Department. Finally, during Summer 2017 she interned at
ATS - Advanced Technology Services in Peoria, IL and will take a position on the
Marketing - Demand Generation team post graduation.
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-jordan/
Hunter Scott Thomas
Team Secretary
Hunter Thomas is a freshman at Illinois State University majoring
in Mass Media - Television Production. In addition to his
involvement with the Innovation Consulting Community, he
works as the Multimedia Specialist for the Division of Student
Affairs and serves as the Marketing Coordinator for the
Association of Residence Halls. Hunter keeps the rest of his free
time busy by doing freelance photography, videography, and
technical theatre work. This summer, he will be interning for
Sycamore Community Unit School District #427’s recently approved Access Channel,
where he will have the opportunity to help them begin the process of implementation. In
the future, Hunter plans to work behind-the-scenes in the television industry as a
director or producer.
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterscottthomas/

Billy Brown
Team Member
Billy Brown is a senior at Illinois State University majoring in
Business Administration, having transferred from Rock Valley
College, where he participated in several organizations. He held
the position of Vice President of Rock Valley College’s Campus
Activity Board, and was tasked with creating marketing
campaigns. Billy interned for Rock Valley College holding the
position Business Engagement Liaison. In this position Billy was
tasked with connecting students to businesses that were offering
internships or employment opportunities directly related to the students’ fields of study.
Billy has interned for the office of Frank Haney Chairman of the Winnebago County
board. Billy plans to graduate in the fall and attend Law school at the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/billybrown12/
Kaci Christensen
Team Member
Kaci Christensen is a senior at Illinois State University majoring
in General Marketing. Last summer, she was part of the Palace
Events internship team where she helped market events and
weddings. In the past she has been apart of the University
Program Board, helping to plan and market events for ISU
students to attend. She is also part of The Big Red Marching
Machine and captain of the ISU Redline Express Dance Team
where she performs and cheers on the RedBirds at every home football and basketball
game.
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaci-christensen-44a678135/

Haley Seaton
Team Member
Haley Seaton is a senior at Illinois State University majoring in
Integrated Marketing Communications. Last semester, she was
the Director of Web Development for Women in Business-ISU,
where she had the opportunity to redesign the entire website
from content to layouts. This past summer, she was an intern at
Art Van Furniture, where she completed their intensive six week
Sales Training Program and was then assigned to a local store.
In this position, she worked under the Sales Manager and Store
Manager. The final week of the internship involved a week-long trip to the headquarters
in Detroit, Michigan where she was introduced to upper level executives. She was able
to job shadow several vice presidents and participated in a community service event.
This semester, she was a mentor for ISU’s Business Week and a mentor for Women in
Business-ISU. Her goal for the rest of the semester is to finish out her senior year
strong and to contribute to giving back to the community.
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleyseaton/
Team Mentor
Andrew Bordewick
Team Mentor
Andrew Bordewick is a Sr. CX Analyst at COUNTRY Financial in
Bloomington, IL. He has 14 years of work experience in several
areas of the company including Billing, Controllers, Insurance
Brokerage, Marketing Research, New Product Development, and
Product Management. He is a 2012 graduate of the Illinois State
University MBA program and was honored to receive the
Outstanding Part Time Student Award in 2012, and Early Career
Achievement award in 2015. Andrew is a passionate supporter of education at all levels,
and is proud to participate as a mentor in the Innovation Consulting Community. In
addition, he has served on the Advisory Board at Central Catholic High School and the
Education Commission at St. Mary’s Grade School.

Appendix C: Sources
Chenoweth, H. (2017, December 6). How Can Universities Strengthen Town-Gown
Relations? Retrieved from:
http://info.higheredfacilitiesforum.com/blog/how-universities-can-strengthen-town-
gown-relations
City of Clemson (2018). Joint City University Advisory Board (JCUAB) Memorandum of
Understanding and Mission Statement. Retrieved from:
https://www.cityofclemson.org/OurCommunity/JCUAB/tabid/534/Default.aspx?As
pxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Gavazzi, S., Fox, M., & Martin, J. (2014). Understanding Campus and Community
Relationships through Marriage and Family Metaphors: A Town-Gown Typology.
Innovative Higher Education, 39(5), 361-374.
Illinois State University (2018). Student Organization Registration. Retrieved from:
https://deanofstudents.illinoisstate.edu/involvement/organizations/registration/
Illinois State University (2018). Town and Gown 5K and 1-mile Fun Run/Walk. Retrieved
from: https://homecoming.illinoisstate.edu/5k/
Kaufman, P. (2018, March 26). Innovation Consulting Community. Retrieved from:
http://innovationconsulting.community/
Massey, J. (2014). Partnering for economic development: How town-gown relations
impact local economic development in small and medium cities. Canadian
Journal of Higher Education, 152-169.

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