Anoka-Ramsey Community College Name Change Process

College Name Change: Latest News

July 2008 - Name Change on Hold

The Anoka-Ramsey Community College name change proposal is currently on hold. The Board of Trustees for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is scheduled to review a proposal to add a new board policy delineating the official names of all the colleges and universities in the system. To avoid confusion, we have agreed to postpone discussion of our name until the board has acted on this proposal. Since it is a new policy, it will require two readings, meaning that the earliest this issue could be resolved is September. The outcome of this discussion may have an impact on the Anoka-Ramsey process. I will continue to keep you informed as information becomes available.

September 2007 - Name Change Proposed by College Committee

After a deliberate, inclusive process lasting several years, the college name choice committee has completed its work and forwarded its proposal to change the college’s name to Bridgeway College.  The official proposal states:

The Name Choice Committee of Anoka-Ramsey Community College proposes to President Dr. Patrick Johns that he propose to Chancellor Dr. James McCormick that Anoka-Ramsey Community College change its name to Bridgeway College.

A market analysis of the name Bridgeway College revealed that the majority of constituents feel that Bridgeway College is a better name than Anoka-Ramsey Community College. In addition, a large majority will support the college if a name change occurs.

Next

1. The proposal will now move through the official internal college process which includes discussion in President’s Cabinet, President’s Council and Faculty Shared Governance – and possible other groups if the President chooses to do so. 
2.  If this process goes smoothly, the President may choose to bring the proposal to the Chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. 
3. The Chancellor will decide if the proposal will go to the Board of Trustees. The Board makes the final decision on all MnSCU college name changes.

For more information, contact Mary Jacobson. For details on the process read below.

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College Considers - Bridgeway College

• Best fits the key criteria
• Connection, pathway, symbol leading to success for students
• Bridges the gap between two campuses in Cambridge and Coon Rapids
• Ties the college to the community
• Offers access to river images, themes

Thank you to the 140 people who attended the name change open forums Nov. 6 and Nov. 9 to compare Bridgeway College to Anoka-Ramsey Community College. We greatly appreciate your attention to this matter, and that you made the forums a priority. The information gathered at the forums will assist the Committee with the decision-making process.

• 94 attended a Coon Rapids Campus forum
• 46 attended a Cambridge Campus forum

• 98 voted for Bridgeway College
• 42 voted for Anoka-Ramsey Community College

The Name Choice Committee will communicate next steps soon.

Open Forums - November 6 & 9

Compare Bridgeway College to Anoka-Ramsey Community College

You are welcome to participate in an open forum for the college name change. The goal of these forums is provide as much information as possible on why the college is considering a change so constituents can make a fully informed decision. The name change committee will answer your questions and address concerns.

The open forums are your opportunity to vote on Bridgeway College or Anoka-Ramsey Community College. There will not be a web ballot.

The forums are open to employees, students, community members, and alumni.

Coon Rapids Campus Open Forums
Monday, November 6, 2006
Noon, Cafeteria
2:00 p.m., Room B203
5:00 p.m., Room B245

Cambridge Campus Open Forums
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Noon, Room E244
3:00 p.m., Room E244
5:00 p.m., Room E244

Rationale for Bridgeway College

Thank you to the 1009 people who participated in the latest new name selection process. This is one more piece to the decision-making puzzle for the name choice committee to consider.

Participants: 1009 = 219 employees, 625 students, 33 alumni, and 132 other.

Result: Ardent College and Bridgeway College tied. After review of the results and committee discussion, the committee plans to move forward with Bridgeway College as the top choice to be compared to Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

1. Four of the five groups selected Bridgeway College as their top name choice, and one group selected Ardent College as their top name choice.
2. Ardent College may be a non-starter among our employee constituents since it received extensive negativity early in the name consideration process.
3. The meaning of Ardent College is not as immediately understood as Bridgeway College.
4. The meaning behind Bridgeway College best fits the key criteria, the college mission and offers growth opportunities. Bridgeway College: A name that allows the college to be a connection, a pathway, a beacon for success for students, alumni, business partners, and the communities we serve. This name provides access to river images, a connection between our two campuses, a connection to rural and metro communities, the idea of change and growth, and thoughts of reaching for something greater.
5. The "Ar" in Ardent College may appear to be attempt to hold onto part of the current name. The committee feels that it is important to let the ARCC name completely go if we choose to change.

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