There is no doubt that education can transform lives and communities. Many of us at Vanguard are the first in our families to attend and graduate from college, paving the way to fulfilling careers and financial health. And loyalties to our alma maters — from The George Washington University to Penn State to Virginia Tech — run deep.
In our work lives, championing higher education is a passion. We have worked with institutions of higher education and the entities that support them in diverse ways, bringing our best thinking to a range of communications projects and products. We have written and designed reports, created brand identities, supported training institutes and conducted communications audits.
Partnering with them has meant stepping in to meet a tight reporting deadline or helping a research team visualize complex social issues like housing shortages and food insecurity. These are the issues we want to be communicating about and bringing to light.
Today, higher ed is facing a lot: shifting media dynamics, digital engagement challenges, crisis response needs, the impact of AI on student growth and opportunity, and the ongoing work of building trust and visibility. That’s why we’re thrilled to expand our horizons by being on the Virginia Association of State College and University Purchasing Professionals (VASCUPP) schedule.
What does that mean for Virginia’s public colleges and universities? Simply put: no procurement headaches. This designation makes it easier than ever to access our communications expertise through a streamlined process.
Why It Matters
For us, this isn’t just a new designation. It’s a continuation of something we’ve cared about for years: helping higher education institutions tell their stories, connect with their communities and adapt to evolving communications needs.
Being on the VASCUPP schedule means we can jump in faster and more efficiently to support the incredible work happening on campuses across Virginia. We know that many of them are in the process of developing strategic plans, re-assessing their brand visibility and innovating around learning models. They are pivoting to meet the evolving needs of students, faculty and administrators, and they need a strong communications partner to help them craft informed and creative responses.
We’re ready to pitch in — especially when in-house teams are big on ideas but short on time to execute them.
At Vanguard, we believe in people, purpose and progress. And we’re excited to keep supporting the institutions that have these values as well.
