Becoming a University
The New Hampshire College name had significant staying power, serving the College in good stead for over 30 years. By the end of the 1990s, the institution was considering a move to university status which would once again drive a change in name. These changes involved an extensive process over a two year period that was significantly more involved than those that lead to previous name changes. University status became possible with the development of doctoral programs in International Business and Community Economic Development which launched in the fall of 1998.
Dr. Robert Zemsky, director of the Center for Research in Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania, was retained to conduct a feasibility study on the status change. Part of his recommendation dealt with the issue of naming. He observed that the most recognizable schools had one word names and that those names did not suggest a limitation to a specific geographic area. Students, alumni, and other stakeholders were interviewed in focus groups, a University Status Committee was formed, and extensive research was performed in a number of areas including the impact other institutions had experienced when moving to university status before bringing a proposal to the board of trustees.
Ultimately, the University Status Committee concluded in its April 14, 2000 report to the Board of Trustees that “The college has grown significantly in the past decade and university status simply reflects what the College has become.” Among the other processes undertaken in the transition was the development of a new name. This was referred to as the “most visible and public activity of this planning effort.” A “name team” consisting of faculty, students, alumni, Trustees, and staff representative met on February 17, 2000 to begin the process, considering a list of 49 names submitted from a wide range of stakeholders. That group selected 6 names, which were further reduced to 4 finalists by the University Status Committee: Amoskeag University, Granite University, University of the Granite State, and University of Manchester. “Granite” was a popular feature of potential names, tying the institution to its New Hampshire roots. Amoskeag fit in well with the recommendations of Dr. Zemsky, but was rejected as confusing to pronounce.
In April, President Richard Gustafson reconsidered this list of names, with the following rationale: “First, we have always had ‘New Hampshire’ as the first two words (“prefix”) in our name. Second, we have changed the words that follow New Hampshire (“suffix”) to reflect the development that the school has experienced.” He reflected on two major themes: the international scope of the institution, both in the students it attracted and the programs it offered and the doctoral programs that the institution now offered. He concluded that the logical next name for the institution was “New Hampshire International University” and proposed that name to the Trustees on April 13, 2000. The name was approved at their April meeting.
Despite the apparent logic of the newly selected name, the University Status Committee reported back to the Trustees on June 23, 2000 that the name had not been positively received. The Carnegie Communications Co. of Westford, Massachusetts was hired to assess reaction to the name choice. There were a number of other “International” colleges and universities, and they were not seen as the peer group to which New Hampshire College was aspiring. There was also concern that potential domestic students would think that the institution was intended only for international students. A fact sheet on the new name explains the change, which was approved by the trustees: “Several names, including Southern New Hampshire University, New Hampshire International University, Amoskeag University and the University of Manchester were ‘tested’ with several ‘audiences.’ Feedback from Faculty, Trustees, Guidance Counselors, staff, current students and alumni was overwhelmingly in favor of the name SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY.”
While the University of New Hampshire initially objected to the name, writing a letter of protest to the New Hampshire Secretary of State, the name was ultimately approved by the state. A formal event was held on June 29th, 2001 to celebrate the name change, featuring a barbecue, remarks by local politicians, the unveiling of a granite sign with the new University name, and even a hot air balloon.