Tusculum University, located in Greeneville, Tennessee, fields its athletic teams as the Tusculum Pioneers. The university’s athletics identity is governed by a formal style guide that establishes approved colors, logo variations and usage rules for all athletic communications and materials.
Design and History
The Tusculum University athletics identity is documented in the university’s official style guide, which includes a dedicated section for athletics identity guidelines. The guide specifies that the athletic logo uses Pantone 165C, a vivid orange, combined with black and white. Approved color variations for the athletic logo include 165C with black and white, black and white only, and 165C with 30 percent black and white.[1]
The style guide also references an “Athletics TU logo” that must follow the same color guidelines as the primary athletic marks. Any color variations beyond the approved examples require approval from the Athletic Communications Office.[1]
The university’s transition from Tusculum College to Tusculum University is reflected in the branding materials. The style guide notes that as the institution transitioned to university status, its logo would be marked accordingly depending on how it is used.[2]
The style guide also establishes that “Tusculum Pioneers” is gender neutral, and terms such as “Lady Pioneers” or “Pioneerettes” are not accepted.[1]
Meaning and Symbolism
The Tusculum University seal, which is distinct from the athletic logo, is restricted to use by the Board of Trustees, the Office of the President, Campus Safety and Academic Affairs. The seal is documented as trademark pending and is not to be produced in white.[3]
The university’s primary colors are documented as Pantone 165C (orange) and Process Black, with gray permitted as a secondary substitute for black.[4]
Typography and Design
The Tusculum University athletic logo uses the Uppolters font, as specified in the university’s style guide.[2]
The style guide instructs that logos must not be stretched, squished, altered or combined with other logos, and that the art should be reproduced as supplied rather than recreated. The Office of Marketing or Athletics Communications Office provides files directly to vendors.[5]
For the university’s primary wordmark, the guide states that “Tusculum” is always to be shown with “UNIVERSITY” below it.[6]
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