College Mascots

[ItsNeverTheLionsYear]

One of the downsides to online school is a lack of school spirit. Most of the schools talked about here have no physical presence, which means they also don't care about things like school spirit and mascots (as in team names). Why would they? It's all online!

Some of the schools here already have mascots, disproportionately those with physical campuses. They are:

• UMPI: the Owls, specifically Snowy Owls per their site (https://www.umpi.edu/we-are-owls/), which makes sense given their location
  
• SNHU: the Penmen, because they were primarily an accounting school for a long time
  
• WGU: the Night Owls, very appropriate for a mostly part time college
  
• TAMUC: the Lions. Unclear why to me but it's a solid choice
  
• Liberty: the Flames, after the school's motto, and probably also after Jesus just a little bit
  
• CSU Global: The Golden Eagles! I was shocked that they had a mascot.
  
• UMHB: The Crusaders. It's a christian school.
  
• Pierpont: They're the Lions. Also unclear why.
  

The WGU subreddit in particular has great pride in being Night Owls. I think it's a shame that more online schools don't have mascots, especially because, when done right, it can be a very fun plus for basically no effort on the school's part.

Here are my recommendations for mascots for other schools:

• TESU: The Lightbulbs I think are a clear choice. Good tie in with the school's namesake and a general nod to knowledge. It also means that they could make a lightbulb holding up fists like the old Notre Dame logo and sell merch, and I think that would be really funny. Other possible options: the Inventors, the Shock(s), the Lightning
  
• COSC: The Acorns would be a fun fit with the name. I think the Oaks is too obvious but it might be more dignified. Given that the college is named after a literal tree, the name ought to be tree related. Other possible options: the Timber, the Trees
  
• Excelsior:  This one is tough. I initially thought the Swords would work until I realized I was confusing Excelsior with Excalibur. The Regents would be a good way to pay tribute to the history of the college as Regents College, but that is too boring. My vote is the Fighting Regents, which would be both hilarious and accurate.
  
• Purdue Global: You could say they're already the Boilermakers, but none of the other Indiana/Purdue branch campuses share mascots, so why should this one? They could take a page out of WGU's book and acknowledge that they are mostly for part timers but tie that into Purdue's branding. My vote is the Night Train. Other options: Globetrotters, Appmakers (like Boilermakers, but 21st century! Get it? Get it?)
  
• UMGC: Maryland was once a center of global trade, so I think the mascot for UMGC should reflect that. I'd say the Sailors, or maybe the Clippers. Other options: Explorers, Freighters
  
• UoPeople: Could be the Humans. Could also go with the People, and then each student would be a Person. Something along those lines. Definitely not anything else.
  
• Franklin: Given the school's start as a YMCA college, they should go with the Gym Rats, or just Rats for short. Other options: The Gymnasts, the Weights
  

What are your thoughts on online schools having mascots? What would you pick for these schools' mascots?

[Jonathan Whatley]

Acorn was also the original name of Charter Oak's student services portal (acorn.charteroak.edu, since renamed my.charteroak.edu).

UMGC has a deep heritage running classes on US military bases abroad. The Allies?

A school with a free or nearly free tuition model could do something like the Freelancers. If not UoPeople maybe NationsU.

The Newlane Travelers.

For Amberton, Amber brings to mind Flame, but Liberty has Flame…

[origamishuttle]

• TESU: the Filaments
  
• COSC: considering the story of the Charter Oak, the Rebels
  
• Excelsior:  "excelsior" is often translated as "ever upward" so maybe the Rockets, or an homage to Stan Lee, the Marvels
  
• Purdue Global: another play on "Boilermakers" the Warmers
  
• UoPeople: the Human League, the Upright Citizens, the Bootstrappers
  
• Franklin: named after Ben Franklin, so the Lightning or the Turkeys
  

[bjcheung77]

Interesting, I wonder if any of the schools have reps reading through the forums, they might get an idea and start something like this for their institution if there no mascots yet (if they don't have any sports teams, or reasons for mascots)...

[LevelUP]

For TESU I like:

The Sparks
The Lumens

[freeloader]

A school with a free or nearly free tuition model could do something like the Freelancers. If not UoPeople maybe NationsU.

I am freeloader, and I approved this message.

[ItsNeverTheLionsYear]

Interesting, I wonder if any of the schools have reps reading through the forums, they might get an idea and start something like this for their institution if there no mascots yet (if they don't have any sports teams, or reasons for mascots)...

TESU is starting up an esports team, and while I'm not interested in esports themselves, I'm strongly considering offering them unsolicited branding advice.

[Vle045]

I am always a LION.

Middle school city league - I was a Lion
High School mascot - Lion
Local college - Nittany Lion

Although…. I rarely see Cheetahs as a mascot. Let’s advocate for the Cheetah!

[ItsNeverTheLionsYear]

• TESU: the Filaments
  
• COSC: considering the story of the Charter Oak, the Rebels
  
• Excelsior:  "excelsior" is often translated as "ever upward" so maybe the Rockets, or an homage to Stan Lee, the Marvels
  
• Purdue Global: another play on "Boilermakers" the Warmers
  
• UoPeople: the Human League, the Upright Citizens, the Bootstrappers
  
• Franklin: named after Ben Franklin, so the Lightning or the Turkeys
  

I really, really like Rebels, Rockets and Turkeys. Those feel classic. You could picture them on a t shirt or a poster or something. Excelsior's logo also kinda looks like a rocket already.

---

I am always a LION.  

Middle school city league - I was a Lion
High School mascot - Lion
Local college - Nittany Lion

Although….  I rarely see Cheetahs as a mascot.   Let’s advocate for the Cheetah!

Cheetah's a tough one. Sounds too much like "Cheater" so it doesn't take any effort to taunt a team with that mascot. It's a shame though, cheetahs are such cool animals

[Charles Fout]

One of the downsides to online school is a lack of school spirit. Most of the schools talked about here have no physical presence, which means they also don't care about things like school spirit and mascots (as in team names). Why would they? It's all online!

Some of the schools here already have mascots, disproportionately those with physical campuses. They are:

• UMPI: the Owls, specifically Snowy Owls per their site (https://www.umpi.edu/we-are-owls/), which makes sense given their location
  
• SNHU: the Penmen, because they were primarily an accounting school for a long time
  
• WGU: the Night Owls, very appropriate for a mostly part time college
  
• TAMUC: the Lions. Unclear why to me but it's a solid choice
  
• Liberty: the Flames, after the school's motto, and probably also after Jesus just a little bit
  
• CSU Global: The Golden Eagles! I was shocked that they had a mascot.
  
• UMHB: The Crusaders. It's a christian school.
  
• Pierpont: They're the Lions. Also unclear why.
  

The WGU subreddit in particular has great pride in being Night Owls. I think it's a shame that more online schools don't have mascots, especially because, when done right, it can be a very fun plus for basically no effort on the school's part.

Here are my recommendations for mascots for other schools:

• TESU: The Lightbulbs I think are a clear choice. Good tie in with the school's namesake and a general nod to knowledge. It also means that they could make a lightbulb holding up fists like the old Notre Dame logo and sell merch, and I think that would be really funny. Other possible options: the Inventors, the Shock(s), the Lightning
  
• COSC: The Acorns would be a fun fit with the name. I think the Oaks is too obvious but it might be more dignified. Given that the college is named after a literal tree, the name ought to be tree related. Other possible options: the Timber, the Trees
  
• Excelsior:  This one is tough. I initially thought the Swords would work until I realized I was confusing Excelsior with Excalibur. The Regents would be a good way to pay tribute to the history of the college as Regents College, but that is too boring. My vote is the Fighting Regents, which would be both hilarious and accurate.
  
• Purdue Global: You could say they're already the Boilermakers, but none of the other Indiana/Purdue branch campuses share mascots, so why should this one? They could take a page out of WGU's book and acknowledge that they are mostly for part timers but tie that into Purdue's branding. My vote is the Night Train. Other options: Globetrotters, Appmakers (like Boilermakers, but 21st century! Get it? Get it?)
  
• UMGC: Maryland was once a center of global trade, so I think the mascot for UMGC should reflect that. I'd say the Sailors, or maybe the Clippers. Other options: Explorers, Freighters
  
• UoPeople: Could be the Humans. Could also go with the People, and then each student would be a Person. Something along those lines. Definitely not anything else.
  
• Franklin: Given the school's start as a YMCA college, they should go with the Gym Rats, or just Rats for short. Other options: The Gymnasts, the Weights
  

What are your thoughts on online schools having mascots? What would you pick for these schools' mascots?

I love that there are separate mascots for American Military University and American Public University. https://images.app.goo.gl/Vha53zwE2SHDYkSo8