Last year, MSU spent about half a million dollars to create a brand identity for the university.

A key part of that branding has been Spartan Sagas, a program launched in July 2010 showcasing MSU alumni and students by showing their impact on various parts of the world
through video clips on a website.

MSU has filmed some of the sagas, but most have been submitted by MSU alumni who want to share their stories.

Since July 2010, the site has 19 professionally made videos — with more on the way — and 215 videos that have either been uploaded by alumni themselves or have been filmed by a film crew with Spartan Sagas.

Heather Swain, interim vice president for University Relations, said after a full school year with the campaign, MSU was pleased with its success.

“If you look at rates for engagement, how people engage, getting 215 people to contribute stories on their own is not bad,” Swain said.

And the submissions keep coming in, she said.

“It’s a living, breathing thing,” Swain said.

This past school year, the main change to the program has been Spartan Saga’s website, Swain said. The website was changed several months ago to highlight the self-submit portion. She said the university also is working to redo the current four-page submission form that also requires a YouTube account and is changing the site to make it compatible with all types of smart phones.

Jim Peck, MSU’s director of University Photography and Videography, who filmed the professionally made Spartan Sagas, has traveled to California, New York, Colorado, Africa and London to tape Spartan Sagas.

“I never cease being amazed by what Spartans are doing out there,” Peck said.

Peck said the biggest benefit of the Sagas project is its ability to increase MSU’s reputation.

“I think it realizes the profile and image of this major research university,” he said.