Logos/Branding

UNC Brand Transition – Guidance for School of Medicine Editors & Communicators

TL;DR: We are rolling out new brand elements in phases. Some updates have been applied globally to School of Medicine WordPress sites, and more are pending. Web Editors/Authors should continue to focus on web accessibility improvements (April 26, 2026 deadline), content cleanup, and removing legacy “Old Well” logos.

As many of you are aware, the University of North Carolina is rolling out a new institutional brand identity – “First. And For All.” This transition will include updates to core website brand assets such as logos, color palettes, typography, and other usage standards. As this work progresses, we anticipate continued communication from the University related to brand compliance requirements.

Currently (as of 2/12/2026), we are still finalizing the official School of Medicine-specific standards and implementation timelines. Some elements have been deployed, while others remain in progress. We are asking all web editors, designers, and communicators to continue reviewing the official brand transition pages (University Website Branding) (School of Medicine Brand Resources) as well as this page, and to follow the recommended steps to maintain compliance with the evolving guidance.

Why We’re Rolling Things Out in Phases

It is critical that the School of Medicine adopt the new brand systematically, consistently, and at scale. Our strategy is to implement as many updates as possible globally across the School of Medicine WordPress environment. This coordinated approach requires partnership from all web editors, designers, and communicators to prevent:

• Rework once final standards are fully released
• Inconsistency across departments, programs, and units
• Undermining future School-wide rollout plans and efficiencies

Centralized implementation allows us to maintain alignment while minimizing redundant effort.

What Has Been Implemented So Far

The following global updates have already been applied to School of Medicine WordPress websites:

• The global School of Medicine WordPress footer logo has been updated to the new interlocking NC logo
• Global header fonts and font sizes have been updated (pending further updates to the official Utility Bar)
• The “Primary Logo” field has been removed from School of Medicine WordPress sites (as of 2/12/2026)

The removed Primary Logo field was where most legacy “Old Well” logos were previously placed. By removing this field, sites should have reverted to Site Title text (see related announcement for details).

What is Pending

The following updates are still in progress:

• Implementation of the UNC WordPress Utility Bar
• Updates to the Site Title, Department Label, and Tagline fields (areas where Old Well logos were historically displayed)
• Any additional standards and visual guidance yet-to-be identified

What You Should Do Now

While global theme updates are being finalized and deployed by the Web Team, editors and communicators should prioritize the following work to maintain compliance and prepare for additional brand updates:

Continue Advancing Web Accessibility Compliance

• The WCAG 2.2 standard and the April 26, 2026 compliance deadline remain in effect (per official UNC policy).
• Accessibility improvements should continue and will not be impacted by branding changes.

Streamline and Improve Content

• Consolidate outdated material
• Remove duplicative pages
• Improve clarity, navigation, and readability

Remove Legacy “Old Well” Logos and Brand Elements

All content below the Website Title and above the global footer (the Carolina Blue bar with interlocking NC logo) is the responsibility of the website’s Primary Admin and/or designated Content Editors (see responsibilities guidance).

Legacy “Old Well” logos, departmental identity marks, and outdated brand elements should be removed from:

• Website content
• Digital materials
• Print materials

Departments should not introduce new custom logos or brand variations.