From the Nominator

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we published two print magazines per year: Michigan Tech Magazine and Research Magazine. The former was intended for alumni and friends of the university, the latter for faculty, administrators, and others involved in the university’s research enterprise. Both were between 30 and 50 pages, until pandemic budget constraints forced a shift to digital-only publications. In 2023, when budgets grew and demand for a print magazine returned, we took the opportunity to rethink our approach to better serve our readers. The bifurcation of our audience did not serve our unique readership. Our rural location in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula lends itself to a strong sense of place and a rich campus experience that balances our rigorous, STEM-focused academics. We are, as our students say, "a nerd school." Our readers had been telling us they wanted stories of campus life and research in the same publication—and we listened. In 2023, we launched Tech Magazine, an annual, 72-page general interest magazine. The inaugural issue featured research stories, campus life stories, and a narrative alumni profile that won a CASE Circle of Excellence Gold Award. Feedback on the redesigned magazine was strong, so we replicated the approach in 2024. Our readers loved it. Echoing the sentiment we received from others, one alum—a retired editor from the class of ’58—called it “by far the best, most balanced publication I have ever received from MTU.”

From the Judges

The team’s thoughtful and deliberate changes, including upgraded images and storytelling, created a stellar publication. Their strategic decision making around printing, page count, and circulation showed they could successfully do more with less and they received good reader feedback in response.