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College Seal & Colors
When the dream of Berkshire Community College became
a reality, Tom O'Connell, BCC's first president, recognized that
the institution needed an identity. His goal was to establish an
identity that represented the mission and vision of this brand new
institution of higher learning.
Forty years later a unified easily recognized graphic
identity is still an essential requirement for organizations and
institutions functioning in today's competitive environment. Examples
of well-known graphic identities, include Nike, McDonald's, IBM
and Coca-Cola. O'Connell's idea that BCC should be immediately recognizable
and distinctive by its graphic whenever and wherever it is seen
still applies.
In his book "Community Colleges: A President's View,"
O'Connell explains the behind the scenes philosophy that went into
choosing the academic trappings "which would make the institution
'feel' like a college and which should come to mean a good deal
in its future."
The following is an excerpt from his book. "The selection
of BCC's seal is based on the Berkshire County seal--a road winding
through the Berkshire Hills. Our Motto is from Robert Louis Stevenson:
'To Travel Hopefully is a Better Thing Than to Arrive." If understanding
paradox is the beginning of wisdom, constantly exposing our students
to our motto might be said to be the education process in the microcosm.
The College Colors are royal blue and olive. To those who think
them too 'far out' I reply a) no other college we know has them,
b) they provide a very contemporary combination and some of us do
like them!"
Forty-one years later the college colors remain blue
and green and countless other colleges have adopted them. The falcon
is still a regular summer visitor and remains a symbol of strength
for BCC. And of course the motto sits proudly at the corner of Koussevitzky
and Field for all who visit to see and ponder. Certainly trappings
well chosen.
The College's seal is the imprimatur of Berkshire
Community College. Similarly, the College's logo and logotype adopted
in 1994 are its signature.
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