9.81 University Communication

Purpose

To establish authority for oversight of official university marketing and communication channels, programs and activities.

Policy

The Office of University Relations (UR) is charged with the leadership and oversight of all official institutional marketing and communication channels, and programs and activities used to reach internal and external audiences.

These specifically include those activities related to logos and marks/visual identity, style, usage, crisis communication, media relations, university Web site, internal campus communication, campus distribution of mass e-mail, community relations activities, parent communication, printing, displays, and contracting for related professional services.

UR shall develop standards, guidelines and procedures necessary for the effective management of university communication efforts, and shall routinely communicate these to university units.

Procedures

1. University nameplate and associated logos

   1. UR shall develop, maintain and make routinely available for use by university units, a visual identity and style guide.

   2. University entities shall conform to the standards set forth in the University of Northern Iowa Visual Identity and Style Guide.

   3. University entities shall use the prescribed nameplate (or approved affiliate marks) and associated colors, etc., as described in the Visual Identity and Style Guide

   For details, see www.uni.edu/ur/UNI_Style_Guide.pdf

2. Crisis Communication

   1. UR is specifically responsible for official institutional communication on and off campus related to issues and crises.

   2. UR (or its designee) shall use the automated UNI Alert system to distribute emergency messages.

   3. UR shall develop, maintain and routinely distribute a university Communication Handbook for Issues, Crises and Emergencies.

   For details, see:

   www.uni.edu/resources/alert/alert-faq

3. Media Relations

   1. UR shall be responsible for contact with the news media, including creation and distribution of information relating to general university news or topics requiring an institutional response. Some designated departments and commercial agencies may be authorized by UR to distribute specific information to the media.

   2. News releases related to the university or its respective units shall be edited, approved and distributed by UR. UR shall develop and routinely distribute guidelines for news release development and media contact.

   3. News conferences shall be coordinated by or through University Relations.

   For details, see www.uni.edu/ur/public-relations/media-relations

4. Campus Communication/Mass E-mail

   1. It is the policy of the University of Northern Iowa to limit mass e-mail to the entire university community to those messages approved by UR.

   For details, see www.uni.edu/ur/electronic-communications

5. Parent Communication

   1. UR shall lead university efforts to integrate communication to parents of current and prospective students.

   2. All mass communication to parents of current and prospective students shall be approved by UR. Some designated departments and commercial agencies may be authorized by UR to distribute specific information to parents.

   For details, see:

   https://access.uni.edu/cgi-bin/parents/par_port.cgi

   www.uni.edu/resources/newsletter

6. Web Pages (Internet sites)

   1. All university and university-related Web pages shall conform to the standards set forth in the University of Northern Iowa Visual Identity and Style Guide.

   2. All university and university-related Web pages also shall conform to the Web page development standards set forth in the university Web policy -- UNI Web tools: Resources for Web Developers.

   For details and procedures, see

   http://www.uni.edu/webtools/uni-web-policy

   http://www.uni.edu/resources/newsletter

7. Displays

   1. Display concepts, developed for or by university colleges and departments, and affiliated units, shall comply with the standards set forth in the University of Northern Iowa Visual Identity and Style Guide.

   2. UR shall maintain an inventory of professional display units for use on and off campus. Rental and set-up fees may apply in some cases.

   For details, see www.uni.edu/ur/marketing/exhibit-support

8. Use of commercial marketing/public relations/advertising agencies and consultants

   1. If UR decides a project or body of work is best handled by a commercial agency, it shall select the appropriate agency for the job (in accordance with university purchasing guidelines).

   2. In cases where commercial agencies are contracted to provide marketing-communication services to the university, or an affiliated unit/program, UM&PR must approve concepts and tactical materials before final production.

9. Photography

   The UR photographer is responsible for maintaining an archive of university photos for use in publications and on websites.

University Relations approved, 2/27/09
President's Cabinet approved, 3/9/09