¿ì»îapp

It’s been a year since I began leading the Division of Marketing & Communications (MarComm) and I’m pleased to share some insight into the team—who we are, what we doÌýandÌýwhy we do it.ÌýOver the last few months MarComm has beenÌýin transition. On the heels of a realignment, we’re learningÌýnewÌýways of thinking, feeling and behaving. We’re focusing onÌýhow we can lead marketing and communications strategy for the University in more effective ways.ÌýThoughÌýweÌýmay find ourselvesÌýfeelingÌýa bit uneasy and uncertain as we begin implementing change in the midst of Covid-19 and all of its new realities,Ìýwe’re trying out new ways of interacting with one another and working together.Ìý

MarComm is making a series of changes that will allow us toÌýbetter serve our campus partners during this disruptive time, and into the future and help shepherd ¿ì»îapp into its next chapter.ÌýIn the current fast-changing environment—where marketing and communications are the drivers of our current and future reputation and success, it is critical to have the ability to move quickly, adjustÌýcontinually, and not only meet our partners’ expectations but far exceed them.Ìý

Last fall we began a strategic planningÌýinitiative,ÌýMarComm 2025,Ìýby creatingÌýaÌýset of mission, vision, and values statementsÌýtoÌýguide usÌýtowardsÌýcollectively deliveringÌýresults as aÌýdivision and to advance our work with campus colleagues.ÌýTo realize our vision to cement the ¿ì»îapp as a transformative research and academic engine, weÌýmustÌýlive our missionÌýbyÌýspeakingÌýwith a unified, authentic and resonant voice to strategically advance the ¿ì»îapp’s brand.Ìý

Near the start of the new year, a MarCommÌýsurveyÌýestablishedÌýa benchmark regarding the services we provideÌýto campus partners, enabling us toÌýassess what works best andÌýdetermineÌýwhere there are opportunities for improvement.

Though Covid-19 rearranged everyone’s priorities, including those of MarComm, we’re looking to gain some momentum on our realigned structure and begin to focus on .

In June, we entered into a partnership withÌýÌýto implement aÌýcomprehensive research and review of ¿ì»îapp’s brand, market position, andÌýidentity to provide a strong and strategic foundation for our enrollment, retention and advancement efforts.ÌýThe anticipation of an enrollment cliff in the next few yearsÌýand theÌýemergence of Covid-19Ìýaccelerated the need to launch this effort.Ìý

The project will culminate in a new reputation strategy and communication platform for the institution this fall. This will enable ¿ì»îapp to implement a new identity and brand strategy to recruit our fall class of 2021Ìýand beyond.ÌýÌý

I invite you to checkÌýthis blogÌýoften to receive insights into the work underway.Ìý

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Renea MorrisÌý
Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Communications