The Office of University Relations (OUR) is the central voice of The University of Iowa and takes the lead in developing effective communication and outreach strategies. We focus on services and products that increase public goodwill and support for the University and reflect the goals outlined in the University’s strategic plan.

The following list outlines current OUR functions and projects, which include campus-wide consulting, comprehensive media relations, print and electronic products aimed at key audiences, and programs that help market the University.

Communication coordination and counsel

• Counsel to central administration: Advise the University president and vice presidents group on communication issues, goals, and strategies
• Communication planning: Identify institutional priorities and the best means to communicate them; anticipate and address issues of particular concern or controversy
• Message development: Articulate the University’s positions on key issues
• University spokespeople: Speak directly to news media and other audiences; prepare University administrators, faculty, staff, and others for communication roles
• Communication with the regents: Develop messages or materials for presentation to the regents and other policymakers; support regents’ communication staff as needed
• Cross-campus coordination: Partner with communicators across campus to discuss issues, policies, and strategies

Media relations

• News releases: Identify and package information about University achievements, innovations, research findings, etc., for news media and other outlets; serve as the central distribution channel for all University news
• News digest: Distribute daily e-mail compilations of University headlines
• News briefings: Arrange special announcements to news media and coach University personnel on messages and media strategy
• Media training: Provide or contract workshops on interacting with news media
• Editorial board visits: Schedule and facilitate meetings between University leaders and newspaper boards
• Public information and records requests: Field information requests from the media and general public
• Experts list and contacts: Connect University experts with news media; respond to media requests for comment on current issues
• News pitches: Market University news stories to contacts in the media
• Calendars: Promote University events via the UI master calendar and other venues
• Multimedia requests: Provide file photography, graphics, video, and audio to news media, campus communicators, and others

Constituent communication

• fyi faculty and staff web site: Distribute weekly news for University faculty and staff via the fyi web site and e-mail digest
• Spectator alumni newspaper: Provide the University’s 200,000-plus alumni with biannual updates on campus news
• @IOWA e-mail digest: Compile monthly headlines for 90,000 subscribers, mostly alumni and friendsParent Times newspaper: Distribute a quarterly publication to parents of UI undergraduatesFacts brochure and web site: Provide an annual snapshot of University information and statistics for general audiences in print and onlineVisitors Guide brochure: Publish and distribute an annual campus map and resource guide especially for visitors
• Annual report: Work with the Office of the President to report the year’s achievements in print or online

University web presence

• UI home page site: Create and maintain the University’s central web presence, including the UI home page and associated pages or sites
• Web graphic, content, and compliance standards: Develop basic standards and recommendations for University sites, particularly graphic identity guidelines
• Home page news and events: Post daily news headlines and event promotions on the home page
• “Be remarkable” profiles: As part of the “Be remarkable” campaign, develop weekly profiles of students, faculty, staff, and others for home page presentation

Institutional branding and marketing

• Graphic identity system: Maintain the University’s graphic identity system, including the dome logo and wordmark (as opposed to the “tigerhawk” logo maintained by the Department of Athletics); convene a graphic identity committee to review branding proposals from UI units
• Market research: Contract regular opinion surveys of Iowans and other key University audiences
• TV spots and broadcast advertising: Develop commercials aimed at state, national, and other audiences; plan and purchase TV and radio advertising as needed to meet marketing goals
• Print and other advertising: Create and purchase ads in newspapers, magazines, and other media; develop additional approaches to boost UI visibility among key audiences
• Licensing review: Field requests from outside vendors to use the University logo and wordmark on commercial products

Admissions marketing support

• Undergraduate admissions publications: Develop print materials aimed at undergraduate recruitment, including the University viewbook
• Online and electronic marketing support: Provide planning, design, content, and technical support for the Office of Admissions web site, e-mail campaigns, and related initiatives
• Program materials: Create print and electronic communication materials for campus visits, Orientation, and other Admissions programs
• Housing publications: Develop University Housing materials in coordination with Admissions projects
• Admissions advertising: Create and fund print advertising focused on student recruitment
• Additional undergraduate recruitment projects: Develop materials for specific programs that admit undergraduates, including the College of Engineering, the University Honors Program, and others

Consulting and project development

• Print and electronic publications: Partner with various University units to develop materials that address institutional priorities, reach particularly large or influential audiences, or address other key goals (following are current examples)
• EOD/CDE advertising and publications: Work with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and the Center for Diversity and Resources on advertising and other initiatives aimed at student, faculty, and staff recruitment
• Student Success Team (SST) initiatives: Collaborate with colleagues from the Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice President for Student Services, and other units to communicate and brand SST projects, including The IOWA Challenge
• Arts & Sciences alumni magazine: Develop an annual alumni magazine for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Human resources initiatives: Provide communication and marketing support for projects like the Working at Iowa survey and the Compensation and Classification Redesign.

Statewide outreach

• Central administration outreach: Develop community outreach proposals and opportunities for the president, the provost, and other University leaders
• Speakers Bureau: Connect community groups with University presenters and experts
• We’ve Got Connections brochures: Report the University’s economic and educational impact on local communities
• State Fair: Organize, staff, and fund the University’s annual presence at the Iowa State Fair

Special projects

• Partnership for Alcohol Safety: Develop communication plans and messages for the campus-community effort to counter unsafe drinking
• “Be remarkable” campaign: Create content, directions, and applications for the University’s current branding platform
• Flood recovery information: Maintain the flood recovery information web site, plan recovery/rebuilding announcements, and develop initiatives to commemorate the year since the 2008 campus flood
• Social media development: Recommend and pilot central UI presences on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media venues