Communications Resources
A Quick Guide to University Communications
As UMW recruits each student, we aim to celebrate every one. We showcase student success, faculty expertise, and staff excellence. Our storytelling approach focuses on the people and place, our shared passions and purpose, and our strategic plan and core values. We also work to share resources and knowledge with our community members, and we elevate the Mary Washington brand to engage new audiences and encourage our alumni to stay connected to their alma mater.
Who We Are
University Communications includes creative services and brand management, digital communications and the website, editorial services, marketing, news and public relations, and social media.
What We Do
We design, manage, and implement University-wide communications and marketing initiatives, focusing on brand awareness and admissions, recruitment and retention, and alumni engagement and advancement.
How We Do It
We work through digital, print and in-person to communicate the Mary Washington experience.
- Broadcast emails on campus
- Newsletters, including EagleEye
- News releases and feature stories
- Media relations and pitches for faculty expertise
- Social media through the University’s flagship accounts
- Publications from postcards to annual reports
- Stickers and swag
- Signage, digital screens (EagleVision) and banners
- Event fliers (for series, annual events, and traditions)
- Art direction for photography and video and booking these services
- Digital marketing and print advertising
- Website management, analysis, and user testing
- Web content and search engine optimization
Note: Digital marketing campaigns must be coordinated with University Communications to connect with Google Analytics and coordinate with the University’s marketing strategy.
When to Contact Us
If you have an idea to reach external audiences including prospective students and their families, or want to broadcast news to all faculty and staff and/or all students, please contact us to start. We’ll work with you to build it into the University’s content calendar and project schedule and zero in on ways to reach
your audiences. If you have a targeted audience in mind, we’ll make sure it’s in the plan and provide online tools, resources, and creative consultation at any step in the process where you need advice.
Please allow at least 24 hours for broadcast email requests and adhere to the Policy on Broadcast
Emails. Content for newsletters and website updates should be submitted one week in advance when
possible. Larger projects and requests require at least three-weeks’ notice and should factor in at least
two-weeks for each stage (i.e. conceptualization = 2 weeks, design = 2 weeks, printing = 2 weeks).
To expedite a step, please submit any approved content, photos or video with permission to publish,
or design samples with your request.
Where We Work
We’re located in Eagle Village Suite 300. Contact us at communications@umw.edu, schedule a Zoom consultation, invite us to join your project team or departmental meeting, or call us at ext. 1055.