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Scenes from the University of Rhode Island

About the Department of
Communications and Marketing

The University's Department of Communications and Marketing in the Division of University Advancement is dedicated to promoting the University, its people and programs by communicating news and information with students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents of students, the news media and the general public. Together, all of us tell URI's story. We are press officers, marketers, communications professionals, and creators of multimedia content working for the University in various roles.

The department directs branded, strategic marketing efforts to enhance the University's worldwide visibility and reputation. This mission is achieved through use of overlapping marketing and communication strategies that include:

Marketing

  • Leadership of all aspects of the University's strategic brand creation and use in all venues - print, broadcast, online and outdoors.
  • Marketing, editorial, design and production assistance of print materials for all University campuses, colleges, administrative units and programs.
  • Coordination with and links to services by URI's Publications Department.

New Media

  • Set creative and technical direction of the University website, www.uri.edu.
  • Direct, manage and produce video for use on the Web, broadcast and other venues.
  • Direct and manage the University's brand on all first-level Internet pages and foster its use on all other page levels University-wide.
  • Incorporate the use of available Web technologies, such as Twitter, RSS, Facebook, YouTube, among others, into the University's communications and marketing.

Executive Communication

  • Advise the Office of the President, Provost, and other administrative offices on communication and public relations opportunities and issues.
  • Manage crisis communications.

Media and Public Relations

  • Serve as the University's full-service, in-house public relations counselors and official spokespersons.
  • Is the liaison for all University contact with local, regional and national news media.
  • Write and distribute news releases to local, regional and global media sources.
  • Initiate, direct and manage press conferences and briefings as needed.

University Community

  • Facilitate the exchange of news and information via email and online.
  • Maintain and manage the University-wide online calendar of events.
  • Direct and manage emergency notifications to the University community, media and more as needed.
  • Write and contribute to the Alumni publications, inAdvance (electronic newsletter) and Quad Angles magazine.

Community Relations

  • Serve as a conduit between the University and regional civic and business organizations through the University's Speakers Bureau.