Marketing and Communications

Reporters and editors seeking interviews or information about Student Affairs should contact:

Chantelle Thompson
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Operations and Chief Communications Officer
cthomps@illinois.edu • (217) 300-4221

To help us route your inquiry quickly, please include:

• Your deadline and time zone

• Purpose of the request and the story angle

• Your outlet and where the piece will appear (print, web, radio, TV)

• How the information will be used (background, on the record, quote approval expectations)

• Preferred expert or area of expertise if you have someone in mind

• Interview details: format, length, preferred dates and times, live or recorded

• Topic and key questions you plan to ask

• Any materials needed: statement, data, photos, B‑roll, logos

• Logistics for on‑campus filming or photography, if applicable

• Accessibility needs or other accommodations

We’ll confirm receipt and follow up with next steps. If your request is urgent, please call (217) 300-1300.

The Media Relations Protocol sets the expectation of staff when engaging with the media. It guarantees that interactions with the media are high-quality, consistent, and synchronized. In addition, it assists in maintaining positive and mutually beneficial relationships with the media. Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the University of Illinois Code of Conduct  policy.

1)  Staff must notify their Marketing and Communications department (or Student Affairs Marketing and Communications if the unit does not have a dedicated marketing and communications department) when contacted by the media. They will assist with drafting press releases and statements, interview techniques, and providing advice on procedures for visits to Student Affairs units and events by members of the media. All press releases must be released through Marketing and Communications.

IMPORTANT: Unit Marketing and Communications departments must notify Student Affairs Marketing and Communications of any media inquiries. Doing so will aid in coordination efforts and ensure the Vice Chancellor is aware of media activity. 

Marketing and Communications departments should not send media inquiries or incident-related information directly to Public Affairs. They must notify Student Affairs Marketing and Communications and they will coordinate responses/actions with Public Affairs, consulting with the department as needed.

2)  Staff are encouraged to speak to the media about issues relating to their area of expertise in service, teaching, or research, but are not permitted to comment on university policy or leadership decisions. In certain circumstances, the Vice Chancellor may nominate a staff member to provide comment on a specific issue.

3)  Public comment by staff, including interviews on television, radio, newspapers, online, and at speaking engagements (including conferences and guest lectures) should be limited to topics related to their area of expertise in service, teaching, or research.

4)  Staff expressing public comment on political or social issues as individual citizens should not use their university title or position.

5)  Staff must ensure they do not use information about students or other staff members inappropriately. This includes breaching confidentiality, privacy, and discussing commercially sensitive information. Permission to photograph/video or use a photographic image/video recording of a staff member, a student, or a minor under the age of 18 years of age, must be granted and a Talent Release Form completed by the subject prior to the event. Completed Talent Release Forms should be kept at the department/unit originating the form in accordance with university archival standards.

• Media Policy (University Housing)

• Media & Class Assignment Interview Form (La Casa Cultural Latina)

• Photography, Videography, & Media Access (Campus Recreation)

Below are essential links to guidelines for using copyrighted materials in a way that respects intellectual property rights and adheres to legal and ethical standards. Whether you are creating content for publications, websites or promotional materials, understanding copyright law, proper attribution and fair use is crucial. These guidelines will help you navigate these considerations while ensuring compliance and protecting the university's brand.

• Media Copyright (Student Engagement)
• Visual Identity (Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing)

• Asian American Cultural Center
• Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center
• Counseling Center
• Diversity & Social Justice Education
• Fraternity & Sorority Affairs
• Gender & Sexuality Resource Center
• Illinois Leadership Center
• International Education
• La Casa Cultural Latina
• Native American House
• New Student & Family Experiences (Family Communications)
• Office of Civic Life
• The Jeffries Center
• Women’s Resources Center

iNews is a general-interest newsletter emailed every Sunday to undergraduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

• Any faculty or staff member at U. of I. may submit a post.
• Posts must be official announcements sponsored by a department or unit.
• Posts must be submitted by NOON on THURSDAY.
• Once is enough—an item should appear in only one iNews mailing per semester.
• Limit for scrolling—there is a 10 announcement limit in each mailing. Announcements will be carried over to the next week, if it is still relevant.

Not Allowed

• NO college-specific programs/events (only open to students of certain majors)
• NO political campaigning
• NO direct charitable fundraising
• NO specific job solicitation
• NO surveying
• NO specific targeting emails
• NO new course announcements
• NO ongoing scheduled athletic events
• NO RSO specific events/meetings
• General community events

To learn more, please review the full submission guidelines.

RSO events: Due to the overwhelming amount of student organization events that happen, submissions regarding student organization events are not accepted.

Student Affairs Digest is a general-interest newsletter emailed every Sunday to professional staff members working in Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

• Parameters to Submit:
  • Who can submit
    • Any professional staff member working in Student Affairs may submit a post.
       
  • What can be submitted
    • Posts must be official announcements of general interest to professional staff working in Student Affairs. 
    • Events that are run by Student Affairs staff, are open to all on-campus, and promote work happening within the division are acceptable to submit.
    • Student-centric events—where students are the primary audience (e.g., welcome back BBQs or RSO events) and the event is not open to all—will not be approved.   
    • Once is enough: an item should appear in only one Student Affairs Digest mailing per semester.
       
• Submission Deadline: Thursdays by NOON
   
• Weekly Maximum Submissions: There will be up to 10 listings each week, if your listing misses the cut for one week, it will be moved to the next issue (as long as it is still relevant)
   
• Editorial Schedule (day of the week; break periods)
  • Sent on Sunday mornings
  • Weekly (annually)
  • May not operate during Break Periods

To learn more, view the full submission guidelines.

The Digital Signage Service provides a range of services related to digital signage technology to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. This includes resources, oversight and planning of activities related to the deployment, management and utilization of digital signage technologies. The service provides opportunities to share content and deliver campus emergency notifications.

For more information:

• Service Catalog Entry: Digital Signage Services
• Service Email: digitalsignage@illinois.edu
• Service Ticketing System: https://go.illinois.edu/digitalsignage
• Box Shared Documentation: https://uofi.box.com/v/digitalsignage
  • Meeting Slides and Notes
  • Hardware Specifications
  • Korbyt Documentation
  • Other public documentation
• Training and How-to Videos: UIUC MediaSpace
• Usage Constraints:
  • Customers must ensure that all digital signage content is appropriate and follows and all campus standards, guidelines, and best practices for identity, privacy, security, accessibility and other applicable rules.
  • All digital signage requests should be submitted by a designated contact in the department or unit.

Participation in the campus Digital Signage Service has the following associated costs:

• Service Fee - Charges to cover the costs related to staffing, service infrastructure, and software licensing. The Service Fee is $2,100 annually, billed on a monthly basis.
   
• Licensing Fee - A tiered licensing model is charged per signage device utilizing a license (based on the total number of signs in your unit). The device licenses are also billed monthly.
   
• Number of Signs Cost per Sign (per month) 
  • 1-9 $17.00         
  • 10-19 $12.00         
  • 20-49 $9.00         
  • 50+ $6.00

• Campus Recreation Signage Posting 
• Illini Union Digital Signage Requests  
• University Housing Digital Signage Requests