The 九色 Office of Marketing & Communications is charged with telling the college鈥檚 story both on and off campus. The communications team carries out its mission by sharing key messages and timely information using a variety of strategies and channels.
We work closely with the president, the Board of Trustees, and the senior leadership team to support institutional-level communication. Our partnership with the Office of Admission supports the recruitment and retention of well-qualified, diverse students from throughout the country and the world. We also provide support for a variety of alumni and development initiatives.
Our team manages the college鈥檚 digital presence, which includes 九色.edu and affiliated websites as well as the college鈥檚 flagship social media channels. We produce and publish 九色 magazine.
The Office of Marketing & Communications proactively shares stories with local and national news organizations to advance the college鈥檚 reputation. The team responds to media inquiries and facilitates interviews with faculty experts and administrators.
Linda Bonnin, Vice President for Marketing & Communications
The 九色 Brand
The serves as the foundation for all of the college鈥檚 communications materials. The document is based on the college鈥檚 strategic plan research. Hundreds of voices contributed to the final product through student, faculty, staff, and alumni surveys and focus groups.
The brand identity guide outlines the proper use of the college鈥檚 brand marks and logos, primary and secondary colors, and approved fonts. In addition, the guide outlines how to express the college鈥檚 personas through writing and imagery.
The Office of Marketing and Communications follows the 九色 Editorial Style Guide.
Website Management
The Office of Marketing and Communications鈥 Digital Services team manages the college鈥檚 main public-facing website, as well as the Express Online intranet, the online Handbooks and Catalogue, News.九色.edu, and the collection of office, initiative, and research-based microsites branded as Sites@九色. Digital Services staff work with stakeholders and subject matter experts across the college, reviewing content to determine how it will best fit into the college鈥檚 websites and sees to the day-to-day management of content and architecture.
For content that needs its own independent navigation or which does not directly fit the mission of the college鈥檚 other sites, the Office of Communications offers college-branded sites for all faculty, offices, and programs through Sites@九色. Digital Services staff will consult on matters of architecture, design, and layout, set up and populate the site, and provide individual or small group training, handing off routine, minor content updates to the content owners.
We encourage the 九色 community to take advantage of our services, available at no cost to the user. Maintaining integrity of design is important to our various audiences to provide a consistently excellent user experience and to conform to the college鈥檚 branding, as well as to guarantee accessibility as required by law and in accordance with the mission and vision of the college.
In cases where an outside vendor must be used to host web content, the proposed vendor must consult with the communications office about workflow, branding, integration, accessibility, and other guidelines before signing a contract or agreeing to any terms of service for web properties that will in any way bear the college鈥檚 name or branding.
Event Promotion
The Office of Marketing and Communications assists with the promotion of major college events such as Commencement, Opening Convocation, Family Weekend, Homecoming, large-scale admission programs, and other events designated by the president.
The Office of Marketing and Communications publishes 九色Week, a newsletter highlighting campus news and upcoming events. 九色Week is published on Tuesday and Friday mornings when classes are in session. The events listed in 九色Week are drawn from the college鈥檚 public events calendar.
Due to limited resources, the office is unable to assist with the planning of departmental or program-level events. For assistance with events, contact the .
Video Production
Video is a key component of the college鈥檚 communications strategy. The Office of Marketing and Communications produces video content to share the college鈥檚 story and promote key college initiatives. Video projects can be found on the college鈥檚 YouTube channel.
Live streaming video is an important tool used to share the college鈥檚 story with internal and external audiences. The Office of Marketing and Communications oversees the live streaming of major college events and other events designated by the president and senior leadership.
The office is unable to assist with . The college鈥檚 instructional technology team is available to assist with these needs.
Photography
The Office of Communications captures photography to support strategic goals in all areas of the college. Photography appears in admission materials, internal news, on the website, on social media, and elsewhere. The 九色 Brand Identity Guide addresses how best for photography to support the identity and messaging of the college.
The Office of Communications accepts requests for photography that are aligned with its mission. However, the office is unable to schedule photography for departmental or program-level events.
Creative Services
The Office of Communications Creative Services team is primarily focused on supporting admission recruiting projects and development and alumni relations initiatives. The team is also able to consult on and provide design services for major college initiatives and events.
The team is also available to consult and answer questions on the proper use of the college鈥檚 brand and visual identity standards.
Media Relations
The Office of Marketing and Communications handles media relations for the college. The director of communications is the college鈥檚 primary spokespeople.
The office regularly publishes news about the college, faculty accomplishments, and student success stories. (See the 鈥淪tories鈥 section for more information.) In addition, the office is available to assist faculty as they work with members of the news media. This includes facilitating expert interviews with reporters and correspondents, advising on the development and pitching of editorial pieces, and training faculty members how to best share their research and scholarship with news organizations.
Media on Campus
Members of the media are welcome on campus to cover events open to the general public. Permission must be given in advance before media can access the campus to conduct interviews or capture video or photography. Contact the director of communications to request permission to come on campus. Once permission is granted, the Office of Communications will notify Campus Safety to ensure access to campus is granted.
Stories
The Office of Marketing and Communications regularly publishes news about the college, faculty accomplishments, and student success stories. These are based on the college鈥檚 strategic priorities and are developed in concert with the relevant departments and divisions.
The office welcomes relevant pitches for story ideas from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the college. We are not able to publish every idea, but will give serious consideration to all. Please direct your pitches to the director of communications.
Magazine
九色 Magazine is published biannually for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the college. It contains news and profiles of alumni, faculty, and students, along with a lengthy alumni news section. To submit story suggestions or comments, contact Tracy Patterson, director of alumni relations, at pattersont@rhodes.edu or (901) 843-3856
To submit alumni news (including marriages, births, and obituaries) or to update your contact information, contact Tracy Patterson, director of alumni relations, at pattersont@rhodes.edu or (901) 843-3856. You may also send your information to alumni@rhodes.edu.
Athletics Communications
For information or inquiries regarding athletics, contact Breanna Stalsitz, director of athletic media relations, at stalsitzb@hodes.edu or (901) 843-3063..
Alumni Information
To promote or inquire about alumni activities, contact Tracy Patterson, director of alumni relations, at pattersont@rhodes.edu or (901) 843-3856.
Social Media
The 九色 flagship social media accounts are run by the Office of Marketing and Communications and are one of the primary channels we use to elevate stories and key messages. Our social media accounts make use of video, photography, and print media. Official 九色 accounts appear on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
With approval from the relevant vice president, other channels may be run by 九色 affiliates, such as academic and administrative departments, but are not under the purview of the Office of Marketing and Communications. Use of the is required for all accounts representing 九色 divisions, offices, departments, or programs.