Ohio Admin. Code 3341-10-05
The faculty, staff and others associated with Bowling Green state university (BGSU) must be cognizant of the reputation of the university, and the impact of individual actions on that reputation. This policy is meant to help protect the university's reputation and provide guidance to individuals on best practices.
The policy applies to any person subject to a university policy including but not limited to:
Working effectively with the news media is essential to helping Bowling Green state university meet its strategic goals and fulfill its mission.
The office of marketing and communications (OMC) is charged with overseeing the university's media relations efforts. This includes publicizing and promoting BGSU to build awareness and interest in the university: enhancing and protecting BGSU's reputation and image: providing the university's official response to media inquiries: and leading communications efforts during a crisis.
The athletics communications office oversees athletic media relations unless an incident or issue occurs that could affect the overall reputation or image of the university. In those instances. OMC takes the lead.
BGSU has established the following policies for working with the media.
All external promotional and news material must be approved by OMC. The office will review publications, promotional materials, news releases and web content for news worthiness, design standards and style standards. OMC will work with the submitter to address any concerns and coordinate distribution.
All news releases must be routed through OMC. In addition, news conferences or announcements where media will be present should be coordinated with OMC to ensure the university is represented consistently and appropriately. OMC may edit items for newsworthiness and style requirements.
OMC receives calls every day from reporters seeking an expert to comment on a topic. The office works to match these requests with BGSU faculty with knowledge in that area.
OMC maintains a database of faculty members and their areas of expertise to meet these requests. Faculty members who are willing to work with the media are encouraged to submit a media profile form to OMC for this purpose.
OMC also welcomes story ideas from faculty and staff. Ideas may be sent to the sr. director of communications (davidk(a),bgsu.edu) or the university's communications specialist (jsobole(a),bgsu.edu).
Broadcast, electronic and print advertising must be approved by office of marketing & communications (OMC) to ensure appropriate use of logos and content: Bowling Green state university marks and logos must be used appropriately in print and advertising as per the Bowling Green state university graphic standards manual, and as per the collegiate licensing company, which governs commercial and non-commercial use of Bowling Green state's name and marks on merchandise and other materials.
Campus signage: Bowling Green state way-finding (directional) and building signage is produced by the office of design and construction under the Bowling Green state university campus master plan.
The division of student affairs manages the on-campus advertising and distribution policy.
Working with many campus areas, including information technology services (ITS) and college/unit/school web designers, OMC sets standards and primary design protocols that all areas must follow for the university website; all areas are required to keep content on sites updated as part of their communications/marketing priorities and to use the most current version of the official university web templates. Customized elements for distinct or non-traditional audiences can be planned with OMC to ensure cohesiveness with the university and universal navigation features.
OMC will champion and protect the university brand, approving messages in concert with that brand and helping colleges, schools and areas customize their own positioning in conjunction with it. Major university messaging/marketing themes, which evolve over time and are based on strategic planning, will be shared with all communicators and marketers, with assistance and support for customizing those themes to help promote individual areas available on request. To date, messages consistent with past university branding and enrollment efforts include different variations of themes authentic to BGSU's audience perceptions, awareness, guide decision making and responses to calls to action: for example, the Bowling Green falcon athletics, Bowling Green state university enrollment and BGSU firelands enrollment themes (recent examples include "we are BG" 'education worth celebrating' and "university within reach' television spots and print designs). General themes may change or adapt in the future based on changing perceptions, branding research, desired audience actions or additional planning.
All university marks, icons and logos are owned by Bowling Green state university and managed by the OMC and falcon athletics per the collegiate licensing company.
BGSU has extensive social media audiences, and is actively engaged with official
university accounts managed by the OMC and ITS in facebook, twitter, foursquare, you tube, Flickr, wikis, blogs and other mediums. Colleges, schools and other campus areas often have pages or accounts connected to the primary BGSU social media sites, customized for their specific audiences. OMC is tasked by the Office of the president to monitor any social media sites using official university marks, identifiers, and logos and reserves the right, in most cases, to remove inappropriate, inaccurate, or misleading material, or material that conveys personal information, violates FERPA laws or opinions in a way that can be construed as a university view. OMC will work with community managers to update and maintain these sites, as well as provide forums for training and best practices. Social networking guidelines are available in the graphic standards manual (http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/mc/gsm/page96997.html).
Mobile applications, both native and web-based, are coordinated through a university mobile/apps committee, chaired by an OMC representative. Policies and procedures are being created and will be shared campus-wide. The OMC will provide approval for BGSU's official mobile apps.
January 1st, 2012
Ohio Admin. Code 3341-10-05
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 3345
Rule Amplifies: 3345