Overall review of multiple communication avenues

Task Force Recommendation: Create and invest in affirming spaces for diverse students

Task Force Project: Overall review of multiple communication avenues:

  • Conduct an overall review of diversity in publications and outgoing messages via web and social media. 
  • Conduct an internal scan of language (i.e. pronouns), messaging, images to make an intentional effort to include people from diverse backgrounds and diverse perspectives

Champion: Brian Beam, Megan Rolfs

Status: Ongoing

Implementation Team Actions

  • Changes spearheaded by the All-Gender Committee and Cross Functional Committee now allow students and employees to update personal information that includes pronouns and gender on systems throughout campus.  
  • Ongoing implementation of the Communications Task Force recommendations and review continue throughout UMC.
  • UMC regularly communicates with the President’s Office on review and advice regarding EDI-relevant stories, social media posts, and online communications. Members of both teams have developed shared workflow processes and are in regular contact.
  • The Division of Student Affairs routinely monitors images used across print pieces and digital media to ensure images represent an accurate portrayal of the Illinois State student population.
  • The Student Affairs Marketing Council participates in diversity and inclusion trainings and cultural competency discussions throughout the academic year. Specific topics have included accessibility, inclusive language and images, and the impact of marketing and communication efforts on diverse populations.
  • Accessibility has become a major focus area for Division of Student Affairs marketing initiatives in an effort to make content accessible to all individuals. Departments are required to caption all videos, limit or eliminate all text in graphics, and include alternate text or descriptive captions for images.

Next step/Timeline

  • A Diversity and Inclusion communication guidelines document is being discussed in conjunction with the consultants. Such a document would need to be developed in partnership with university experts and widely vetted. As funds become available communication training opportunities will be offered to campus partners.