Admissions viewbook
The viewbook is a vital marketing publication for the Office of Admissions. It is used for student recruitment and serves as a reference for important information about academics, admission, student life, housing and residential communities, and financial aid and scholarships. Primary audiences for the viewbook include domestic and international high school students, their parents, and high school counselors.
Branding initiative
Informed by extensive quantitative and qualitative research, Communications and Brand Strategy is leading a branding initiative for MSU that provides a distinctive and unified look and messaging, reflecting who and what the university is and aspires to be. Building the MSU brand raises awareness of the university and enhances the reputation of MSU among external and internal audiences. The MSU brand helps drive priorities in media communications and is conveyed through numerous media, including a redesigned MSU home page, the Spartan Sagas website, print and electronic communications, billboards, TV spots, social media, and the admissions viewbook. Visit Spartans Will for samples of brand materials.
Greening of the Great Lakes
Greening of the Great Lakes is a weekly radio program that explores environmental, economic, and social sustainability efforts throughout the Great Lakes region. Each week, host Kirk Heinze and guests discuss issues that include land use, water quality, alternative energy, biotechnology, and organic agriculture. The show and its companion website greeningofthegreatlakes.com are produced by Michigan State University in collaboration with News/Talk 760 WJR, the Michigan Talk Network, and MLive.com.
MSU at a Glance
The MSU at Glance pocket-size brochure provides an annual snapshot of the university. The content is separated into sections, including history, top distinctions, campus community, academics, global, research, engagement, and athletics. Audiences include visitors to campus, event participants, and prospective faculty members and graduate students.
MSUToday Productions
MSUToday Show
Communications and Brand Strategy produces the Emmy-award-winning MSUToday Show, a weekly television program airing on the Big Ten Network that offers viewers an inside look at MSU. The program features faculty, students, and alumni engaged in research and academic activities on campus and around the world, as well as campus traditions, student life, and innovative outreach efforts by Spartans. View the shows online.
MSUToday Presents
The Communications and Brand Strategy video production team also produces and creates MSUToday Presents, a collection of special documentary-style programs as well as the Spartan Sagas television productions. These programs take an in-depth look at the world of Michigan State University and have garnered numerous Emmys and other awards for production.
MSUToday on WJR
The Communications and Brand Strategy team produces the one-hour MSUToday program airing on WJR radio. This insightful program features MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and Athletics Director Mark Hollis. Together they cover a wide range of interesting topics with guests from Michigan State University. This monthly program also features reports from students and Spartan Saga segments with MSU alumni, faculty, staff, and students who are making positive changes in the world.
MSU website university-level pages
The Michigan State University home page serves as the main portal into MSU’s online presence. The home page and second-level pages communicate the university brand story and support and enhance the university’s reputation; facilitate brand integration throughout the university; and engage and inform primary target audiences. Communications and Brand Strategy maintains the home page and regularly posts new brand stories, Spartan Sagas video content, links to the latest news stories, and campus events, as well as updates the MSU Twitter feed ticker.
MSU Weekly News
The MSU Weekly News is a roundup of top news stories from the university that is e-mailed to approximately 100,000 subscribers, including MSU staff and faculty. In addition to news headlines, subscribers can view related multimedia content and filter news preferences by topic. Subscribers who view the staff and faculty news page can see the latest MSU announcements, faculty conversations, staff profiles, events, and death notices sent to their inbox. Sign up for the MSU Weekly News.
News releases
The MSU news room serves as the go-to resource for media and for the Spartan community seeking the latest university news. The site features multimedia news stories about academics and research, information about campus developments, and special report packages that provide in-depth resources for reporters.
Podcasts
Communications and Brand Strategy produces weekly podcasts featuring in-depth conversations with faculty, staff, and students, who discuss their latest research and innovative projects; guests from media, business, and sports; and Spartan alumni who are making a difference.
President’s Report
The annual President’s Report takes a coordinated multimedia approach to presenting stories of MSU work that is making an impact in communities from Michigan to Malawi and milestone accomplishments from the past year. The package includes a print brochure, an e-mail letter, and an online report with video assets. Primary audiences are MSU alumni and donors and leaders of peer institutions.
Social media
Communications and Brand Strategy (CABS) maintains MSU’s institutional social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr. CABS develops and implements tactics for engaging various audiences through social media and for extending the presence of the university to social networks in which Spartans are active.
Spartan Sagas
Spartan Sagas is a storytelling project that features an ever-growing collection of stories of Spartans—alumni, students, faculty, and staff—told in their own words. The Sagas showcase Spartans who are making an impact around the world and help tell the story of MSU and the opportunities it provides. Visitors to the Spartan Sagas website can explore Sagas produced by the Communications and Brand Strategy photo-video team as well as those submitted by faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Visitors also can upload their own stories to the site. In addition to the Spartan Sagas website, Sagas are featured in shows on the Big Ten Network and in the MSU Alumni Magazine, and are used by many colleges and departments.
University Communicators Network
Communications and Brand Strategy facilitates the University Communicators Network, which connects more than 200 communications professionals across campus. The network provides opportunities for sharing ideas, best practices, and brand integration strategies. Activities include monthly meetings, e-mail announcements via listserv, an annual conference, and workshops.
