The Office of the Vice President for Communications provides communication services to enhance the reputation of the University of Michigan. This includes:

Branding and Identity Development

The University of Michigan name and graphic identity are important parts of building and presenting our image. In addition to the standard U-M marks, OVPC helps units create identities for centers, institutes, events, anniversaries and special programs.

Contact Brett Ashley, director, 734-764-9270

For questions or permission to use our logos, please send an e-mail to umlogos@umich.edu.

Communication Planning

The OVPC helps you develop communication plans to ensure projects are comprehensive and success is measurable. We work closely with units to develop strategies for delivering effective and timely communications to internal and external audiences. The plans include:

  • audience identification
  • communications goals and objectives
  • communication team and spokespeople
  • key messages
  • project timeline
  • roles and responsibilities
  • strategy of communication vehicles
  • assessment and feedback tools

Contact Kallie Bila Michels, associate vice president, 734-936-5190

Creative Concept Development

Our designers know Web and print media, and can translate your marketing goals into successful concepts that get your message out. We also provide illustration and art and photo direction services.

Contact Brett Ashley, director, 734-764-9270

Crisis Communication and Issues Management

When a crisis arises at the University, the Public Affairs staff is a crucial part of the response team. We act as the conduit for accurate and timely information to the media and public, while protecting the interests of the University and serving as a buffer to allow other members of the response team to perform their duties. In crisis planning and drilling, we provide expert advice for improving communications performance.

Public Affairs also can help you identify, analyze and manage complicated issues and develop strategies to ensure that the right messages are communicated to the right audiences both internally and externally. We can help implement those strategies and evaluate their results.

Contact: Kelly Cunningham, director, 734-936-5190

Film Production

Thanks to the state’s new tax incentive program, there’s never been a better time to produce a commercial film in Michigan, and the University of Michigan Film Office will do everything we can to facilitate your campus filming experience.

The University offers a wide range of exterior and interior settings, including a world-famous law quad modeled on the architecture of Cambridge and Oxford universities and buildings in the Beaux Arts, Italian Renaissance, Arts & Crafts, and modern styles. The Film Office will help you find the perfect location and make all necessary arrangements for a smooth production.

We also will help students and faculty secure locations for academic productions.

Contact: Lee Doyle, director, 734-763-5800

Graphic Design and Illustration

Experienced multimedia designers at Michigan Marketing & Design understand Web and print media, and can translate marketing goals into successful creative. Web sites, HTML emails, invitations, postcards, periodicals and posters are professionally designed and produced. MM&D also provides illustration, art and photo direction.

Contact: Brett Ashley, director, 734-764-9270

Internal Communications

The weekly print University Record and the daily online Record Update keep faculty and staff informed about what is happening across campus and throughout higher education, and serve as a place to share information with the broader U-M community. The Update features faculty who have been in the news media; the weather; an event of the day; and links to the many activities across campus. The Record highlights the work of faculty and staff, the latest news from administration, faculty research and awards, and staff contributions to U-M.

Contact: Laurel Gnagey, executive editor, 734-764-7260

Marketing Campaigns and Materials

Michigan Marketing & Design assists with marketing efforts at all levels—planning an approach to reach your target audiences within budget, and helping create effective messaging and compelling design materials.

Contact: Brett Ashley, director, 734-764-9270

Media Relations Training

The OVPC provides media training by a TV professional to help faculty and administrators deal effectively with interviews. The more practice faculty and other experts have at interviewing, the more likely it is that the media encounter will be productive. The training provides specific guidance on proven techniques to make the interview and overall success.

Contact: Laura Lessnau, director, 734-764-7260

News Releases, News Clips and Social Media

The News Service works to enhance the reputation, visibility and understanding of the University. We work with campus units to publicize research findings, creative work and major events. The News Service also promotes faculty experts on important topics in the news and assists in preparing and pitching op-eds.

The News Service produces podcasts and news videos of experts, events and programs, and uses social media, including Facebook and YouTube, to help spread the news. As a result of this work, every year the University is featured thousands of times in news outlets around the world. These clips are tracked and edited to share with the campus community through a daily clip service offered through OVPC.

Contact: Laura Lessnau, senior associate director, 734-764-7260

Photography

The University of Michigan Photo Services department provides high-quality photography at competitive rates for the campus community, the media and the general public.

Photo Services offers a comprehensive central photography service and a large digital photography archive.

Contact: Photo Services, 734-764-9217

The Portal en Español

The Portal en Español serves as the window into the University of Michigan to the Spanish speaking world. The Portal provides admissions and academic information to prospective students and their families, and distributes press releases, research and health news, radio feeds and podcasts. We also distribute videos about Latino Culture to Spanish language media outlets and online social networks in the USA and around the world.

Contact: Lee Doyle, director, 734-763-5800
Vivianne Schnitzer, hispanic communications manager, 734-763-0368

Scripts and Video production

Videos bring stories to life better than any other medium and have the ability to convey communications messages in remarkable ways. We have a staff of expert videographers who can help you craft the best video representation of your message—from a 30-second clip for your Web site to a longer documentary about your services, projects or programs.

  • The News Service can coordinate broadcast-quality interviews with faculty experts on videotape or via satellite with national and regional media. Our satellite uplink at the Davidson Studio on Central Campus enables faculty experts to be interviewed by television outlets from around the world. We can help coordinate interfaces with the media and handle technical work.

    Contact: Roger Sutton, broadcast media manager, 734-647-4412

  • Michigan Productions is a full service video production unit offering professional creative and technical assistance to the University community. Video production is supported with state-of-the-art professional standard and high-definition equipment, both in acquisition and post-production activities. Program development, event coverage, and video distribution via Web, disc, or alternate technologies are areas of special expertise.

    For more information contact: 734-615-8000

Web Site Design and Development

Michigan Marketing & Design has produced sites both large and small, from the U-M Gateway to the Open Michigan academic content site (open.umich.edu) to Web sites for special events. Web services include site architecture, content development, Web design and production, database development, Flash production and HTML coding.

Contact: Brett Ashley, director, 734-764-9270

Writing and Editing

Writers at Michigan Marketing & Design have experience in both print and Web. Writing, copyediting and proofreading services are all available.

Contact: Brett Ashley, director, 734-764-9270

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