Strategic Communications
Strategic Communications is focused on enhancing and protecting the institutional reputation of the University of Alberta as one of the leading public universities in Canada and the world. We are inspired by and committed to supporting the strategic goals of Shape, the university's institutional strategic plan. We build awareness and understanding of the U of A's transformative impact on students and society. We showcase the initiatives and stories that demonstrate the U of A's commitment to research and teaching excellence that leads to positive, enduring change both close to home and around the world. We also foster pride and engagement across our internal communities and campuses. Finally, we enable transparency and accountability around university administration and governance.
Areas of responsibility
Editorial Strategy
Our goal: To play a leading role in telling the University of Alberta's story externally, focusing on our alumni and donor community.
Our work: Through Folio, the university's brand journalism site, we assist the U of A community with telling its story to the world. We also keep our alumni and donors informed through New Trail, our award-winning magazine that offers graduates a way to reconnect with the university.
Executive Communications
Our goal: To develop proactive, integrated and coordinated institutional strategic communications that advance the university's overall reputation as well as specific university strategic priorities and initiatives.
Our work: We strive for excellence in presidential communications by ensuring alignment, consistency and creativity in institutional key messaging, storytelling and advocacy.
Internal Communications
Our goal: To ensure that the university's community of faculty, staff and students have the information and opportunities they need to participate in the development and everyday life of the institution.
Our work: Through The Quad, our faculty and staff blog and YouAlberta, our student blog, we strive to keep our internal community informed of university activities, decision-making and governance processes through timely, clear and consistent communication. We also promote opportunities and events that allow community members to connect and engage with one another both in person and online.
Issues Management & Strategic Initiatives
Our goal: To be an agile action and support group that works closely with university leaders and both internal and external partners on behalf of the Office of the Vice-President (External Relations).
Our work: We provide guidance and advice on comprehensive stakeholder relations, issues management, as well as crisis and emergency communications. We also develop and manage stakeholder relations and communications strategies for inter-departmental or university-wide priority initiatives.
Media Strategy
Our goal: To create awareness, advance the reputation of the University of Alberta and widen the audience locally, nationally and internationally through meaningful, strategic and consistent engagement with media outlets.
Our work: We pitch media proactively, manage media requests, and provide media and news writing training to the university community.