Brand Updates

Access the new Missouri State Web Design System

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The Missouri State Web Design System was officially launched August 22, 2022. 

This system provides guidance to those who collectively support Missouri State’s web presence. 

Within this system, you will find:

  • The Missouri State brand toolkit for the web.
  • How to structure your page with templates and grids.  
  • A guide to the elements and patterns available; in what form they are offered in Omni CMS; and how they may be best used. 
  • Guidance for incorporating images, videos, icons and charts within your page layout. 

To further serve you, training is available through the following: 

Training is still provided through the web support help desk via phone, Zoom or in person (by appointment.)

If you have any design questions, contact Valerie Cummings at 417-836-5670 or VCummings@MissouriState.edu.

 

Boost your marketing skills in just 5 days

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Whatever your role is on campus, recruiting and retaining students is at the forefront of Missouri State’s (and your) mission. It’s all about using effective marketing strategies to reach those students where they are.

That’s why the division of marketing and communications is offering a series of free training sessions on campus that will explore best practices to improve your skills in writing, video, social media, design and more.

Faculty and staff members are invited to MarCom Training Week, March 28-April 1 at Glass Hall.

How to register

Registration is required in My Learning Connection at my.missouristate.edu.

  • Go to your profile tab.
  • Find the Professional Development box.
  • Select My Learning Connection.
  • Search for this session.
  • Sign up.

Event schedule

You can access details for each event on the university calendar.

March 28

Think like a journalist: The event is not the story, 1-2 p.m., Glass Hall 108

March 29

How to look like Missouri State, 9-10 a.m., Glass Hall 101

Making your statement with video, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Glass Hall 101

March 30

How to go from good to great with social media, 1-3 p.m., Glass Hall 108

Making your statement with photography, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Glass Hall 108

March 31

How to sound like Missouri State, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Glass Hall 101

Easy website wins for student recruitment, 10-11 a.m., Glass Hall 101

How to be a web content star, 11 a.m.-noon, Glass Hall 101

April 1

Making your statement with the media, 10 a.m.-noon, Glass Hall 108

Meet the presenters

  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, office of strategic communication
  • Natalie Allen, clinical assistant professor, biomedical sciences
  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, office of strategic communication
  • Brian Heaton, content management programmer, office of web strategy and development
  • Chris Nagle, interim director, office of video marketing
  • Kai Raymer, content strategist, office of web strategy and development
  • Michelle Rose, assistant director-editorial, office of creative services
  • Jesse Scheve, staff photographer, office of creative services
  • Amy Schuldt, director, office of creative services
  • Jessica Summers, director, office of web strategy and development
  • Megan Swift, video production specialist, office of video marketing
  • Kevin White, assistant director-photography, office of creative services
  • Emily Yeap, public relations specialist, office of strategic communication

Meet Sprout: A collaborative way to do social media

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The community engagement pillar of public affairs extends to social media management. We have an opportunity to become even better in that space.

The office of university communications (UC) invites Missouri State faculty and staff to attend a demo with Sprout Social, one of the leading social media software companies in the industry. UC has used the platform for more than a year to manage university-level accounts. The investment helped its social media team work more collaboratively and create a better product.

Sprout Social is an all-in-one social media management platform that helps organizations around the country (including Missouri State) build stronger relationships with their audiences through streamlined social media engagement.

What Sprout can do

Sprout’s platform includes several features that allows organizations to:

  • Schedule and publish content across most social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
  • Retweet, like, share and reply to customer comments.
  • Tag user accounts and posts to better understand who’s interacting with you.
  • Create reports that analyze content that’s working … and content that isn’t.
  • And much more.

The details

Sprout representatives Chelsea Dunn and Lexi Fallon will provide a platform demonstration and answer questions 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 25, 2021 on Zoom.

The demo is free and open to Missouri State faculty and staff, including student workers and graduate assistants who operate official university social media accounts.

Join on Zoom

MSU staff members win CASE awards for publications, videos, events and design

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Missouri State University staff members are the recipients of nine CASE District VI 2021 Institutional Awards. This includes two Grand Golds, the district’s highest honor.

CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, is a nonprofit that supports alumni relations, communications, development and marketing professionals at educational institutions worldwide.

MSU is in CASE District VI, which includes Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

These awards recognize work from this district that showcases best practices and builds strong relationships with alumni, donors, potential students and other constituencies.

MSU’s entries competed against a large field of more than 300 submissions, reviewed by more than 70 judges.

2021 awards

Grand Gold in Publications/Student Recruitment-Viewbooks and Prospectuses: Variable Data Viewbook

From the judges: “This is a fantastic example of customizing an experience based on a user. The writing and photography are also excellent. This is a game-changing concept with measurable outcomes, since the team can show a direct correlation to increase in web traffic when these publications were mailed.”

Front cover of variable data viewbook

Lead team members:

  • Veronica Adinegara, senior graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Michelle S. Rose, assistant director of editorial, editorial and design services
  • Contributing photographer Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Contributing photographer Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media
  • Mark A. McCarty, manager of printing and postal services
  • Austin Hubbard, pre-press technician, printing and postal services
  • Julie C. Spinabella, administrative coordinator of data and communications
  • Benjamin P. Metzger, associate director of admissions/operations and systems

Grand Gold in Video/Fundraising-Short: Onward, Upward: The Campaign for Missouri State University

From the judges: “Excellent use of famous alum. Script was really good. Inspiring use of ‘Here come the Bears’ and transition to today’s campus.”

 

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
  • Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Stephanie Smith, senior director of donor relations and special events

Additional support provided by the offices of development, university communications and visual media.

Gold in Special Events-Single Day: It’s ON — Missouri State University “Onward, Upward” Campaign Launch Event

From the judges: “THIS is how a successful campaign looks, feels and lives. The Missouri State University ‘Onward, Upward’ campaign is a gem on all accounts. Unique aspect of keeping a secret while also inspiring attendees to come. Great marketing materials. Outstanding work!”

Stage and auditorium full as streamers fly through air at It's On announcement.

Lead team member:

  • Stephanie Smith, senior director of donor relations and special events

Additional support from members of the offices of alumni relations, development and the Division of Marketing and Communications.

Gold in Video/PSAs and Commercial Spots: “This is the right place, this is the right time”

From the judges: “Well done. Great placement for a famous alumnus. Great messaging in the time constraints.”

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications

Silver in Publications/Fundraising-Case Statements/General Cultivation Publications: Onward, Upward Master Case Statement

From the judges: “A comprehensive campaign case statement is a major undertaking, and this one is nicely done. The campaign name and the logo have great movement, and lots of possibilities. They carried this through with a compelling story.”

Case statement for the Onward Upward campaign.

Lead team members:

  • Amy Schuldt, assistant director of design, editorial and design services
  • Michelle S. Rose, assistant director of editorial, editorial and design services
  • Wendy Ferguson, executive director of development
  • Lauren Stockam, graduate assistant, university communications

Silver in Publications/Institutional Relations-Research Publications: 2019 Mind’s Eye

Cover of 2019 Mind's Eye, featuring Lisa Brescia in NYC's Times Square.

From the judges: “This publication is a great example of sharing research activities with excellent storytelling and readability.”

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Teri Poindexter, graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Contributing writers:
    • Andrea Mostyn, director of university communications
    • Emily Yeap, public relations specialist, university communications
    • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
    • Graduate assistants Lauren Stockam and Tori York
    • Lucie Amberg, former strategic communications specialist for the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters
  • Contributing photographers:
    • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
    • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
    • Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media

Silver in Video on a Shoestring: “Better Than Ever”

From the judges: “Good energy. Student and alumni pride was clear.”

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Clif Smart, university president

Silver in Video/Student Recruitment-Long: “Mind’s Eye: Putting it all out there”

 

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Lisa Brescia, assistant professor, theatre and dance
  • Lucie Amberg, former strategic communications specialist for the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters

Bronze in Design for Publications (Multi-Page): 2019 Mind’s Eye

From the judges: “Very nice piece, whether in print or video. … This took a lot of coordinating and expense to create. Well-written and diverse selections for highlighted stories.”

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Teri Poindexter, graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Contributing photographers:
    • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
    • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
    • Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media

Learn how to tell MSU’s story at MarCom Training Week

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Here’s the perfect New Year’s resolution: Serve your Missouri State audiences better than ever. We can show you how in just one week.

The division of marketing and communications will present the first MarCom Training Week Feb. 3-7, 2020, at Plaster Student Union 308. All sessions are free. Registration is required on My Learning Connection via My Missouri State.

Register now

The schedule

Feb. 3

How to sound like Missouri State, 9-10 a.m.

  • How to write about Missouri State within brand.
  • Assistance available within the brand website.
  • What style to use when writing for the university.
  • Best practices for readability.

How to look like Missouri State, 10:15-11:15 a.m.

  • Brand visual guidelines.
  • What brand resources are available.
  • How to use university logos and branding elements.
  • Best practices for designing within the brand.

Feb. 4

Making your statement with video, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

  • The goals of using video.
  • How to plan your video shoot.
  • What techniques you can use to improve your video quality.
  • How and when to live-stream.
  • Resources to help you shoot, edit and release your videos.

Feb. 5

Making your statement with social media, 9-11 a.m.

  • Choosing and creating a profile.
  • Discovering what content works best on each platform.
  • Branding your department or college across channels.
  • Delivering good customer service.
  • Effective tools.

5 blogging tips for beginners, 1-2 p.m.

  • Getting started (creating a blog, adding users and roles).
  • What to post on your blog (news, profiles/features, events).
  • Visuals (photos, video).
  • Text (readability, headings, linking).
  • Sharing and promoting your blog (social media, email, analytics).

Feb. 6

Publicizing your event with calendars and social media, 9-10 a.m.

  • Best practices for using Missouri State’s online calendar.
  • Keys to sharing events on social media.
  • Where to find other community calendar resources.

How to be a Web Press star, 10:15-11:45 a.m.

  • Which Web Press content groups to use.
  • Making your website usable and accessible for all.
  • How to create an action-oriented website.

Making your statement with photography, 1-2 p.m.

  • How to best utilize the office of visual media and make your photo request productive.
  • Ways to use your own camera or cell phone to get great photos.
  • How to work with people, lighting, handling releases and setting the stage for a beautiful image.

Feb. 7

Making your statement with media relations, 1-3 p.m.

  • Ways to prepare and practice for media interviews.
  • Why a strong appearance in a newspaper or on TV reflects well on you, your department and the university.