No institution relishes reliving the dark moments of its history, but addressing legacies of discrimination can strengthen campus inclusivity, embody shared values, and communicate how and why the institution has evolved over time. Colleges and universities with complex histories can benefit by exploring that history. No matter how a project…

The importance of communication during a school crisis has not changed in the 21st century. What has changed--and quite dramatically since 1999--is the way people communicate. Social media tools are now used in some form by 100 percent of all four-year universities in the United States as a way to reach students, according to a 2011 University of…

As one of the top U.S. choices for international students, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a solid reputation in China and a history of educating Chinese students that goes back more than a century. But the university did not realize until last June that its nickname in China is the "Cornfield Ivy" and that Chinese…

In a world ruled by digital communications, it can seem like there are almost as many methods, tools, and platforms to communicate with internal audiences as there are opinions and perspectives on how to do it effectively. Organizations of various sizes are struggling with how to reach their audiences' divided attention, and higher education…

How can public schools improve public relations strategies, particularly in communications between teachers and students? The purposes of this study were to investigate teacher leaders' perceptions of the use of humor in the high school classroom and discover how humor might bridge instruction to student learning and strengthen teacher-student…

Citizens now expect access to information, particularly from public institutions like local school districts. They demand input and accountability. Cultural and technological changes, such as the Internet, make it possible for districts to comply. Yet transparency--the easily seen and understood actions of a school district and the thinking behind…

The television trucks and newspaper reporters, like locusts, swarmed last week into Blacksburg, Virginia, where Virginia Tech is located. The university's administrators and especially its public-relations staff members are steeling themselves for what will be a long and intense feeding frenzy. For the men and women who speak for colleges, being…

Annual giving is the number one indicator that someone will make a major or planned gift. Annual funds are the meat and potatoes of fundraising. But if the annual fund has recently taken a backseat to major and megagifts, the recession made a bad situation even worse. Today, most annual fund performance indicators have plummeted. Virtually all…

Provides an overview of marketing efforts of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Examples of a marketing plan that stresses fostering relationships with the community are described, including staff training in customer service, a cultural festival, and services to the business community. A sidebar offers marketing tips for…

The Central Piedmont Community College Libraries have been successful in creating positive expectations from the CPCC community by connecting an official library logo with quality library service. The creation of the CPCC Libraries' logo CLICK was a process that spanned several months. A history of this process details the meetings and design work…

Using the North Carolina community college system as an example, underscores the importance of community colleges gathering in public support and translating that support into political power. Urges community colleges to address their constituencies clearly, forcefully, and collectively; reassess their mission; and investigate other avenues of…

Describes the appointment and charge of a statewide marketing committee to study trends and issues related to declining enrollments in North Carolina's community college system. Reports on the committee's recommendations, the initiation of a statewide promotional campaign to implement them, and the campaign's impact on enrollments. (DMM)

In a university's time of crisis, reporters will often attempt to catch the president and board members in conflicting responses in order to develop a "gotcha" news story. It is important for leaders not to take the bait. In times of crisis, board members and institutional leaders must not only control the message and flow of…

This proposal represents a systematic and research-based effort to revitalize traditional recruiting practices and to establish a new recruitment model for reaching the nontraditional student in North Carolina two-year colleges. It includes activities of and findings from a model adult recruiting project. A project overview includes the objectives…

This booklet offers general guidelines and recommendations on how to develop and exercise the interpersonal skills required of a successful school principal. Attention is devoted to the basic principles of effective communication and personal interaction, with emphasis on the principal's relations with students, teachers, and members of the…