Presidential Advisory Committee on Image Development (2011 Strategic Plan)

Development of a presidential advisory committee on image and identity provides a mechanism for examining prior marketing and admissions studies to identify recurring issues and recommendations, as well as next steps toward creation of a plan that will address marketing and branding concerns. This committee will have significant overlap with the President’s Communications Committee and it should include the Director of Institutional Research. The committee will develop a unified marketing plan. This plan will take into consideration applications in admissions, alumni relations, communications, and institutional advancement.

Comments
Please include your thoughts on the importance of the initiative, how to frame the issue, things that may be missing, and any additional comments here (you can do so by logging into Hampedia and clicking edit):


 * I think developing our reputation more broadly must include a commitment to substantially improving our academic program. We lose applicants who choose more highly rated Colleges, in terms of academic excellence and the reputation of the faculty. The addition of a Provost for Academic Affairs is a key component here.I think "image development" should be secondary to program development and a public acknowledgement that we an educational institution.
 * While program development is important, I think this is a priority because we already have many excellant academic programs that are not widely recognized.
 * I think it is important to ensure that this committee and the communications committee have a clear mechanism for staff in these offices, as well as all staff, faculty, and students, who are the ones who will have to implement the presentation of the image across platforms, to give their own suggestions. This input should be sought in the planning stage, not in the implementation stage. I think this is not only essential for buy-in across constituencies on campus (better to have a unified marketing plan that is embraced, not enforced), but also to ensure that the most effective strategies are chosen.
 * Where is the new Director of Marketing? (I am sure we can come up with better name) - this is a skill that we do not have on campus!!! No committee will be successful without a professional.  Would you have someone teach astronomy who didn't know about the stars?