EMU Division of Communications collection

Collection

Identifier: 02.DC

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Division of Communications collection documents the administration and functions of Eastern Michigan University’s Division of Communications (DC). DC includes the following departments: Integrated Content, Media Relations, Social Media, Web Services, and Marketing. DC oversees EMU’s branding and overall communications strategy, website creation, logo usage, social media policies and procedures, and educates campus on digital content software. The media relations team writes and distributes content about faculty research, student accomplishments, and general EMU initiatives to local, state, and national media outlets. It also helps manage crisis communications for the university, responds to media inquiries, provides media training to faculty and administrators, and advises the colleges on communication strategies. The documentary-style photography and videography capture the Eastern Michigan culture both inside and outside the classroom. DC also creates and updates EMU letterhead and business card formats.

The collection is organized into eight series and multiple subseries. The ADMINISTRATION series contains materials related to the running of the division, including planning and reports, workshops, the University Relations Division and State, Federal, and Community Relations department, and administrator office files belonging to both Ted Coutilish and Pam Young. The ATHLETICS series contains graphic and audio/visual materials of sporting events and games from 1960 until 2014. The PROMOS AND EVENTS series contains graphic and audio/visual materials of campus events and programs, including speeches, luncheons, social events, and marketing materials. The SPEECHES, LECTURES, AND INTERVIEWS series contains graphic and audio/visual materials related to press conferences, commencement ceremonies, and forums. The EMU PROGRAMMING series includes audio/visual materials related to theater productions and other campus life events. The INTEGRATED CONTENT series contains promotional materials created and distributed by the Integrated Content department. These materials include advertisements, publications, and communications. The GRAPHIC MATERIALS series contains audio/visual materials and computer disks containing news broadcasts, marketing materials, and slides of campus buildings and student life. The MARKETING AND COMMUNCATIONS series contains materials created and distributed by the Marketing and Communications department. This includes general university marketing, student success and retention plans, sports and other campus events.

The primary formats of the materials are VHS, U-Matic, CD, DVD, Mini DV Cassette, and DV Cassette.

Dates

Creation: 1941 - 2019

Creator

Rice, John (Videographer, Person)
University Marketing and Communications, Eastern Michigan University (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to visiting the University Archives.

Administrative History note

Eastern Michigan University’s Division of Communications (DC) includes the following departments: Integrated Content, Media Relations, Social Media, Web Services, and Marketing. DC oversees EMU’s branding and overall communications strategy, website creation, logo usage, social media procedures and policies, and educating campus on digital content software. The media relations team writes and distributes content about faculty research, student accomplishments and general EMU initiatives to local, state, and national media outlets. It also helps manage crisis communications for the university, respond to media inquiries, provide media training to faculty and administrators, and advise the colleges on communication strategies. The documentary-style photography and videography capture the Eastern Michigan culture both inside and outside the classroom. DC also creates and updates EMU letterhead and business card formats.

The University Relations Division used to be a large part of DC, but has since been broken up and absorbed by other departments such as Academic Programs and Outreach and Government Relations. University Relations oversaw the State, Federal, and Local Relations Department. This department met with local, state, and federal governments, as well as community members, to perform outreach initiatives and lobby in Lansing, MI on behalf of EMU.

The majority of the audio/visual portion of this collection originated from the position of University Videographer, and was kept by videographer and EMU Alum John Rice until the position was eliminated in 2016. Although the videographer position was removed, John Rice continued to teach in the Communications, Media, and Theater Arts department as an adjunct lecturer.

Materials in the collection include files related to the administration of the division, athletics, promotions and events, speeches, lectures, and interviews, programming, integrated content, graphic materials, and the marketing and communications department. A large portion of the collection is audio/visual materials of campus events.

Extent

115.4 Linear Feet (9 Record Center Carton, 33 Disk boxes, 8 Flip-Top Boxes, 11 Oversized Flip-Top Boxes, 22 UMatic storage boxes, 34 VHS storage boxes, 31 archive boxes, 3 halfsize archive box, 8 objects, 8 slide boxes, 16 oversized folders )

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Divisions of Communications collection contains materials related to the marketing and promotion of Eastern Michigan University. This includes athletics, academics, university programming, and government relations. The majority of the collection is audio/visual materials pertianing to athletics, programming, and other campus events.

Existence and Location of Copies

Selected sporting events and other programs have been digitized and made available on the University Archives YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@emuarchives/videos.