• Maybe. We understand social media is becoming increasingly popular for University departments, students, and employees, and these communication tools have the potential to impact organizational and professional reputations significantly.
• Managing multiple social media pages can be a lot of work. We recommend that account managers spend at least eight hours weekly on content, strategy, trends research, community management, and analytics.
• If you have more questions or want to brainstorm ways your department can use social media, email Social Media Manager Whitney King at [email protected]. She’ll discuss your goals and work with you to make them happen.
• We require all new account holders to submit a 30-day content plan before creating their accounts. You can only make the accounts if MarCom approves the plan.

• No, we do not encourage departments/programs to create their logos. MarCom will provide a logo lockup for brand consistency — the University logo + your department/program name. Colleges/schools/departments should use a University logo lockup created by MarCom.
• MarCom does not create logos for student clubs and organizations, but we can review them to ensure they are on brand and offer feedback.

Lynchburg can’t endorse using “free” images found online because such images present risks.

• People depicted in photos — even “public domain” photos — may not have given permission. You/Lynchburg may be liable for use.
• Even “free” photo sources carry warnings. Examples:

U.S. government agencies such as the Library of Congress, which tends to share public domain images, warn regarding copyright, “The information we have may not be accurate or complete. As a publicly supported institution, we generally do not have the right to materials in our collections. You should determine whether an item is protected by copyright or in the public domain and then satisfy any copyright or use restrictions when publishing or distributing materials from our collections. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond what is allowed by fair use or other exemptions requires written permission from the copyright holder.”

Adobe Express automatically adds credit lines but warns, “Adobe doesn’t vouch for the images turned up through image search. We have filters that try to screen for Creative Commons-licensed images but are imperfect. You must verify that you have the right to use any image you place in your project.”

• All use must follow U.S. Copyright restrictions and Principles of Fair Use. Any photograph, the moment it is created, is copyrighted, whether it’s by a professional or an amateur. “Fair use” is a defense in copyright cases, not a blanket waiver to use copyrighted material.

Photos You Can Use

• Contact Staff Photographer Caroline Gerke at [email protected] to discuss the photos you need. You may find that what you need already exists in our photo library. Caroline or a student photographer may schedule a time to take the photos.
• Stock photo companies such as iStock, Getty Images, or Pond5 (for a fee) provide licensed images for use. They require model and location releases from their contributors to safely use those images for any purpose.
• You could recruit someone to take photos or hire a freelance photographer.

NOTE: Images used for printed pieces must be high resolution (300 dpi or more). Most images downloaded from the internet are low resolution and only for screen use (emails, websites/web pages, etc.).

No, we do not create posters for student events. However, we encourage students to use Canva, a free and relatively simple way to create flyers, posters, and social media images to promote their events.

• Add your event to the monitors across campus.
• All faculty or staff email.
• Register your social media accounts with MarCom to be listed on the social media directory.
  • Create a Facebook event on your page.
  • Tag the University’s accounts in your event post.

Other:

• Request a press release from MarCom to be sent to the media.

Request promotional materials (i.e., posters, postcards, flyers, brochures, etc.)

• Press release posted in the News section of the Lynchburg website.
• Press release/media advisory sent to reporters.
• Events are posted on the lynchburg.edu public events calendar. (The event organizer must submit it.)
• Social media: The University has official accounts on multiple channels.
• Print publications such as printing posters, postcards, brochures, or other promotional materials for an event.

Contact your department’s administrative assistant, who is trained to use a special portal through PIP Printing to order simple designs such as business cards, name badges, and letterhead.

If you don’t know who in your department has access to the portal, email Dustin Haase at [email protected]

• The University’s logos and marks are licensed through the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). Because they’re licensed, you’ll need a licensed vendor for any items that use our name or logos/marks. See a list of licensed vendors in the Google Drive folder.
• If you have a preferred vendor who isn’t on the list, please contact The Hornet Shop at [email protected]. They can help your vendor become licensed.
• When producing art for a product with a licensed vendor, please reference the number of the University of Lynchburg logo/mark you wish to use from this guide of the University of Lynchburg’s logos and marks (PDF).

Contact MarCom at [email protected] for logo files.

Please visit the MarCom Services webpage for information on promoting your event by requesting a flyer/poster, advertising, news story, etc.

• Departments pay for printing, mailing, etc.
• We do not charge for our services (design, writing, photography, video, etc.).

• Timely event of interest to the general public.
• Something new about a topic that has been covered already.
• Research breakthroughs that impact or interest the general public.
• Well-known campus visitors.
• Major announcements, such as an important award or significant gift or grant.
• Human interest stories about an extraordinary Lynchburg community member or project.
• New majors/minors or new courses or components to courses tied to current events or trendy/fun for the public to know about.

• Ideally, the media relations team tries to send out press releases at least three weeks before an event. Therefore, information is required at least four weeks before the event. This allows our team time to gather information, interview sources, write the release, and decide which reporters to contact about the news idea.
• Understandably, some events come up quickly and with little planning. The media relations team will try to get the information out to the media. However, short notice puts a strain on internal and external schedules, and the news is less likely to run in the paper, on television, or on the radio.

• Logos can be found in this Google Drive folder.
• University of Lynchburg e-Letterhead can be found here.

If you need to order generic/custom print letterhead, please email [email protected] with your request.

• The marketing and communications department cannot guarantee media coverage.
• Press releases and pitches inform reporters and editors about the University of Lynchburg’s activities, but the media is not guaranteed to attend an event.