As faculty, staff and students return to campus for the fall term, the number of lectures, exhibits and activities will increase. Free promotional resources are available to spread the word about events.
The University of Oregon events calendar is a dynamic tool that displays listings of campus-based happenings. A set of guidelines was created to help organizers craft compelling event descriptions.
Users can create and submit one-time or ongoing events to the UO calendar. Choosing from a list of classification filters, users can customize calendar items using tags for event, department and audience types. A robust description and a bold image will ensure that events reach the largest audience possible.
Anyone with a DuckID can submit events.
Employees can fill out a short form to build a weekly customized event digest and receive emailed calendar listings in their areas of interest.
The Workplace and Quick Quack newsletters glean events weekly from the calendar. Event organizers can submit student-focused events to the Quick Quack editor.
Major events and well-known speakers may warrant a story on the OregonNews Workplace website, which is the go-to place for information about the university. Submit a submission form several weeks in advance for consideration.
Social media is an integral part of any event promotion plan. The UO social media accounts may share school or department posts. If a department’s account has gone dark or the password has been lost, contact the social media team to get restarted.
The UO’s independent student newspaper, the Daily Emerald, also takes news tips, and there are many free online community calendars in Eugene and Springfield.
For more complex projects, reach out to the university marketing team of designers, strategists and photographers. It’s always a good idea to check with the communications director in your department, school or college before starting any promotion plan.
—Jennifer Archer, University Communications