Student Communications at the University of Sheffield

Where it all began

• 2010: Student Communications Research project - Student Services - Students’ Union - Faculties and departments University-wide

• 2012: Student Communications Coordinator appointed - Implement finding of research project - Based in SSiD - Remit 70% Student Services 30% University-wide

• 2013: Student Communications team created - Web development and projects officer - Student Communications Assistant (New role)

• 2014 - 16: Student Communications Team expands - Digital Media Officer (New Role) - Web support assistant (Temp) - Digital media assistant (Temp) - Design and Digital Assistant (New Role)

Meet the team

What is Student Communications?

• Keeping students informed of relevant University news and developments - Student News / SSiD Social Media / Student Announce / Round-up - Incident communications - Events promotion - Student administration and deadline reminders

• Working with University partners to support their communications objectives - Exams Communications / Achieve More / HEAR / National Student Money Week / SURE - Varsity / Union elections / Healthy Campus Week / Smart Move / Bring it don’t bin it - Campus Master Plan / Sport Sheffield (Social Sport) / Print Services (MyPrint) / Libraries

• Managing the flow of information to students so they aren’t overwhelmed - Project liaison - Communications advice: Appropriate channels and message delivery

• Communicating information in a way students appreciate - Developing new resources (Student Comms Ambassadors) and updating existing ones (SSiD

brand / website) - Quality design, films and animation at a low cost (saving the University thousands of pounds) - Talking to students: assessing comms impact, conducting research, new developments

Our work includes:

How we do it

• Student news page

• Weekly round-up

• Announce email

• Facebook

• Twitter

• Pinterest

• Instagram

• Student Ambassador’s Blog

• YouTube

• Vimeo

• Plasma screens

Our basic communication channels include:

Partners

• Student Services

• Students’ Union

• Internal Communications

• Central Outreach

• Estates and Facilities Management

• University Health Service

• University counseling service

• Exams team

• Global opps/ International Student Support

• Corporate Affairs (External Relations)

• Student advice and guidance

• Multi-faith chaplaincy

• Sabbatical officers

• Faculties / departments

• South Yorkshire Police

• Central digital team

• Student Advice Centre

• 301

• Student Financial Support team

• Corporate Information and Computing Services

Projects

• Student news and events page

• SU Smart move project

• New building comms (SU / Diamond)

• Student financial support video and publications

• SSiD branding and publications

• Registration / new student comms

• Faculty outreach films

• Things Not Going Right? tool

• University website development

• Parents webpages redevelopment

• Library fines communications campaign

• Incident communications

• NSS comms

• Student Comms Ambassadors

• Crime reductions / campus security

• Campus Master plan

• Student services welcome video

• Website usability testing

• Support and guidance comms

• New email policy / round-up

What’s gone well

• Central point for student news and information

• Student Announce email moderation

• Social Media – Twitter followers up from

1190 (2012) to 4,600+ (2016)

– Facebook relaunched March 2014 now 970+ likes

– Instagram 770+ followers since 2014

– Pinterest 250+ followers since 2013 www.sheffield.ac.uk/students

What’s gone well

Student Communications Ambassadors

Year 1 • 231 EOI • 21 Ambassadors Year 2 • 341 EOI • 40 Ambassadors Topics from bank holidays to student mental health

www.sheffield.ac.uk/students/blogs

SSiD Branding

Aims: • Create an identity that students

recognise

• Eye catching

• Representative of SSiD and Student Services

• Adaptable

• Diverse

Office

Website

What's gone well

Exam communications

• Students better informed of processes

• More joined up approach

• Better communication regarding unexpected developments

• More messaging through a variety of channels

What’s gone well

Digital media (http://vimeo.com/ssiduniofsheffield)

#GetRalphHome • Film 1 & 2: 4143 views

• Film 3 launching Monday 11

May

• University wide competition

• 12 destination campus tour

• Nominated for Guardian University Award 2016 (Best Marketing and Communications Campaign)

What’s next?

• New strategy 2016 -21 • Student Systems project • Safety and Security project (with University

Partners, South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Transport Executive, Sheffield Hallam Uni)

• SSiD Photo and media bank • Get students even more involved

Any questions?