The College has been involved in the first phase of a two-year communications plan. Our goal was to dramatically improve both the quality of our messages (both what we say and how we convey our ideas in words and images) AND the "reach" of our messages. Initially, this meant we redesigned our website--which is still a work in progress but we feel is much improved over the old one--and began using a unified design approach for most of the printed pieces we prepare each year.
Phase two of the plan begins this fall. We've hired an experienced videographer and editor (the director of our university's former Broadcasting and Media Services unit) to help us create and distribute podcasts for all of our programs. Soon these will begin to show up on departmental websites so that we can share our story with potential students and their families. We will also mail out our first-ever college alumni magazine this fall. One of many truly enjoyable parts of my job as dean is being part of the team that tells everyone about the engaging and innovative things that are happening in the College of Arts and Letters.