About UIS Strategic Communication
We lead strategic organizational communication, marketing, media and digital efforts to promote the university’s mission and enhance its reputation.
Office of Media Strategy
Serves as the university’s official voice through traditional media relations and social media integration.
Office of Marketing & Brand Strategy
Develops data-driven, comprehensive strategies and omni-channel marketing campaigns for all areas of the university.
Office of Web & Digital Strategy
Oversees and maintains the UIS.edu website and UIS mobile app and designs, programs and develops web-accessible, user-focused websites that follow industry best practices.
Campus Services
Provides comprehensive solutions for professional graphic design, printing and mailing projects.
Web and Digital Strategy Updates
147
Number of department web liaisons
Quick calls to action
- Review Website Resources: Use the content review guidelines, web accessibility requirements, accessibility checker tool, and other resources to keep your pages compliant and updated.
- Update Content: Google bases ranking and relevancy on the last time content was updated. Updating website pages ensures they are accurate and up-to-date and improves position/rank on search websites.
- Confirm Liaison Contact: Check the Website Liaison document to verify/update your unit web liaison contact info.
- Submit Office Hours: Add or update your department hours on the website and UIS mobile app with the Office Hours Form. Temporary disruptions can be flagged to appear on the Emergency Office Hours page. Requests to dynamically integrate your office hours into your unit website can be submitted via the Web Project Request form.
Convert Website Documents
PDFs are now the only acceptable files for upload to the website to align with digital accessibility and compliance. Review your documents and convert any non-PDF files by 5 p.m. Sept. 31. Before converting your files to PDF, run the Microsoft Word Accessibility Checker to ensure each document meets accessibility standards. If issues are detected, remediate them in the original Word file before conversion. Avoid editing PDFs directly; instead, retain your original source files locally in case further remediation is required. Begin this process as soon as possible, as file remediation can be a time-consuming task. For help, visit Creating Accessible Documents.
Media Strategy Updates
UIS earns top marks for social media presence
UIS earned high recognition for its social media performance in the UPCEA Online Asset Assessment, which measures the strength of universities’ digital presence. The 2025 report evaluated 51 peer institutions nationwide. UIS ranked 2nd overall in social media performance:
- #1 in number of active platforms – UIS maintains a presence on nearly every major channel, including Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat.
- #4 in posting frequency – Consistently sharing content to stay connected with students, alumni and the community.
- #8 in engagement – UIS posts are generating strong interaction through likes, shares and comments.
↑ 116.1%
Welcome Week Facebook interactions
Welcome Week Instagram
Views: ↑ 98.9%
Reach: ↑ 93%
Content Interactions: ↑ 79.3%
Subscribe to 'UIS in the News'
Starting Sept. 15, “UIS in the News,” a daily summary highlighting UIS mentions in radio, TV and newspaper stories, will no longer be distributed via Campus Announcements. To receive "UIS in the News" in your inbox, sign up here and confirm your subscription in the follow-up email.
Marketing and Brand Strategy Updates
UIS Student Features
Marketing and Media Strategy collaborated with a local videographer to tell the UIS story through our students. Watch these featured stories to learn more about each student’s experience at UIS.
Enrollment Marketing Campaign Launch
Marketing, in partnership with Admission, will launch the annual recruitment marketing campaign designed to connect with prospective first-year, transfer and graduate students through authentic storytelling and strategic digital outreach. With fresh creative assets and a layered approach across multiple channels, the campaign invites students to discover their future at UIS.
Prairie Perspectives Blog
Explore our Prairie Perspectives blog, where prospective and current students, employees and the general public can delve into timely topics and resources.
Employee Communication Resources
UIS Update
Semimonthly newsletter from the Chancellor for faculty and staff.
Review the publication schedule or submit ideas for content.
Orbit
UIS employee news hub for important announcements, human resources info, links to campus services, upcoming employee events and more.
Read the latest news and post your own content.
UIS Mobile App
All-in-one access to academic platforms, safety notifications, news and events, swipe door access and other resources.
Download the app today.
Events
Chancellor's Thinkers Series: Enduring Legacy of Lincoln
Sept. 15, 5-7:15 p.m.
Brookens Auditorium
Chancellor Gooch and Dr. Jacob Friefeld will discuss President Lincoln’s leadership, legacy and the relevance of his principles today, followed by a Q&A and reception.
Library Commons Groundbreaking
Sept. 19, 1:30 p.m.
UIS Quad
Celebrate the construction kickoff of the 52,000-square-foot Library Commons that will unite academic support, advising, career development, library services, and tech assistance under one roof.
Fall Employee Information Session
Oct. 16, 3-4:30 p.m.
Brookens Auditorium
This important campus-wide briefing will feature updates from UIS leadership on key initiatives and developments.
Gold Stars
Kelsea Gurski, associate chancellor for strategic communication and chief of staff, was selected as a 2025-26 President’s Executive Leadership Program Fellow. PELP is a unique professional development program designed to broaden participants’ understanding of higher education issues and to strengthen leadership skills related to overseeing a public institution at the university or system level. The selection process is very competitive with less than 25% of applicants being selected to participate.
Clay Stalter, senior photographer, placed fourth in the portrait category of the 2025 University Photographers Association of America's annual photo competition. His portrait, "Orthodox Scholar," features University Scholar Heather Bailey.
Jeff Williams, graphic designer, has completed his mural project at Jaycee Park, with the help of three students and the director of the Springfield Arts Association. See Williams and his mural in The State Journal-Register.
Contact
Learn more about Strategic Communication or request support: uis.edu/strategic-comm