What can Marketing and Communications do for you?
NMU's University Marketing and Communications (UMC) oversees the development, enforcement, and communication of NMU's brand across diverse media platforms. Whether it's creating print ads or designing custom web pages, UMC is dedicated to supporting the entire university.
Beyond internal support, UMC acts as the main liaison for external media and community relations.
Please review the information on this website before contacting NMU University Marketing and Communications.
Please note: Because UMC services the entire University, there is often a high volume of active projects. The greater the lead time, the better.
Quick Promotional List
Quick steps (in order) to promote your program, event, or course offering!
1. Photos
Do you have updated photography you could use for your program, event, or course offering? If not, schedule a time with our photo team.
Not sure if you have updated photos? Check Canto, our photo database.
2. Website
Make sure you have an updated web page to send interested parties to for more information
3. Print Materials
Do you need updated and/or new print materials? If so, request support from our team. Make sure you note exactly what you need and have an idea of the changes needed, along with updated information.
4. Digital Materials
- What do you need in regards to digital materials? This includes social media, digital signage, and event postings.
5. News and media
- For Press Release and Northern Today: Kristi Evans
- For On-Air News Media: Derek Hall
6. Events and Recruitment
Are there fairs, trade shows, or conferences, or other events you can attend to promote in person?
7. Other ad avenues to explore (will require additional budget)
- Digital Advertising campaign via Gray Media
- Print Advertising
Services
Graphic Design
Examples of things we design include advertisements, posters, postcards, brochures, displays, and more. We can also assist with large-format designs such as signage and other physical plant needs.
NOTE: Student organizations have access to design services through the Promotional Services in the Center for Student Enrichment
Photo/Video
UMC offers photography and videography services for on-campus departments at no charge. This includes event coverage, promotional photos/videos, and professional headshots. Headshots are also available to students via Career Services every Friday.
UMC employs a staff photographer/videographer and one to three student assistants, depending on the time of the year. While we attempt to make their services available to the whole campus, their primary responsibilities are to capture images and videos that can be used in recruitment materials.
Branding Education and Training
Our brand is an enduring platform that articulates the Northern Michigan University story, our unique point of view, and the experiences we create. Most of all, our brand helps us tell a consistent, authentic story to our audiences across all our communications. UMC is happy to hold a training for any department or program on campus. You can inquire about a date and time at the request form below.
Quick Logo Guidelines
- DO NOT manipulate or edit any official NMU logo, academic, or athletic
- DO NOT use the academic logo on athletic materials and vice versa
- DO NOT create a logo for your department program without first consulting University Marketing and Communications
- DO utilize the NMU logo on any external and internal print materials
Link to Logos and Brand Assets
Web
NMU offers website development assistance to members of the university community who create unit, departmental, or other university webpages. These services are offered through University Marketing and Communications. Specifically, we are responsible for:
- Driving website traffic from targeted external audiences and providing accurate, engaging web content.
- Engaging the campus community in a cooperative effort to make effective use of the internet as a communications and marketing tool.
- Design and development of the university's official website, calendar, and subsites.
- Establishing and maintaining up-to-date guidelines for publishing official and unofficial information on university-owned internet servers.
- Providing periodic review of the official web pages.
AI Acceptable Use Guidelines
Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers powerful opportunities to enhance learning, streamline workflows, and spark creativity—but it also comes with responsibilities. To ensure AI tools are used ethically, effectively, and in ways that align with our community values, we’ve developed AI Acceptable Use Guidelines. These guidelines provide clear expectations for how AI should (and should not) be used, helping us balance innovation with integrity, fairness, and respect for one another.
Printing Services
Printing Services is part of University Marketing and Communications’ creative services team, offering a wide range of design and printing solutions. Whether you need a simple flyer or a comprehensive promotional package, our full-service print shop can provide an effective way to communicate your message.
- If your project requires services not available in our facility, we will work with one of our qualified commercial print partners to get your job done on schedule and competitively priced.
- Printing and shipping costs must be covered by each respective department. Customers have the option of having work billed to a department account number or paying in cash.
- Printing and shipping costs must be covered by each respective department.
Northern Magazine
Northern Magazine (formerly named Northern Horizons) is the magazine for alumni and friends of Northern Michigan University and is published in the fall and spring each year. It is designed to keep alumni and friends connected with NMU and their former classmates by providing news about NMU's faculty, programs, and events, and by highlighting the activities and accomplishments of NMU alumni.
News and Media
The News and Media Relations area (also known as the NMU News Bureau) operates as part of University Marketing and Communications, located in 409 Cohodas. Our primary mission is to foster a positive public awareness of the university and its programs through the general news media. We are here to assist university departments in publicizing events, achievements, and advances through the following services:
- Producing news and feature stories about the university and distributing them to appropriate local, regional, and national media. (Marketing and Communications has sole authority to disseminate university-related news releases)
- Pitching story ideas to select media for independent coverage.
- Advising personnel and departments on effective/feasible ways to promote key messages to external constituencies.
- Handling media inquiries and referring reporters to relevant sources for information.
- Providing media training in group or one-on-one settings to prepare Northern faculty and staff for news interviews.
- Producing and posting content for Northern Today, NMU's official news site, and contributing content for the alumni magazine, Northern Magazine.