Tools for Going All-Electronic
Many tools are available for e-communication for
internal WSU audiences. A new
WSU policy requires that all internal
communication be in electronic format, eliminating the
use of paper. Consider the following for your
communication needs.
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Official WSU Calendar Online: Post your event on the WSU calendar as soon as a date is set. Use the Submit Event form and include a link to a Web page for the event, upload a photo or graphic, and add a detailed description.
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WSU Today: Send details to WSU Today for use in Web site sections such as Events & Exhibits, Awards & Honors, and for possible use in the daily WSU Today Update email to all faculty, staff and graduate students. Contact staff or submit an idea.
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WSU Announcements: Submit your brief announcements to the popular campus e-mail newsletter using the easy form. This twice-a-day opt-in email service likely will be converted to an all-WSU once-daily service later in spring 2009.
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myWSU Portal: The myWSU portal provides a means to send official notices targeted to individuals and also myWSU Announcements to relevant groups. Work with the staff member in your college or division authorized to do portal submissions.
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Campus Spotlight in myWSU: Send two sentences and a Web page URL for your event to Barbara Petura at petura@wsu.edu for consideration for inclusion in the brief Spotlight location on the portal's communication-focused home page.
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WSU News Service: If your event, activity or information is relevant to internal and external audiences, work with the WSU News Service on a news release to the media. Begin with the communication officer in your college or program if available.
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University Publishing: The WSU Web Services team can help you convert internal communications to Web and html formats. Services include e-newsletters, html emails and power postcards to send to your specialized lists. Also available are online registrations, a content management system for easy web updating, and custom programming.
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Listserv or Email List: Create a special email list or listserv using free MailMan tools to communicate with interest groups or those in need of specialty information. Examples are the Beasley Coliseum and School of Music opt-in mailing lists.
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Web Pages: With your area's Web staff, create Web pages to promote an event or a series of activities. Use the URL in communication materials. Examples include Mom's Weekend, Darwin Week and Museum of Art Exhibitions.
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Web Pages: Convert a newsletter to a Web version and use with an email or e-version. Send to your specialty mailing list. Examples are the The Chronicle from the College of Liberal Arts, OGRD Informer, and WSU Spokane Campus Bulletin.
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Web Sites: Examples of Web sites for events with external and internal audiences include The Innovators, WSU's Football Weekends and the Murrow Symposium.
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Readerboards: Advertise your events on Beasley Coliseum's outside readerboards for a fee or for free on the numerous readerboards inside the Compton Union Building.
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Communicate via the Evergreen: The WSU community reads the Daily Evergreen on its Web site and its newspaper, making ads an option to consider. Learn about Evergreen advertising. Or submit a story idea to the appropriate editor.
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Blogs and Columns: These provide a means for regular flow of ideas to and with a group, a college, a campus and beyond. Examples include President Floyd's Perspectives, and blogs by Vice President John Gardner and by Dean Dan Bernardo.
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FAQs: For communication about changes in processes or about policies, a Frequently Asked Questions page on an area Web site can be very helpful. Examples include the Admissions FAQ and the WSU Libraries FAQ.
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Social Media: Explore the potential of Twitter, Facebook, and other free social media tools.
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Face to Face: Meetings and public forums are highly effective for important topics. Personal communication is appreciated.