Agenda and Meeting Notes

All Team Agenda – Dec. 2, 2025

  • Provost Updates
  • University Communications Goals and Strategy
  • Branding Update

Meeting Notes

Provost Updates

Barbara Bichelmeyer, Chief Academic Officer, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Lawrence and Edwards, provided quick updates on the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) – the deadline for individuals to accept the offer closed at 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 1 – and ongoing discussions with the Kansas Board of Regents about tenure and low-enrollment programs. 

University Communications Goals and Strategy

Cinnamon Blair, Chief Strategic Communication Officer and Vice Chancellor, discussed KU’s communications strategy in the context of One KU, emphasizing the importance of sharing stories of commonalities across units rather than focusing solely on organizational structures. Blair noted that KU does not have a fully developed crisis communications plan, something she and Kristen Kolleda, Director of Emergency Management, will work on addressing.

Blair talked about the concept of narrative intelligence, the practice of identifying and analyzing stories that shape perceptions. She highlighted risks such as cuts to federal funding for research and the narrative created of being in a crisis. Blair noted that KU has struggled to maintain a consistent and coherent narrative and encouraged units to elevate their visibility through videos, events, and subject experts. Branding initiatives require broad buy-in to succeed.

Blair encouraged the use of Emma HQ for managing internal communications and shared plans for a campus-wide survey to understand communication habits. She acknowledged challenges in information sharing, citing reasons such as lack of sufficient details and the need for responsible communication during sensitive situations.

Branding Update from KU Marketing

Chris Gregory, Chief Marketing Officer in the Office of Public Affairs, shared updates about the “Towering Toward the Blue” branding campaign, which was launched on Kansas Day, January 29, 2025. The campaign was a chancellor-level initiative to raise the profile, reputation, and prestige of the university. Gregory noted that brands matter a lot to organizations and impact things like student recruitment, faculty and staff retention, and fundraising. The brand of KU is its reputation, which is reflected in how people feel about KU.

Gregory presented an overview of the campaign, including primary audiences, desired outcomes, examples of branding strategies, and actual outcomes thus far. 

Primary audiences: Kansans and their leaders, Big 12 and AAU leaders, public in key metro areas, and KU faculty and staff.

Desired outcomes:

  • Confidence in and increasing levels of state funding and non-monetary support
  • Elevated national reputation for scholarship and research
  • A position of strength among the Big 12 and AAU
  • Enhanced, enterprise-wide focus on teaching and research excellence
  • Strengthen the sense of One KU internally and externally

Between January, 2025 and October, 2025 the campaign generated over 450 million impressions and nearly 340,000 engagements (e.g., opened emails, clicked links, shared or liked posts).

In August 2025, Gregory’s team conducted a mid-term check to monitor progress toward the campaign’s goals. Data from the midterm check were compared with a baseline established in January 2025, before the campaign was launched. Across eight categories, five increased by 1-5%. The largest increase was the importance to Kansans of conducting medical research. Additional data about Kansans’ perceptions of KU was also collected. Seven months into the campaign, more people perceive the state and their communities as being better off because of KU. Perceptions also increased about KU's excellence in providing a high-quality education, conducting (medical) research, training high-skilled workers, and serving as an economic engine of the state. Looking ahead, Gregory emphasized the importance of continuing to innovate branding signals and encouraged units to collaborate with KU Marketing to enhance visibility and impact.

Gregory also informed the group that a new branding policy will be announced soon, pending the chancellor's approval. The policy applies to all units and controlled affiliates, as well as to marketing communications (mass emails, ads, flyers, signage, webpages, social media posts, etc.) and external communications that reach more than 200 people. The new policy will not apply to internal or personal communications, nor to teaching, research, or student materials.