References and Tools | Virginia Tech Brand Center | Virginia Tech

References and Tools | Virginia Tech Brand Center | Virginia Tech
References and Tools
Jump to a section:
Integrated Communications and Marketing Plans
Calendars and Meetings
Guides and References
Training and Professional Development
Toolkits
Tools
Explore this list of references, guides, and regular meetings that university communicators can use to stay connected and aligned in their daily communications work. Find more
tools and templates on the downloads page
. For additional instructions on using references, guides, and tools, consult the
how-to and FAQs page
NOTE:
These resources are available to order from a licensed print vendor. . Unlike letterhead, letterhead envelopes, and business cards, other designs may be created for these assets.
Integrated Marketing and Communications Plans
University Priorities
Top 100 Global
Global Impact Integrated Communications and Marketing Plan
Virginia Tech Advantage
Planning Calendars and Regular Meetings
Calendars
Editorial calendar for Virginia Tech News and the Daily Email
— Used by the Communications and Marketing digital production team to plan the publishing schedule for stories or campus notices that have been loaded into Virginia Tech News. Questions? Email
vtnews@vt.edu
Meetings
For all communicators
— 1st Wednesday of the month, 9 a.m.; contact Jennifer Marye (
jmarye25@vt.edu
) to be added to the meeting invite.
For college and unit communications teams
involved in storytelling activities — 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, 9 a.m.; contact Kelley Elliott (
kelleyje@vt.edu
) to be added to the meeting invite.
For greater DC metro area storytelling
— Weekly on Tuesdays, 1:30-2 p.m.; contact Kerone Wetter (
kwetter@vt.edu
) to be added to the meeting invite.
For greater DC metro area communications strategy
— 2nd Wednesday of the month; contact Kerone Wetter (
kwetter@vt.edu
) to be added to the meeting invite.
For media relations activities
— Weekly on  Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.; contact Michael Stowe (
mstowe@vt.edu
) to be added to the meeting invite.
Writers and Editors Connection
— 3rd Wednesday of the month, 9 a..m.; 3100 University Gateway Center; contact Erica Stacy (
stacye@vt.edu
) for questions.
Guides and References
AP Stylebook
Limited seats, so only request access if you will be using it regularly. It is a writing style guide for journalists and the online version is searchable and sends email updates when changes are made. Questions/access? Email
vtnews@vt.edu
Blacksburg campus geography
Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus has an interactive campus map that features real-time update capabilities and a navigation tool that helps users find accessible pathways. You can also learn more about campus buildings on vt.edu.
Interactive campus map
Virginia Tech buildings
Downloads and Templates
Includes brand guidelines, fonts, logos, messaging points, communications planning templates, and more.
Facts and figures
About the university
Academic goals and priorities
History and traditions
Facts about Virginia Tech
Student overview
Financial overview
Rankings
University Strategic Plan
University Data Commons
Analytics & Institutional Effectiveness
University style guide
This style guide notes specific rules and usages to be followed by authors and editors in Communications and Marketing and other campus communicators. It contains exceptions to both the "The Associated Press Stylebook" and "The Chicago Manual of Style." Where conflicts exist between this guide and other guides, this style guide takes precedence. For other general rules, use a primary style guide that pertains to the publication you are writing or editing.
Virginia Tech Experts
Search for
experts at Virginia Tech
in this database, managed by University Libraries.
Virginia Tech News Tags
Categories and definitions (choose one when building articles in the CMS)
Academics
Stories related to colleges, departments, centers, and topics (such as data, music, and experiential learning).
Campus experience
Glimpses of life for students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and friends in Blacksburg, Roanoke, D.C. area, commonwealth. Athletics & alumni events. Administrative news. Employee info. What it's like to be on our campus.
Culture
Service and Ut Prosim. Arts, inclusion and diversity, history and traditions, corps. What it's like to be a part of Hokie Nation.
Impact
Impact on Virginia and the world as a land-grant institution. Stories on philanthropy, outreach, engagement, economic development, partnerships, and alumni impacting their communities.
Research
News from the colleges and research institutes; areas of specialty (drones, brain research, cybersecurity) where the university is leading the way; research in general; solving complex problems.
Tag usage
The
Virginia Tech News website
uses tags to feature content, trigger effects, and generally manage content relationships.
View available Virginia Tech News tags and request new ones if needed.
For more information on Virginia Tech News publishing, see the
Virginia Tech News Guide
Professional Development and Training
Virginia Tech Brand Education Program
The Virginia Tech Brand encapsulates the image, primary messaging, and various ways we represent the university. The following training modules will help you understand how to use the brand and what legal protections apply to licensing and trademarks. You can find all the available modules contained in the program by
visiting the primary course on PageUp
requires employee PID access
).
General Virginia Tech best practices
Digital Badge/Microcredential Design and Brand Style Guide
Digital badges and microcredentials are gaining momentum as a useful way to track learning goals that are complex or need to be tracked over time. For the past several years, Virginia Tech has been exploring the use of this technology in employee professional development and noncredit/nonclassroom student learning spaces. Virginia Tech uses the Badgr platform to manage digital credentials. This document provides program developers with the Virginia Tech brand guidelines to follow when creating and issuing digital badge and microcredential images. Where conflicts exist between this guide and the Virginia Tech brand guide, this style guide takes precedence. Additional questions regarding this style guide may be directed to
hollidrewry@vt.edu
Download the style guide
(PDF)
Other best practices
Capturing Photos and Video
General training for Virginia Tech employees
PageUp learning library
— related to compliance, human resources, fiscal, leadership, and diversity and inclusion.
TLOS professional development
— related to faculty engagement with technology for productivity, research, engagement, inclusion, assessment, and outreach.
Virtual learning center
— related to leading, working, and learning.
LinkedIn Learning library
— related to business, creative, and technology skills.
Log into your LinkedIn account with your vt.edu email address to access the library.
Business Analysis Foundations: Strategy Analysis
How to Get Things Done Ahead of Deadlines
Microsoft Teams: Working with Files
Introduction to Graphic Design: Concepts
Adobe
Creative Cloud
InDesign
Photoshop
Illustrator
Premiere Pro (beginner)
Learning Canva
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Essential Training
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Basics
Email and Newsletter Marketing Foundations
Project Management Foundations
Introduction to Social Media Strategy
Social Media Monitoring: Strategies and Skills
Content Creation: Strategy and Tools
Optimizing Video Content for Social Media
Social media
— scroll to the Best Practices section and select “Presentations & Trainings” for previous sessions’ recordings.
For current assistance and questions, email
socialmedia-g@vt.edu
Working in Ensemble CMS
— recordings of previous training sessions and documentation are available on this site.
For current assistance and questions,
click on the "Request CMS Support" link at the bottom right-hand corner of this page
Tools and Spaces
Communications and Marketing uses the following physical space and IT and Procurement-approved software to conduct daily business operations. For additional information on available tools and software for Virginia Tech employees, or to request a software review, please visit
ITPALS
urther details on collaboration tools, including how to request access.
Adobe Campaign — Email software
Adobe Creative Suite — Creative software
Asana — Project management software
Blackbaud/BBIS — Alumni and donor CRM software and email system
Cision — Media software
Ensemble CMS — Website software
Brandwatch — Social media management software
Microsoft Teams — Collaboration software
Studio
— Physical space; Virginia Tech’s media relations team operates a fully equipped, professional video and radio broadcast studio in the Center for the Arts to connect faculty and campus newsmakers with local, national, and international news media. Questions/access? Email
mediarelations-g@vt.edu
Tagboard — Social media and content aggregation software
UTM.io — UTM generator
Canva — graphic design software
Toolkits
Event- and campaign-specific toolkits that are usually time-bound and connected to other areas of Advancement.
Burruss Hall Building Blocks fundraising campaign