The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Communications Support

The College of Humanities & Fine Arts is available to help you with your communications needs and projects. As representatives of the University, we are also stewards of the UMass Amherst brand, and are dedicated to upholding the standards set by University Relations and the Chancellor's Office.

We work with colleagues across the university to build public understanding of and support for the college's mission and how it supports that of UMass Amherst, enhance communications, and foster relationships with external constituencies.

Working with website design and development vendors and University Relations, we provide tools for use by departments and other groups across the College, support our network of department and program websites, and maintain the primary HFA website. By offering this support, we can ensure that all websites meet accessibility requirements and provide consistent, accurate representation of the College.

What can we help you with?

The HFA communications team may be able help you with a number of projects. The projects we assist with must be in line with messaging priorities, and must serve as part of a larger strategy or initiative within the university, college, or unit. Due to time and resource constraints, we may not be able to assist in all projects, and prioritize projects that have a strategic purpose. Depending on the scope of the project, we will need anywhere from 2 weeks (e.g., simple posters, headshots, quick website updates) to 4 months (e.g., annual reports, major website projects).

Contact crystalmaldo [at] umass [dot] edu (Crystal Maldonado, Director of Marketing and Communications).

For website support, contact Andee Browne-Tatro, Web Administrator.

Our culturally and creatively focused departments, programs, and centers host events throughout the year, keeping us busy. If you've got an event coming up that you'd like to publicize, work with HFA's communications team to publish the event on our calendar and get the word out.

Here are some other steps to take:

  1. Fill out the event submission form for to ensure your event is posted on the HFA events calendar
     
  2. Request a slide to be included on video display monitors. If you would like to create your own slide, please follow these guidelines:
    • Format your slide for widescreen display at a 16:9 ratio (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution is best)
    • Be sure to include all event details (date, time, location, etc.)
    • Use photography or artwork to create a visually interesting slide
    • Follow University Relations' guidelines for colors, fonts, and other design elements
    • Submit your side as a JPG or PNG to brownetatro@umass.edu
       
  3. Post the event on your department's website
     
  4. Submit the event to the main UMass Events Calendar (if your event is arts related, this will ensure it appears on umass.edu/arts)
     
  5. Prepare a flyer, poster, and/or graphics to share on social media or email promotions (include UMass Amherst and HFA logos/wordmarks)
     
  6. Underwrite on New England Public Radio or submit to the NEPR Community Calendar
     
  7. Underwrite on WMUA
     
  8. Advertise in the print or online edition of the Daily Collegian

Have some news you'd like to share on the HFA website, social media, press releases, and more? We'd love to hear more. We feature stories on: 

  • Professional research;
  • Published books (authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited);
  • Awards and accomplishments;
  • Appointments and fellowships;
  • Articles (that you've written or are featured in);
  • Video and podcast recordings;
  • Exhibitions;
  • Performances;
  • Creative endeavors;
  • And other public engagement opportunities (such as opinion pieces, longer newspaper/magazine articles, etc.).

For press releases, we will help pitch your story to the university News Office and outside media. The News Office has the ‘first right of refusal’ for the stories we pitch, and is the sole office with the capability to distribute press releases.

Please fill out this form OR send a description of your news, any accompanying photos or videos, links, and point of contact information over to Crystal Maldonado at crystalmaldo@umass.edu.

Examples of external audiences: prospective undergraduate and graduate students, prospective faculty or staff members, alumni, legislators, the general public, and other friends of HFA.

Examples of external audience publications: posters, brochures, flyers, newsletters, season brochures. Both printed and electronic departmental newsletters are included.

Both 1) the UMass Amherst wordmark and 2) the HFA logo and wordmark must appear and be clearly visible on external audience publications. Department specific publications can use the HFA logo and wordmark in lock up with department name or may use the HFA logo and wordmark with the department name typeset elsewhere in the publication. Contact Crystal Maldonado for your department's logo lockup.

For UMass Amherst wordmark specifications, please refer to the University Relations Website.

The university's brand is so important because of the vast audience we speak to: prospective students, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and students; business, education, and community leaders; local, national, and international media. Whether we are sending out an email blast, a formal invitation, or communicating through social media, it is imperative that our branding remain consistent and represent quality and excellence.

UMass Brand Guide »

University Relations harnesses the resources and expertise of a broad portfolio in a coordinated and strategic way to ensure that the powerful message of UMass Amherst reaches all of our varied audiences, both internal and external.

University Relations Project Request »

University of Massachusetts Amherst