SBS Departmental Communicators Support

We understand that it can be difficult to manage the marketing and communications needs of a department, especially if you are also supporting multiple roles. This page is designed to be a one-stop shop for the most commonly asked questions and requested resources.

University Brand Guidelines

UMass Amherst has an extensive Brand Guide to guide you in the creation of graphics, website content, social media content, and more. Becoming familiar with this guide is extremely helpful when producing content within UMass. 

See the UMass Amherst Brand Guide > 

Download UMass Amherst Logos > 

Download SBS Logos >

Download SBS Department Logos > 

Canva

Canva, the University’s official graphic design software, is now available to all faculty, staff, and students. To access Canva, you must request a free license from IT. The website below also offers answers to FAQs about Canva and self-guided tutorials. Canva itself has a substantial library of resources to assist with learning the program. 

Request a Canva License >

Bluesky/X/Facebook Templates >

Instagram/LinkedIn Templates > 

Flyer/Poster Templates > 

Digital Display Template (Horizontal) > 

Digital Display Template (Vertical) >   

Website Support and Training

SBS department websites run on Framework, a Drupal-based theme. While the Dean's Office is able to provide assistance with content creation issues, any technical issues (e.g., pages not loading, menus not working, cache issues) should be reported to UMass Information Technology. 

Submit a Website Support Request to the Dean's Office> 

Drupal Framework Tutorials > 

LinkedIn Learning Course on Drupal Framework > 

UMass IT handles requests for new websites. Drupal Framework sites are reserved for departments, official centers, and institutes. For information on which programs are considered official centers and institutes, as well as information on the process of receiving official status, visit https://www.umass.edu/research/centers-institutes. For other entities, UMass IT offers free Wordpress sites. While the SBS Marcom team is happy to provide guidance on building or migrating a website, we are unable to provide full migration support at this time. 

Request a Website From UMass IT > 

Marketing Cloud

Marketing Cloud is the only mass communication email system approved for use by University Relations, who define “mass communications” as emails being sent to 100 or more recipients pertaining to University business. Departments are more than welcome to use Marketing Cloud for emails going to department audiences. For access to Marketing Cloud, a license and training are required.

UR Overview of Marketing Cloud > 

UR Mass Communications Policy > 

Request a Marketing Cloud License and Training > 

Once you have a license and have completed training, you will have access to the F360 Marketing Cloud User Team. This Team offers resources, a monthly Marketing Cloud user meeting, and a space to answer questions about using the platform. In addition, there are help videos located within Marketing Cloud itself, located under “App Exchange > Marketing Cloud Help Center.” 

As a licensee, you also have access to the F360 Marketing Cloud SharePoint page, which offers a collection of how-to articles. 

F360 Marketing Cloud Users SharePoint Page > 

If you would like to send an email out to the entire College, or to other departments within SBS, please contact Morgan Woroner (mworoner [at] umass [dot] edu). 

Social Media

University Relations has created a comprehensive guide to using social media on campus. This includes information on accessibility, basic guidelines, and what to do if you encounter negative feedback or trolls.

UMass Amherst Social Media Guide > 

Social Media Best Practices and Strategies > 

UMass Amherst Social Media Directory > 

LinkedIn Learning

All UMass Amherst faculty, staff, and students have free access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers several short courses on general marketing best practices, content creation, social media management, and more. This is a great way to grow your knowledge about marketing and communications in general, as well as learn specific skills. 

Access LinkedIn Learning >