Communications Division
Albright’s Communications Division (an administrative office located in the Camp building) promotes and protects the college’s public reputation, its local and national standing, and ensures brand integrity for all external college communication and marketing. See brand tools (below) for the branding toolkit.
It is the responsibility of the Communications Division to highlight Albright’s distinctiveness as an institution. At Albright students can expect to ignite their SPARK via engaging faculty, who believe that the best academic moments are those when students feel inspired and ready to take action. At Albright students can cross or combine majors in different areas of study without taking longer to graduate. We communicate that distinctive position by implementing clear, consistent and engaging strategies that enhance public understanding and support of the college, its people and its value to the world.
Albright College Communications Division
Camp Building, 1801 N. 12th St., P.O. Box 15234, Reading, PA 19612-5234 (tel.610-921-7526). Vendors, please email sales inquiries. No phone calls will be taken.
Jennifer P. Stoudt
Vice President for Communications
Email: jstoudt@albright.edu
Gina French
Creative Director
Email: gfrench@albright.edu
Carey Manzolillo
Director of Communications
Email: cmanzolillo@albright.edu
Heidi Eckman
Senior Graphic Designer
Email: heckman@albright.edu
Michelle Arevalo
Enrollment Marketing Communications Manager
Email: marevalo@albright.edu
Mark Pitely
Webmaster
Email: mpitely@albright.edu
Dana Banks
Brand Strategist for Pre-College and Summer Programs
Email: dbanks@albright.edu
The Communications Division is responsible for the marketing and advertising of all functions of Albright College. Campus partners, if you’re considering external advertising, please contact the Communications office to discuss.
Vendors: Due to the extreme volume of sales calls received, please email your information to news@albright.edu. No sales calls will be accepted.
The Communications Division serves as the official spokespeople for the college. Media should contact Carey Manzolillo, director of communications, at cmanzolillo@albright.edu.
Albright community, if you are seeking publicity or promotion for a program, event or service, please contact Carey Manzolillo.
Do you know of Albright students doing great things? Help us share Albright’s student stories by sending us news via the Merit Update form.
Photography/Videography Policy
Project Process and Guidelines
In order to successfully coordinate and design more than 1,500 on-brand design projects each year, the Communications Division requires Albrightians to follow four simple steps. Please note that submitting a Communications Request Form is NOT the first step:
1) PLAN your concept
2) WRITE and submit a first draft
3) SUBMIT a Communications Request Form
4) SHARE your project
Step 1: Plan your concept
Whether you need a physical mail piece or electronic design, the first step in the publication process is to assess your overall objective.
• Who is your audience?
• What do you hope to accomplish?
• What is the best way to accomplish that goal?
• What will the project cost?
• Who will pay for the project? (You’ll need an account number)
• When does the piece need to be delivered?
Ask yourself these questions and reach out to the Communications team to discuss any and all ideas around your design project – regardless of whether the project is brand new, or an old project that needs to be refreshed. Be sure to provide any design goals that you might have, so that they can be considered alongside college branding requirements.
Step 2: Write a first draft
Once we have helped you assess your project’s needs, concepts and themes, we ask you to write a first draft of your project copy. Please do not use ALL CAPS. Please do ensure that senior staff in your area and people mentioned in your copy (such as the president, provost, etc.) review and approve your draft before you send your Word doc to Carey Manzolillo, at cmanzolillo@albright.edu, for final copy editing.
Carey will return an edited version of your copy (text) to you, after ensuring brand integrity. Any significant changes after this point (going beyond basic error correction or minor fixes) should be re-submitted to Carey for a second edit before moving forward to design.
Albright utilizes AP Style for all electronic and print publications.
Ideal word count: People read differently in the information age. So when in doubt, be brief. Headlines should be five words or fewer. It is important to understand the size of your planned publication, so that the words and design are able to work together to carry out your message. Too much copy will create a design problem and could turn readers off. Here are ideal word counts for some common projects:
TV monitor ad: 21
Small postcard: 75
6×9 postcard: 125
Poster: 105
Email: 200
Copy editing timeline: Although timelines will vary depending on workload and project complexity, a good rule of thumb is to allow one to two weeks for editing, proofing and final approval of your publication copy (text) before beginning design. If your project is more extensive, such as a multiple page newsletter, please contact Carey Manzolillo via Teams or cmanzolillo@albright.edu for guidance.
Step 3: Submit a Communications Request Form
Final copy (text) and the communications request form: After your copy (text) has been edited/proofed by Communications and any final approvals have been made by senior staff in your area, please submit your edited copy along with an electronic communications request form. Your edited copy can be attached directly to the form.
Request forms must be filled out completely.
1. Be sure to provide “design goals” in the comment field that can be considered alongside college branding requirements.
2. Job quantity will determine the way a job is produced, therefore the design team cannot begin a job without a print quantity and an account number.
3. If an exact print quantity is not known at the time of submission, please use your best estimate. (Please do not write “hundreds” or “thousands.”) The number must be more specific in order for us to provide accurate price quotes. Print quantity for TV monitor ads or emails should be “one,” unless you are requesting multiple designs.
4. Please take into consideration that the number of printed pieces will affect the cost and turn-around time of any project. If your project is one that has been done before, please check your records for the previous year’s quantity to serve as an estimate. Please contact Gina French via Teams or gfrench@albright.edu if you need assistance.
After you submit a Communications Request Form (with final copy attached), you will begin work with the design team. Design projects will be returned to you for final approval. While Communications is responsible for ensuring brand integrity for all communication and marketing pieces, it is your responsibility to ensure that all content is accurate.
How long will it take?
Below are estimates for various new design pieces, or projects with major revisions/changes. Revisions to existing projects will take less time. Production time begins when your Communication Request Form and final copy (text) is submitted, and ends when the piece is delivered to you. Significant copy revisions must be proofed and will reset the design timeline below.
General publications
Simple postcards, invitations, posters, flyers: 10 working days (4-7 days for printing)
Programs, mailers, brochures: 10 working days (4-7 days for printing)
Special brochures, high-end print pieces and catalogues require 20 working days. (10 working days minimum to print)
Albright business cards, envelopes and official letterhead can be ordered online, via WhiteOak.
Booklets
Bound pieces, handbooks and reports with 30+ pages requiring bindery may require 20-30 working days.
Large format display or signage
Display pieces that require enlargement and/or mounting: 10-15 working days
Be sure to consult the design staff for projects requiring special order
Step 4: share your project
Mailing is the responsibility of the requesting department. Because of the large number of jobs mailed by Albright, Communications cannot make arrangements for your mailing.
Mailing also requires additional time and money (mailing lists require USPS review for $300) and printers require 3-4 additional days to complete mailing services.
Mailing services require your excel list of names to be submitted at time of order. Excel lists must be correct and will not be edited by Comm staff or printers.
Policy on design/publication work for student organizations
Communications is unable to produce publications for student organizations/events unless the event has a major institutional impact on prospective students and their families. The creative director is available to review your internal documents for brand accuracy at your request.
Brand is a strategic effort that goes far beyond writing, design and marketing efforts. Our brand is the perception someone has of our institution shaped through every interaction they have with us. A positive brand experience must be delivered consistently and intentionally by every department of the college. Your diligence and cooperation in adhering to Albright College’s brand standards allows Albright to present a consistent institutional image that reinforces our quality and professional standing. It helps Albright to stay top of mind with our target audiences, establishes their trust, and builds our credibility.
Please download our branding toolkit for usage of the college logo, associated marks, merchandise, our website and our letterhead. Visit the Intranet to access branded templates and logos for office communications and presentations to help the college achieve brand consistency.
If you have any questions about visual brand guidelines, please email Creative Director Gina French.
The Sports Information Director is available for questions related to sports news, statistics and media.
610-921-7786
www.albrightathletics.com
If you have questions about web functionality or changes to content, please contactwebmaster@albright.edu, Mark Pitely, Webmaster