Aerial view of North Park University campus with Chicago skyline.

University Marketing and Communications

Project Guidelines

Helpdesk ticket: All UMC projects must be submitted as helpdesk tickets.

Timing: It’s important for UMC to have sufficient lead time to complete your project and all others in our queues. Therefore, please submit projects with ample time for UMC to deliver an excellent product.

Project brief: For most projects, once a helpdesk ticket is submitted, UMC will provide you with a project brief to complete and sign. This ensures that UMC receives the right information to complete your project and it establishes guidelines for each project.

Approvals and changes: Once elements are created, UMC will submit to your point person a draft for review. UMC accepts factual changes, items that affect the accuracy of the piece. Additional changes, especially adjustments to style or tone or angle, effectively re-start the project timeline.

Below are the approximate timeframes needed for different project types.

  • For large print or digital projects, allow at least 12 weeks from start to finish. Examples include brochures, newsletters, annual reports, and multi-piece projects (i.e. an event requiring a poster, program, postcard, and header).
  • For smaller projects, allow at least 4–5 weeks from start to finish. Examples include event invitations, postcards, flyers, emails, and landing pages

Allow up to 15 working days in addition to the design cycle mentioned above.

In addition to design and print time, delivery time should be considered as a factor when planning a project.

The amount of time needed depends on a number of variables including postage (non-profit, first class, etc.).

Estimates of delivery time will be provided on a project-by-project basis.

Timeframes needed to create and edit website content vary depending on scope and current UMC project load.

As general guidelines:

  • For minor web edits, a campus contributor on your team has permission to make updates to your pages. Otherwise, please submit a helpdesk ticket and allow 2­­–3 weeks. Examples include a tuition rate change and adding open house dates.
  • For major web edits or new pages, please allow 2 months. Examples include revisions to an academic program, adding a new academic program, or a conference-scale event.

Requirements for page construction:

Program Pages

  • Submitted JIRA Ticket
  • Completed Project Brief – If requested
  • Clearly defined enrollment funnel – Must provide exact URL and process should be cleared with both the registrar and ESO
  • Completed template that includes suggested copy for each page section

Landing Pages

  • Submitted JIRA Ticket
  • Completed Project Brief – If requested
  • Clearly defined enrollment funnel – Must provide exact URL and process should be cleared with both the registrar and ESO
  • Completed template that includes suggested copy for each page section
  • All logos in PNG form

UMC can provide guidance on web topics such as:

  • Editing web pages
  • User experience
  • Content strategy

START A PROJECT IN HELPDESK

Have a story you think we should share?

Submit a Story

Editing & Writing Turn-around Times

  • 1 week for editing short pieces
  • 2 weeks for editing long pieces
  • 1 month for writing an announcement post
  • 2 months for writing a news story
  • 2 months for writing a press release

Submit a Helpdesk Ticket     Guidelines for Press Releases

Edits and updates to faculty profiles are managed by Heather Cady, Office Manager, Provost’s Office.

request a faculty Profile UpdatE

New faculty profiles are written and posted by UMC.

START A New Faculty Profile

UMC offers a headshot service to full-time faculty and staff . . .

  • In order to best represent NPU’s accomplished faculty and administrators to the public.
  • To keep our website fresh, current, and up to date.
  • As a courtesy to North Park’s professionals.

Request Headshots in a Helpdesk Ticket

How to Request Headshots
Please open a Helpdesk ticket (“Digital Communications” category) to let us know you’re interested in a headshot. We will either follow up to schedule an individual time for you, or keep you informed about upcoming headshot opportunities.

Recurring Headshot Opportunities
UMC organizes occasional opportunities for faculty and staff to have headshots taken in bulk. These are often held on Gathering Day or other times when many faculty and staff are on campus. If you inform us via a Helpdesk ticket of your interest, we will keep you informed of opportunities.

Department Headshot Sessions
If multiple people in your department need headshots, we are happy to schedule a group time for headshots for you all. Reach out via Helpdesk to schedule.

Contact
Lindsey Post Robinson, UMC Operations Manager, handles headshots.
Reach her at (773) 244-4864 or lcpostrobinson@northpark.edu.

Need an event added to the University Calendar?

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

For photography requests, please allow a minimum of two weeks to schedule a photographer. North Park does not have a photographer on staff so we are generally not able to fulfill last-minute requests.