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 Jira tickets.

Timing: UMC needs 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: UMC will submit a draft for your point person to review once elements are created. UMC accepts factual changes, items that affect the accuracy of the piece. Additional changes, especially style, tone, or angle adjustments, effectively restart 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 (e.g., an event requiring a poster, program, postcard, and header).
  • For smaller projects, allow at least four–five 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 the scope and current UMC project load.

As general guidelines:

  • A campus contributor on your team can update your pages for minor web edits. Otherwise, please submit a helpdesk ticket and allow two–three weeks. Examples include a tuition rate change and adding open house dates.
  • For major web edits or new pages, please allow two 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

START A PROJECT IN JIRA

Have a story you think we should share?

Submit a Story

Editing and Writing Turn-around Times

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

Submit a Helpdesk Ticket     Guidelines for Press Releases

Request a new faculty or staff profile or submit edits to an existing profile.

SUBMIT A TICKET

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

  • 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 HEADSHOT

How to Request Headshots
Please open a Jira ticket to let us know you want 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 when many faculty and staff are on campus. If you inform us of your interest via a Jira ticket, we will inform you 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 Jira 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.