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About the Conference
Communications professionals are confronting enormous challenges as they work on behalf of their institutions during these difficult times.
Soaring Expectations. Seizing Opportunities. offers topical, timely and authoritative information in the areas of social media, crisis communications, and marketing/branding with the goal of improving professional effectiveness.
This conference is designed especially for senior public relations and marketing staff at schools that are members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and, in addition to programming, offers an opportunity to network with your colleagues from similar schools around the country.
Preliminary Schedule
| Monday, March 9 | ||
| 7:45 – 8:45 a.m. | Registration | |
| 8:45 – 9:00 a.m. | Welcome & Introductions | |
| 9:00 – 10:15 a.m | "Merging Minds: Engaging University Communities Online to Foster Collaboration." Presenter: Larry Weber, chairman, Racepoint Group and Digital Influence Group, and author of Marketing to the Social Web: How Digital Customer Communities Build Your Business |
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| 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. | Break | |
| 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. | “Communicating with your Stakeholders Before, During and After a Crisis.” Presenter: Teresa Valerio Parrot, vice president of media relations and crisis communications, SimpsonScarborough |
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| Noon – 1:15 p.m. | Networking Lunch | |
| 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. | “Covering the Most Pressing Higher Education Issues of 2009: A Press and Presidential Perspective.” Panelists: Doug Whitlock, president, Eastern Kentucky University; Scott Jaschik, editor, Inside Higher Education; Jeff Selingo, editor, Chronicle of Higher Education; additional panelists TBA. |
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| 2:15 – 2:30 p.m. | Break | |
| 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. | “Forging the Relationship Between Legal Counsel and Public Affairs.” Panelists: Mary E. Kennard, legal counsel, American University; Karla Gower, director, Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations, The University of Alabama, and author, Legal and Ethical Restraints on Public Relations; Renee Walker, associate vice president for public relations and marketing, Central Michigan University. |
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| 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Special Event TBA | |
| Tuesday, March 10 | ||
| 7:45 – 8:45 a.m. | Moderated Roundtable Discussions & Continental Breakfast | |
| 9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | “Learning to Love the Politics: Hard Lessons Learned About Advancing Academic Institutions.”
Presenter: Larry Lauer, vice chancellor for marketing and communications, Texas Christian University and author of Competing for Students, Money and Reputation. |
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| 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. | Break | |
| 10:30 – 11:50 a.m. | “Building your Toolbox: Practical Steps for Social Media Marketing.” A hands-on, interactive session providing straightforward and practical insights that are essential in adding a social media based networking component to your current marketing plan. Presenter: Dave Evans, co-founder of Digital Voodoo and HearThis.com and author of Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day. |
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| Noon – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch | |
| 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. | “The State of University Magazines.” Panelists: Laura McDaniel, editor, NDSU Magazine & assistant vice president of university relations, North Dakota State University; other panelists TBA |
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| 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. | Break | |
| 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. | “Best University Branding Ideas” Panelists: Melissa Ezarik, managing editor, University Business Barbara O’Malley, associate vice president for communications, The University of Akron; other panelists TBA. |
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| 3:45 – 4:00 p.m. | Conference Wrap-Up | |
Special Note on Registration Process:
AASCU is migrating to a new meeting registration system. Please select between the two options below.|
Register online using AASCU’s new registration system.(Available to anyone who is in the Division of Communications database; for example those who receive @AASCU are in the database. Follow the prompts once you access “Register.”) |
Register |
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Register via the downloadable registration form, to be mailed or faxed in. |
Download Form (pdf) |
| Contact Shirley Dockett at 202-478-4663 if you need assistance with registration. |
Who Should Attend
Senior communications staff—defined as those who have 8-10 years of experience in higher education public relations, marketing or related fields—or individuals who serve as the chief communications officer at his/her college or university.
Location
The conference will be held at the AASCU office building, 1307 New York Avenue N.W.
Registration
Registration fee for the conference is $425. Cost covers all conference activities including continental breakfast, two lunches and a special event.
Conference cancellation policy:
Cancellations received in writing by noon, March 1, 2009 will be fully refunded. After March 1 a $150 cancellation fee will be charged and deducted from all refunds. Cancellations received after March 5 forfeit the full registration fee.