Student Communications at the University of Sheffield Why

Student Communications at the University of Sheffield

Why SSi. D? • First port of call for student services • Institutional reputation for quality service delivery • Front face of student services • Delivers a wide number of services for other sections • Developments can be tackled straight away

Where it all began • 2010: Student Communications Research project - Student Service - Students’ Union - Faculties and departments University-wide • 2012: Student Communications Coordinator appointed - Implement finding of research project - Based in SSi. D - Remit 70% Student Services 30% University-wide • 2013: Student Communications team created - New roles for Web development and projects officer and Student Communications Assistant • 2014: Student Communications Team expands - New role for Digital Media Officer - Web support assistant - Graphic media assistant

Partners • Student Services • Student advice and guidance • Students’ Union • Multi-faith chaplaincy • Internal Communications • Sabbatical officers • Central Outreach • Faculties / departments • South Yorkshire Police • Central digital team • Student Advice Centre • 301 • Student Financial Support team • • • Estates and Facilities Management University Health Service University counseling service Exams team International office / student support Corporate Affairs (External Relations) • Corporate Information and Computing Services

Projects • Student news and events page • SU Smart move project • • New building comms (SU / Diamond) Student financial support video and publications • Library fines communications campaign • Incident communications • NSS comms • Student Comms Ambassadors • Crime reductions / campus security • SSi. D branding and publications • Registration / new student comms • Campus Master plan • Faculty outreach films • Student services welcome video • Things Not Going Right? tool • Website usability testing • University website development • Support and guidance comms • Parents webpages redevelopment • New email policy / round-up

What’s gone well • Central point for student news and information • Student Announce email moderation • Social Media – Twitter followers up from 1190 (2012) to 3926 (2015) – Facebook relaunched March 2014 now 731 likes – Pinterest 226 followers since 2013 – Instagram 551 followers since 2014 www. sheffield. ac. uk/students

What’s gone well #Get. Ralph. Home • • • Semester 2 campaign to get students to update their address details. 3 films produced. University-wide competition. Raise awareness of SSi. D social media. 50% more students updated their address in semester 2, compared to 2014. 63% more students updated their home address in semester 2, compared to 2014. 38% more students updated their term-time address in semester 2, compared to 2014. 1 in 3 students saw at least one of the Ralph films. 6, 726 total You. Tube views of the Ralph series by the end of semester 2. http: //vimeo. com/ssiduniofsheffield

What’s gone well Student Communications Ambassadors • • • 231 expressions of interest 21 Ambassadors taken on for pilot year 16 UG 5 PG More than 70 news stories / blog posts Topics from bank holidays to student mental health www. sheffield. ac. uk/students/blogs

What’s gone well Student Communications survey • • 77% of students trust that messages sent by the Student Communications team are important. 70% of students who have been at the university for more than a year think there has been an improvement in email communications. • 77% of students find out news page helpful and interesting. • More than 50% of students find our films informative and interesting.

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