CommsCon
CommsCon is a day of peer-to-peer learning, networking and collaboration. Dive into dynamic presentations, workshops, and panel discussions covering a wide range of topics, including UVic's media strategy, marketing, design and brand strategy, web strategy, crisis communications, and more. Engage with colleagues, exchange insights, and deepen your understanding of the marketing and communications landscape at UVic.
Event details
- Date: May 29, 2024
- Time: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Location: MacLaurin Building, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø
Registration
Registration for CommsCon is now open! Let us know which sessions you're interested in attending. Don't worry, we won't hold you to it; you can always decide to attend a different session. We just want to get an idea for planning.
Check out the schedule
Explore our jam-packed schedule featuring a keynote presentation and concurrent parallel sessions, workshops and networking activities.*Please note that the schedule provided is subject to change. Any alterations will be reflected live on this page.
CommsCon Schedule at a Glance
*Subject to change
TIME |
David Lam Auditorium (MAC A144) MacLaurin Lobby |
Conference Room (MAC D101) |
Conference Room (MAC D103) |
Wellness Room (MAC D114) |
8:00 - 8:45 AM | Arrival and Check-in, Coffee and Refreshments |
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8:45 - 9:00 AM | Welcome and Opening Remarks 'Pin a communication or marketing problem on all wall |
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9:00 - 9:50 AM | Opening Keynote: Higher Ed. Marketing Truths -- Ryan Morabito, Senior Advisor, 5° Branding | |||
Transition to next session | ||||
10:00 - 10:30 AM | What Do UVic Recruiters Do? -- Student Recruitment Reps |
Web Accessibility Practices -- Ethan Perriccioli, Senior Web Officer, University Communications & Marketing |
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Transition to next session | ||||
10:40 - 11:25 AM | Part 1 -- Power of PR: Creative Media Relations Strategies --
Bringing UVic’s earned media strategy to life -- Nicole Crozier, Communication Officer, SCIE, Hannah Mashon, Communication Officer, IACE, Robyn Meyer, Communication Manager, ONC, Rachel Goldsworthy, Research Profile Officer, OVPRI, Anne MacLaurin, Communications and Special Projects Officer, SOSC, Erin King, Senior Media Relations & Issues Manager, Jennifer Kwan, Manager, Marcom (Earned and Owned), Kirsten Lauvaas, Associate Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Vanessa Johnsons, Associate Director, External Marketing and Communications |
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Transition to next session | ||||
11:30 - 12:00 PM | Part 2 -- Power of PR: Creative Media Relations Strategies -- Deeper Dive Workshop -- Nicole Crozier, Communication Officer, SCIE, Hannah Mashon, Communication Officer, IACE, Robyn Meyer, Communication Manager, ONC, Rachel Goldsworthy, Research Profile Officer, OVPRI, Anne MacLaurin, Communications and Special Projects Officer, SOSC, Erin King, Senior Media Relations & Issues Manager, Jennifer Kwan, Manager, Marcom (Earned and Owned), Kirsten Lauvaas, Associate Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Vanessa Johnsons, Associate Director, External Marketing and Communications | |||
12:00 - 1:00 PM (LUNCH) | ||||
1:00 - 1:50 PM | Repurpose with Purpose -- Vanessa Johnson, Associate Director, External Marketing & Communications, UCAM; Simone Blais, Creative Marketing & Public Relations Strategist; Erin Hall, Communications Officer, Alumni & Development | Finding connection in the stories we tell: a group poetry exercise (In-person workshop *16-person capacity) -- Dorothy Eggenberger, Senior Content Officer, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business | Marcom skills & career development: Resource-swap edition (30 min session) -- Sasha Milam, Associate Director, Communications & Marketing, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business | Capturing Nature's Classroom (Outdoor in person workshop *10 person capacity) -- Greg Miller, Senior Photographer, University Communications & Marketing |
Transition to next session | ||||
2:00 - 2:50 PM | Let's talk about S...earch! - Content Marketing -- Molly Randhawa, Creative Strategist & Copywriter & Lance Singbeil, Marketing Specialist, Web & Design | South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPPS) Brand Evolution -- Kerry Slavens, Director of PR & Engagement, South Island Prosperity Partnership | Emergency Communications -- Rob Johns, Manager, Emergency Planning, Campus Security; Erin King, Senior Media Relations & Issues Manager; Kirsten Lauvaas, Associate Director, Communications and Public Affairs | |
Transition to next session | ||||
3:00 - 3:30 PM | Navigating opportunities and ethical considerations of Generative AI in higher education -- Hannah Rose, Strategic Projects and Communications Manager Becca Edwards, Manager, Curriculum Development |
Art of Storytelling: Data Visualization -- Rich McCue, Digital Scholarship Commons Manager | Ctrl+Alt+Reboot: Insights from a new website project -- Jon Chabun, Web & Marketing Specialist, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business | |
Transition to next session | ||||
3:40 - 4:00 PM |
Closing Remarks and Wrap-up |
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4:00 - 5:00 PM |
After-Event Gathering at |
8-9 a.m.
Check-in @ MacLaurin Lobby
8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
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Arrival and Check-in, Coffee and Refreshments
Welcome and Opening Remarks @ MAC A144
8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m.
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Welcome and Opening Remarks 📍MAC A144 (Auditorium)
- 'Pin a communication or marketing problem on all wall' 📍MacLaurin Lobby
9 - 9:50 a.m.
Opening Keynote: Higher Ed. Marketing Truths -- Ryan Morabito @ MAC A144
There’s a gap of understanding around marketing on many campuses. We've developed a framework for schools to engage our campus partners in meaningful conversations and to evaluate their current marketing initiatives. The Marketing Truths helps colleges and universities identify gaps and opportunities. In this session, veteran higher education leader Ryan Morabito of 5 Degrees Branding will share his Higher Ed. Marketing Truths to show how thriving institutions are leveraging their marketing investment to drive enrollment and fundraising success. Ryan will also be sharing his most popular LinkedIn posts.
Format: Keynote Presentation
📅 9:00AM - 9:50AM
📍MAC A144 (Auditorium)
Zoom Link:
10 - 10:30 a.m. - Parallel sessions
What Do UVic Recruiters Do? -- Student Recruitment Reps @ MAC D101
An insightful session exploring the behind-the-scenes world of UVic recruiters. Ever wondered how universities attract the best and brightest students? This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the strategies, tactics, and responsibilities of UVic's recruitment team.
Presenter: Student Recruitment Reps
Format: Presentation
📅 10:00AM - 10:30AM
📍MAC D101
Zoom Link:
Web accessibility practices -- Ethan Perriccioli @ MAC D103
A high-level overview of website accessibility practices at UVic and why they matter to your audiences.
Presenter: Ethan Perriccioli, Senior Web Officer, University Communications and Marketing
Format: Presentation
📅 10 - 10:30 A.M.
📍MAC D103
10:40 - 11:25 a.m. - Power of PR: creative media relations strategies Part 1
Part 1 -- Power of PR: Creative Media Relations Strategies -- Bringing UVic’s earned media strategy to life -- Panel of Communication Officers and UCAM @ MAC A144
Discover how UVic’s earned media strategy comes to life through impactful examples and interactive discussions. Our panel of communication officers and UCAM team members will showcase the importance of media relations in shaping our university's narrative, expanding our reach, and establishing thought leadership. Learn about our strategic engagement with independent media outlets and the role of communication officers in leveraging earned media to elevate UVic’s profile.
Presenters:
Nicole Crozier, Communication Officer, SCIE
Hannah Mashon, Communication Officer, IACE
Robyn Meyer, Communication Manager, ONC
Rachel Goldsworthy, Research Profile Officer, OVPRI
Anne MacLaurin, Communications and Special Projects Officer, SOSC
UCAM
Erin King, Senior Media Relations & Issues Manager
Jennifer Kwan, Manager, Marcom (Earned and Owned)
Kirsten Lauvaas, Associate Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Vanessa Johnsons, Associate Director, External Marketing and Communications
Format: Presentation
📅 10:40AM - 11:25AM
📍MAC A144 (Auditorium)
Zoom Link:
11:30 a.m. - noon - Power of PR: creative media relations strategies Part 2
Part 2 -- Power of PR: Creative Media Relations Strategies -- Deeper Dive Workshop -- Panel of Communication Officers and UCAM @ MAC A144
In this hands-on workshop, delve deeper into the creative media relations strategies that drive UVic’s success. Our panel of communication officers and UCAM experts will guide you through advanced tactics, including how to seize the news cycle and pitch stories effectively. Participate in practical exercises and gain key insights to enhance your media relations skills, ensuring your stories resonate and achieve maximum impact.
Presenters:
Nicole Crozier, Communication Officer, SCIE
Hannah Mashon, Communication Officer, IACE
Robyn Meyer, Communication Manager, ONC
Rachel Goldsworthy, Research Profile Officer, OVPRI
Anne MacLaurin, Communications and Special Projects Officer, SOSC
UCAM
Erin King, Senior Media Relations & Issues Manager
Jennifer Kwan, Manager, Marcom (Earned and Owned)
Kirsten Lauvaas, Associate Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Vanessa Johnsons, Associate Director, External Marketing and Communications
Format: Workshop
📅 11:30AM - 12:00 PM
📍MAC A144 (Auditorium)
1 - 1:50 p.m.- Parallel sessions
Repurpose with Purpose -- Vanessa Johnson, Simone Blais, Erin Hall @ MAC A144
Join us to explore how we can effectively utilize existing produced assets across different audiences and platforms. Learn strategies and best practices for adapting content to maximize reach and impact in diverse digital landscapes.
Presenters:
Vanessa Johnson, Associate Director, External Marketing and Communications, University Communication and Marketing
Simone Blais, Creative Marketing & Public Relations Strategist, University Communication and Marketing
Erin Hall, Alumni & Development Communications Officer
Format: Panel Discussion
📅 1:00PM - 1:50PM
📍MAC A144 (Auditorium)
Zoom Link:
Marcom skills and career development: Resource-swap edition -- Sasha Milam @ MAC D103
In this session, join forces with colleagues to pick through the vast sea of marketing & communications professional development materials. Bring your favourite marcom or career development resource (books, podcasts, vlogs, newsletters, etc.) and come ready to share it using the following 4-minute format: a brief summary, key takeaways, recommended audience, and insights on when to engage with or skip the content. Sasha will kick things off with a 4-minute pitch for why you should (or should not) read management icon Henry Mintzberg’s Understanding Organizations; the group will have a few minutes to hone their resource pitch and then share. The goal is 1) to collaboratively fuel marcom careers via bite-sized, actionable takeaways, and 2) to create a shared resource list the group can take home to engage with later.
Presenter: Sasha Milam, Associate Director, Communications and Marketing,
Peter B. Gustavson School of Business
Format: Workshop
📅 1:00PM - 1:30PM
📍MAC D103
Zoom Link:
Finding connection in the stories we tell -- Dorothy Eggenberger @ MAC D101
Group poem exercise to explore inspiration from the creator's desk while building your marketing and communication community.
Presenter: Dorothy Eggenberger, Senior Content Officer, Peter B. Gustavson School of BusinessFormat: Workshop
16-person capacity
📅 1:00PM - 1:50PM
📍MAC D101
AT CAPACITY - Capturing Nature's Classroom: Outdoor Photography Workshop -- Greg Miller
Step into nature's classroom and unleash your creativity in this immersive outdoor photography workshop. Led by our acclaimed photographer Greg Miller, this hands-on session invites participants to explore the natural landscapes surrounding UVic while honing their photography skills and capturing the beauty of the outdoors. This workshop will focus on working with natural light to take headshots and group photos, making the most of the beautiful natural settings.
Presenter: Greg Miller, Senior Photographic Technician, University Communication and MarketingFormat: Outdoor Workshop
10-person capacity
📅 1:00PM - 1:50PM
📍MAC D103 (Meet up Place)
2 - 2:50 p.m. - Parallel sessions
Let's talk about S...earch! -Content Marketing -- Molly Randhawa and Lance Singbeil @ MAC D144
Let's demystify search! Learn how to tap into your audience's search behaviour and effectively incorporate key terms into your content. Join us for a crash course and discussion on content marketing, understanding search habits, and crafting compelling copy that converts. Led by Molly from UCAM and Lance from Continuing Studies, be prepared to walk away with practical tools you can implement right away.
Presenters:
Molly Randhawa, Creative Strategist and Copywriter, University Communication and Marketing
Lance Singbeil, Marketing Specialist, Web & Design, Division of Continuing Studies
Format:Workshop
📅 2:00PM - 2:50PM
📍MAC A144 (Auditorium)
Zoom Link:
SIPPS Brand Evolution - Kerry Slavens @ MAC D101
*Stay tuned for the details.
Presenter: Kerry Slavens, Director of PR & Engagement, South Island Prosperity Partnership
Format: Presentation
📅 2:00PM - 2:50PM
📍MAC D101
Zoom Link:
Emergency Communications - Rob Johns, Erin King, and Kirsten Lauvaas @ MAC D103
*Stay tuned for the details
Presenters:
Rob Johns, Manager, Emergency Planning, Campus Security Services
Erin King, Senior Media Relations & Issues Manager, University Communications and Marketing
Kirsten Lauvaas, Associate Director, Communications and Public Affairs, University Communications and Marketing
Format: Presentation
📅 2:00PM - 2:50PM
📍MAC D103
Zoom Link:
3 - 3:30 p.m.- Parallel sessions
Navigating opportunities and ethical considerations of Generative AI in higher education -- Hannah Rose and Becca Edwards @ MAC A144
GenAI is a form of machine learning with the capabilities to produce text, images, video, music, code, etc. GenAI has increased in popularity in the past year. As educators and communications professionals, we’ve witnessed both excitement and apprehension surrounding GenAI in the post-secondary context. This year, the Division of Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation (LTSI) formed a working group to understand the strengths and limitations of the tools, and developed a position statement and recommendations on its use for students and instructors. The session will focus on the messaging and approach used in communicating guidelines and how we facilitate conversations and professional development with instructors and students on ethical use.
Presenters:
Hannah Rose, Strategic Projects and Communications Manager
Becca Edwards, Manager, Curriculum Development
Format: Presentation
📅 3:00PM - 3:30PM
📍MAC A144
Zoom Link:
ART of Story Telling - Data Visualization -- Rich McCue @ MAC D101
Continuation of ART of story telling session from last year. Using data visualization to tell a story really does make a picture worth a 1000 words. Learn how you can bring your story to life in new ways.
Presenter: Rich McCue, Digital Scholarship Commons ManagerFormat: Workshop
📅 3:00PM - 3:30PM
📍MAC D101
Zoom Link:
Ctrl+Alt+Reboot: Insights from a new website project -- Jon Chabun @ MAC D103
Presenter:
Jon Chabun, Web & Marketing Specialist, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business
Format: Presentation
📅 3:00PM - 3:30PM
📍MAC D103
Zoom Link:
3:40 - 4 p.m.
Closing Remarks @ MAC A144
- Closing Remarks and Wrap-up
📍MAC A144 (Auditorium)
4 - 5 p.m.
Contact us
For inquiries or more information about CommsCon, please contact us at martechpod@uvic.ca or 250-721-7636.