Marcomm teams, or blended teams of marketing and communications professionals, are standard for most higher education institutions. Many projects require integrating the expertise of both teams to reach our audiences in a variety of ways. Given higher education budgets for marketing and communications, efficiency amongst marcomm teams is often required with many positions crossing traditional…Read more
Author: Rob Zinkan
Transcript: The Future of Integrating Marketing and Communications
On February 15, RHB’s Rob Zinkan hosted a webinar with special guests Jeneane Beck from the University of Iowa and Kate Ledger from Old Dominion University to discuss the organizational challenges and opportunities of integrating marketing and communications. A recording of the webinar is also available. · · · Transcript Rob Zinkan So pleased to…Read more
Your Institution Is Only Distinctive if Others Take Notice
This article previously appeared in Inside Higher Ed and it is posted here with permission of the author. “Distinctive” is a popular descriptor in college and university strategic plans. From analyzing more than 150 plans, we’ve seen institutions claim distinctive strengths, distinctive academic programs, distinctive co-curricular programs, distinctive teaching and learning, a distinctive student experience, a distinctive…Read more
How to Structure Your Higher Ed Marketing Department for the Future
If you’ve been reading our recent insights or if you’ve reviewed takeaways from our study on higher education strategic planning, you may already be aware of our research suggesting, while institutions have embraced marketing as a vital means of promotion, the embrace of marketing to aid in new program development or signature experiences is still…Read more
Transcript: Modern Strategic Planning: Committing to DEIB in a Continuing Climate of Challenge
On November 1, Aimee Hosemann and Rob Zinkan hosted a webinar about RHB’s latest strategic planning research. They cover the third installment, Committing to DEIB in a Continuing Climate of Challenge, from a three-installment research report on modern strategic planning. A recording of the webinar is also available. · · · Transcript Rob Zinkan Well…Read more
A Guide to AMA Higher Ed 2023
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Sure, the holidays are fast approaching—too fast actually. Or maybe spooky season or PSL season is your thing. For higher ed marketers, it’s feel-good season because we’ll soon get to be among our people. The AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, the largest single gathering…Read more
Transcript: Modern Strategic Planning: Exemplars and Emerging Themes
On September 27, Aimee Hosemann and Rob Zinkan hosted a webinar about RHB’s latest strategic planning research. They cover the first two installments from a three-installment research report: Leadership Functions of Higher Ed Strategic Planning in 2023 and 54 Newly Launched Plans. A recording of the webinar is also available. · · · Transcript Aimee Hosemann Alright, thanks…Read more
Modern Strategic Planning: Exemplars and Emerging Themes, Installment Three: Committing to DEIB in a Continuing Climate of Challenge
In our previous research analyzing 108 current strategic plans across higher education in 2020, we evaluated plans from private and public four-year institutions from all 50 states. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) was a major emphasis across all plans, but especially in the 16 most-strategic plans. As we circled back to check in on…Read more
Modern Strategic Planning: Exemplars and Emerging Themes, Installment Two: 54 Newly Launched Plans
Our previous research analyzing 108 current strategic plans across higher education began in 2020 and featured private and public four-year institutions from all 50 states. All strategic plans were active at the time, and they represented various durations and stages, including some that were near conclusion. In 2023, we wanted to understand what has changed…Read more
Leadership Functions of Higher Ed Strategic Planning in 2023
In 2021, RHB published a research study of 108 higher education strategic plans. Beyond asking what makes a strategic plan strategic, we wanted to answer several questions: Who are these plans truly for? Why is the process so complex? Does it have to be? Amidst such rapid change, how relevant can a plan truly be?…Read more