What We Do
Our team of experienced strategists, designers, developers, content managers, and writers work collaboratively with campus partners to deliver meaningful, results-driven creative solutions that align with the university’s mission and values.
While Grand Valley's admissions and recruitment and presidential initiatives are our priorities and make up the bulk of our in-house work, we empower the entire campus community to tell their stories effectively by providing expertise, strategy resources, and self-service tools.
Integrated Marketing Planning
Integrated marketing brings together all of our different marketing channels to deliver a consistent, compelling brand message. It conveys clear messages about the university that underscore its mission, vision, values, and strategic goals. University Marketing oversees Grand Valley's integrated marketing plan by:
- Conducting research to determine current perceptions and marketing trends
- Incorporating that research into our communication plans, strategic goal-setting, and messaging language
- Periodically re-evaluating these plans to ensure their alignment with evolving research and messaging
If you have questions about the university's plan or need consulting on creating a plan of your own, feel free to connect with us.
Brand and Identity Standards
The Grand Valley brand reflects the university’s reputation and how it is perceived. University Marketing:
- Analyzes brand insights to develop strategic positioning, messaging, and visual identity
- Develops a unified look, tone, and consistency to advance the university
- Manages the Identity site — the central resource for Grand Valley's brand and identity standards
Brand trainings are available in Workday Learning for GVSU community members (search “University Marketing”).
Web Services
University Marketing's Web Team designs and develops GVSU’s primary website and content management system (CMS), enabling departments to maintain accessible, user‑friendly sites. They also create custom web applications and provide templates and support for forms, registration, email newsletters, and ecommerce.
Advertising
Grand Valley leverages a variety of advertising tactics to enhance its image, generate awareness, and promote enrollment. University Marketing partners with external agencies to strategically develop and place advertising on behalf of the university.
If you have an advertising budget, we can connect you with a media buying agency and review your artwork. Feel free to reach out.
Visual Marketing Materials
University Marketing designs, produces, and advises on a wide range of visual materials, including:
- Recruitment materials such as viewbooks, brochures, and direct mail
- Materials for presidential events and initiatives
- Branded table throws and retractable displays (available to rent)
- Brand‑aligned templates across multiple platforms for campus use
Not sure if your materials meet Grand Valley’s brand standards? Campus communicators are encouraged to review projects with us before production and distribution. Please also review the vendor licensing policy for branded apparel and promotional items.
Digital Marketing Tools
In addition to the CMS, University Marketing manages several digital marketing tools for the university, including:
- Academic program pages, maintained in coordination with campus partners, that showcase Grand Valley’s academic offerings alongside the course catalog
- The Interactive Map and Virtual Tour, developed with editors across campus, to highlight the Grand Valley campus experience
Questions, updates, or interest in contributing to these tools are welcome—please contact us to learn more.