Peer Support for Peanuts: The UCSF Communicators Network
description
Transcript of Peer Support for Peanuts: The UCSF Communicators Network
Peer Support for Peanuts: The UCSF Communicators Network
Sarah Paris, Director of Communications, UCSF School of Medicine
The UCSF School of MedicineOrganizational Structure• 28 departments, 16 Institutes and Centers• Highly decentralized• Part of the UCSF health sciences campus
Internal Audiences• 2000 faculty• 5121 staff• 618 medical students• 1365 residents and fellows• 600 graduate students; 1000 post docs
3
7 major sites in San Francisco & Fresno
188 mi
VA Medical Center
Parnassus
Mission Bay
Mt. ZionLaurel Heights
San Francisco General Hospital
UCSF Campus: Communications UCSF News & Public Affairs (University Relations)• News Releases and Web stories for External Audiences• Web Stories for Internal AudiencesDepartments & Centers• Newsletters / Publications• Internal Communications• Events• Departmental WebsitesSchool of Medicine Dean’s Office• School Homepage(s) / Website• School-wide electronic communications (listservs)
Who is communicating?
• Centrally: Full-time professionals assigned to Schools, University Relations, Medical Center and Development.
• Locally: In departments and units, admin staff are charged with print or electronic communications as part of their overall duties. Typically, web, print, electronic and in-person communications (events) are handled separately and not coordinated.
Challenges for “Outliers”• Lack of training• Lack of resources• Lack of standards / best practices• Lack of connection to peers across campus• Lack of recognition for their work
Challenges for Campus• Inefficiencies: Inventing the wheel instead of
building on existing information and resources• Ignorance of standards & brand guidelines• Inability to create strategic communications
campus-wide
UCSF Websites, ca. 2008: “Brand Smorgasbord”
The UCSF Communicators NetworkGoal 1: Connect everyone on campus who
is active in any form of communications
• Website creation, web editing• Print publications, displays• Electronic communications• Social media• Event management
The UCSF Communicators Network• Kick off Meeting Nov. 7, 2008:
- 36 attendees from SOM and campus- Universal agreement of need for and usefulness of a communicators group
• Discussion of platform for interaction• Subsequent formation of small ad-hoc
steering committee with representatives from the four schools & UR
• Now 150+ members• Voluntary collaboration; various levels of
participation. Top-down “moral” support.
The Virtual Meeting Place
2009-2010: Google GroupConsensus: Adequate tool for discussions (162 topics in two years), but hard to organize resources. 2011: Transition to Nuts & Bolts Website (for member roster and resource organization); combined with a listserv for intra-group discussions and inquiries.
Communicators.ucsf.edu
The UCSF Communicators NetworkGoal 2: Provide training and resources• Group meets collectively every 2-3 months.
Typical format is 1-2 presentations on a given topic, with extra time for member networking
• Sample topics covered:- Social Media Strategies- Website creation- Online conferencing- How to Shoot a Simple Headshot (hands-on workshop)
• Presentations and other resources are archived on website
The UCSF Communicators NetworkGoal 3: Create a structure to disseminate
important messages on the unit level• Example: Group worked collectively to
disseminate sustainability efforts Goal 4: Develop best practices• Example: Group worked on drafting and
implementing best practices for mass email on campus
Member Survey March 2011
1 2 3 4 50
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 2
8
31
19
Rating of Resource Value
Rated 1-55 being the highest
Member Survey March 2011
1 2 3 4 50
5
10
15
20
25
1
4
16
22
17
Rating of Network Value
Rated 1-55 being the highest
“Organically Grown Products”
• Shared Media (Photos/Video)Resource Space
• Move towards uniform content management system (Drupal)
• Website “family” branding
UCSF Websites 2011: “Family Resemblance”
Future ProjectsShort term:• More training and networking opportunities• Further development and dissemination of
resources, standards and best practicesLong term:• Campus strategic communications plan• Develop data to bring more recognition to ROI
of communications in a budget-challenged environment