ESF-15: University Relations
Emergency Support Function 15: University Relations
PURPOSE
ESF-15: University Relations generally coordinates communications and engagement with the university community, local community, general public, elected officials, government agencies, and members of the media.
ESF-15 does not include the functions of emergency public warning and notification as outlined in ESF‑16: Incident and Operational Communications. The Vice President of University Relations, Associate Vice President of Communications and heads of Strategic Communications, Media Relations, and Social Media will coordinate with the Office of Emergency Management to develop clear and consistent messages and dissemination strategies.
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
Coordinating Unit: Cornell University’s Division of University Relations
Strategic Communications has responsibility for development and implementation of university communications plans; development and publication of university statements and community-wide messages on university-owned platforms; provides internal communications support to Cornell’s academic and administrative units; and monitors/manages response strategy for social media.
Media Relations serves as the university’s liaison to local, regional, national and international media organizations, including development and dissemination of official statements to the media; provides external communications and media-related support to Cornell’s academic and administrative units, and supports the dissemination of information to the general public.
The Office of Community Relations, the Office of State Relations, and the Office of Federal Relations serve as the university’s liaisons to the local, state, and federal elected officials and local and regional community leaders.
ESF ACTIONS
Vice President for University Relations
- Incident notification and coordination with Cornell administrators.
Strategic Communications and Social Media
- Support development of pre-scripted emergency and incident related messages for use by Cornell Police and the Office of Emergency Management.
- Development and distribution of non-emergency university statements and related messages.
- Social media monitoring and response management.
- Post emergency messages on official Cornell University social media accounts.
- Coordination and collaboration with college and administrative unit communication directors and social media ambassadors.
Media Relations and News
- Media monitoring and coordination of response to media inquiries; act as university liaison to the news media.
- Distribution of university statements, media advisories, and press releases to news media.
- Hosting and management of press conferences and media facilities.
- Management of media outlets that may come to campus during or after an incident.
Brand Communications
- Management of Cornell.edu and CUINFO websites; post Cornell ALERTS, university statements and other relevant messages to University Relations managed websites.
- Web development support to create new sites, if necessary.
- Photography coverage and graphics support for University Relations.
Offices of Community Relations, State Relations, and Federal Relations
- Serve as university liaison to government at the local, state, and federal levels
- Share relevant university communications with local, state, and federal officials and community leaders.
- Coordinate campus visits by government officials and community leaders during events and incidents