Joe Gutierrez | CSUSB Office of Strategic Communication | (951) 236-4522 | joeg@csusb.edu
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VII named Cal State San Bernardino as the winner of two Bronze Awards for its work in creating a video, and digital viewbook and materials to communicate with students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the campus to shift to a virtual format.
The CASE District VII hosted a “Homecoming Celebration,” recognizing the 2021 Awards of Excellence Winners, on Feb. 5. View the recording on the District VII Facebook page.
The two awards have added to CASE’s recognition of CSUSB, as the university’s Alumni Relations had been awarded the 2020 Circle of Excellence Gold CASE Award for its Alumni Professor for a Day program, which invites alumni to serve as guest lecturers in a field of study in which their experiences and expertise can benefit current students.
“The Bronze CASE awards highlight the exceptional work done by the Office of Strategic Communication in the making of a video and digital materials to help our campus community deal with the move to a virtual format as a result of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Robert J. Nava, vice president of University Advancement and executive director of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation. “Last year, CASE recognized the CSUSB Alumni Relations Office with its Gold CASE Award for its Professor for a Day program in which our outstanding alumni lecture in classes on their work and professional accomplishments.”
The CSUSB Office of Strategic Communication (OSC) was recognized for its video, “COVID-Returning to Campus.” The 4-minute, 24-second video was created for all students, faculty and staff, outlining campus safety measures for the fall 2020 semester.
The video was designed to show what CSUSB was doing to provide a safe campus for all stakeholders, and also outline what students, faculty and staff should do to ensure a safe campus. The video utilized various visual and graphic techniques to keep the audience engaged and informed.
The judges praised the video, calling it a “great video with motion graphics and footage that instill confidence. Provides clear directions on a challenging subject without feeling ‘doom and gloom.’ Ends with a good call to action and how to stay informed.”
The OSC was also recognized, along with the university’s enrollment management, for the “CSUSB ‘Join the Pack’ Digital Viewbook, Informational Inserts and Swag,” multiple electronic materials that allowed students to get information, have websites to see recruitment materials, and have a place to download a wide variety of digital CSUSB swag.
The materials were created as a result of the California State University system going virtual in fall 2020 because of the pandemic. CSUSB was forced to change the way it communicated with prospective students throughout its pipeline (both prospective freshman students as well as prospective transfer students). There would be no physical visits with prospects, or events with large groups of students.
Ways had to be found to communicate the university’s various materials. Thus the creation of the electronic materials, all done in-house with limited staff and on a very tight turnaround, given the rapidly changing environment the pandemic was causing.
For more information, visit the CASE District VII Awards site.