Rutgers logo
Communicating about Rutgers
Rutgers logo
Communicating about Rutgers
red and dark circular designs

UCM Annual Highlights

University Communications and Marketing (UCM) enhances Rutgers' status and recognition as a world-class public research university.

By the Numbers

Brand Building Highlights of FY 2025

7.2M
pageviews
Rutgers.edu
1.8M
pageviews
Rutgers Today 
602.3K
news stories cite Rutgers
2.5M
total video views
9.7K
images downloaded from
Rutgers Digital Asset Library 

Rutgers Excellence Campaign

To advance the awareness of Rutgers’ excellence and support a presidential initiative to improve Rutgers' reputation, UCM launched the Rutgers Excellence campaign. Spotlighting accomplishments and innovations of our scholars, our multichannel content distribution in FY 2025 reached 783,000+ readers and resulted in 78.6+ million impressions. Google Ad Words received 909,000+ impressions.

UCM created 42 unique content topics for the Rutgers Excellence campaign that were distributed across multiple channels and reached approximately 783,000+ readers.

Using cultivated lists to reach academic leaders and other higher education influencers, UCM sent 37 direct emails featuring university accomplishments and initiatives, promotional content, and faculty and student achievements and achieved a 35% open rate.

To elevate stories of excellence, UCM developed videos featuring topics from across the campaign, such as Rutgers' impact as a research and education powerhouse. These videos received  6.2 million impressions through paid ad placements and owned channels that resulted in 762,700+ video views.

There were 157,300+ pageviews to the Rutgers.edu/excellence campaign landing page from digital advertising, enewsletters, social media, and direct email click-throughs to learn more about campaign topics and facts.

The campaign included more than 155 advertising placements in focused media outlets, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, The New York Times, and other outlets by target media markets.

To reach target-specific audiences of academic leaders and alumni working in higher education, 35 sponsored LinkedIn posts were placed.

Proactive outreach to news media has earned the attention of 12 target publications, selected for their influence on higher education leaders. Rutgers has appeared more than 680 times in these media outlets, with mentions about Rutgers' initiatives, research, faculty, and students.

Rutgers Today

Rutgers Today is the universitywide news center promoting news, features, and videos with daily content additions and updates on all things Rutgers. 

Highlights of FY 2025

  • 1.8 million pageviews
  • 177 regular and special issues published
  • 367 stories created and shared

Distribution channels

An example of a Rutgers Today Thumbnail

Campaigns and Initiatives

UCM created a website to highlight the university's protocols for free expression on campus: guidelines that apply to all members of the community, including students, faculty, staff, visitors, and external groups wishing to participate in free expression at a Rutgers location. The website provides relevant policies, standards, resources, and FAQ.

UCM conducted an assessment of the current internal communication landscape. Insights from listening sessions with leadership, faculty, and staff shaped recommendations for incremental enhancements to communication processes and systems. A measurement framework with stakeholder feedback loops and regular reporting was developed to track progress over time. Benchmarking with peer institutions was also conducted. These efforts have informed recommendations for a more coordinated, relevant, and effective internal communication ecosystem.

UCM created a resource for the university community to assist with navigating proposed and changing federal government actions and requirements. Pertinent messaging was consolidated on the website and FAQ were developed to clearly state the imperative that Rutgers faculty and staff work to understand the reach, legal implications, and impact of new federal rules and that the focus remains on Rutgers' core mission, supporting students’ educational journeys and open lines of communication.

Working to improve and enhance new employee onboarding at Rutgers, UCM in collaboration with UHR revised the New Employee Welcome and Benefits Orientation presentation, produced two welcome videos—one sent with a new employee welcome email and the other video featuring colleagues from across the university—and designed Rutgers R pins with an attached bookmark outlining the Rutgers values and encouraging recipients to Wear Your Pin with Pride!

Presidential Search

Concluding a national search, on May 19, 2025, the Rutgers Board of Governors, with the advice and consent of the Rutgers Board of Trustees, approved the appointment of William F. Tate IV as the university's next president, his tenure beginning July 1, 2025.

To support the work of the presidential search committee, UCM initiated a multipronged promotional campaign to support the search for and announcement of Rutgers’ 22nd president.

Presidential Leadership Profile

UCM created a Presidential Leadership Profile, an overview of Rutgers and its mission, goals, and achievements, as a supplement to the campaign.

President-Designate Website

Upon the announcement of a new president of Rutgers, UCM transitioned the search website to the President-Designate website adding a portrait of William F. Tate IV taken that morning by the UCM photographer, posting the announcement of the appointment, producing a video highlight, and collating a photo gallery of the day's events

Rutgers Today News

Rutgers Today news stories and other media coverage provide information about each element of the search process. 

• 5,894 pageviews on Rutgers Today
 20 news stories, including NJ Spotlight News and ROI-NJ

Presidential Search Website

UCM created and publicized a comprehensive website for Rutgers' search for its 22nd president. It provides information on the process, timeframe, the search committee, ways in which the university community can provide input, and documents search announcements and communications. Launched on November 27, 2024, and through May 14, 2025, the site had: 

• 18,653 pageviews

University News and Media Relations

UCM tracks all news coverage of Rutgers and develops daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual news coverage reports for university leadership and governing boards that capture the breadth and sentiment of the coverage.

Highlights of FY 2025

602,300
news stories citing Rutgers
94%
Rutgers news stories are favorably ranked as neutral to positive for the institution
900
news stories that resulted from UCM's pitching and promoting efforts
505
Rutgers experts were cited by the news media

Managing Universitywide Social Media Accounts

UCM tracks, manages, and monitors @RutgersU social media channels.

Highlights of FY 2025

897,000+
social media followers
32 million
social media impressions
1,734
social media posts

Monitoring Rutgers across All Social Media Channels

UCM uses social media listening tools to monitor the conversations people are having about Rutgers across all social media to gain insights that inform our understanding of public sentiment regarding Rutgers, its reputation, and its overall brand.

1.3 million Rutgers brand mentions in FY 2025

Mentions are counted across over 100 million data sources, in 50+ languages, and across 25+ social networks and other platforms.

A collection of logos for social media apps.

Storytelling through Video

UCM produces content to tell the stories of Rutgers people and places through video for Rutgers.edu, Rutgers Today, social media platforms, and other university projects and channels.

Highlights of FY 2025

2.5 million total video views, including YouTube and Vimeo

56 videos produced for UCM channels

Issues, Emergency, and Crisis Management Communications

UCM coordinates with Institutional Planning and Operations and communication teams across the university to notify the Rutgers community of urgent issues, testing, and emergency notifications. 

  • Responded to 70 media inquiries and issued news releases about events regarding the university including federal actions, student visas, Rutgers' 22nd incoming president, and the resignation of the athletic director
  • Executed communications plans to alert the university community about 6 urgent weather-related messages
  • Delivered 3 emergency messages to inform the university community about operational issues impacting Rutgers' campuses
A student looking at the emergency response notification on the rutgers website

Great Things to Know About Rutgers

UCM created the Great Things to Know about Rutgers brochure as a communications tool for units universitywide to show what makes Rutgers a distinctive and highly respected institution in the Garden State, the nation, and across the globe. Printed brochures are available to university leaders and communicators to share internally or externally--with community leaders, high school guidance counselors, job candidates, and conference attendees, for instance. A companion website allows users to explore enhanced content digitally or download a PDF of the brochure. 

 

Great Things to Know About Rutgers cover sheet

Rutgers.edu

UCM manages the universitywide channel to the Rutgers digital universe. In FY2025:

  • 7.2 million pageviews
  • 3.1 million visitors
A person viewing the Rutgers website on a laptop

Rutgers Core Component Library (RCCL)

The RCCL is a multi-template website tool that helps Rutgers units create branded, accessible, and engaging sites with an improved user experience—saving time and money. Explore our demo site for design components, documentation, how-to guides, and examples of RCCL-built websites.

65+
components
70+
sites using the RCCL to date
31
new RCCL site requests initiated in FY25

Photography and Other Digital Assets

UCM provides the Rutgers Digital Asset Library to store, organize, and share photos and videos with the university community. Providing access to thousands of curated images and a growing number of videos, the self-serve asset management tool is accessible to faculty and staff to create collections and share and download photos and videos.

Highlights of FY 2025

  • 31,600+ total assets in database
  • 9,700+ assets downloaded
  • 2,900+ assets added
Rutgers Digiatl Asset Library opening page showing Winants Hall

UCM's Work Receives International Recognition

UCM's work was honored with the following Hermes Creative Awards, international recognition within the creative and marketing industry. 

Platinum Award

Gold Awards 

The Hermes Creative Awards logo

UCM Videos Earn Prestigious Awards

The Telly Awards honor excellence in television and video production from some of the most respected players in the industry. UCM was recognized with:

Silver Awards

Bronze Awards

The 46th Telly Awards, We are Telly Winners