Brand Policies

In May, President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., signed four new University Brand Policies into effect. Together, these policies provide a framework for creating a strong, unified presence that supports MSU Denver’s goals and enhances its public image. From visual identity and paid advertising to web standards, all branded materials must follow these guidelines and receive approval from UCM before publication.

Review the policies below.

These policies apply to all MSU Denver faculty, staff, students, and external vendors and partners (see “Use of External Vendors” section below) who create or distribute materials on behalf of the University. This includes, but is not limited to, websites, social media, advertising, print materials, and digital content, as specified within each individual policy.

This policy applies to all University employees, students, organizations, and others who research, plan, create, launch, maintain, and report any marketing and/or paid advertising of a department, program or event, to conduct official University business. This policy applies to entities engaged in marketing and paid advertising activities.

This policy applies to University employees, students, organizations and others who create and/or maintain an official, University presence on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others, to conduct official, University business.

This policy applies to all University employees, students, organizations, and others who research, plan, create, launch, and/or maintain any marketing, University branding, programs or events, to conduct official University business. External vendors and partners who feature our brand will be held to this policy as well. This policy applies to all University departments and units engaged in marketing, events, and distribution of branded materials, including but not limited to, advertising, websites and web applications, social media, promotional materials, official informational documents, marketing materials, signage, wayfinding, and university-level event graphics.

This policy applies to all websites and web applications affiliated with MSU Denver. This includes, but is not limited to, websites created and maintained by MSU Denver departments, faculty, staff, students, or any organizations associated with the University. The applications include department specific, informational, student-facing, event-driven, athletics-based, e-commerce, merchandise sales, community outreach, and news-based websites or applications, such as mobile apps.

MSU Denver’s Global Email Policy is designed to help foster more effective, efficient communication throughout the University.

“Global email” refers to the University’s all-employee and all-student email lists — MSU Denver’s official means of communication — from which faculty, staff and students cannot unsubscribe. Because membership to these lists is mandatory, with no way to opt out of receiving messages, access and permission to use the lists is limited to authorized administrative offices (see below).

“Discussion lists” refers to another option for departments to communicate their messages. Any official MSU Denver organization or department can request that IT Services create a discussion list, which allows members to reply to messages they receive, thereby promoting greater dialogue and discussion.

The Policy Statement will help you determine how to best communicate your message to the MSU Denver community.

Contact the IT Services Help Desk for more information about creating a discussion list.

Contact the office of University Communications and Marketing with other questions.