VCU news

By Carrie Carroll

Virginia Commonwealth University was honored for its outstanding communications work with 39 prizes at the 69th Virginia Public Relations Awards, an event of the Public Relations Society of America’s Richmond chapter recognizing creative and effective communications strategies and tactics.

VCU’s honorees at the May 18 ceremony, which was held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, included the VCU Division of University Relations, VCU Health, the VCU Massey Cancer Center, the VCU School of Nursing, VCU Libraries, the VCU School of the Arts, the VCU Office of Development and Alumni Relations and VCU Business Services

The chapter presents two types of awards: Commonwealth Awards, which recognize complete public relations campaigns in 16 categories, and Capital Awards, which recognize public relations tactics, individual items or components of campaigns in 30 categories. VCU won 12 Commonwealth Awards and 27 Capital Awards. Within each type, winners are recognized with either an Award of Excellence or an Award of Merit.

VCU Division of University Relations:

Commonwealth Awards

Award of Excellence
Multicultural Public Relations – “East Marshall Street Well”

Award of Merit
Brief Events and Observances – “State of the University 2015”
Crisis Communications – “Diversity and Inclusion at VCU”
Integrated Communications – “Baby Steps”
Integrated Communications – “2015 UCI Road World Championships” (joint entry with VCU Health)
Internal Communications – “Fake Monday”

Capital Awards

Award of Excellence
Annual Reports – “University Annual Report 2015”

Award of Merit
Creative Tactics – “Preview Day – Social Media Scavenger Hunt”
Feature Stories – “Le Family Story”
Media Relations – “Father of the Bride at Bedside Ceremony”
Media Relations – “Discovery of Risk Genes for Clinical Depression”
Media Relations – “Mapping the KKK”
Online Videos – “Why I Serve VCU”
Online Videos – “2015 VCU Holiday Video”
Speeches – “A Distinctive University”
Websites – “Make it Real – Landing Page”
Websites – “VCU Dental Care”

 

VCU Health:

Commonwealth Awards

Award of Excellence
Reputation/Brand Management – “We are VCU Health: A journey of brand transformation”

Award of Merit
Integrated Communications – “2015 UCI Road World Championships” (joint entry with Division of University Relations)

Capital Awards

Award of Excellence
Feature Stories – “Life, Interrupted”

Award of Merit
Media Relations – “VCU Medical Center’s Trauma Unit Saves Richmond’s Most Gravely Injured”
Social Media – “VCU Health Chats”

 

VCU Massey Cancer Center:

Commonwealth Awards

Award of Merit
Brief Events and Observances – “The Emperor of All Maladies”

Capital Awards

Award of Merit
Editorials/Op-Ed Columns – “Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Should Remain Unchanged”

Research/Evaluation – “Statewide Public Opinion Survey”
Social Media – “Honk! It’s my last chemo”

 

VCU School of Nursing:

Capital Awards

Award of Merit
Annual Report – “Giving Matters – 2015 Annual Report”
Websites – “VCU School of Nursing Website”

 

VCU Libraries:

Commonwealth Awards

Award of Merit
Community Relations – “Cabell Construction Project: Informing the community and managing expectations”

Capital Awards

Award of Excellence
Brochures – “Finding Your Way” to a new approach to the simple brochure
Research/Evaluation – “Social Media Best Practices in Academic Libraries: Building on a PRSA Survey”

Award of Merit
Editorial/Op-Ed Columns – “Why Americans Love Their Libraries”
Newsletters – “Enews for faculty, a university’s toughest audience”

 

VCU School of the Arts:

Commonwealth Awards

Award of Merit
Marketing Consumer Services – “Leveraging Sponsored Content for VCUarts Recruitment”

Capital Awards

Award of Merit
Publications – “Visually Representing the Arts to Prospective Graduate Students”
Websites – “Designing for Designers: VCUarts Overhaul”

 

VCU Office of Development and Alumni Relations:

Commonwealth Awards

Award of Merit
Brief Events and Observances – “Battle for the Capital Alumni Giving Challenge”

Capital Awards

Award of Excellence
Magazines – “IMPACT Donor Magazine”

 

VCU Business Services:

Capital Awards

Award of Merit
Feature Stories – “From Sandwich Shop to Trendy Tech: A VCU Business Services Feature Story”

 

PRSA Richmond is a professional association serving Central Virginia public relations practitioners. The chapter and the national organization, PRSA, are both marking more than a half-century of bringing professionals together to enhance the practice of public relations, to provide an exchange of experiences and ideals and to promote professional development.