MarComm Community of Practice

The MarComm Community of Practice (CoP), consisting of more than 130 members, is an organization that connects marketing and communications professionals working across Lehigh. Members engage in the CoP to develop strategy, collaborate on content, share best practices and resources, and support each other’s professional development.

Four Pillars of the MarComm CoP

  1. Brand and Content Strategy: Coordination around content theming and brand platform to tell the Lehigh story in a coordinated manner
  2. Learning and Development: Shared marketing and communication skill-building opportunities through internal knowledge sharing and external expertise
  3. Peer Support: Build relationships around campus for networking and mentorship opportunities
  4. Resources: Shared use of tools, platforms and resources to gain efficiencies, maximize spend and identify subject matter/technical expertise

MarComm Committees

Executive Committee

(8 members)

The Executive Committee supports the MarComm CoP by upholding and activating our four pillars:

  • Brand and Content Strategy
  • Peer Support
  • Learning & Development
  • Resources

The Executive Committee's priority Initiatives are:

  • Produce MarComm’s three annual in-person events: The Summer Summit and both Bites & Insights sessions
  • Produce a virtual conference each semester
  • New MarComm CoP member onboarding
  • The Perch community management

Opportunities for MarComm members:

  • Four seats on Executive Committee

Special Interest Group Committee

(co-leads of each group form overarching committee)

The Special Interest Groups will:

  • Offer the chance to connect with others on similar work by creating regular connection points that offer the chance to share ideas and best practices, network and access resources
  • Provide space for UCPA to lead Lehigh’s marcomm professionals in an engaging and collaborative way
  • Take the MarComm CoP to the next level of integration and efficiency

The co-leads (one from UCPA and one from somewhere else in the university) should expect to spend 6-8 hours per month developing ways to connect with their group and connecting with their group. They will be given freedom to conduct their group as they like, and also the leads for each Special Interest Group will come together as a committee bi-monthly to discuss progress, ongoing needs and communication with the groups to help each other find the best ways to connect and engage.

The Special Interest Groups:

  • Digital advertising - Lizzie Babinchak
  • Multimedia (photo, video and social) - Jordan Gruber
  • Web (development, strategy, SEO/AEO) - Laura Turner
  • Design - Kurt Hansen
  • External Relations - Amy White
  • Storytelling and Copywriting - Kristen DiPrinzio and Meghan Bedard

Opportunities for MarComm members:

  • Six co-leaders are needed, one for each of the groups

Ways to Engage

Complementary to in-person meetings, we will utilize The Perch and other forums for asynchronous collaboration across the MarComm CoP. The following resources can be used to reach MarComm partners, ensuring efficiency and consistency across University communications.

Meeting Structure

Full MarComm CoP

  • Annual full-day summit
  • Twice yearly “Bites and Insights” meetings
  • Opportunistic chances to get together

MarComm CoP Committees

  • Executive Committee:
    • Monthly Meetings
  • Special Interest Group Committee:
    • Monthly Meetings
    • Engagement cadence with group (determined by group; mix of in-person, virtual and digital connection)

Share with MarComm

The Perch: A communications platform and online community for conversation and sharing that includes a specific topic for the MarComm CoP

  • Share interesting articles about marketing in higher ed
  • Promote campus events
  • Ask for or share advice on vendors, best practices and more

Google Groups Email Listserv: A quick way to connect with the full MarComm CoP by email via lehigh-marcomm-list@lehigh.edu

  • Share new projects and updates with the group
  • Provide assets to help others promote work at Lehigh

Google Drive: A dedicated MarComm CoP Google Drive space to store, organize and collaborate on shared files and folders

  • Access to MarComm committee and event materials
  • Storage of brand assets and other resources available to members of the MarComm CoP

Lehigh University Asset Library: A digital asset management system (Asset Bank) used to search, download and share images/assets

  • Access to photos, logos and brand resources, including high-resolution files
  • A tool for organizing and sharing assets with freelance/agency partners

Google Spaces/Chat: A university-wide tool for connecting about quick/specific needs

  • Last-minute coordination
  • Ongoing conversations with others in your role

Dropbox: A large-file asset sharing cloud storage system

  • Storage for department-specific logos
  • Access to larger assets like b-roll footage or complex art files