The use of standard digital platforms, akin to Instagram tales helped the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith win latest worldwide awards.
The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education chosen the college for two global awards in strategic communications.
The council obtained a Grand Gold award within the student-oriented digital marketing campaign class for the college’s Mental Health Monday marketing campaign and a Silver award for the college’s 8-bit internet launch video through the group’s 2022 Circle of Excellence awards.
Rachel Putman, affiliate director of strategic communications, and Shandreka McCullough, class of 2021, who served as a communications scholar assistant, created the marketing campaign and despatched lots of of messages in response to its success.

The Mental Health Monday marketing campaign used interactive parts constructed into Instagram tales to have interaction instantly with college students battling their mental health to share campus assets.

Putman stated the college submitted particular scholar responses to the Mental Health Monday marketing campaign on Instagram.
“We simply stated, ‘hey, how are you doing at this time?’ And college students would attain again out and simply instantly say, ‘Really dangerous,’ or ‘I’m struggling’ or, ‘I simply can’t get the energy to select up the telephone to name the counseling middle,'” she stated. “We actually labored intently with our counseling middle to carry mental health to college students, the place possibly they felt comfy responding to an Instagram message, however did not really feel fairly prepared to select up the telephone.”
When Putman knowledgeable McCullough of their award, she was pleasantly shocked.
“I used to be like, ‘oh my gosh, that is so loopy,’ as a result of it simply began within the workplace as a easy method to examine in on college students day by day, and it changed into one thing that gained a global award,” she stated.

Josh Simonds, assistant director for Alumni Engagement, stated McCullough’s involvement is a testomony to Putman’s management.
“We have a scholar that has actual world expertise that they will use of their portfolio after they’re making use of for a job,” he stated. “Now, Shandreka McCullough is definitely on the University of Central Arkansas pursuing a grasp’s diploma. She has this unbelievable expertise doing actual tasks on an actual campus supporting actual college students with their mental health.”
McCullough stated the rationale she determined to pursue a level of upper education was due to the people who she met in her undergrad.
“I had lots of help from the college,” she stated. “I simply felt like larger education was like the place I belong. I’m taken with management due to the management expertise that I used to be capable of acquire whereas I used to be in undergrad.”

Simonds stated the Grand Gold award shouldn’t be a shock to him.
“I do know the standard of labor that this staff has been doing day in and day trip,” he stated. “The distinction right here is that we selected to submit one thing on a nationwide stage, the standard of the work shouldn’t be exemplary. This is that is every day work for Rachel and her staff.”
Dr. Terisa Riley, college chancellor, said in a information launch that public and regional establishments are recognized for having a small quantity of pros and restricted assets of their advertising and marketing and communication departments.
“UAFS is no exception,” she said. “For this reason, it is an even bigger achievement for UA-Fort Smith to win two CASE Circle of Excellence Awards. I am particularly proud of the team for winning the Grand Gold award in a student-oriented category.”
Riley stated the college’s Mental Health Monday marketing campaign confirmed the dedication of the staff to utilizing digital platforms to establish issues and provide particular person care and options.
The college’s Web Launch video, additionally created by Putman, included an 8-bit character modeled after Dr. Riley, who navigates a blue-themed retro-style videogame to announce the redesign of the college’s web site.
In 2022, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education obtained greater than 4,500 entries from 636 establishments in practically 30 nations. Of these, volunteer judges selected 626 exemplary entries for global recognition as bronze, silver, gold, or Grand Gold.
Grand Gold Awards acknowledge entries which are distinctive and are thought-about “game-changing” within the subject. These are the highest-level awards introduced by the council, and just one Grand Global award is given per class.
Winners had been chosen based mostly on a number of components, together with general high quality, innovation, use of assets, and the influence on the establishment or its exterior and inner communities, akin to alumni, dad and mom, college students, college, and workers.