Higher education institutions are constantly working under pressure to not just create knowledge, but also meet funding and regulatory criteria. But besides academic missions and interests, a university’s executive capacity to make appropriate governing decisions.
University governance is as complex as its operating environment. The academic board mainly contributes to the university’s decision-making within the context of standards in admissions, assessment, and teaching. Effective communication and flow of information are critical aspects of a strong university board and management.
Important decisions made by the board or the administration must be circulated using designated channels. Instead of impenetrable documents, universities these days use digital board packs and meeting documents, executive summaries and briefings, and standardized templates.
How to Improve University Communications
Using ineffective communication and interactive methods can result in poor performance and engagement of teachers and students. To help you avoid any communication barriers between the university’s administrative arm, professors, and students, here are some tips that you can follow.
1. Regular Meetings
University board meetings are crucial for addressing university policies, district goals, regulations for students’ disciplinary actions, budgets, and academic calendars. The meetings should be held at least once a month and run by the appointed officials and other members. These sessions are also meant for board elections, regardless if you’re appointing new members based on education or parental status.
Most importantly, regular university meetings keep everyone accountable. Other members can ask tough questions to the board to confirm if they are acting in the best interest of the university, its faculty, and the students. Meetings are also a great way for universities to share accountability with parents concerning the most significant elements of the student’s development and growth: learning, safety, health, and socialization.
2. Written Accounts
Decisions and action items discussed in university board meetings are undeniably among those that must be properly circulated. That is why several written, supporting documents are essential. These include notice, agenda, minutes, proxy, and board meeting packet. Other documents that the packet may include are performance and financial reports, Fact Sheets, approved budgets, committee reports, and program highlights.
For broader and external reach, higher education institutions use the local press, which is beneficial for building strong media relations. Universities can attract foreign students and gain exposure in cities that had never written about the institution.
3. Technology Utilization
Whether your university operates in a remote or hybrid fashion, using an omnichannel communications approach is helpful. Allow your students, university board, and management members to connect using methods that resonate with them. This can be through email, live chat, text, or even office visits.
According to the Future of Higher Ed Report, 37% of the recent graduates surveyed considered email as most effective when they require support from their schools. Highly visible channels, such as text or alerts, can be reserved for time-sensitive communications.
For universities that require a more capable collaboration platform, Microsoft Teams is the way to go. Board members and even students can have effective communication in Teams, may it be regarding workflow systems, project management, or information trail. Many also circulate announcements and make decisions in Teams, especially ones that are not highly sensitive.
How Convene in Teams Can Help Your University
Tired of switching apps back and forth? Convene in Teams offers easier administration and collaboration for educational institutions. This award-winning board portal fuses its meeting features with Microsoft Teams’ workflow capabilities through CiT.
Among the best features of CiT include agenda and minutes builder, integrated video conferencing, shared and private annotations, voting and approval workflows, granular access controls, and 256-bit encryption for guaranteed data protection. What’s more? We keep our pricing university-friendly. Know more by getting in touch with our team.
Jielynne is a Content Marketing Writer at Convene. With over six years of professional writing experience, she has worked with several SEO and digital marketing agencies, both local and international. She strives in crafting clear marketing copies and creative content for various platforms of Convene, such as the website and social media. Jielynne displays a decided lack of knowledge about football and calculus, but proudly aces in literary arts and corporate governance.
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