All organizations have certain characteristics that make them unique. Corporate culture is defined as "a cohesion of values, myths, heroes, and symbols that comes to mean a great deal to the people who work in an organization." Culture as an internal management tool is discussed. (MLW)

Strategic planning for Centre College consists of two basic analyses: assessing the environment and discovering institutional identity. A strategic planning committee's job consists of several steps: articulating the institution's identity, analyzing strengths and weaknesses, setting goals, analyzing how strategies are working, and producing a…

Guidelines are offered for making the most of either a foundation visit to a college campus in search of funding or a fund-raising visit to a foundation. Detailed planning, presenting the strengths of the college, and conducting an effective meeting are discussed. (MSE)

Advice is offered for making college alumni reunions fun and memorable, illustrated with anecdotes from various institutions. Suggestions include exciting opening activities, focusing on the particular habits or characteristics of a class, appealing to a variety of tastes, emphasizing class identity, savoring favorite campus traditions, and…

Based on experience with the 1994 earthquake, staff members of California State University at Northridge offer advice on coping with the aftermath of a crisis. Suggestions focus on early information dissemination both on and off campus, follow-up communication, finding things to celebrate, and remaining flexible and psychologically prepared for…

Strategic planning defines the university's mission, scans the environment and identifies challenges and opportunities for the university, assesses institution's strengths and weaknesses, sets priorities, and outlines strategies for achieving goals. Strategic planning at the University of Miami is discussed. (MLW)

The chasm between crisis management theory and practice has been the downfall of many an institution. Senior professionals in corporate and institutional public relations were asked about their strategies for convincing top management to release information during a crisis. (MLW)

College and university public relations professionals offer advice on coping with campus crises. Suggestions include responding quickly, telling the truth to the media early, trading on relationships within the campus community, capitalizing on institutional credibility with the media, remembering internal audiences, understanding legal…

Guidelines for planning for and receiving television news crews on campus are offered. Suggestions focus on initial response to the inquiry, logistical preparations, preparation of individuals on campus, choosing campus images to present, being helpful, ensuring smooth operation during the visit, and offering other interesting stories to the crew…

Nine campus public relations professionals offer solutions and strategies to address three campus communication dilemmas: (1) display of a controversial student photograph; (2) a state budget scare; and (3) a rape on campus. (MSE)

As the public questions faculty productivity, college public relations professionals need to take steps to respond appropriately, including rereading the institutional mission statement, learning what's happening in the classroom, revising strategies for communicating with key audiences, finding new communication outlets, reaching alumni, and…

A brief questionnaire designed to help colleges and universities assess their crisis readiness is presented. Questions address such issues as written procedures, response team composition, campus information dissemination and media relations, and community relations. Ten items every college crisis plan should include are listed. (MSE)

Colleges can communicate important positive messages to minority group students in the information disseminated about institutional mission and goals, admission and financial aid, administration, student support services, curriculum, the campus community, campus activities, location, and educational benefits and in photographic images of college…