Just the FAQs

The Media Relations office is part of the Division of Communications team, whose responsibilities include creating public communications, marketing materials and image for the University. Media Relations staff members offer support services to faculty, staff and students in a variety of ways, including representing the University to external audiences and the media, internal communications, crisis communications, photographic duties and public relations, public information and other activities. Questions related to Media Relations issues can be forwarded to Executive Director Geoff Larcom at 18 Welch Hall or e-mail him at glarcom@emich.edu.

EMU TODAY is an e-mail of daily and weekly events at EMU. The e-mail announcement of the website is sent out every morning to faculty and staff.

EMU Today, the University's daily electronic calendar, announces a variety of events on campus, from meetings to entertainment and athletics. Submit your entry by e-mailing it to emu_today@emich.edu. Be sure to include the facts, such as what, where, when, event sponsor, ticket cost, a brief description, if it's open to the public and, most importantly, a telephone number for more information.

The Eastern Echo, the student newspaper, accepts paid advertisements. Call 734.487.1010 or visit their website at www.easternecho.com.

EMU has one staff photographer and one student assistant to photograph the multitude of University activities. It is best to schedule your photo request well in advance with photographer Randy Mascharka at 487-4403 or leave a message on his voice mail at that number. The Communications staff is interested in "breaking news" on campus, so when in doubt, call the staff at 487-4400. And remember that area media are always interested in good feature photos, but your activity must show action and be of interest to their readers.

The media relations staff announces public university events that are open to the public to more than 50 southeast Michigan media and specialized reporters at local, regional and national media. News is sent as calendar items, story ideas, feature articles, photo opportunities, news releases, public service announcements, expert sources and other media tools to get exposure for your event and EMU. Send your information to media relatsions, making sure to let us know who, what, where, when, why, ticket cost, a brief description, if it's open to the public, and as always, a telephone number for more information. Send information to Geoff Larcom, 18 Welch Hall, or e-mail glarcom@emich.edu.

Editors and reporters define "news" as information that is timely, new and relevant to the lives of readers, viewers and listeners. It can be happening now or in the future. Remember, annual events that offer nothing new provide little "news."

Unique people, student activities and aspects of student and University life that are part of a larger societal trend; calendar items to help publicize your event; expert commentary on and interpretation of current events, especially if it contributes to a new or controversial point of view; original research findings that can be tied to current events or trends in society; books on current issues; programs that represent a solution to a national problem or response to a national trend. And we're always looking for a good photo that shows action, human interest or is very uncommon and unique.

The University president makes the decision on whether the University remains open during adverse weather conditions. This decision is based on updates provided by members of the campus emergency team, who monitor campus and regional conditions through the Department of Public Safety and the Physical Plant. During an alert, the Physical Plant staff monitors conditions on campus, including roads, sidewalks and parking lots. Public Safety monitors county and state roads with the help of other police agencies and through the computerized Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN). Other factors are also considered. When the University closes, the news will be carried on the EMU Newsline (734.487.2460), the University Switchboard (734.487.1849), WEMU (89.1 FM), WAAM (1600 AM) and WJR (760 AM), as well as other radio and television stations. It will also be published on this website. Public Safety officers can be reached at 734.487.1222. Students and staff are urged to exercise good judgment during severe weather conditions.

EMU's eight Board of Regents members are appointed by the governor. Please visit the Board of Regents website for complete information.

Complete information about the president and the university's executive leadership is here.

You may make your changes online using your my.emich account. You may also file a Personnel Action Form (PAF) with Human Resources. Staff members at that office make the changes.

You may make your changes online using your my.emich account. For University records, you must file a Personnel Action Form (PAF) with Human Resources. Staff members at that office then make changes.

Each fall, a questionnaire is sent to all staff members, asking what personal informtaion should be published in the printed and online directory. You get the chance to change that each year; otherwise your most recent request will be honored until it is changed.

No. The information is maintained on separate databases by IT for faculty and staff (blue section) and by Registration for students in the student section. The Division of Communications does compile information provided by University offices for the "office listings" section.

We can supply almost every type of photo or digital service, at a price. We primarily photograph events that have a news or publication value. We cannot, however, provide a photo record of every worthy happening on campus.

For basic photography, you will pay for time, processing and, if desired, prints (or a CD with digital images). Pricing is available from the Media Relations / University Communications office.

Print prices vary widely depending on size, quantity and use. A 4" X 6" automated print costs about $1; a large custom print can cost $100 or more.

Call (487.4403) or e-mail Randy Mascharka at University Communications. Keep in mind that the university has only one photographer. If we can't cover your event, it doesn't mean we don't love you. We simply can't photograph everything that goes on at a major university.

As soon as you have a date and time for your event, give us a call. The sooner we get you on our calendar, the better. If you know in January that your shindig is on June 12th, call us in January, not June 1.

About one work week. Because of our small staff, many services are done by off-campus vendors. Rush service is available for some items, but the cost can be more than double the regular price.