University Relations

University Relations develops marketing, branding, and communication strategies that promote a focused, consistent, and positive image among internal and external stakeholders and the general public. Our goals are to promote, protect, and manage the University's reputation and image; develop and implement advertising and marketing campaigns to communicate key messages about the value of UMC; and develop promotional partnerships.

Other institutional marketing activities include coordinating the externally focused and promotional information of UMC's website, developing and producing various campus promotional publications in collaboration with other campus entities, and to maintain consistent graphics standards for the official brands and marks of the University of Minnesota system and the University of Minnesota Crookston campus.

Resources

• Our Graphics Standards
• Wordmark and Logo Guidelines
• Official Colors and Type
• Publications Checklist
• Writing Style Guide
• U of M System Brand Standards
• System Identity Style Guide 

For more information, contact Kelsey Engelstad.

Campus Photography

UMN Crookston maintains an extensive photo library of the campus as well as its students, faculty, staff, and programs. Departments and units should schedule photo shoots and other photographic needs at least two weeks in advance of the desired photo date. 

For more information, contact Kelsey Engelstad or Jess Bengtson.

Image Library

University Relations maintains an image library as central source for University of Minnesota Crookston logos and selected photos from across campus. The image library includes current versions of the University's wordmark, block M, and Golden Eagle logos in official colors, making it easy to incorporate them in your communications. The image library can be available to Crookston campus faculty and staff via the campus network; please contact Brandy Chaffee, brandy@crk.umn.edu, to gain access to this resource.

As the unit charged with ensuring the campus maintains U of M brand standards and guidelines, University Relations serves as a resource for campus departments and units in this area.

Office Name Inserts and Office Hour Sheets

These Word documents follow U of M guidelines for readability. Faculty and staff may download them, add their information, and print and post. Simple, standard fonts are used for readability.

PowerPoint Templates for Presentations

These PowerPoint templates may be used for various presentations when a U of M Crookston branded look is desired. There are several from which to select.

University of Minnesota Email Signatures

In an effort to establish consistency in the way employees share contact information with various audiences, an email signature standard has been developed for the entire U of M system. This standard is based on email signature best practices and does not allow for the addition of graphics or images. A general sample is listed below for reference. Follow this link for full information and other examples.

Chris Johnson, Ph.D.
Assistant Director | University Relations | crk.umn.edu/units/university-relations
199 Dowell Hall Annex, 2900 University Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716-5001
University of Minnesota Crookston | crk.umn.edu
cjj@crk.umn.edu | 218-555-5555 | c. 218-555-5555
Pronouns: he/him/his

Printing and Design Services, operated through University Relations, offers printing, design, publication layout, and electronic media conversion to faculty, staff, campus departments, and student organizations. Staff members work with clients to provide estimates, to design publications, and to deliver printed materials of all kinds. They maintain very competitive pricing while offering these services in a convenient on-campus location. They also help ensure your documents meet the graphics standards for the official brands, logos, and marks of the University of Minnesota system and the University of Minnesota Crookston campus. 

Learn more about UMC's Printing and Design Services

Public Relations

In addition to news and public information, University Relations leads and helps coordinate campus public relations. Some of the major public relations activities include:

• Coordination and staffing of a booth at the Polk County Fair in July
• Coordination and planning of UMC activities for Crookston’s annual Ox Cart Days celebration in August, including hosting the annual Ice Cream Social and coordinating UMC’s participation in the Torchlight Parade.
• Planning and promotion of Maroon and Gold Fridays within the business community in Crookston.
• Coordinating appearances of Regal the Golden Eagle, UMC’s mascot, for non-athletics related events. (UMC Athletics coordinates Regal’s appearance at games and other athletics-related events.)
• Work with the City of Crookston on the development and operation of the Crookston Campus and Community Connection (also called C4), a group working to enhance the already strong relationship between the campus and the local community.

For more information about these activities, contact Brandy Chaffee at 218-281-8434 or brandy@crk.umn.edu.

Media Relations 

University Relations staff members are not only the officially designated media relations contacts, they also have the expertise and established connections to local and regional media to help maximize promotion and to disseminate information through the proper channels. They will determine the most appropriate course or courses of action. Working with them also ensures appropriate formatting, consistent University branding, optimal timing, sharing on official social media sites, and overall coordination of information and event promotion for the campus as a whole. Students, faculty, and staff are reminded to direct all news releases, event information, photos, and other communication meant for external audiences through the University Relations Department. 

• Jess Bengtson is the primary contact for drafting of new releases and feature story writing, including stories for Torch alumni magazine.
• Michelle Christopherson is a resource for advertising of campus events and programs. 
• Shawn Smith is the contact for athletics related news releases. 

Facts & Figures about the University of Minnesota Crookston

With a strong tradition of technology-enhanced teaching and learning, the University of Minnesota Crookston serves as the University of Minnesota’s major presence in Northwest Minnesota. UMC provides both experiential, career-oriented degree programs as well as high-quality online programs, while connecting its teaching, research, and outreach to rural economic development and service to the region and beyond. Enrolling approximately 1,600 undergraduate students from more than 20 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere, top-level technology, and a distinctive career-oriented education that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.

As of August 2018, students may select from 37 undergraduate majors (bachelor’s degrees), 25 minors, 40 concentrations, and 17 majors offered entirely online. Faculty and staff serve as true mentors, offering personalized attention through a student/faculty ratio of 16:1. As the original “Laptop U” with more than 20 years of technological leadership, the U of M Crookston provides each student and faculty member with his or her own laptop computer and helps them develop superior technology skills. Taken together, these features have given the Crookston campus a reputation of producing graduates who are well prepared to begin their careers or to continue on to graduate programs.

Additional Resources

• Quick Facts
• History of the Crookston Campus
• Mission, Vision, and Core Values
• Academic Majors and Degrees
• UMC Today – Events, Activities, and Current News Highlights
• News and Features
• Athletics News
• Chancellor’s Office

Maintenance and design work on the official campus website is coordinated by the e-communications manager. Individuals and departments that wish to have web-based information updated should work with the e-communications manager to keep online information current. Full departmental or unit website redesigns should be discussed well in advance of the desired post date. The e-communications manager can help develop timelines, refine and develop content, and coordinate design and photography with University Relations and the units and departments. The UMC Web design office is located in 139 Kiehle Building.

For more information, contact Amber Bailey, e-communications manager/associate program director.

Find issues or have comments about our UMC website?

Please fill out our "Contact the U of M Crookston Webmaster" form.

Regal the Golden Eagle, Mascot of the University of Minnesota Crookston

Regal the Golden Eagle is the official mascot of the University of Minnesota Crookston. To arrange appearances of Regal, contact University Relations at 218-281-8434 or urumc@umn.edu. 

History of Regal the Golden Eagle

When the University of Minnesota, Crookston changed its mission to offer baccalaureate level degree programs in 1993, the campus entered a new chapter in its history.  Many among the campus community believed a new team name and mascot should be chosen to signify that important change.  A campus-wide discussion began.  Students, staff, faculty, and alumni shared their thoughts and ideas for names.  Some suggested names included the Pride, Northstars, Trailblazers, the Storm, and the Phoenix among others.  Faculty within the Natural Resources Program suggested the name Golden Eagles, and that name resonated with the campus community.  

In November 1995, at a Teambackers Banquet, the University of Minnesota, Crookston announced that a new name had been chosen for its athletics teams.  The original design of the logo and mascot image was done by Del Wright, who worked in Media Services at that time.  Soon after, a contest to name the Golden Eagle took place, and students, faculty, and staff submitted 66 different names for consideration.  From those names a committee selected the name Regal, meaning “of great magnificence, splendid.”  And so Regal the Golden Eagle was born.  The winning name was submitted by Trevor Brekken, a plant industries management major from Crookston.  The new Golden Eagles name, logo, and mascot were launched for all teams beginning in the fall of 1996.

In 2001, Regal received a facelift when University Relations began work with AdMonkeys, a regional graphics and advertising agency.  The various athletics teams, the Crookston Student Association, and other student groups, along with faculty and staff, all played a role in refining the look of the official logo.  Several revisions later, the current look of the logo of the Golden Eagles was adopted.  As soon after, Regal the Golden Eagle mascot began appearing at games and across campus on Maroon and Gold Fridays. 

Below: Regal proudly stands at the center with Champ, the Duluth Bulldog; Goldy Gopher from the Twin Cities campus; the Rochester Raptor; and .Pounce, the Morris Cougar.

University Relations leads the efforts on a number of campus publications.

The Torch

The Torch is the official magazine of the University of Minnesota Crookston. The Torch is published three times a year and is the official publication for all alumni and friends of the University of Minnesota Crookston. The spring issue is an annual report that also features our donor appreciation list.

Torch editor: Jess Bengtson

Crookston Campus Update

The Crookston Campus Update highlights administrative activities and programs on campus. It is published twice each month August thru April and once each month in the summer, May through July.

Campus Weekly editor: Jess Bengtson

Events Calendar

The Crookston campus events calendar is managed by the University Relations.

Events calendar coordinator: Jess Bengtson

Submit an event

Social Media

University Relations also manages a number of official social media channels:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• TikTok

SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS

Social Media Coordinator: Kelsey Engelstad

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Experts List identifies a number of campus authorities who have agreed to discuss their various areas of expertise with representatives of the news media. If you have any questions regarding this list, please contact Brandy Chaffee at 218-281-8434 or brandy@crk.umn.edu.

 UMC Experts List
updated December 2019

Faculty & Staff - Get added to the UMC Experts List!
UMC faculty and staff are encouraged to submit their information for the UMC Experts List.