The Communications Office is happy to provide you with tools and resources that will help you confidently communicate on-brand and present your idea — when you are sharing Bishop’s University’s story and achievements to the world. Need a tailored document for your project? Contact the Communications Office!
Brand Book
As we develop new branding materials at Bishop’s University, namely the introduction of the new colour palette, we are replacing the 2019 Brand book. Logos and fonts remain unchanged. For those who have had issues with the Cooper Hewitt font, we encourage you to continue using the Verdana font, our substitute font. Verdana is set as a default font in tools provided by the Communications Office, such as letterhead and PowerPoint templates.
Consult our new colour palette (PDF)
Logos
- Bishop’s logo (.zip)
- Sports Centre logo (.zip)
- Gaiters logos (.zip)
- B.U. Interlocked logo (.zip)
- Centennial Theatre logo (.zip)
Official Fonts
- How to install a font (PDF)
- Fonts for Windows PC (.zip)
- Fonts for MAC (.zip)
Language
Words matter. Effective communications benefit from clarity. To that end, the Communications office generally relies on the Canadian Press style and spelling as a widely used and accepted standard. However, it’s always important to practice thoughtful and respectful dialogue.
While there are many resources available on this topic, the American Psychological Association grammar and style’s guidelines provide useful pointers to write while keeping gender inclusivity in mind.
The communications office is here to support your communication endeavours. We encourage you to explore the tools and guidelines within our toolbox. We encourage you to reach out well ahead of your planned event or deadline to allow for planning and content development.
Social Media
Social can be a great medium for disseminating news and engaging your audience. If you are managing your own social account(s), we encourage you to tag @ubishops. This gives us visibility on your activities and, when applicable, the opportunity to share your content!
If your content represents the institution, there may be an opportunity to post directly to the appropriate BU channel.
- Facebook: Reach our community of 22,000+ students, alumni and friends. All event promotion is welcome here! All it takes is an eye-catching picture and an engaging caption.
- Instagram: Reach our 11,000+ students and future students. This channel is about entertaining pictures highlighting the student experience.
- X: Anything related to research, awards, publications, features about our students and faculty.
- LinkedIn: Reach our 22,000+ community in this professional social networking site where we love to celebrate research, awards, publications, features about our students and faculty.
Submit Your Social Post: socialmedia@ubishops.ca
Digital Displays
A digital display is an effective way to share your event directly to community members on campus. Screens are present throughout the Student Centre, LLC, and other areas with high foot traffic.
Before sending a Notices email, consider a digital display as an alternative!
You can also check out the Digital Display section of the toolbox for helpful templates, guidelines, and a how-to video.
Press Release
Press releases are intended to maximize the reach of an event or announcement to the local, national, or international communities. Before considering a press release, consult with us to determine if this is the best approach.
Contact Sonia at spatenau@ubishops.ca
Events Calendar
We have a brand-new Events Calendar for any event on campus. Having your event on the public-facing website means more people learn about your occasion!
Still not sure which is right for you?
We encourage you to fill out this communications plan template to help define your goals, audience, and strategy to reach them. If you need help completing it, let us know!
We have a wide selection of cards for you to send to your loved ones.
Show off your purple pride with our video conferencing backgrounds. These images can also be used as desktop wallpapers, to jazz up PowerPoints, or to assist in any of your Bishop’s branded graphic needs.
- All 5 backgrounds (.zip)
- Campus Overview Photo (.jpg)
- Purple background without logo (.jpg)
- Purple background with logo (.jpg)
- Purple triangles background without logo (.jpg)
- Purple triangles background with logo (.jpg)
- Powerpoint Advice (PDF)
- Template 16:9 (PPT)
1. Download the logos below (right-click and choose “save image as”):
Note: Due to settings on individuals’ computers, operating system and/or email client application, the apparent size of the wordmark may display smaller or larger than intended despite using the same sized image file. There are therefore two downloadable size options for the Bishop’s logo, to adjust the image size if your settings result in one size appearing too large, or too small.
2. Follow the steps to create an email signature:
Instructions for MAC (PDF)
Instructions for Windows PC (PDF)
Example of what the email signature would look like (example shown bigger than it will be in your signature):
Photography
Your photo needs can likely be handled internally, particularly if the photo is destined for social media or digital displays. If photos are destined for an external audience, through the web or in promotional materials, a professional may be called for.
In either case, knowing the purpose and audience for your content is key!
Communications can help by reviewing your plan and determining the best way forward. We can refer photographers if applicable, and we may have just what you are looking for in our photo bank that can be used in your materials!
Videography
Producing quality video content takes time and expertise. Therefore, the strategic questions regarding the use and placement of video is critical. Take the time to consider why you feel video would be the best medium. Who is it for? What are the key messages you want to expose? Find examples of videos you feel are good benchmarks for the tone and quality you are looking for.
A video targeting our internal community may be able to be produced here, whereas if your intended audience is external we may recommend a professional videographer.
Contact Benj at btabah@ubishops.ca to discuss.
Digital displays run for ~8 seconds each, so keep the amount of content to a minimum! If you are creating a display with animation, you can specify the length of the file upon export.
Accepted Formats
- PNG
- JPG
- MP4 (if animation is included)
- 1920 X 1080
The maximum file size accepted is 30 MB.
To have your content added to the displays, submit your file here.
Need some help making your digital display? Use the templates provided or watch the tutorial on how to make your own in Canva.
Do you have a project connected with Bishop’s University that you need graphic work for? You can send a Graphic Work Request to our Graphic Designer through this form:
Work should be connected to Bishop’s University in some way. You can create a new event promotion, course or program information, or a promotion for services. You can also request modifications to existing graphical work as well.
Currently, Bishop’s maintains (or will maintain) the following administrative ‘sites’ in both languages.
- Future Students
- Living on Campus
- Student Services
- About B.U.
- Human Resources
If your page has a French version, any changes to one page must be made to the other simultaneously.
The following should also be available in both languages. If you need professional translation services, please follow the steps listed in “Submitting Content for Translation”.
- Press releases
- Official policies
- Job postings
- Official messages from university executives
Guidelines
- As per the list above, each department is responsible for the maintenance of their own web content in both languages.
- All future content changes are required to be made in both languages (no exceptions).
- Communications does not provide translation services.
- Communications will not update web pages without both languages being submitted as this leads to inconsistencies that are impossible to track.
- Translation can be done internally but must follow the glossary supplied by the Communications department for consistency. If internal translations are not up to professional standards the document will be returned and content updates will be put on hold.
BU Translation Glossary (myBU)
Submitting Content for Translation
Communications has vetted translation providers and work only with OTTIAQ certified firms.
Translation costs are the responsibility of each department.
Please complete the form below to submit your content for translation. Note that you need to include a turnaround time, budget code, and your original content in a Word document.
Questions or Concerns
If you have any questions or concerns about this process or feel your site should be available in both languages, please contact the Communications office.