Communications Office

The Communications Office oversees the university’s news services, sports information, internal communications, government and community relations and promotional efforts. Communications staff members also play a leadership role in crisis communications and contribute to the promotion of university initiatives and programs.

The communications staff strives for consistent image, accuracy and quality in promoting SUNY Cortland’s brand and institutional priorities to both internal and external publics.

To achieve its goals, the Communications Office uses a variety of communications vehicles. These include: online news stories; The Bulletin, the bi-weekly online campus newsletter; Columns, the biannual magazine for more than 80,000 alumni worldwide; the SUNY Cortland website; the university’s primary social media accounts; Red Dragon Tales, the monthly alumni email newsletter; the C-Club Hall of Fame newsletter; Merit, the university service for promoting student achievement; campus visual messaging screens; featured events calendar; media-related photography; and staff member service on key university committees.

News Services

As the official liaison between SUNY Cortland and the news media, the Communications Office coordinates all information designed to promote understanding of, and support for, the university and its programs and priorities.

The Communications Office releases official statements on university policy, handles all media relations, and markets news and feature stories to regional, state and national media. The scope of news handled in the office ranges from stories related to academic programs, faculty research and grants, to announcements of upcoming events and hometown releases on student achievements, including scholarships, and president’s and dean's lists honorees.

To a great extent, the Communications Office relies on the entire campus community to provide “tips” on newsworthy stories and events. Anyone providing materials for a news release should submit the information to the office at communications.office@cortland.edu at least two weeks in advance of a scheduled event.

Staff members in the Communications Office write and edit Columns. Faculty and staff members with story ideas about interesting and successful SUNY Cortland alumni are encouraged to contact the communications director.

Sports Information

The sports information staff promotes the university’s 25 intercollegiate varsity sports and the hundreds of student-athletes competing for SUNY Cortland. The staff maintains all statistical records, coordinates media relations and hometown releases, supervises press box management and produces game programs and media brochures.

The staff also updates the athletics website and publications for the C-Club.

Because of the success and magnitude of SUNY Cortland’s athletics program, the sports information director frequently relies on volunteers to assist with game statistics. Any faculty or students interested in volunteering their services are encouraged to contact the sports information director.