Audience
Sign administrators and content creators for digital signage displays on campus.
Digital Signage Content Guidelines
The purpose of our Digital Signage is to provide informative, engaging, and relevant content to the campus community, promoting events, services, announcements, and campus-related information. Below are IC's Digital Signage Content Guidelines regarding what type of content can and cannot be posted. These guidelines ensure that digital signage remains an inclusive, relevant, and valuable communication channel for the campus community.
What type of content is permitted?
Ithaca College Digital signs are intended for official College business use by authorized users. Digital signs should be used to share content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the campus community. Here are some types of content that can be posted on digital signs:
1. Campus Announcements:
a. Important dates, deadlines, and events.
b. Academic and administrative announcements.
c. Campus-wide initiatives or campaigns.
2. Event Promotion:
a. Upcoming lectures, workshops, and seminars.
b. Performances, concerts, and theater productions.
c. Athletic events and competitions.
d. Student club activities and meetings.
3. Campus Services:
a. Information on student services, such as career counseling, health services, library resources, and student support centers.
b. Hours of operation for various campus facilities (library, cafeteria, gym, etc.).
c. Transportation updates, parking information, and shuttle schedules.
4. Campus News and Achievements:
a. Highlights of achievements by students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
b. News articles or features about campus research, projects, or initiatives.
5. Safety and Emergency Information:
a. Emergency contact numbers and procedures.
b. Safety tips and guidelines.
c. Weather alerts and campus closure notifications.
6. Campus Resources and Facilities:
a. Maps and directions to different buildings, departments, and campus resources.
b. Information on computer labs, study spaces, and resource centers.
c. Facility maintenance and renovation updates.
7. Campus Promotion and Branding:
a. Promote the college's mission, vision, and values.
b. Showcasing the campus culture, traditions, and history.
c. Promote enrollment, admissions, and recruitment initiatives.
8. Social and Community Engagement:
a. Volunteer opportunities and community service initiatives.
b. Information on clubs, organizations, and student leadership opportunities.
c. Cultural events, diversity celebrations, and awareness campaigns.
9. Inspirational and Educational Content:
a. Quotes, motivational messages, and inspiring stories.
b. Educational facts, trivia, or historical information related to the campus or specific fields of study.
c. Tips for academic success, study skills, or stress management.
What type of content is prohibited?
Certain types of content should be avoided to maintain a positive, respectful, and inclusive environment. Here are some examples of content that should not be posted on digital signs:
1. Content of a personal nature or purposes, or for non-college-related purposes.
2. Offensive or Discriminatory Content:
a. Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise discriminatory material.
b. Hate speech, derogatory language, or content that promotes prejudice or stereotypes.
2. Graphic or Explicit Content:
a. Explicit images, videos, or language that may be considered inappropriate, offensive, or explicit in nature.
b. Content that depicts violence, gore, or graphic visuals.
3. Controversial or Sensitive Topics:
a. Political content that takes a partisan stance or may be divisive within the campus community.
b. Religious content that may exclude or offend certain religious or non-religious groups.
c. Content related to contentious social issues that may create divisions or discomfort within the campus community without providing a balanced perspective.
4. Unauthorized Advertising or Commercial Content:
a. Content that promotes unauthorized commercial activities or violates advertising guidelines.
b. Advertisements for products or services that are unrelated to the college or not officially approved.
5. Personal or Confidential Information:
a. Content that breaches privacy or confidentiality, such as personal student or staff information, unless explicitly authorized and necessary for emergency or official communications.
6. Misleading or False Information:
a. Content that spreads misinformation, rumors, or false claims.
b. Hoaxes, scams, or content that may deceive or mislead the viewers.
7. Profanity or Vulgarity:
a. Content containing excessive or unnecessary profanity, vulgar language, or inappropriate humor.
8. Unauthorized Endorsement:
a. Content that implies official endorsement by the college or its departments without proper authorization.
b. Endorsement of political candidates, religious organizations, or external entities without adherence to institutional guidelines.
9. Copyright Infringement:
a. Content that violates copyright laws or infringes upon intellectual property rights without proper permissions or licenses.
10. Confidential or Legal Matters:
a. Content related to ongoing investigations, legal disputes, or confidential matters that may harm individuals or the college's reputation.
11. Advertisements for the purpose of Ad Revenue Generation:
a. Digital signage should not be used for the purpose of generating ad revenue or displaying third-party advertisements.
b. Avoid displaying content that primarily serves outside commercial interests or promotes external products or services.
What guidelines should signage content follow?
When creating or selecting content to post, it's important to focus on creating effective communication, maintaining a consistent visual identity, and ensuring inclusivity. Here are some guidelines to consider:
1. Content Guidelines:
a. Keep the content concise, informative, and relevant to the target audience.
b. Avoid cluttered designs and prioritize legibility.
c. Use high-resolution images and videos for optimal visual quality.
d. Include a clear call-to-action or next steps when appropriate.
e. Regularly update the content to keep it fresh and engaging.
f. Follow content policies for what type of content is allowed and prohibited
2. Visual Identity:
a. Follow brand guidelines for the college to maintain consistency across all digital signage.
b. Use the official college logo and approved color schemes.
c. Ensure fonts and typography align with the college's branding guidelines.
d. Maintain a consistent layout and design style across different screens and locations.
3. Scheduling and Rotation:
a. Plan a regular content rotation to avoid stagnation and repetition.
b. Coordinate with different departments and organizations to showcase a variety of content.
c. Schedule content based on the target audience's peak times and locations.
d. Avoid excessive frequency of content changes that might distract viewers.
4. Accessibility and Inclusivity:
a. Ensure that all content complies with accessibility standards for people with disabilities.
b. Use high-contrast color combinations for readability.
c. Incorporate closed captions for videos and provide alternative text for images.