Guidelines, Tips, and Policies
The Office of Strategic Communication has developed central guidelines and policies to promote consistent practices across campus. If you’re new to UW–Madison, start with our Welcome Kit and join communities of practice.
Guidelines and best practices
BadgersVote communications toolkit
Explore the BadgersVote toolkit to download logos, campaign themes, draft copy, and more.
Banners and signage
Seek approval for hanging banners on campus.
Commercial use/production
Request access to campus for commercial use, including production, as an external entity.
Drone/unmanned aircraft use
Review restrictions on unmanned aircraft or drones on university property.
Editorial calendar
Use the calendar to align with institutional priorities and elevate cross-campus storytelling.
Editorial style
Explore editorial guidance and points of style specific to the university, plus inclusive terms.
Employee resources for online attacks
Review guidance and resources to help UW–Madison employees navigate online attacks, including doxxing and trolling.
Events toolkit
Check out our tips for how to effectively promote your campus events to the university community and beyond.
Free expression and campus protests
Visit the Free Expression website to review university policies and state law, campus community support resources, and public safety information.
Inclusive communications
Follow inclusive communications and marketing practices.
Land acknowledgement guidance
Review guidance for statements recognizing that UW–Madison occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk land.
On Brand newsletter
Subscribe to our On Brand e-newsletter to receive updates on new tools, templates, guidance, and other brand resources.
Research news toolkit
Check out our tips for how to write substantive, accurate, and compelling science news stories.
Social media guide
Check out our tips for how to write substantive, accurate, and compelling science news stories.
Social media tips
Follow our platform-specific tips for breaking through the noise on social media — while protecting your account security.
Sponsorship guidance
Review guidance for establishing and managing external sponsorships in accordance with university policy.
Statements for publication
Reference copyright, equal opportunity, and other official university statements.
Statewide outreach communications toolkit
Explore the “One Wisconsin. On Wisconsin.” campaign and share how UW–Madison is partnering with people across the state.
Trademark licensing
Review official university trademarks and policies.
Use of imagery guidance
Use this guide for creating photo, video, and other visual content at UW–Madison, including permissions and model release information, copyright, and freelance policies.
Vendor partners
Find approved external vendors for marketing and communications needs.
Policies
Official campuswide policies are housed in the UW–Madison Policy Library. Search for a specific policy in the library, or review the policies that our office manages below.
Advertising
Use of campus for advertising, sponsorship, and promotions by non-university entities.
Banners
Requirements and restrictions on the use of signs on campus.
Commercial use of facilities
Appropriate use of campus facilities.
Digital accessibility
Digital accessibility standards and reporting requirements for nondiscrimination compliance.
External sponsorship of university programs and events
External sponsorship of university programs and events.
Film, television, and commercial production on campus
Film, television, photo, or video production on campus by non-university entities.
Institutional and public position statements
When and by whom public position statements may be issued on behalf of UW–Madison or its units.
TikTok
Removal of the social media app on university-owned devices, per state order and system policy.
Use of institutional names, logos, symbols, and other trademarks
Appropriate use of university logos, images, names, and marks.
Use of visuals
Campus photography, videography, and other visual content standards, requirements, and restrictions.
Website domains
Standards and requirements to ensure web domain names support the UW’s brand, security, and consistency. Review our procedures for acquiring, changing, or removing a UW web domain.