NCMPR BLOG

by Jennifer Boehmer
Mt. Hood Community College
Gresham, Oregon

[Note: A decade ago, when NCMPR celebrated its 40th anniversary, we hosted a national survey to get a sense of what two-year college presidents thought of NCMPR. We shared the results in the July 2014 issue of Counsel magazine, which is a member benefit. Now in our 50th year, we wanted to review those findings with a wider audience. We know folks are figuring out their 2024-25 memberships (and if you’ve already joined or rejoined, THANK YOU!!), and we thought this might help you make a case to your college leadership: THIS is why NCMPR membership is so important. And just because some things have changed in a decade, we’ve popped in occasionally below with some updates. We’re not, however, updating stuff that’s changed in AP Style. You get 2014’s style in all its “write out ‘percent’” glory. Links are also added where relevant.]

Congratulations! If you’re reading this magazine, chances are you’re doing something your college president considers pretty important.

According to a recent NCMPR national survey, 97 percent of two-year college presidents say that professional development organizations are “very valuable” or “valuable” for enhancing the reputations of communicators and contributing to a college’s overall success. What’s more, 95 percent of presidents depend on associations like NCMPR to provide leadership and resources for navigating the changing communications landscape for the nation’s community colleges.

Other survey findings dive into specific perceptions of NCMPR, which is where your membership comes in. Highlights from the research reveal strategies you can use for building even stronger alliances with the top brass. Consider these:

What presidents know about NCMPR. When asked how they are most aware of NCMPR in action, presidents cited NCMPR’s articles in the Community College Times (now the Community College Daily) and the recognition NCMPR gives to presidents through the district and national Pacesetter awards. To a lesser extent, presidents were aware of the breakout sessions NCMPR presents at the annual AACC convention.

STRATEGY 1: Connect with your president.

– Subscribe to NCMPR articles that run in Community College Daily (or check them out here). When you receive one, forward it to your president with a personal note about how the information can be applied at your college. You can also volunteer to author an upcoming article by contacting NCMPR’s national office. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your expertise on a national scale. (Learn more about writing for CC Daily on behalf of NCMPR.) 

– Nominate your president for the Pacesetter award and invite him or her to attend an upcoming conference. Give your president a personal opportunity to learn more about your field and its relevance to your college’s success.

What presidents think about NCMPR awards. Nearly three out of four community college presidents said they believed Medallion and Paragon awards are important to the internal college community because they enhance staff confidence in the communications function and improve morale. About half went on to say that these awards reinforce the reputations of their institutions as regional and national leaders.

STRATEGY 2: Leverage awards programs.

– Make it a priority to enter district and national NCMPR award programs, because an NCMPR win is the only award that can underscore your leadership specifically in the two-year college market.

– Take the advice of college presidents and share award wins internally with staff and faculty. Frame the successes as collective accomplishments for the college as a whole.

– In the midst of all the news releases you’re generating for your college, don’t neglect the one that highlights your own office’s awards. A news blurb legitimizes your efforts as communication resources for the community as well as the college.

What presidents are most interested in from NCMPR. Most presidents indicated high interest in obtaining NCMPR information about crisis communications, followed closely by white papers and webinars on trending communication topics. Their biggest areas of concern included: budget and financial concerns, followed in order by social media, marketing and targeting specific audiences. Other issues mentioned, but with less frequency, included branding, ROI, enrollment, media relations, personnel and technology.

STRATEGY 3: Take advantage of NCMPR resources.

– Conferences provide a wealth of information about relevant topics for two-year college communicators, but did you know you have access to these resources year-round? The NCMPR library of conference presentations is available online at ncmpr.org/national-library.

– Also, a slate of outstanding monthly webinars can provide timely information just when you need it. Invite your president to sit in on an upcoming webinar of interest. If a webinar doesn’t fit in your schedule, you can purchase it for later viewing at ncmpr.org/video-on-demand. (We still host regular webinars throughout the year, and members can view webinar recordings for free, as part of membership.)

– Highlight articles in Counsel and pass them along with a personal note – past issues as well as clips are available to members at ncmpr.org/clips. Or forward a PowerPoint slide. The point is, NCMPR resources stand ready to offer new ideas for your president’s most pressing concerns.

What presidents are most interested in from communicators. Presidents were asked to identify the areas in which they saw the biggest need for communication leadership within their institutions. Maintaining and enhancing the college’s image was cited as the number-one priority. Two out of three presidents also said they wanted to see communication plans aimed at increasing enrollment.

STRATEGY 4: Partner with NCMPR to become a better communicator.

– Your president wants big things. To accomplish them, you need a big team. Consider NCMPR your connection to that team. NCMPR is all about connecting community college communicators. Your membership connects you to colleagues across the country who are ready to respond to your inquiries on the phone or on the NCMPR Listserv (subscribe at ncmpr.org/ncmprlistserv) (we’ve got a new way to subscribe!). Whether it’s going through a name change, passing a bond, marketing a new program or building a strategic communication team poised to meet the next challenge ahead, NCMPR is full of talented members like you who have been through the fire and have experience and vision to share.

The study confirmed that for presidents, it’s the big picture that really matters. As one respondent said, the heart of communications within two-year colleges is about “assisting community colleges in gaining their rightful position of prestige among all segments of higher education.” Communicators who seek to become strategic message advocates for the entire college will, therefore, serve their presidents well in the changing face of new economic, employment and education challenges.

At the time of this article, Jennifer Boehmer was the marketing manager at Portland Community College in Oregon. She would go on to serve as NCMPR’s 2018-19 president. She is currently the vice president of advancement and community engagement at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon.