Guidelines for Messaging & Sample Messages

Message Guidelines

Throughout our trainings, feedback we have received from people outside of cabinet is the need for clear communication and next steps from presidents and/or cabinet members. Below are some pointers for such communication given events that have occurred since the election of a new president.

(I would encourage any sending such messages out to attend a training session we have as well as with her president if so desired--she will want to be sure she and her president and board are aligned).

Issue: Forthcoming changes in higher education and rights/lack thereof of people

1. See Education For All's summary of Project 2025
2. Asserting leadership and providing clarity for your institutional culture

Some subsequent tips for communication, if needed:

1. At the beginning somehow center and particularize your college’s work in DEI/student success and showing how your people have done that work.
2. Ensure not to make this a message about the outcome of the election, but potential policies that are about students or higher ed in general.
3. Acknowledge the anxiety multiple groups are feeling
   
   • Racist text messages to African American students
   • Fear regarding undocumented students and/or families/friends of undocumented students
   • Women students and employees feeling the pain of not seeing a woman elected
4. Ensure that your leadership—not employee fear or lack of clarity about the new administration’s policies—dictates the direction of the campus now and moving forward.
5. In providing clarity, if you can, make clear that you will be doing the work of anticipating and implementing policies.
   
   • It is imperative in looking at policies you do not overreach. Education for All has and will continue to provide training so as not to overreach and to establish direction for your institution.
   • Be clear that employees’ worry should be on their students

Sample Message Leading up to Election

From Sojourner Truth to Frederick Douglass, Jane Addams, Susan B. Anthony, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Martin Luther King, jr., our country’s leaders have always seen a connection between full citizenship and voting. Our college, [note an accolade in civic engagement of academic freedom] continues to lead in developing student-citizens and scholars who make their voice known and ultimately work for good in a world. In the past months, moreover, [college name] has worked with a variety of national, educational organizations to increase student registrations, and address the fact that community college students register and vote less than their university counterparts.

I applaud all of you who encourage students to engage in voting. Local, state and federal officials will be taking seats based on choices we all make.

I want to remind you of the significant responsibility we have as educators. The historic realities of voting as a right given to some and withheld from others, coupled with the link between citizenship and education illustrate that what we do today in the classrooms, hallways and offices plays a significant role in how students perceive themselves and the power of their voice.

I do not intend to message the community about election outcomes as that is not my role. I will state here and now, however, that our core mission at [name college] is to provide excellent education to all students, and we will remain steadfast in that mission.

After the election, there will be winners and losers. What I find unique about higher education, and [college name] particularly, is the academic lens we all take toward what could be considered moments of great societal or political concern, where learning and progress are centered. I am sure we will continue in this tradition.

Finally, as some of our students and employees see and hear their identities being debated about, do take time to provide any support you or others can offer them, including the [link] mental health services [link] we have available on campus.

As always, thank you for all that you do.