Three jobs cut from university public relations
Three positions will be eliminated amidst a reorganization effort in the Central Michigan University Public Relations and Marketing department.
The cuts will take effect on April 30 and the department will reorganize the structure of the office over the next several months.
Budgetary issues are a reason behind the reorganization, along with a desire to develop a staff with more advanced communication methods in the future, said Steve Smith, director of media relations.
"Our primary job is to recruit students to the university," he said. "Many of the communication methods in the past effort have become outdated."
The decision to cut positions in the department was not an easy one, said Renee Walker, associate vice president of Public Relations and Marketing.
"In the process of reorganization, it is very difficult to lose staff positions," she said. "We are being more efficient in other areas."
Walker addressed the issue of older communication methods and explained that it is the university's goal to reach out to students through more advanced means, rather than just brochures.
"Communications continues to evolve," she said. "These are kids who have grown up with technology, that's just the way they communicate."
Along with layoffs comes a series of name changes within the department. The department itself will be renamed University Communications.
"It's more reflective of what we do here," Smith said. "The name 'Public Relations and Marketing' isn't really reflective."
Within the department, media relations will be changed to public relations, marketing will become integrated marketing and publications will be called 'Creative Services.'
Walker said that talking to the media is not the only job of media relations, and that the staff handles other matters as well.
Another significant change will be in regards to athletic information. For years, sports inquiries have been answered by PRM. Starting July 1, the primary responsibility will be shifted to the athletics department.
The majority of universities direct sports information requests to an athletics department.
"It gives them more of an opportunity to address athletics," he said.
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