Policies & Guidelines - Publications

872-2191, Coordinator of Publications

Graphic Standards

This section of information is designed to define the manner in which South Texas College is to be visually identified to its various publics. By following these guidelines all employees, students and outside suppliers will uniformly coordinate and project the correct College identity.

This information applies to all visual communications produced by or for South Texas College. In order to successfully establish and maintain a strong graphic identity, the graphic standards must be implemented consistently by all those responsible for STC’s publicly viewed materials.

Proper identification of South Texas College, using the official logo, must be on all printed or visual materials produced by or for STC departments. Guidelines for proper usage of STC’s logo are included.

Sample or mock-ups of these materials must be submitted to Office of Public Relations and Marketing prior to production and distribution. This will ensure proper compliance with the graphic standards and will enable The Office of Public Relations and Marketing to have a clear understanding of the different materials and messages being distributed.

Should you have any questions, please contact The Office Public Relations and Marketing at (956) 872-8302.

Printing

All printing of STC publications must be approved and processed through the Office of Public Relations and Marketing’s, coordinator of publications.

If out-sourced printing is required, normally three bids are obtained. Often, the print vendor will be determined by budget, deadline and the complexity of the project.

When requesting design assistance from The Office of Public Relations and Marketing, please remember that most jobs require two-four weeks lead-time depending on project complexity.

If an emergency project presents itself, contact The Office of Public Relations and Marketing for consultation on the most expedient, cost effective and quality method for completing the project.

If you have a preference for a print vendor, please indicate this at the time the job is submitted and The Office of Public Relations and Marketing will make every effort to seek a bid from that vendor. However, the final determination will be made within The Office of Public Relations and Marketing based on deadline, project and budget constraints.

Printing Project Request

Our office has established a process to better ensure job tracking and timely completion of projects.

The STC Office of Public Relations and Marketing will provide services ONLY upon receipt of the Printing Project Request form. Please complete the inter-active PDF or print the Word file.

When completed, return the Printing Project Request form to the coordinator of publications via e-mail, fax (872-2145) or inter-campus mail.

Most jobs require two to four weeks lead-time depending on project complexity.

Submission of Photographs/Text

Provide the photographs/text via e-mail or on a CD to the assigned graphic designer. A hard copy of the submitted text must accompany the CD. Please label the disk and specify if you wish it to be returned.

Text should be saved as rich text format (RTF). To supply the text or background material, enter the text simply; use returns instead of tabs; do not italicize, bold or use all caps; do not setup in columns.

Publication Review and Approval

Publications submitted for approval only must be given to the Office of Public Relations and Marketing one week prior to printing or publication date.

Publication date means the day the material goes to the printer. Please allow a minimum of one to two weeks for outside printers.

Any publication not approved by The Office of Public Relations and Marketing is unapproved and unofficial.

A Public Relations and Marketing staff member must sign off on the project’s requisition before it is submitted to Purchasing. If the requisition does not have the proper signatures, Purchasing will reject the requisition and send it back to the originating department.

Copies

The Office of Public Relations and Marketing does not offer copy/printing services. Departments or offices requiring copies of a publication or flier must request the copies from their dean/director. In some circumstances, Public Relations and Marketing will provide only 20 color or 20 black and white copies to a requesting department.

Required Statements

All major college publications such as schedules, catalog and Viewbook must include the College’s approved Statement of Equal Opportunity, alternative format statement, and ADA statement. The statement is preferred, but not required, on fliers and other temporary materials.

Statement of Equal Opportunity: No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by South Texas College on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability.

Alternative Format Statement: This document is available in an alternative format upon request by calling (insert phone number of the department who completed publication).

ADA Statement: Individuals with disabilities requiring assistance or access to receive services should contact disABILITY Support Services at (956) 872-2173.

For advertisement purposes, use the following statement:
South Texas College is and equal opportunity, equal access institution

Required Statements for Student Productions

Any publication, form of electronic media, web page or other form of communication produced by students must include the following statement: Students, under the direction of advisors, are responsible for producing and publishing (insert name of publication here). Students bear the primary responsibility for this production and its contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of the South Texas College faculty, staff, administration and Board of Trustees.

Publications of recognized STC student organizations must comply with board policies concerning publications, including proper display of the logo and inclusion of appropriate statements. For other guidelines, contact the Office of Student Life.