July 25, 2025 Marketing and Communications Update
Howdy,
With the fall semester just around the corner, we’re excited to share the latest tools, creative resources and opportunities to help you prepare for a productive start. In this update, you’ll find important details regarding university website modernization, release of new brand assets, including photos and B-roll, and updated digital signage templates to streamline your communications. You’ll also discover upcoming workshops, support networks and community events designed to keep you connected and ready for the semester ahead. Take a look at what’s new and see how these resources can support your work for the fall.
Important Updates
HB 5195: Website Modernization Requirements Coming for All State Agencies
Texas House Bill 5195 sets a statewide mandate for modernizing state agency websites and online services. Over the next year, agencies must complete internal assessments and submit a website modernization plan that addresses accessibility, mobile responsiveness, streamlined digital services and reduced paperwork.
The Aggie UX web design system can help you meet these new requirements efficiently. It’s built with accessibility, mobile optimization and best practices already baked in.
Learn more about HB 5195 and how Aggie UX can support your site.
Fall Ready Deliverables
Photo Drop
A new round of branded photo images was recently added to our photo gallery! To access them, simply log in to Photoshelter using your NetID and visit the “Photo Galleries” section. These expanded selections offer even more choices to help you quickly capture the look and feel of our brand in your projects. We’ll continue adding new photos over time. It is our hope that the photos provided this summer will help give you a great start on your marketing projects heading into the new semester.
B-Roll Drop
There have been new additions to the collection of branded B-roll footage! You can find these video clips in the Texas A&M University video repository under the “Video” folder in the Photoshelter galleries. This new content is designed to help bring your projects to life, reflecting the energy and spirit of our brand in motion.
View the New B-Roll Collection
Digital Signage Templates
We’re excited to share nine new digital signage templates created to support you in designing promotional graphics to display across our campuses and teaching sites. These assets offer ready-made layouts you can easily customize with your own text and images. Just update the placeholder content and follow the included instructions to get started.
Summer Workshops
Social Media Workshop
Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent fall ready social media workshop! We appreciated your ideas and engagement as we planned for the upcoming semester.
If you’d like to stay connected and receive future updates, be sure to join the TAMU Social Media listserv by emailing socialmedia@tamu.edu and including the names of the accounts you manage.
University Website Compliance Workshop
Friday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m.-noon
Several new legal compliance requirements impact everyone who has an official university website at Texas A&M. You are invited to join the Division of Risk, Ethics and Compliance, IT Accessibility and the Division of Marketing and Communications to learn about the June 2024 update for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Texas Education Code §51.3525 and House Bill 5195. We’ll discuss the new requirements, your responsibilities and how we can use Siteimprove to monitor our websites.
This workshop is primarily for communicators and those responsible for updating/maintaining university websites, but is open to all employees.
Join the Website Compliance Workshop via Zoom
Website Fall Ready Workshop
Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2-3 p.m.
Fall is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to refresh your high-impact webpages to align with Texas A&M’s new Brand Platform!
Join members of the brand, photo/video and web teams for a hands-on workshop focused on small updates that can make a big impact. You’ll learn how to strengthen your site’s messaging, visuals and voice to reflect who we are and why we matter.
Together, we’ll explore:
- How to infuse your web content with the brand’s personality traits: Welcoming, Inspiring, Confident, Selfless, Spirited and Significant
- Ways to use the Brand Narrative and Messaging Themes to tell more meaningful, on-brand stories
- Best practices for writing web content that’s clear and purposeful
- Tips for selecting brand-aligned photography that stands out and supports our “Big Idea”: Together, We Stand as a Force for Good
We’ll review real examples, share practical tips and answer your questions along the way. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your site and contribute to a unified, compelling Texas A&M story.
Join the Website Fall Ready Workshop via Zoom
Digital Signage Workshop
Thursday, Aug. 7, from 9-11 a.m.
We’re excited to host an online Digital Signage Workshop designed to strengthen both your signage strategy and your content creation skills. This session will include a refresher on the REACH platform, a review of design and messaging best practices, and the opportunity to receive feedback on content you’ve created.
Whether you’re new to digital signage or a longtime user, this workshop is a great chance to sharpen your creative approach, learn what makes effective on-screen content and connect with others across the university who manage digital signage.
Community Resources Available To You
Design Counsel
Design Counsel is a collaborative space for Texas A&M’s visual storytellers to connect, share ideas and shape the future of creativity and collaboration across the university. Each meeting explores a different topic — ranging from the Brand Platform to events, activations, trademarks and licensing. Join us for our first monthly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
If you have questions, please contact Melissa Loudermilk at mloudermilk@tamu.edu or via Slack or Teams.
RSVP for Design Counsel Meeting
Aggie UX Open Office Hours
The Division of Marketing and Communications Web team hosts virtual office hours every Thursday from 10-11 a.m. This is a great opportunity to get support with Aggie UX, AUX Cascade theme or any other web-related questions. Drop in for help, guidance or a quick chat about anything related to web or Aggie UX design system tools.
When: Thursdays, 10-11 a.m.
Join Zoom Meeting | Meeting ID: 995 7531 4621| Passcode: 646167
We look forward to seeing you there! Other practical advice for creating web content, applying best practices and using the Aggie UX design system is available on the MarComm site. Be sure to sign up for Aggie UX-specific communications by joining the Aggie UX email list.
Research Communicators Network
The Divisions of Research and Marketing and Communications co-host a biweekly meeting for communicators to connect, share updates and collaborate around promoting Texas A&M’s research enterprise. These meetings are a valuable opportunity for everyone who attends, and we encourage you to send a representative if you do not have someone already participating from your unit, college or school.
When: Every other Tuesday, 10 a.m.
This informal virtual gathering is open to all communicators supporting research initiatives and researchers themselves. It’s a chance to ask questions, get feedback and align on research messaging across the university.
Contact Tim Doty, Assistant Vice President for National Media and Public Relations, or Rusty Cawley, Director of Research Communications, to be added to the calendar invitation.
Virtual Tours
The Demand Marketing team is proud to announce the launch of Phase II of the Texas A&M virtual tours! The initial launch included “Welcome to Aggieland,” “Student Life” and “Academic” tours. Phase II implements dedicated tours for each college/school, the Corps of Cadets and Aggieland Saturday.
Stay Connected
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