Spectrum - Volume 21 Issue 05 September 24, 1998 - Faculty Senate briefed on TV spots

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Faculty Senate briefed
on TV spots

By John Ashby

Spectrum Volume 21 Issue 05 - September 24, 1998

Senators were shown the series of television commercials produced on behalf of the university at the September meeting of the Faculty Senate.
David Nutter, associate director for public affairs in the Office of University Relations, said the TV campaign consists of four 15-second spots and a 30-second spot. The Virginia Tech Foundation funded the project, which cost $260,000. No state funds were used to produce the spots, Nutter said.
"We were looking at ways to get the message out about Virginia Tech," Nutter said. "Charles Steger felt Tech should do television commercials, and President Torgersen agreed. The foundation put up the money and the campaign will run through late October."
Nutter said the television spots are running in the Washington area, Norfolk, Richmond, and Roanoke.
The spots feature areas in which the university perceives itself particularly strong in instruction and research. Instructional technology and bio-medical technology are among the cross-cutting initiative areas which are emphasized in the television spots.
Nutter said support for the campaign has been consistent from alumni, the Board of Visitors, and state politicians.
In response to questions from senators, Nutter said the purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness of Tech's success as a research university among opinion leaders, members of the General Assembly, and prospective students. The campaign will end in early December, Nutter told the senators.