Inclusive Marketing and Communications

In its audit of marketing and communications, the consulting team assessed products and processes against best practices in the field.

KEY FINDINGS:

• Inclusive Language and Diverse Images: Branksome has demonstrated effort to feature DEI content internally and externally and found noticeable progress in the last five years toward the consistent use of inclusive language and diverse images. However, there is inconsistency in the use of gender-inclusive communications practices and a standardized land acknowledgement. Lastly, images of non-white students are used repeatedly and risk opening the school up to criticism that the images used are overrelied upon to market a diverse community.

• Accessibility of Online Materials: Much of Branksome Hall’s online printed and video content relies on the accessibility features built into the platforms they use. There is a need to adjust existing practices to meet or exceed minimum requirements for accessibility.

• Events and Meetings: Branksome Hall events are highly curated and very well-organized. School leaders, faculty and staff are often present. It is evident that a lot of thought and consideration is put into planning the calendar of events, with the selection of guest speakers, and attention to addressing topical issues and dates of significance. Greater DEI subject-matter expertise across event planning teams is needed. At the time of review, there was limited capacity to apply a DEI lens to event planning and in turn, review and revise current procedures.

• Feedback and Accountability Practices, Policies and Procedures: Branksome Hall’s communication team is a frontline for fielding feedback and complaints addressed to the institution. They do so in partnership with school leaders. The communication team is interested in bringing more transparency to its accountability practices. There are few opportunities outside of the Whistleblower policy and the current DEI audit for employees to provide anonymous feedback. Stakeholders recognize disingenuous efforts and respect authenticity and accountability, so moving in this direction should be encouraged.

• Policies and Procedures: There are currently no policy statements or formalized diversity, equity and inclusion policies and procedures to guide the communications team. Standardizing processes and distributing instructions for providing suggestions and feedback would address some of the challenges the organization faces in promoting events and milestones and allow enough notice to do so effectively.