Last updated: March 25, 2026
General Guidelines
This policy is to be used in accordance with the official Oblate School of Theology Logo and Brand Policy. All school advertising and promotion should be conducted by or in coordination with the Marketing Department. This includes, but is not limited to, all forms of paid and free advertising, including print (newspaper, magazine, etc.), broadcast (radio and television), web, billboards, direct mail, in-person representation, conference attendance, event attendance, digital advertising, social media advertising, and signage. No advertising commitment should be executed without consultation with the Marketing Department. The Marketing and Communications Department, in consultation with the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, has the responsibility to ensure that consistent OST design, copy, and imagestandards are met. All proposed uses of the Oblate School of Theology (OST) name and/or logo in advertising by outside companies or organizations should be coordinated with the Marketing Department. (e.g.: local business wants to use a picture of an OST building and logo in an advertisement they will place in a journal or local business wants to exchange services for logodisplay at event or promotion by other means)
External Distribution of Deliverables Approval
To ensure all public-facing deliverables maintain professional standards, brand consistency, andfactual accuracy, the following policy applies to all faculty, staff, and contractors. No deliverables intended for external audience consumption will be published, printed, or distributed without formal written or verbal approval from either the relevant Program Director or theDepartmental Supervisor. This approval must occur for distribution by the OST Marketing Department.
Conferences & Events
Hosts vs Sponsor vs Partner vs Venue in Conferences or Events
Each of the below listed distinctions delineates a different investment in Conference or Event
support by the Marketing Department on behalf of the school. These delineations should be
discussed with the Marketing Department and the VP of Institutional Advancement prior to
official agreement.
Hosts
If OST is hosting a conference or event on campus that OST has either created, co-created, or has a significant stake in, this deems the most support from the Marketing Department. In accordance with the OST Branding and Logo Policy, the OST Marketing Department must approve all collateral (posters, flyers, digital media, billboards, signage, etc.) created for this event that uses OST’s brand and or image to ensure proper use.
If OST is hosting a conference or event, OST’s logo must should appear first or immediately following the presenting sponsor(s) in a logo string and be the equal to the largest logo on any given conference or event collateral. For all questions surrounding logo placement, please consult the OST Branding and Logo policy first or email marketing@ost.edu for specific questions or concerns.
Conversations surrounding ticketing of a conference or event must include the Director of Marketing and/or the Director of Continuing Education. All ticketing discounts, group rates, etc. are approved at the express discretion of the Executive Council.
The institute or department responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of the conference or event should contact marketing@ost.edu to schedule a meeting to discuss specific plans and outline realistic campaign support expectations with the OST Marketing Department.
Sponsor
If OST is sponsoring a conference, our logo should appear in the appropriate place in a logo string on collateral relative to the level of sponsorship OST has undertaken as stipulated by the Event Host. Please consult the OST Branding and Logo policy to determine the appropriate logo.
In accordance with the OST Branding and Logo Policy, the OST Marketing Department must approve all collateral (posters, flyers, digital media, billboards, signage, etc.) created for this event that uses OST’s brand and or image to ensure proper use.
The institute or department responsible for serving as the point of contact for sponsoring the conference or event should contact marketing@ost.edu to schedule a meeting to discuss specific plans and outline realistic campaign support expectations with the OST Marketing Department.
Partner
If OST is considered a partner at a conference or event, the logo will not be displayed on any collateral nor will there be a designated marketing campaign undertaken. OST’s name should be used in relevant copy on social media, in collateral, or in a press release to state OST’s position as a partner where appropriate. All information regarding conference material, press releases, or collateral that uses OST’s name and/or brand should be sent to the Marketing Department.
The OST Marketing Department will not, in most cases, engage in advertising for the event or conference but rather will support the existing publicity of the event in an appropriate manner relative to OST’s partnership.
Marketing support for events and conferences as a partner will be at the discretion of the Director of Marketing
For any and all questions contact marketing@ost.edu
Venue
If OST or the Whitley Event Center (WEC) is a hosting venue, the logo will not be displayed on any collateral nor will there be a designated marketing campaign undertaken. OST’s or the WEC’s name may be used in relevant copy on social media, in collateral, or in a press release to state OST’s position as a venue only. All information regarding conference material, press releases, or collateral that uses OST’s or the WEC’s name should be sent to the Marketing Department.
OST Marketing will provide no support to events or conferences where OST’s campus serves only as a venue.
Please see the Endorsement under the External Use section in the OST Brand and Logo Policy for more information.
Conference or Event Attendance and OST Representation
OST encourages Faculty and Staff to attend relevant conferences on behalf of the school to increase our presence in relevant fields whether they are academic, philanthropic, interest based, and other applicable settings. OST’s level of representation is directly correlated with the size of the event/conference and or OST’s relevance to the event/conference. In certain settings, members of the OST Marketing Department can and will attend certain conferences/events where it is beneficial for a member of the Marketing Department to do so. All questions of conference/event attendance should be directed to marketing@ost.edu. The Marketing Department reserves the right to refuse Conference/Event attendance with sufficient reason. Conference/Event attendance requests should be formally sent by email to marketing@ost.edu no later than three months before the registration deadline of the conference for consideration.
Marketing Support in Conference or Event Costs
OST Marketing Department will cover the costs of travel, conference registration, sponsorship, lodging, and other directly related costs of sending representatives on behalf of OST to conferences. OST Marketing reserves the right to decline to pay for the aforementioned costs and or ask for the participating department or institute to help cover costs with sufficient reason. For all questions please contact marketing@ost.edu. Conference participants should complete an official OST Reimbursement Form in a timely manner, obtained through the Finance Department and subject to the stipulations attributed to that form, upon returning from the conference. The OST Marketing Department will also provide all swag and promotional items for conferences or events as well as any necessary digital, print, or physical collateral when OST is represented at a conference or event. If specific swag or promotional items are desired, please contact marketing@ost.edu minimum two months’ notice before conference/event day of departure to ensure items can be designed, ordered, and delivered.
Sponsorship at External Conferences or External Events
OST Marketing believes there can be great value in sponsoring external events and conferences relevant to the interests of the school. Sponsorship level will be determined by the Director of Marketing in consultation with the VP of Institutional Advancement. The OST Marketing Department believes there can be great value in having a booth or table at external conferences, however this is not a guarantee at all conferences. The OST Marketing Department will cover the costs associated with having a table and or Sponsoring an external conference or event. OST Marketing reserves the right to decline to pay for the aforementioned costs and or ask for the participating department or institute to help cover costs with sufficient reason. For all questions please contact marketing@ost.edu.
OST Brand and Logo Usage at Conferences or Events
If OST is hosting, sponsoring, or partnering in a conference or event, please consult the Branding and Logo policy to determine the appropriate logo to use and contact: marketing@ost.edu.
Promotion of Individual/Non-OST Works
The OST Marketing Department will promote and or support works and engagements of the faculty, staff, students, and employees of the school if the works and engagements are directly related to the school or done on behalf of OST. The promotion or support of works and engagements is at the discretion of the Marketing Department in consultation with the VP of Institutional Advancement. The OST Marketing Department reserves the right to deny/will not create promotional, advertising, endorsement, or marketing campaigns related to individual/Non- OST related works of the OST faculty, staff, or employees outside the scope of their official position at OST. This includes, but is not limited to organizing book launches and signings, graduation parties, outside research publications, photography/videography sessions, creating digital or print collateral, social media or email marketing endorsement or support, or the direct invest of OST Marketing resources in this manner of promotion. Any created work, event, or campaign that uses OST’s brand, image, logos, colors, etc. is subject to the OST Brand and Logo Policy at the discretion of the Marketing Department in consultation with the VP of Institutional Advancement. For any questions, please contact marketing@ost.edu.