A chair is well served by having a clear communications strategy.
Communications range from welcome messages at the start of each new term, to messaging on the department websites, to clearly conveyed norms and expectations regarding department-internal communication.
The main divisions on the Berkeley campus that oversee or advise on communications are Communications and Public Affairs; the Office of Legal Affairs; and the Office of Ethics, Risk, and Compliance. In addition, many decanal and administrative divisions have their own communications experts, who have an open channel of communication with Public Affairs.
When constructing your communications plan, it is important to know the basics about platforms available to you, privacy considerations, free speech and academic freedom, accessibility considerations, and best practices for interacting with the press. This section of the Chair's Toolkit points you to campus resources in these areas.