| For more than two years now, we’ve prioritized telling our Vandal story. It’s compelling, it’s exciting and it resonates with a wide audience. From branded grain elevators to unique Instagram stories, our message is getting out. Students are discovering the value the U of I offers. Our stakeholders across the state and beyond are partnering with us on research and projects like the Seed Potato Germplasm Laboratory that opened this week. And our alumni are engaging with us and investing in their alma mater – the Brave. Bold campaign has already raised nearly $100 million to support students. Our marketing and web teams are using data to target our audience and deliver strategic, timely information. Over the past year, our U of I home page received more than 1.3 million views, and the U of I web pages overall received more than 17.1 million views, an increase of more than 11% over the previous year. Our web content includes calls to action for visitors. Prospective students are invited to “Explore more,” “Apply,” or “Visit.” We’ve consistently messaged about our U.S. News and World Report ranking as the No. 1 best value among public universities in the West, and students are responding. Our applications for fall 2022 are up 32% and our admissions are up 16% over the same time last year. We’re working hard to convert those admittances into enrolled students. The U of I communications team connects our faculty with media and sends stories around the globe. Since Jan. 1, our Advertising Value Equivalency score, which measures the value of earned media, is 98.2 million – more than all other Idaho universities combined. Research led by U of I professors on the impact of COVID-19 in breast milk attracted coverage by more than 50 newspapers and television stations across the country. Over the last two years our social media presence followed a consistent growth trajectory. Our following on Linkedin increase by more than 3,000 per year, indicating more individuals want to be associated with the Vandal Family in that space. Our Friday Letter is also expanding its reach. Since the start of the 2021-22 academic year, open rates on our weekly email increased from about 15% (5,639 opens) to regularly above 26.5% (12,339). We’re also regularly hearing from readers who want to support programs and engage with our university. We appreciate the engagement and welcome your feedback. You can always email president@uidaho.edu with your ideas and input. | 
