Metropolitan State University of Denver employees now have more ways than ever to tell the Roadrunner story with clarity, consistency and impact. University Communications and Marketing (UCM) has introduced new policies and tools this semester to strengthen the University’s brand and make it easier for employees to craft professional, engaging communications.
New PowerPoint design templates
Three new University PowerPoint templates are now available on Brand Central. These designs are blank templates that offer new design options while maintaining a consistent MSU Denver look and feel.
New template designs include:
- Angles – Designed for student audience, featuring fun, high-energy visuals
- Institutional – Tailored for leadership, staff and faculty audiences
- 60th Anniversary – Created for event-specific communications (2025-26 academic year only)
The PowerPoint toolkits with plug-and-play icons, graphics and charts will be updated with new statistics and messaging once fall census data is finalized.
Brand Colors expand in response to employee feedback
In response to growing interest from the University community to use the MSU Denver brand in more expansive ways, UCM has added secondary and accent colors to MSU Denver’s core trio of brand colors.
The primary color palette remains the same, but with refreshed names and enhanced accessibility—making it easier to distinguish colors across both print and digital applications. While the names have been updated for clarity, the Pantone equivalents remain unchanged: PMS 295, PMS 193, and PMS Cool Gray 11.
Employees can explore the full palette through the link below, including MSU Denver’s core brand colors: MSU Denver Navy, MSU Denver Red, and MSU Denver Charcoal.
Communicators Toolkit
To help employees put brand standards into practice, UCM has developed the Communicators Toolkit, a self-guided resource hub with tips, templates and best practices. The toolkit covers everything from speechwriting and student messaging to event promotion, PowerPoint design and even grammar guidance. It also offers direction on how to collaborate with UCM and gives employees the option to request personalized consultations.
The toolkit provides:
- Guidance for collaborating with the UCM team.
- Resources – including a summary of channels, a support matrix and a sample communications plan to leverage as a template – to develop strategic, consistent and professional communications for various audiences.
- Templates, guides and tips covering email, speechwriting, student communications, PowerPoint, webinars and event promotions.
- Updates to University-approved key messaging covering topics such as academic programs, infrastructure, special initiatives, and more.
- AI guidelines for communicators.
Employees can also request a consultation with UCM for additional support.
Adobe Express
Looking for a resource to support content creation at no cost? Available to all faculty and staff members, Adobe Express is a web-based platform that simplifies content creation. With ready-to-use templates, stock photos, and University-aligned branding, the tool makes it easy to design polished graphics, social posts, flyers and more — saving time while keeping messaging consistent.
New Brand Policies
In May, President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., signed four new University Brand Policies into effect. Together, these policies provide a framework for creating a strong, unified presence that supports MSU Denver’s goals and enhances its public image. From visual identity and paid advertising to web standards, all branded materials must follow these guidelines and receive approval from UCM before publication.
Review the Brand Policies below:
University Communications and Marketing has more exciting brand resources on the way; stay tuned to the Early Bird for upcoming announcements.
Questions, comments, concerns or ideas for templates or branding tools can be submitted through the UCM Request / Consultation forms.
