Case Study
EDUCAUSE
CSG has proven time and again to be a huge asset and valuable partner for us. We think of them as an extension of our MarComm team.
— Marc Stith, director of marketing, EDUCAUSE
Communications Strategy Group (CSG®) is a higher ed marketing and public relations agency with expertise in retargeting strategic omnichannel campaigns that deliver results.
Turning EDUCAUSE’s “why” into momentum.
In 2025, CSG accomplished:
19%
increase in inbound interviews year over year
7%
growth in earned media mentions year over year
42%
increase in media mentions for their annual conference year over year
6%
increase in the number of media members that attended their annual conference
Opportunity
EDUCAUSE’s Obstacles
EDUCAUSE is a preeminent nonprofit association advancing higher education through the strategic use of technology and data. The organization provides cutting-edge research, resources and insights that span digital transformation, cybersecurity, analytics and teaching and learning.
EDUCAUSE had an abundance of valuable content and expert voices, but struggled with:
Content Packaging
Insights were not consistently structured into clear, compelling narratives for external audiences.
Visibility Challenges
Without strategic positioning, even significant research and expert opinion were not gaining traction in relevant media channels.
Under-Leveraged Assets
Conferences, reports and subject matter experts weren’t fully maximized for year-round media engagement.
For more than a decade, EDUCAUSE has partnered with CSG to elevate its profile among higher education IT leaders, CIOs and industry press by transforming how its insights are communicated to the broader market
CSG’s role was to overcome these barriers by developing frameworks that made EDUCAUSE’s expertise easier to share, understand and pick up by journalists, analysts and decision-makers.
solution
CSG’s Strategic Approach
CSG deployed a three-pronged strategy to elevate EDUCAUSE’s visibility and thought leadership:
Define
CSG worked with EDUCAUSE to clarify foundational messaging that articulated the organization’s mission, priorities and the value it delivers to technology, academic and campus leaders. These messaging frameworks served as the anchor for all subsequent communications efforts.
Organize and Package Content
CSG grouped EDUCAUSE’s insights into topical verticals tied to priority areas in higher education IT—such as cybersecurity, digital transformation and analytics, making content more accessible and consumable for journalists and influencers.
Amplify Across Channels
With messaging and packaging in place, CSG executed a full year-round communications strategy, including proactive media pitching, reactive commentary, social media optimization and amplified coverage tied to flagship assets like the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference each October.
CSG elevated EDUCAUSE’s profile by:
- Securing consistent media coverage of research releases and expert commentary across key verticals.
- Generating sustained awareness in higher education and technology trade outlets.
- Increasing participation and media interest are tied to the annual flagship conference.
- CSG also strengthened EDUCAUSE’s ability to engage reporters by positioning subject matter experts as go-to sources on breaking industry trends and timely topics.
impact
Results
Annual Conference Momentum into 2025
These outcomes underscore CSG’s ability to sustain and scale EDUCAUSE’s visibility, especially around major moments while driving year-round engagement with key audiences.
Coverage was secured across top-tier higher education outlets including Inside Higher Ed, The Chronicle of Higher Education and Forbes.
The Long-Term Impact
Through a decade-long partnership, CSG has helped transform EDUCAUSE into a widely recognized thought leader that:
Is regularly quoted and cited in higher education and tech press.
Has an enhanced reputation among CIOs, IT leaders and institutional decision-makers.
Achieves sustained momentum around core research assets and annual events.
By aligning narrative strategy with media opportunities and expert voices, CSG helped EDUCAUSE turn its deep expertise into measurable visibility gains.
This work reflects CSG’s approach to partnering with higher education institutions and associations: developing narratives grounded in rigor, relevance and trust to drive long-term brand recognition in complex, high-stakes environments.
If you need to build credibility, shape a sensitive narrative or lead a conversation instead of chasing it, we should talk.
Case Studies
Our work speaks for itself — and for the brands we champion.
We’ve helped leaders, innovators and educators turn complexity into clarity and connection into conversion.
