Best of CASE District VII Award
 

Institution: University of California, Irvine

Title of entry: News for Neighbors community email newsletter

About this entry: Since 2023, UC Irvine has distributed News for Neighbors, a monthly e-newsletter for local residents designed to deepen community connection and strengthen public understanding of the university’s value beyond education. Each issue translates UC Irvine's impact into practical, neighbor-relevant benefits – breakthrough research and innovation, trusted health and wellness resources, education and cultural opportunities, environmental stewardship, and campus events that contribute to quality of life.

In a period of heightened skepticism toward higher education nationally, News for Neighbors is part of a broader effort to counter the “devaluation” of universities by consistently demonstrating public value in everyday terms. That sustained, neighbor-first approach is correlated with measurable reputational lift locally and statewide: Favorability increased from 72 percent to 83 percent in Orange County (2022 to 2025) and from 58 percent to 66 percent statewide, while in Irvine it remains exceptionally strong at 81 percent favorable, with a sharp increase in the share of residents who rate the university at all (73 percent to 91 percent) – reflecting near-universal awareness and a broader base of opinion holders.

Just as important, results hold across political and educational lines, including Republicans (63 percent favorable) and Democrats (74 percent favorable), and noncollege (60 percent favorable) and college (79 percent favorable) respondents.

The subscriber list has grown 1,146 percent since launch, with an average email open rate of 35.1 percent and very low attrition (163 total).