Purpose
This policy covers the installation, maintenance, and presentation of content on digital (electronic) signage across the Penn State Behrend campus. The intent is to ensure the efficient application of digital signage technology and the consistent, professional presentation of information on video monitors across the campus.
Background
The University has entered into a license agreement with Poppulo to provide comprehensive, low-cost digital signage software to Penn State. The license was acquired to promote collaboration and standardization of signage across the University.
Procedure
Any new digital signage installed on the Behrend campus must utilize Poppulo software and any hardware specified by the offices of Strategic Communications and Information Technology Services.
Units that wish to implement digital signage will submit a request to the Digital Signage Committee (c/o Office of Strategic Communications), detailing the intended location of the signage, the size of the monitor, and the unit’s plan for providing and maintaining content on the given system. The committee—comprising representatives of Information Technology Services, Strategic Communications, and the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement—will review the request based on several key criteria, including volume of traffic in the proposed location, proximity of other existing systems, and the unit’s plan for managing content.
Each unit will be responsible for all hardware and software costs associated with its signage. Although content for any given sign may be developed by faculty members, staff, and/or students, each unit must identify a staff member who will be trained in the Poppulo system as a content manager and thus will have primary responsibility for reviewing and posting all content to the sign. The content manager will be required to use a set of previously developed background templates and follow an established set of editorial and visual standards.
All graphics and video developed for digital signage should adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and AD25 Video Productions.
Any original content that includes the Penn State Behrend mark or related logos must be reviewed by Strategic Communications before that content is added to a digital sign.
Digital signs must be muted at all times, unless the inclusion of audio content has been approved by the Digital Signage Committee.
Any video footage that includes an audio component must be captioned, even if the monitor is operating with sound.
Units will also be required to incorporate the capability for PSUAlert emergency text messaging into their signage and, in the spirit of collaborative communications, will be asked to allocate some portion of their signage’s “on-air time” to collegewide news and information.
Exceptions may exist for Knowledge Park through permission of the Assistant Dean for Innovation and Corporate Strategy.
Revised April 2, 2025
June 03, 2015