By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
GREAT BEND — At last week’s Barton Community College Board of Trustees study session,
Chief Communications Officer Maggie Harris gave board members an outline of the
college’s marketing plan. The presentation highlighted how Barton is targeting
potential students with advertising and how the college is promoting their
events and what they have to offer. Harris noted digital media is increasing as
a platform to advertise on with applications like Facebook, YouTube and even
TikTok.
Trustee Don Learned questioned the college’s use of TikTok, a social media, short-form
video hosting service owned by a Chinese company. TikTok has received criticism
over user privacy. The majority of the states have banned the application on
government-issued devices. Harris said Barton will continue to monitor
regulations regarding the usage of the app.
"All of our
competitors and peers are using it," said Harris. "We're just reaching
our students where they're at. That is our goal...to find where they are
and to reach them. I know there is a lot of controversy with it, and
we're keeping track of all of those conversations."
Learned was concerned from stories in the news regarding TikTok’s connections
to the Chinese government. While United States agencies continue to investigate the
security and use of TikTok, Barton Trustee Chairman Mike Johnson said the app is
still effective in marketing the college’s message to the younger population.
"I
think we all know of the stories that are in the news daily," said
Johnson. "Honestly, I think we're going to see it take care of itself in
the next year or two through regulation. Don, I agree with you. I think
it's an issue, but I think we can't hamper our recruitment process when
everyone else is still doing it."
Along with digital advertising, Barton diversifies its marketing through
traditional media such as print, television and radio. The communications
department also looks at advertising opportunities through sponsorships and
high school yearbooks and publications.