Pittsburg State University blog

This blog was written by Chris Kelly, associate vice president for university marketing and communication.

My wife and I saved up to get my dad an iPad for Father’s Day. He has always been a bit of a techno-nut, which is probably why we had the first VCR in the neighborhood. It was a beautiful Betamax machine that came with, I kid you not, a remote control that you had to plug into the front of the VCR. (This may where I get my “wait and see” attitude toward new technology!)

The iPad has proven to be a great tool for my father, but surprisingly it’s also become a new mode of communication. I never thought my dad and I would be messaging and video-calling each other so often. It’s really been enjoyable.

Another surprise is how much he’s using social media to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at Pitt State. He lives more than an hour away from Pittsburg so it’s sometimes difficult to find news about the Gorillas in his local paper.

Thanks to social media he’s been able to see the installation of the new turf, follow the renovations to the Weede, watch some incredible videos about our students and faculty, and interact with fellow Gorillas. Pretty important stuff for an alumnus.

Pittsburg State has a robust social media presence. In fact, among the six public universities in Kansas, we have the third most popular Facebook page, the third most subscribed-to YouTube channel and the fourth most popular Twitter site. (Popularity is based on likes, subscribers and followers)

Our social media sites have become an important destination for students, parents, alumni and friends of the university. We want them to know what what’s happening at their university and provide them with a great place to converse with fellow Gorillas.

These sites have also become an important recruitment tool for the university. Potential students and their parents can view photos, watch videos and interact with Gorillas throughout the world.  What better way to discover if Pitt State is the right place for you, then to ask those who have been here?

It’s pretty clear that we have come a long way since the days of the Betamax. I hope you’ll join your fellow Gorillas online and be a part of the conversation … no cords required!