Harding Admissions introduced a YouTube channel this fall, managed by junior Bob Plunket and senior Julea Bartch, to supplement in-person campus tours and fulfill their roles as student ambassadors, rebranding themselves as “digital ambassadors.”
For several years, students on campus have had the opportunity to lead tour groups of potential students as student ambassadors. The goal of these tours was to offer a more personal student perspective. However, due to the presence of COVID-19 and the changes made to Bison Days and other college visit opportunities, the admissions office has had to adjust this process. This new digital platform allows students from all over the world to encounter different aspects of Harding from their homes. The channel’s objective is to avoid creating any type of curated image and instead be as genuine as possible.
“We mostly make videos showcasing things on campus but in a fun way that makes it unlike other universities and just overall more engaging to watch,” Plunket said.
Bartch and Plunket both film and edit together and then report to Kayla Ward, University admissions marketing and event coordinator. So far, Bartch and Plunket have uploaded four videos, including an introduction and tours of campus, each mimicking various TV shows and movies to engage viewers. With future students in mind, Bartch and Plunket have topics like coffee, fashion, music tastes and social club crash courses in mind for future videos.
“Other than the obvious, we don’t have many restrictions,” Bartch said. “Bob and I appreciate the freedom we get with the channel because it allows us to cater its content towards the audience while maintaining Harding’s authentic perspective.”
Senior Morgan Proffitt, Student Association president, said she believes that social media holds a place at Harding when it comes to reaching out and connecting with the world.
“The University [continuing] to grow and [teach] our students how to best interact and go into the world by creating social media platforms run by Harding students is a beneficial way to prepare students to enter the world,” Proffitt said.
To view the admission team’s channel or to watch the videos, search Harding University Admissions on YouTube.
