Entertainment

College now uses both Facebook, Twitter to connect

Emily Philipp
Feature/Entertainment Editor

“It’s always nice to have a presence on the web,” Michele Appelgate, director of Marketing, Public Relations and Governmental Affairs at NIACC, said.

Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, one of the most popular social networking websites, that everyone has heard of.

It’s intended to connect family, friends and business associates. It started out as a college networking website and has expanded to include everyone and anyone.

But what most don’t know is that NIACC is a member of Facebook as well along with the Ski and Snowboard club, INK: NIACC’s Literary Magazine and Alumni.

The main purpose of NIACC’s Facebook page is to try to connect with the students and staff.

“To update everyone on events coming up and to show all the good work NIACC is doing and has done,” Appelgate said regarding why they have a Facebook page. “It lets people in surrounding counties, parents, business leaders and local agencies in on what is going on at NIACC.”

NIACC’s information, status, friends, photos, notes, groups, and wall express and show what NIACC is about, making it more engaging and interactive.

And with Facebook’s unlimited amount of storage available, it is a major advantage for NIACC to update and show pictures or videos of events.

They can be uploaded from a phone, camera or hard drive just like that, which is one capability Applegate said she loves.

“A lot of colleges are using Facebook, and we really want to promote and to update more,” Applegate said. “In the next six months we hope to start having improvements. We want to use this social media to the best of our ability.”

NIACC is also a fan of Twitter, a social networking and microblogging service, that lets people tell what they are doing by sending short text messages to their followers or friends.

NIACC uses it to full advantage. Working together putting news out about what’s going on at NIACC, the college’s 73 followers of students, staff members, organizations, individuals, local agencies, businesses and politicians such as Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, are able to follow along.

“We love student feedback and any suggestions, helpful hints or questions you have we would be glad to hear,” Appelgate said. To contact with Appelgate call 641-423-1711 or 1-888-GO NIACC or email her at appelmic@niacc.edu.