Admissions officers and Pitt-Johnstown students are trying out new strategies and techniques to recruit potential students.

“The newer (techniques) the university has implemented to improve advertising (include): short graphic novels that are much like comic clips that are placed in the Tribune-Democrat each week,” Student Tours Guides and Assistant president Luke Trotz said.

Also Trotz said, admissions staff are tailoring information to prospective students based on their interests.

He said they also advertise over social media like Spotify and Pandora.

Trotz said he believes the new methods are having an effect on area high school students.

“Last semester, our November open house was the largest open house the university has ever seen, with an attendance of over 500 individuals (including 200 potential students),” he said.

Also, when students visit othe campus, 90 percent of those students enroll at the university after they visit, Trotz said.

Another technique being used is Pitt-Johnstown student volunteers calling admitted high school students.

“They tell them about the two admitted student programs we have in February and March,” said junior Kathleen Blough, a volunteer.

“(It’s) just a personal way to contact them and let them know what our campus has to offer,” she said.

“It was very effective. There were many people I contacted that really appreciated the phone call, including parents, ” Blough said.

The students called were ones who already had been accepted at or sent to Pitt-Johnstown from the Oakland campus, according to Admission officer Josh Kohler.

Kohler said the event took place over two days from noon to 8 p.m. Jan. 9 and 15. Most of the calling took place between 4 and 8 p.m. Kohler said.

The calling took place in the Cambria Room and approximately 20 Pitt-Johnstown students called admitted students.

The admitted students fair is to take place Feb 14 and March 21, according to Kohler.