Remember when your faculty recoiled at the word “marketing” and made you feel cheap and dirty? You say some still do?

Refer them to the Education Marketing Council, a new organization devoted to “recognizing and promoting ethical marketing practices in postsecondary education.” That’s right, not only is higher education marketing now so well accepted that it has its own council, but the organization professes a devotion to best practices, ethical standards and the highest interest of the students being recruited.

Maybe that will make your provost think twice about trying to cut the marketing budget.

The EMC was created a few months ago as an “information-sharing partnership” of higher education institutions and companies that serve those institutions. Its goals certainly sound worthwhile:

“Our aim is to organize and galvanize the thought leadership in the education field by recognizing and promoting ethical marketing practices in postsecondary education as seen through the best interests of students and their institutions. We are dedicated to providing insightful and actionable resources that help our members market their institutions more effectively while adhering to an established code of ethical standards.”

The EMC website, still in its early stages, offers articles, upcoming events, industry news and, of course, a blog. While there are many compelling categories listed on the blog page, most are still awaiting their first post.

Here’s your chance to be a charter member of an organization that seems to have its heart in the right place.

Learn more about the Education Marketing Council.

Read more about our authors.  Ray Ulmer, public relations director at TargetX, has been involved in higher education marketing for more than 25 years, including serving as executive director of communications at La Salle University and director of public relations at Drexel University. He has also worked in corporate marketing and advertising.