Off Campus Student Services

1. University of Connecticut Off Campus Student Services Shanté Brown Dallas Carter Lisa Coté Corrine Hawes

2. Strategic Plan • Academic Plan of The University of Connecticut • Diversify the student body • Internationalize Student Population • Strategic Plan • Quicker and easier communication • Accessible to students in their comfort zone • Help students become competent in living successfully off campus with little to no walk in physical experience/ training

3. Astin’s I-E-I Model • Input, Environment, Output • Each student is different and bring different life experiences to college with them • Therefore we need a variety of programs to meet each individual students’ needs

4. Astin’s Theory of Involvement • Students will learn more, the more they are involved in academics and social aspects in college • Student plays an important role in determining his or her own level of involvement within both aspects • The more quality resources available, the more likely students who get involved will grow and develop

5. : The Basics What is Facebook? • Facebook is a social networking tool where people can create user profiles, search for friends, engage in discussion through the message or chat feature, create/join common interest groups, post pictures, post free classified advertisements • Carlson (2011) stated that there are over 600 million monthly active users according to Goldman Sachs • Heiberger and Harper (2008) stated that Facebook holds an 85 percent market share of four year colleges and universities

6. :How to Use it • General Commuter Facebook Page • Post events for the Commuter Student Association • Housing • Use discussion feature to find roommates • Provide information about the surrounding areas • Restaurants, Gas Stations, Supermarkets, Entertainment, Retail Stores • Reviews about specific Landlords/Apartment Complexes • Link Facebook to other social media networks to create a central hub (Twitter, Youtube, Podcasts, etc.) • Links to campus resources and other departments

7. : The Basics • Tweet: a thought, website, question, witty remark, etc. of 140 characters or less posted by an accountholder • Timeline: the main page viewed by accountholder; consists of tweets of the people they follow • Follow: following someone results in their tweets appearing on your timeline • @Mention: the @ symbol is used to note that a tweet is directed at or mentions someone you follow • Retweet: to tweet someone else’s tweet for your followers to see

8. Tweeting up a storm • Things to tweet about: • Upcoming Commuter Student Association events • New off-campus housing options as they become available • Local events in towns in which off-campus students typically live • Where the office mascot is on campus • Events such as Commuter Appreciation Week and the Off-Campus Housing Fair • Ask commuter students to tweet @UCOffCampusStudentServices* when commuter lots are full and then Off Campus Student Services will retweet that information • Reply to questions tweeted by students about off-campus living, office services, and roommates *Not an actual Twitter Account

9. Blogs: The Basics & Uses • What is a blog? • A blog is a type of website that is typically arranged in chronological order from the most recent post to the oldest post. Blogs are usually updated regularly and often address a particular topic. With a blog you can share ideas, make friends, post pictures and videos and share your interests and life with people from all over the world. • How would a blog be used in off-campus student services? • Students could blog about their commuter experience • Blogs could be created to update commuters on upcoming events and past initiatives by the office

10. Uses of Podcasts • Develop a “Good Morning Commuters” podcast that includes the following content: • Traffic updates • Empty/full parking lots • Emergency notification • Schedule of campus events • Recap of university sports scores • University special guest • Tips on how to be a good : • Roommate • Neighbor • Renter

11. Podcasts: The Basics A podcast is a relatively new way for individuals to communicate a message or deliver content to a large number of people. Subscribers can listen to pre-recorded podcasts or live podcasts using their iPod, MP3 player, radio or computer. Unlike traditional radio, which is often filled with more commercials then music, the content of a podcast can be created by anyone with a computer and a mic and could address an array of content topics. Examples of podcast topics: • Education • Government • Health • Science • Economics • Sports • Technology

12. : The Basics & Uses • YouTube is a public video-sharing website where people can post self-made videos that encompass and address a wide variety of topics. • In the case of Off-Campus Student Services, YouTube videos could be created to address an assortment of issues as they pertain to commuter students, some which include: • “How to” videos • How to Cook • How to change the oil in your car/fix a flat tire • How to decorate your apartment without damaging walls or floors • How to address concerns with your roommate and/or landlord • Showcase the different types of housing options offered around campus. In this video it would be essential to introduce the different complexes and give them a tour of apartment types and amenities. • Create video that introduces students to the town in which they are becoming a member of. This video could include a welcome from the town mayor and a brief overview of town events. • Addressing student safety

13. :the basics • Skype allows for free video calling using a personal webcam • Can be used on a computer or a capable Smartphone • Being able to Skype office hours • Having a representative available to speak with students face-to-face • Conversations with incoming students looking to live off campus and advice on where to look for housing • Students are more likely to feel a connection and sense of belonging with visual interactions

14. Instant Messenger: The Basics • Instant Messaging is a written form of real-time communication • Can be between personal computers or Smartphones • Instant Messaging usage in Off Campus Student Services • Office representative available to chat with students with concerns • Student employees can respond to frequently asked questions • Increased productivity rather than fielding questions from high walk-in rates • Quicker and easier to respond to than phones • Can be linked directly from department website for easy student access

15. References Astin, A.W. (1984). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 297-308. Carlson, N. (2011). Goldman to clients: facebook has 600 millions users. MSNBC. Retrieved from Astin, A.W. (1984). Student Involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 297-308. Halic, O., Lee, D., Paulus, T., & Spence, M. (2010). To Blog or Not to Blog: Student Perceptions of Blog Effectiveness for Learning in a College-Level Course. Internet and Higher Education, 13(4), 206-213. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Heiberger, G., & Harper, R. (2008). Have you facebooked Astin lately? Using technology to increase student involvement. New Directions for Student Services, 124, 19‐35. Pascarella, E. T. & Terenzini, P. T. (1991). How college affects students. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Read, B. (2007). How to Podcast Campus Lectures. Chronicle of Higher Education, 53(21), A32-A35. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Schwartz, M. (2010). Social Media 101. Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 111(6), 30. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.