Using Social Networks to Choose a School

While the most recent post discussed employers keeping tabs on potential and current employees using social media, it is also very common for schools to scope out prospective students, as well.  It should come as no surprise, then, that students are in on the game, too - researching their future schools using social media.  

Inside Higher Ed recently published an article entitled "Social Networks and College Choices," which looks at how high school students use social media to make their higher education choices.  Not surprisingly, from their survey of 7000 students, two-thirds of used social media to research their prospective school, with one-third saying that social media influenced their choices.  Based on this survey, Facebook is the clear front-runner in student use, with three-quarters of them checking it at least once a day, while fewer than half the students used the next-closest contender, Twitter.

The article observes that schools seem to try to cast a wide net by having social media profiles on a number of sites - not just Facebook and Twitter, but branching out to Pinterest, Instagram, and more. The average school uses about 3.7 social networks, while some use up to seven.

The article goes on to explore whether using all of these networks is an efficient use of resources - if most students are using Facebook, anyway.  Whether you're recruiting through Admissions or trying to get student to attend events in Student or Residence Life, is it worth our time to make sure we are on the "hottest" new social network, or is our time better spent sticking with the old standby - Facebook?

Legislation Regarding Password Protection

How would you feel if your employer demanded your login and password information for your social media accounts?

It's commonly known that employers often search potential employees and make judgements based on social media profiles.  Some employers even continue this monitoring once an employee is hired.  However, in recent months, there have been several stories in the news of employers asking potential employees for their usernames and passwords for social networking sites.  Even if the potential employee might have taken precautions to "lock down" his or her profile by marking certain content as private, these employers would be able to see it all, including private messages.

Both Maryland and the US Government have introduced bills to possibly limit these practices.  You can read about them here:

Password Protection Act of 2012
Maryland House Bill 964

What do you think?  What valid reasons might employers have for requesting the information?  What would you do if asked for this information from your (potential) employer?

Howard Community College's Social Media FPLC - Welcome!

My colleagues and I at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD, are fortunate to work in an academic setting that provides numerous opportunities for professional development.  One of the most valuable of these are our Faculty/Professional Learning Communities, or FPLCs.  Faculty and staff not only have the opportunity to participate in learning communities that cover a diversity of interests, but also to create and build communities around topics that they would like to explore.

This blog will follow the explorations of the Social Media FPLC, as we examine the role that various forms of social media play in the lives of our students, and how faculty and staff can use it to connect with our students.  As we share our findings and thoughts, we welcome discussion not just from our group or Howard Community College, but from faculty, staff, and students everywhere!