Western Illinois UniversityNicole Bisang, Kelly Carew, Jeremy Homolka, Molly McKeogh

Media Conscious Middle College Committee on Social Media proposal to the President

Benefits of Social Media• Social media connects persons from every part of

the world including underclassmen in today’s universities. It is an interest tool; when used effectively, college students can become leaders in their industries before finishing college. You can benefit by using social media to develop a digital portfolio, design your own influence, and reach decision-makers who are leaders in their industries (Webb, 2012).

Drawbacks of Social Media• We acknowledge that Social Media can:

– Fragment our attention– Subvert higher-order reasoning processes– May be related to higher impulsivity, less

patience, less tenacity, and weaker critical thinking skills

– Helps the brain skim and scan– Be used to harass others

Middle College Mission• Middle College, a private residential

college fostering academic and personal success, community, social responsibility, personal integrity and ability to thrive in a global setting cultivates creativity and innovation and prepares its graduates for the business and professional world.

Mission Based Campaign

Mission• Business Preparation

Campaign• Educate on appropriate use of

social media to best impact future

• Build Community

• Academic Success

• Innovative in a Global World

• Advertise and promote community events, bonding opportunities and student involvement

• Engagement in the classroom

• Teach students cutting edge technology

• Personal Integrity • Promote student growth in establishing identity, developing integrity and managing emotions

Campaign Overview• University Affiliated Social Media Account

Approval• New Electronic Civility Policy • Website “home base”

– Electronic Civility Policy– Resources of the benefits of social media– Guidelines for personal social media use– Guidelines for social media use on behalf of Middle College

• “Media Conscious” Marketing Campaign– Logo– Stall Talk– Advertisement of New Electronic Civility Policy

• Professional Development Programs for Social Media– Target Audience: Student Affairs Professionals– Target Audience: Faculty– Target Audience: Students

University Affiliated Social Media Account Approvaland Electronic Civility Policy

University-Affiliated Social Media Accounts ApprovalAny Univeristy owned or affiliated social media accounts,

including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, Tumblr, etc., being used by individuals and groups, including but not limited to student organizations, faculty, and staff must be approved by the Middle College Committee on Social Media before being used.

Electronic Civility PolicyThe improper use of social media by any University owned or

affiliated individual or group, including but not limited to student organizations, faculty, and staff is strictly prohibited.  Misuse includes but it not limited to slander, offensive langue, derogatory terms and other actions deemed inappropriate by Middle College.

Marketing Campaign

Professional Development Programs

• Target Audience: Student Affairs Professionals– Training session about new policy and campaign– Training session about how they can use technology in

practice– Examples:

• Living on campus: http://www.facebook.com/villagecomplex

• Admissions: http://www.facebook.com/universityofnortherniowa

Professional Development Programs

• Target Audience: Faculty– Training session about new policy and campaign– Training session about how they can use technology in the

classroom

Some studies have shown that utilizing these sites in college courses can actually enhance student performance (Hagerty,

2012A 2011 Pearsons Learning Solutions Study found that nearly two-thirds of university professors in the U.S. are using social media in their classes, with showing YouTube videos the most popular way

of bringing these sites into their lessons (Hagerty, 2012,

Professional Development Programs

• Target Audience: Students– “Town hall” meeting to discuss new policy and campaign– Educational programming to discuss risks and benefits of

using technology • “True Life: I’m Online”

Campaign Review• University Affiliated Social Media Account

Approval• New Electronic Civility Policy • Website “home base”

– Electronic Civility Policy– Resources of the benefits of social media– Guidelines for personal social media use– Guidelines for social media use on behalf of Middle College

• “Media Conscious” Marketing Campaign– Logo– Stall Talk– Advertisement of New Electronic Civility Policy

• Professional Development Programs for Social Media– Target Audience: Student Affairs Professionals– Target Audience: Faculty– Target Audience: Students

References• Bisnar. (2012). Your facebook profile- just you and 845 million of your closest friends.• Collary, M. (2011). Benefits and drawbacks of social media in education. • Coomes, M.D., DeBard, R. (2004). Serving the millennial generation (pp. 34-38). San

Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. • Hagerty. (2012). Is it time to friend your professor. • The next generation. (2011). Retrieved February 20, 2012, from

http://www.thenextgreatgeneration.com/2011/12/innovative-social-media-use-at-colleges-keeping-it-casual-with-tumblr/

• Social media handbook. (2012). Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://web.vanderbilt.edu/resources/social-media-handbook/best-practices-social-media/

• Webb, C. (2012). Social media explorer.•  •