A Change is Going to Come
Many Advisors are afraid to incorporate the use of social media into academic advising because they believe students are more comfortable communicating face to face. Research has shown that this is not the case, 75% of one thousand college bound students said they would rather exchanging instant messages than meet in person with an Advisor (Noel-Levitz, 2008). Students today rarely differentiate between the real world and online communication. They often discuss how they were talking to a friend, when they are actually referring to an online conversation. Net Geners expect universities to use the latest technology to reach out to them and help advise them but many universities are not up to the challenge. Over 97% of university students own a computer, 94% own a smart phone and 90% have high speed Internet access in their residence (Nackerud & Scaletta, 2008). This shifting landscape created by the technological revolution has incited new ways of thinking about the delivery of services typically found in a college's advising services portfolio (Multari, 2010).
Student Affairs professionals need to find better ways to connect with students. With the new Millennial or Net Generation student the old ways of doing things are not working. This is leading many to rethink how technology can be used to reach students. Instead of embracing technology to enhance educational and social outcomes, colleges have typically focused on and reacted to the inappropriate use of this technology, such as “chatting” with friends during class time (Junco, & Cole Avent, 2008). The power of social media is the ability of student affairs practitioners to engage and connect with students (Multari, 2010).
With the important role student services and academic advisors plays in students lives, the use of technology by students and the shifting missions of student recruitment and retention professionals, significant changes in the communication with students are needed. Social media is widely used by students, and the functions social networking sites provide can be used to better connect and communicate with the new face of the student population, the Net Generation.
Student Affairs professionals need to find better ways to connect with students. With the new Millennial or Net Generation student the old ways of doing things are not working. This is leading many to rethink how technology can be used to reach students. Instead of embracing technology to enhance educational and social outcomes, colleges have typically focused on and reacted to the inappropriate use of this technology, such as “chatting” with friends during class time (Junco, & Cole Avent, 2008). The power of social media is the ability of student affairs practitioners to engage and connect with students (Multari, 2010).
With the important role student services and academic advisors plays in students lives, the use of technology by students and the shifting missions of student recruitment and retention professionals, significant changes in the communication with students are needed. Social media is widely used by students, and the functions social networking sites provide can be used to better connect and communicate with the new face of the student population, the Net Generation.