Popular social networking site brings CASNR to diverse audiences
In a world that's increasingly dependent upon social networking Web sites, the best way for colleges to connect students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni is through one of these sites. Texas Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Development Office and Student Services Center, in a combined effort, use a Facebook page as part of their everyday operations.
"Facebook has been a great way to post news stories, CASNR events, and student, faculty and staff recognition," said Lori Dudley, CASNR's Coordinator of Student Development. "It is a fantastic way to get information out immediately to the broadest possible audience."
Cooperating Departments. Response to the Facebook page has been positive, she said. The page currently has 1,200 fans who receive updates from the page the moment they are posted. Additionally, the department has already seen the benefits of maintaining a Facebook page.
"We're also able to use this tool to retain communications with our students once they become alumni," said Memory Bennett, CASNR's Coordinator of Alumni Relations.Not only does it connect CASNR alumni, current students, faculty and staff, but also it allows the college a way to showcase people and events while directing them back to the official CASNR website, Dudley said.
"Having a Facebook page also allows the cooperating departments to interact with people every day," she said. "Those who use the page will find candid pictures of people, programs and events, as well as fun trivia questions about CASNR."
Widely Used. Through the myriad of social networking sites on the internet in the past few years, Facebook has remained the most popular and widely used, so it was a natural choice for CASNR's page. The Facebook page has been so successful there are no current plans to expand into other social networking sites like Twitter or MySpace.
Instead, both CASNR's Development and Alumni Relations Office, as well as the Student Services Center, intend to fully utilize the power of Facebook by continuing to post news stories, publicize events, promote interaction among fans, and highlight successes.
By Bonnie May
CONTACT: Lori Dudley, Coordinator of Student Development, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or lori.dudley@ttu.edu
0709NM10 / Photo Illustration: N Martin
Davis College NewsCenter
-
Address
P.O. Box 42123, Lubbock, Texas 79409-2123, Dean's Office Location:Goddard Building, Room 108 -
Phone
(806)742-2808 -
Email
kris.allen@ttu.edu