As centers of higher education are faced with an audience of 13- to 22-year-olds locked into the social media of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, universities across the country have added social media to their web sites. Fairfield University has joined that group.
“The success of Facebook and MySpace shows that users want a forum to socialize,?engage, and learn”“their way,” said Scott Barnett, director of web communications at Fairfield University.
The university has launched its own social networking site, Fairfield Live at fairfield.edu/fairfieldlive, to create an online community where visitors can find official, and member-contributed videos and photos, blogs, audio podcasts, and message boards. Barnett said the idea is to showcase Fairfield University, its activities, values, and people, through the first-hand experiences of students, staff, faculty and visitors.
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The site space allows for peer-to-peer and student-faculty interaction.?”Fairfield Live was built on a robust platform and channels the best of the social media experience into one space,” said Barnett. “With the privacy and toolset needed on the back end that does this very wisely.”? Barnett said most universities are spreading out their social media across several platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. He said the university was interested in a platform that brings together all the best functionality of those sites and provides a managed space.?Alex Blum, CEO of KickApps, the social and media platform headquartered in New York City that is supplying the technology support to the sites, said this is his company”™s first entry into the higher-education market.
“Social networks like Fairfield Live appeal to our inherent desire to express ourselves and connect with others who share similar interests,” said Blum.?Barnett said that there will be a synergy between Fairfield Live and other popular social media sites.
For example, Barnett said, “A Facebook-connect feature on Fairfield Live will push out their updates from the university site to their profiles on Facebook, as well.” ?Barnett said the new platform is a cooperative venture between the departments of web communications and undergraduate admissions. ?”While our goals for marketing the University have not changed, the way we can market to potential students has changed,” said Rama Sudhakar, vice president of marketing and communications at Fairfield University.
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“Students want to participate and engage others in their learning and developmental experiences, so we anticipate a lively exchange on the boards, in the blogs, and lots of video posts by both our online tour guides and participating members.” ?Sudhakar said in the upcoming year other key areas such as student affairs, recreation, athletics, alumni and academics are expected to become a vital part of the schools new online community.
