Student Affairs Online Virtual Case Study Competition

The University of Mississippi

Building Community Through Technology

StudentAffairs.com Virtual Case Study Competition

The University of MississippiPresented by:

Chad McCracken, Katie Murphy,

Scott Oliver, and Jennifer Simmons

Executive SummaryThe Vice President of Student Affairs at Telnet College has made a sweeping assumption that the level of technology on campus has had detrimental affects on the student body and the nature of the community at Telnet. We would like to challenge that assumption and assert that the rapidly changing technology is in fact a very positive transformation.

Despite a few undesirable aspects, technology is not only a great and integral part of leading college campuses, it is essential for the learning and development of students, faculty, and staff alike.  In advocating a technologically savvy campus, we believe it is the responsibility of Telnet College to lead the charge by offering exceptional web-based student services. A proactive approach should begin with hiring full-time personnel to create and maintain the web pages for all student services departments including those services that may be affiliated with academic affairs. Our vision for Telnet College is that all student services that would be beneficial online would in fact, be available online. The benefits of implementing these services are far-reaching and include everyone on campus. We have compiled a list of three main benefits. It is by no means conclusive, but other benefits will most likely fall under the following categories: efficiency, retention, and access. Our solutions to these challenges entail reevaluating what community actually is and how the use of technology is not “new community;” but rather, “different community.” We propose to embrace technology as a positive addition only helping to enhance and strengthen “traditional” community.

Web-Based Student Services

For All Student Services Departments:

Getting Started:– Hire outside web-design company to create web-sites for

every department (outsource)– Hire a full-time employee to maintain all web pages– Include certain services that may be affiliated with Academic

affairs (i.e. admissions, career services, orientation, etc.)– Consult other outside resources and develop a vision for

Telnet College’s web-based student services http://www.wiche.edu/telecom/resources/publications/guide/guide.htm

For All Student Services Departments:

ORGANIZATION:– All departments should have the same format for

user-friendliness and easy recognition– Sample- Ball State University http://www.bsu.edu

/web/studentservices/

For All Student Services Departments:

Web pages should include:– Mission statement– Contact information (phone #s, physical and e-mail

addresses of appropriate personnel)– Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)– Calendar, schedule of events– Photo gallery– Credit/debit card capabilities (where appropriate)

Student Services Departments online

Financial Aid Bursar’s Office Library Career Services Admissions/Registrar Bookstore Orientation

Student Activities/ Campus Programming

Student Media Campus Police Greek Life Housing

Financial Aid online

All forms available electronically– FAFSA– Scholarship– Appeals– Summer school– Dependency overrides

• http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/financial_aid/online

Bursar’s Office online

Pay tuition Pay tickets, student fees Add money to meal card Receive refunds Apply for Direct Deposit (PDF Form or Online

Form) http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/bursar

Library online

Research for articles Connected to professional journal

clearinghouses (i.e. EBSCOhost) E-books Catalog Book Renewal http://www.asu.edu/lib/access/erpage/

Career Services online

Create/post resumes Search for jobs Personal assessments Interest inventories Scheduling appointments Employer-student communication Salary comparison Cost of living estimates http://career.olemiss.edu/

Admissions/Registrar online

Applications – Admission– Graduation

Transcript requests Directory information changes http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/admision/application/homepage.htm

Bookstore online

Order textbooks Order other course materials Request on-campus delivery or pick-up

servicewww.asbookstore.com/Templates/Level3.lasso?CatID=11

Orientation online

Registration and Information– http://www.olemiss.edu/orientation/

Virtual tours/ orientation for those unable to attend on-campus program– http://www.olemiss.edu/livecam/

Student Activities/Campus Programming

online

Surveys and evaluations– http://www.olemiss.edu/teacheval/

Program sponsorship request forms Leadership position applications Publicity (links to media coverage of events) Links to vendors

Student Media online

Newspaper: http://www.thedmonline.com/

– Editorial submissions– Surveys/polls– Classified submissions

Radio station: http://rebelradio.olemiss.edu/

Television channel: http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/newswatch/

Campus Police online

Parking tag applications Crime reports of public record

– http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/u_police/

Anonymous reports Presentation information/requests

– Rape prevention– D.U.I. Prevention– Crime prevention

Greek Life online

Rush applications– Recommendation forms– Transcript upload abilities

Links to chapter web pages– http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs

Links to national affiliates Social event registration

Student Housing and Residence Life online

Student Housing and Residence Life Information– http://www.unh.edu/residential-life/

Application for hall room– Room selection request– Roommate selection

Maintenance request– http://www.housing.olemiss.edu/kincannon/maintenance.html

Virtual tours Complaint form

Benefits of Web-based Services

Efficiency

Retention

Access

Efficiency

Eliminates time: – Standing in line– Having to run errands around campus– Of student service support staff spent on serving walk-ins

Eliminates countless paper waste Frees up students, faculty and staff to spend more

time on studies and social activities!!!!!

Retention

Retention up when students are connected to campus life

Students attracted to campuses with up-to-date technology

Students and parents more likely to be satisfied with high level of customer service

Access

Services are more available to all types of students– Traditional students– Part-time students– Non-traditional students– Distance-learning students– Students with disabilities

NEW COMMUNITY

What is Community??

Community is defined as any group living in the same area having interests, work, etc. in common.

Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1990.

How to Identify CommunityThe 6 I’s of Commun-i-i-i-i-i-i-ty:Communities HAVE:

Introduction – the practice of welcoming, orienting, teaching the norms, teaching the values and rules of the community

Interaction – the practice of providing opportunities to bond together by sharing common experiences

Involvement – the practice of people having a high degree of interaction characterized by support of one another with personal and academic problems

Influence – the practice vesting in members control over their physical and social environments

Investment – the practice of having a reflection of psychological ownership, the CARE element, understand needs of fellow community members

Identity – the practice of describing self in collective terms: we, us reflecting an emphasis of common purpose.

(Source: B.A.S.I.C.: A Journal for Building a Strong Involving Community, By: Claudia Kamhi, with contibutions by Kim Jones and G.F. Thompson)

What is Community Now??

COMMUNITY IS NOT NEW BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY. . .

IT IS ONLY DIFFERENT.

Virtual Community Includes

Students chatting with other students

Faculty chatting with and/or emailing students

Students accessing vital school-related info online

Parents accessing vital school-related info online

A college/university providing online services

Local businesses providing services to students

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

Closing the Digital Divide and Bridging the Gap

Costs associated with Challenges

“Digital Divide” ??

“the gap between those who can effectively use new information and communication tools, such as the Internet, and those who cannot”

(Source: http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/)

A “Digital Divide” Exists. . .

• Students• Students• Parents• Parents• Students

• Faculty / Staff• Students• Faculty / Staff• Students• Businesses

Between

Students v. Faculty/Staff

Some students may be more proficient in using various forms of technology and vice versa.

The solution to this challenge is for all parties involved to have a clear understanding of how communication will occur and encourage various forms of communication.

Students v. Students

Some students may be a victim of the digital divide.

The solution is to encourage more online, on-campus student chatting to help end this on-campus battle.

Parents v. Faculty/Staff

Some parents are not as “tech savvy” as university faculty/staff.

The solution is to educate parents and to help them become more aware and proficient of the various ways to communicate. Therefore, when necessary, they may use these different forms.

Students v. Businesses

Some students want access to off-campus services or products.

A solution here would be for businesses to offer unique services to students, such as computer rentals or special ways to purchase items online.

Bridging the Gap . . .

Solutions to the challenge:

Education Increase Awareness of Benefits Constantly offer better equipment and services Simplification Adaptability More Computer Lab Facilities Better Online and Printed Publishing

Costs Associated with the Challenge

Sizable initial monetary, minimal in long-run

Increase efficiency Costs could be off-set

in student fees Increase access to

services

Increase speed of information

Costs benefit University and Students

Increase University enrollment and number of people getting some form of higher education

ONLINE HARASSMENT

Types of Harassment Creation of policy

Abusive Communication

Online communication may result in…

the receipt of abusive or obscene messages.

AND/OR death threats or bodily injury

(Source: http://www.safetyed.org/help/stalking/cyberstalking.html)

Electronic Attacks

One may be repeatedly disconnected from their Internet service.

AND/OR

One may receive destructive electronic viruses to their computer.

(Source: http://www.safetyed.org/help/stalking/cyberstalking.html)

Online Defamation

One may find defaming words or images displayed on someone’s website, or posted to a discussion board, that they did not consent to and that compromises their integrity as a person.

(Source: http://www.safetyed.org/help/stalking/cyberstalking.html)

Preventing Online Harassment

Know online etiquette or “netiquette”. Do not get into online arguments. Choose a sensible online name. Ignore the harasser. Contact online safety personnel.

(Source: http://www.safetyed.org/help/stalking/cyberstalking.html)

Summary of Presentation

The ideas that are associated with community are only augmented by the use of technology in the University and College setting.

Telnet College should, in every way that it can, support the propagation of technology in its campus activities and services.

Don’t run from it, use it.