Division of Student Affairs

Using one of the Graduate Assistant Professional Development scholarships sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs to partially offset the costs, Samuel Killermann, Graduate Assistant in Orientation and First Year Programs, recently attended the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) Conference. During the conference, Sam learned student affairs may not be using social media effectively. In sessions like “Going Green is so Glam” and “Engaging Students Online: Using Social Media in Orientation and Beyond”  Sam learned some of the misunderstandings of social media and how BGSU could better use social media to connect with our students. Several of the misconceptions Sam was exposed to include:

1. This first misconception is that for traditional-aged students, social media (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, and blogs) is the equivalent of email. Research shows students prefer email or email-like communication.
2. Another misconception is thinking of social media as a key tool for advertising our programs. While this is a more effective than an email, students do not use social media because they need more advertisements in their lives; social media is attractive because it creates opportunities for conversations and connections.  
3. Lastly, that social media is a young person’s game. The vast majority of social media users are over the age of 25. However, do not be discouraged from asking a current student for assistance in navigating social media efforts in your office or department.

Social media is not going anywhere and provides more potential than ever to connect with students. Many organizations have been able to access social media as a resource and have seen unbelievable returns. Utilizing social media effectively requires creativity, ingenuity, and, above all, determination. From what Sam learned at the NODA conference, he recommends staff learn the basics of a few of the major platforms and build upon that knowledge. If you try something and it doesn't work, tweak it and try again. Most importantly, he encourages everyone to stay current on trends and new developments in the social media industry and inform your colleagues of your failures and successes.

For more information about what Sam learned, contact him in the Office of the Dean of Students at 419-372-2843 or killers@bgsu.edu.

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