Blogging with Prospective Students to Connect

and E-mail is so Old School

Topics

• Rationale for Research– Utilization of the Internet by Prospective Students– College Selection Criteria– Purposes of Study

• Use of Blogging Technology in the Website Design• Communication Themes• Why Blogging Technology?

Rationale for Research

• As colleges and universities choose to employ the Internet to communicate with the prospective student during their search for information, it is important that the information provided be of assistance to the prospective student.

– Electronic media is used by a majority of prospective students in making contact or researching a college or university of interest (Hawkins & Clinedinst, 2006)

Utilization of the Internet– Utilization by prospective students

• Today’s students are “informed candidates for admission” (Mentz & Whiteside, 2003).

• Christiansen et al. (2003) found that the content provided on the website was considered by prospective students to be the most essential element in determining website effectiveness.

College Selection Factors1. Academic major availability

2. Academic program quality

3. Admissions office contacts

4. Athletic program availability

5. Campus activities

6. Campus appearance

7. Campus facilities

8. Campus location

9. Campus safety

10. Career preparation

11. College publications

12. College/university reputation

13. Computer resources/facilities

14. Course offerings (variability)

College Selection Factors15. Faculty (contact,

qualifications, diversity)

16. Financial aid available

17. Graduate school preparation

18. Honors programs available

19. Housing

20. Intramural sports

21. Laboratory resources and facilities

22. Library resources

23. Recommendations from parents, friends, teachers, counselors

24. Religious consideration

25. Student body size and class size

26. Student body diversity

27. Student support services

28. Tuition and related educational expenses

Purpose of the Study

– Determine whether the web content provided by colleges and universities is reflective of the information needed by prospective students in making their college decision

– Identify the current practices being employed by colleges and universities in presenting information of interest to the prospective student

Utilization of Blogging Technology

• Definition of a Blog– A weblog or online diary/journal contributed

by the college or university’s current students.• 34 of 400 (8.5%) of colleges and universities

made current student blogs available on the website.

Current Student Blog Topics

1. Advice for incoming freshmen

2. Advice for prospective students

3. Application process

4. Athletics

5. Balancing school with family and friends

6. Budgeting for college expenses

7. Campus events (art/photography exhibits and concerts)

8. Campus newspaper

9. Classroom experiences

10. Class assignments (presentations, research activities, and exams)

Current Student Blog Topics

11. Clubs and organizations

12. Community service

13. Dining services

14. Dormitory living

15. Facebook (online social networking website)

16. Facilities (navigating buildings)

17. Family interactions

18. Field trips

19. Friend interactions

20. Going home for the weekend

Current Student Blog Topics

21. Preparing for graduate school

22. Graduation (commencement exercises)

23. Health services

24. Holiday breaks

25. Homecoming events

26. Introductory information

27. Internships

28. Liberal education program

29. Local area attractions

30. Moving to campus

Current Student Blog Topics

31. Pets

32. Preparing for college graduation

33. Program of study (academic majors)

34. Reasons for choosing college

35. Recreational activities (non-college sponsored)

36. Recreational activities (college sponsored)

37. Registration (selecting classes)

38. Returning to campus after a break

39. Roommates

40. Spring break

Current Student Blog Topics41. Stress from exams and presentations

42. Semester-beginning activities

43. Semester-ending activities

44. Serving as a Student Ambassador

45. Shopping for the beginning of school

46. Student employment

47. Search for employment

48. Student involvement (importance of being involved on campus)

49. Student workload

50. Study abroad programs

Current Student Blog Topics51. Studying experiences/tips

52. Summer experiences

53. Summer employment

54. Traditions (of the college/university)

55. Visits from family and friends

56. Weather (local area)

ACADEMIC LIFE andCAMPUS LIFE

Communication Themes

Why Blogging Technology?• Provides an opportunity to communicate the

benefits of the service• Communicates information in a format

students are familiar with• Builds a readership community• Adds a “face” to the institution• Begins a dialogue with the prospective

student

Questions?