Middle College’s Social Media Case Study

1. Middle College’s Social Media Case Study Presentation by: Erin Flaherty & Kristen Huffman The University of Toledo February 2012

2. Overview • Committee Objectives • Effective & Innovative Ways Social Media Can Be Used • The Need for MC to Enter Social Media • Preparing Our Students to Enter the Global Marketplace • Educating Students About Social Media • Home Base • Electronic Civility Pledge • Theory & Practice at Middle College

3. Middle College Social Media Committee Objectives • Creation of a “Home Base” for MC social media presence • Creation of online reputation management education objectives • Provide and promote educational resources to students on web interface • Design and implement training programs • Creative programming

4. EFFECTIVE & INNOVATIVE WAYS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE USED

5. The Need for MC to UTILIZE Social Media • Can be used as recruitment and retention tools • Pressure for students to “remain relevant” • Development of innovative programming • Professional opportunities for students • LinkedIn, online portfolios, etc. • Students are already using social media • Theory suggests students will benefit from university guidance and support

6. Preparing Our Students to Enter the Global Marketplace • Business is often conducted electronically • MC needs students to develop familiarity with electronic communication • FaceTime Benefits • Knowing how to conduct conferences and telecommunications via outlets such as Skype • Form and foster international relationships via social media outlets

7. EDUCATING MC STUDENTS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA

8. Home Base: A Physical Presence on Campus • Creation of the Office of Online Reputation Management (OORM) • Office Mission • To educate, inform, and support Middle College students as they prepare to be innovative and modern professionals well-versed in the most current technologies • Programming • The office will host a President’s Transition Day for student leaders, give presentations and counseling to student groups and individuals, and have open information sessions to educate students and the general community about online reputation management, “safe” social media, and positive online behavior. This office will also enforce infractions for violating the Electronic Civility Pledge. • Course Implementation • The Office of Online Reputation Management will offer a 1-credit course every semester on online reputation management.

9. Home Base: A Virtual Resource for Students and Student Organizations • The Office of Online Reputation Management (OORM) will support and update a website “Home Base” which will serve as a virtual resource for students. • The website will provide information on managing involvement in social media wisely, protecting oneself and one’s identity, and provide educational resources.

10. Program Implementation: President’s Transition Day • President’s Transition Day will occur every January, as newly elected student organization presidents’ assume their positions • Transition Day will focus on leadership, responsibility, conduct of student organizations, and liability • The Office of Online Reputation Management (OORM) will host a mandatory session educating organizational presidents on the possible dangers of social media • Presidents will receive the Electronic Civility Pledge for their review • Presidents will be able to schedule training sessions with OORM for their organization

11. Program Implementation: Student Organization Training • Student organization presidents will all receive training on social media usage at Transition Day. • An OORM representative will train a student organization at its regularly scheduled meeting by request. • Student organizations found to be in violation of the OORM’s Electronic Civility Pledge will be required to host an OORM training.

12. Middle College’s Electronic Civility Pledge We at Middle College (MC) want to live to our highest moral capabilities. For this reason MC has created an e-civility pledge that aims to foster the highest caliber electronic communication by our upstanding students, faculty, and staff. As a member or supporter of Middle College, I pledge to conduct myself in a way that is civil, honest, and respectful toward all people, especially with those whom I disagree. I value people of different cultures, with different ideas, and I value and cherish the democratic process. I believe in Middle College’s mission and seek to question any and all statements that sound mean, vindictive, or absurd; that provide no source or context; or that denies my fellow MC family a productive and safe environment. It is important to me to be a judicious and aware important contributor to society and a positive contributor to the Middle college community. For the duration of my MC experience, I hereby pledge to uphold the highest standards of truth and civility in word, thought, and deed.

13. Consequences for Violating Electronic Civility Pledge • Infractions will be enforced depending on severity of case. Possible repercussions for violating the pledge will include: • Mandatory OORM training • Registering for OORM 1-credit course • Community Service • Volunteering in OORM office • Coordinating a community outreach campaign • Judicial sanction • Removal from residence halls – if student is found to be creating a negative living environment for a peer

14. THEORY AND PRACTICE IN SUPPORT OF UNIVERSITY SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

15. Theory & Practice Three theories helped guide us in our work: • 1. Perry’s Theory of Intellectual and Ethical Development • This theory explains how to understand students dynamic development over time. Perry’s nine positions help higher education administrators make meaning by understanding learner characteristics and provide proper challenge and support for MC students.

16. Theory & Practice • 2. Developmental Ecology • Developmental Ecology focuses on individual students rather than their surrounding cultures. This theory helps higher education administrators understand our students, their experiences and their development better.

17. Theory & Practice • 3. Campus Ecology • Campus Ecology also plays a key role in MC’s social media initiatives because it is imperative for higher education administrators to understand the impact that MC’s campus has on students. We hope to provide and foster an online campus climate that is both high-tech and relevant while also safe and considerate of others.

18. Conclusion • We at MC realize the need to have an online presence and will strive to guide our students in making the best choices online. • To facilitate these goals we recommend the implementation of: • the Office of Online Reputation Management (OORM) • an online Home Base • preparing our students for the global marketplace by educating students about proper use of social media • social media used effectively and innovatively • an e-civility pledge for all MC students, faculty and staff • guiding our future initiatives with theory and practice