This is the PowerPoint from a presentation given at the joint conference of the American College Personnel Association and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. The presentation was given by Elizabeth Barnett and Molly Kinne, both employees of Ohio University at the time of the presentation.
2. Introduction to Online
Communities
Sixdegrees.com
Six Degrees was developed in 1997
1st Online community
Friendster
Created in 2002
Open to anyone
Post photos and review music, movies etc
My Space
Created in 2003
Open to anyone
Allows people to have blogs/live journals
3. Facebook
About Facebook
Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg
Open to only those with a .edu email
Users connect to users at their school and other universities
Profile can include photos, interests and personal information
7th most visited site on the internet
Why we chose to focus on Facebook
Experiences, both positive and negative
Conversations and discussions with colleagues regarding the
topic
4. Goals of Our Presentation
Give of an overview of Online Communities
Share our research
Specifics examples at Ohio University
An opportunity to share and discuss
5. Our Research
Qualitative Research
Mixed Method Study
Interviews
Key administrators and personnel at Ohio University
Surveys
Ohio College Personnel Association
Our network of colleagues
Set a total of 79 surveys, 21 surveys returned
Media Content Analysis
Literature Review
6. Demographics
Institution Size:
Type of Departments: 4 large
6 residence life/housing
5 mid sized
8 small
6 student activities
8 private
2 greek life
3 public
1 student center mgmt
3 judiciaries Type of Campus:
1 campus safety 10 residential
3 orientation/first year 6 commuter
1 multicultural
15 between 13-23
4 students are 23 and
older
7. Emerging Themes
All respondents have used facebook or
heard about it from students, colleagues,
staff or articles.
Tool as communication
Administrators, fellow student
Develop small communities with in a larger
area
Advertise for events and parties
A partial or full reflection on campus culture
Drinking, Party Culture, Policy Violations
8. “It amazes me when
we are trying to find a
student….
and one of our student
workers replies…….
check facebook…their cell phone is on
there…”
9. Communication
Positive Trends
Students use it to find each other and connect
Students can interact online but never meet
Use to find out personal interests, relationship status
etc
Students look people up from classes, parties, potential
roommates etc
Negative Trends
All personal info is listed: rooms #’s etc
Communication is exaggerated, misinterpreted
Stalking / Harassment / Identity Theft
10. “[Facebook] is only from the
perspectives of the students
who are using it…and…only
the racy/interesting/etc. is
going to get posted. ”
“…some of the uglier aspects of…facebook
provide a truer look into the realities of our
student body. ”
11. Community Development
Proactive Communities Negative Communities
Student organizations Hate groups about
use it to create an members/persons
identity Groups that don’t
Halls/Complex/Floor reflect the true culture
section groups Students don’t leave
Intramural and Team their room: no
Groups
community
Academic Classes:
professor requested it
Time on facebook and
not attending functions
12. “The PULSE feature
of Facebook….
tells you [the top 10]
current interests at a
school and how they
change day-to-day.
That really is a marketer’s dream come true.”
14. “Students tend to use
facebook as a means of
displaying their recent binge
drinking photographs and
various other indiscretions.
This becomes difficult,
because seeing your
‘outstanding campus leader’
playing beer pong, underage, in the residence halls does
.”
not necessarily instill hope
15. Partial/Full Reflection of Culture
Alcohol Consumption
Profiles/Groups all about binge drinking
More groups on alcohol than other things
Policy Violations
Underage consumption photos
What is our role when we see this?
Exaggeration of the true culture
Profiles detailing binge episodes--not really what goes
on
16. “Use it, don’t react
irrationally, understand the
target market that is using it,
help educate students as to
the potential ramifications of
usage, and understand
implications for the college
[or university]”
17. Summary of Research
Student affairs professionals agree their
needs to be a response
Policy Development: Residence Life, Housing,
Judicial Affairs, Legal Affairs
Educational Approach
Following up with students about what is in their
profile
Helping them understand public vs. private
18. Utilization of Facebook at OU
Positive Strategies
Residence Life
Complex Communities
Floor Sections
Hall Councils
Student Activities
Network of student leaders
Advertising Events
Student Organizations
23. Examples of Facebook Groups
OU Students for Chipotle
OU Students for Apple Computers
Athens Non Drinkers
Family Guy
OU students for Calvin and Hobbes
Various Res. Life Staff Groups
OU for Chili at Taco Bell
24. Down side of Facebook…
Groups that reflect use of alcohol
Natty Light Drinkers of America
Blacked out on Court Street
Groups that reflect how many times they’ve been
written up
Used as a tool to stalk someone
Affected the way Greek Recruitment occurred
Used as a tool to emotionally harm others
Creation of groups that are hateful
25. Recommendations
Utilize Privacy Policy of Facebook.com
Creation of policies to include “cyber-space”
Judicial polices that reflect technology such as
Facebook.com
Educate Professional and Student Staff
Use it as a tool to educate, not look for
violations
Programming, Individual Interventions
Professional Staff Ethical Use
27. For more information:
Molly Kinne
Kinne@ohiou.edu
Elizabeth Barnett
Barnette@ohiou.edu
Ohio University
Department of Residence Life
740.593.4095
Thank You for coming!!!
Notas do Editor
Liz
Molly
Molly
Liz Popular media/press/no scholarly Recent articles from new york times
Liz
Molly
Liz - start slide - positive
You can advertise for whatever you want, Molly
Not all schools have said this--it is just several respondents said that.