Implementing the Facebook into Advising

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Online Communities as an Advising Tool
2007 NACADA Annual Conference Baltimore, Maryland

• Implementing the Facebook into Advising

Derek T. Furukawa University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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Agenda
Overview of Online Communities
Brief Review of Literature
Case Study Findings
Questions
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Overview of Online Communities

• What They Are
• Online Communities or Online Social Networks
• Websites that allow users to post individual
  profiles that can be linked with other users
• How They Work
• Users can create their own profile including
  pictures, demographic information, educational
  history, interests, and more
• Users can request to become a friend with
  another user
• Users can send private messages, leave comments,
  and post photos
• Groups can be created for users who share similar
  interests

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Overview of Online Communities

• The Communities
• Xanga.com (1998)
• Friendster.com (2002)
• Myspace.com (2003)
• Facebook.com (2004)
• Important Details
• Myspace.com was sold to Rupert Murdochs News
  Corporation for 580 million in 2005
• Facebook.com recently turned down an offer from
  Google to purchase the site for 2.3 billion

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Online Communities in Higher Ed

• about 85 of students in (previously) supported
  colleges have a profile (on facebook.com). (Of
  those who are signed up), 60 log in daily.
  About 85 log in at least once a week, and 93
  log in at least once a month.
• TechCrunch.com
• Facebook was named as the second most in think
  among undergraduates, tied with beer and losing
  only to the iPod.
• Student Monitor, 2006

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Online Communities in Higher Ed

• The BAD News -(
• NBCs To Catch a Predator
• Xanga violates COPPA (2006)
• www.badjocks.com
• Student disciplinary action

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Online Communities in Higher Ed

• The GOOD News -D
• Campus Events
• Increasing Faculty Staff Profiles
• Online Privacy and Safety Education
• Admissions and Recruitment
• Groups and Networks

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Technology in Advising

• Telephone
• Answering machines
• Voicemail
• Computers
• Student Records
• Internet
• Web-based information
• E-mail advising
• Online Chats
• Instant Messaging
• Online Communities

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Case Study
Wilson Advising Center, College of Liberal Arts,
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Proposal
Approvals
Implementation
Proposal
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Background of Wilson Advising Center

• Started in 1997
• First Academic Advising Center at UNLV
• Initially funded by the Earl E. Wilson Trust
• Supports all the academic units within the
  College of Liberal Arts
• Staff of 6 Professional Advisors, a Graduate
  Assistant Advisor, two support staff, and four
  student workers

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Technology in the Wilson Advising Center

• Student Information System
• FileMaker student database
• WAC Website
• E-mail Advising
• Facebook group page

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Proposal

• Pitched the idea in January 2007 during a WAC
  Advisors Meeting
• Presented the proposal with supporting numbers
  for use
• Received permission to pursue creating a Facebook
  group almost immediately

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Proposal

• Bring a service to a venue that students are
  already at
• Be on the cutting edge of using advising
  technology
• Usage (as of 1/30)
• 18,471 affiliated with UNLV on Myspace
• 5,809 affiliated with UNLV on Facebook
• 1,284 affiliated with Liberal Arts at UNLV

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Approvals

• Wilson Advising Center
• Approval was granted almost immediately following
  the Advisors meeting
• College of Liberal Arts Deans Office
• Approval was granted within two weeks from the
  proposal

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Implementation

• Policy Implications
• FERPA
• Authority of Advice
• Legal/Student Conduct Implications
• Policy Review
• Student Privacy
• Appropriate Content
• Responsibilities of Site Administrators

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Implementation

• Student Services Implications
• Utilizing resources already in existence
• Recognition of public domain information
• Design of the group page
• Simple design
• ADA-friendly
• Privacy Settings
• Network-specific

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Implementation

• Site Promotion
• Notation on E-mails
• Notification to students who would want to use it
• Flyers in the Wilson Advising Center
• Review and Student Response
• Feedback from students
• Future of the Site
• Continued use
• Increase number of users
• Use as a way to keep in touch with recent alumni

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Implementation
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Special Thanks

• A thank you to the following people for making
  this presentation possible
• Ryan Lathrum, UNLV
• Valarie Morgan, UNLV

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Questions
For more information, contact derek.furukawa_at_unlv.
edu