Cool Stuff Colleges Are Doing Online
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Auburn University
In the fall, Auburn University launched the Auburn Family Social network, a themed online community run by students in one of the University’s Public Relations Style and Design classes. The students contribute and manage the content, all part of their curriculum.
At Augustana, all campus visitor receive a free t-shirt. The College is challenging these students to a Good Fit T-Shirt Scholarship Competition where they show their “good fit” in four different categories – Best Group Shot, Best Action Shot, At Another College, and In a Famous Location. Students submit their photos, entries are posted on the site, and viewers vote for their favorites. When voting is completed, there will be one winner in each category, plus a people’s choice winner, of a one-time, $1,000 scholarship.
Schools like Boston University have found a new way to manage their on-campus tutoring program for students. They have adopted TutorTrac, an online tutoring system where students can sign in and find help in a variety of subjects. The software allows the school to connect all of their tutoring and learning facilities into one repository so it is easier for students to find the help they need. Students use their computers, smartphones, or tablets to enter the times they are available and view the list of tutors who fit their availability. It’s quicker, more convenient, and benefits both students and faculty.
Instead of simply describing all the awesome things that happen as a part of a Hartwick education, the Hartwick Experience site lets visitors see for themselves what students, faculty, and staff have been up to lately. Stories range from Kaitlin’s J term in Australia and Meghan’s semester in Washington D.C. to Ashleigh’s 120 hours at Fox Hospital and Carmen’s story of college as a freshman.
President Brian Rosenberg gives an insider’s look at campus and the student experience. The YouTube video has generated a lot of buzz from Macalester alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, friends, and even people with no relation to the College. In just one month, it was viewed more than 34,000 times by people around the world, mentioned on half a dozen blogs, and covered by a variety of media outlets.
Check out Nipissing University’s Road Trip Challenge, a Web site created in an effort to raise the University’s profile among high school students. This fun and engaging Web site allows students to go on a virtual road trip to the North Bay campus and invite their friends along for the ride.
Who needs a tour guide anymore? Red Deer College in Alberta, Canada took its students’ needs into consideration when launching its own iPhone/iPod app iRDC. The app uses maps to show students where they are on campus, where their classes are located, and lets users follow RDC on Twitter. Best of all, the app is free so anyone can use it!
The iTCU app offers you TCU right at your fingertips! Texas Christian University’s Career Service department released six new aspects of their app, which include interviewing, dining etiquette, upcoming events, videos, and career services at TCU. Best of all, the app is free for anyone to use.
University of Dayton has found a new way to connect with prospective students. “What Will You Take Away” is a virtual tour that allows students to learn about the school by viewing the real mementos that represent certain unforgettable parts of the University of Dayton experience. “It’s geared to appeal to a new generation of high school students who explore higher education opportunities online before ever setting foot on a campus,” said social media coordinator Kevin Schultz.
The University of Maryland’s IT department offers a service called TerpConnect. TerpConnect offers many benefits to students including 1GB of free storage space and access to their files from any computer in any lab on campus, as well as a service called Marketplace where students can post advertisements for their fellow students. Students can also sign up for a WordPress blog through the school and have their blog posted in the blog directory.
Western Michigan is wearing its brand on its sleeve these days. They have created a Web site solely for showcasing the many ways their brand is being communicated: Outdoor, Television, Print Ads, Radio, Recruitment Materials, Web, Signage and Identity.
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