Colleges & Facebook (Part Six) - Rockhurst University

Part six of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

The response to this series of articles has been incredibly positive. Social media has certainly become a way of life for most people and utilizing it properly can absolutely enhance the college search for prospective students and their parents. Most colleges and universities have embraced the opportunity to communicate with prospective students, current students, alumni, sports fans, and donors via this revolutionary platform.

For students with an interest in a particular campus, following that school's various Facebook pages can provide a vivid look at "a day in the life" of that institution and allow a prospective student to engage in the community even before visiting, applying, being admitted, enrolling, or moving to that college or university. 

While the Rockhurst University approach to social media is much less cohesive than most of the other local schools profiled so far, the resources and Facebook pages are available; it just takes some searching to find them. Several pages are noted on the main Rockhurst University page on Facebook, but nowhere near all. Entering "Rockhurst" in the Facebook search box will help reveal additional pages.

Here is a list (with links) of some of the pages that make up Rockhurst University's presence on Facebook:

Rockhurst University

Rockhurst University Financial Aid Office

Rockhurst Housing

Rockhurst University Bookstore

Rockhurst University Gervais Learning Center

Rockhurst University Greenlease Library

Center for Service Learning

Rockhurst University's Helzburg School of Management

Rockhurst Hawk

Rockhurst University - Class of 2015

Alpha Sigma Alpha; Zeta Eta Chapter at Rockhurst University

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Missouri Delta (MoDelta) - Rockhurst University

Rockhurst Sentinel

There does not appear to be a Facebook page for the Rockhurst University Office of Admission, however, prospective students do have the opportunity to "friend" their designated admission representative. Here are a few examples:

Lane at Rockhurst

Mitch at Rockhurst

Nate at Rockhurst

Stefanie at Rockhurst

Mallory at Rockhurst

Annie at Rockhurst

You can also follow Rockhurst University on Twitter.

And Rockhurst University is on You Tube!

Colleges & Facebook (Part Five) - Park University

Part five of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

Park University, with its home base in Parkville, part of Kansas City's Northland community, is a unique institution in that it has a main campus hosting traditional students, but also has multiple satellite campuses not only in other parts of the Kansas City metro, but on military bases across the country, as well as an extensive online course and degree offering. In addition, Park Universityis known for its international population, with students attending the University from countries all over the world. 

With all of these campus components to juggle, it is no wonder that Park University is heavily invested in communicating with its constituents via social media, both Facebook and Twitter.

In fact, although Park University was already on the list of campuses to highlight as part of this series, two tuned-in campus administrators had learned, via Twitter, of these articles about how local colleges are utilizing social media and made contact to inquire if their campus initiatives would be included. Absolutely! 

Following a college or university on Twitter or "liking" pages of interest on their Facebook accounts provides immeasurable access to the campus and its day to day interactions with everyone who comes into contact with that particular institution. The information made available through social media far outshadows the prepared and much edited web content or viewbook material that prospective students only had opportunity to see previously. Be part of the social media revolution and take advantage of its ability to enhance the college search and selection process. 

Here is a sampling (with links) of Park University utilizing both Facebook AND Twitter to reach out to the vast population of prospective students (locally and abroad), current students, alumni, athletics fans, and donors:

FACEBOOK

Park University

Park University Admissions

Park University Athletics

Park University Alumni Association

Park University Alumni Connections

Park University Bookstore

Park University International Student Services (ISS)

Park University Hauptmann School for Public Affairs

Park University International Education & Study Abroad

KGSP 90.5 FM Pirate Radio

Park University School for Education

Pirate Grounds

Park Warrior Center / Success for Veterans Program

Park University at Whiteman AFB

Park University at Fort Leonard Wood

Additional Park University pages on Facebook include those for many other military bases across the country at which Park offers degree programs, as well as individual sports teams and, of course, student clubs and organizations.

TWITTER

Park University

Park University President Droge

Park University Professor Steven Youngblood (currently working on a peace and journalism project in Uganda)

Park University Alumni

Several Park University students, specifically from the Communications Arts Department, are also active on Twitter.

And...Park University and Park Athletics are on You Tube!

A special thank you to Erik Bergrud, Senior Director for Community and Government Relations in the Office of University Advancement and to Steve Wilson, Park University Sports Information Director, for reaching out about inclusion in this series.

Colleges & Facebook (Part Four) - Northwest Missouri State University

Part four of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

Just like the three local institutions already profiled in this series, Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville also has an extensive list of campus related Facebook pages to support its endeavor to effectively engage prospective students, current students, alumni, athletics fans, and donors. 

In addition to the standard pages available at many colleges and universities, Northwest Missouri State University has also introduced fan pages for high impact campus personnel, including one for President Jasinski and another for Bobby Bearcat.

Again, taking advantage of the social media revolution is not only advantageous for the colleges and universities, but serves as an excellent venue for prospective students and their parents to access day to day information about schools in which they have an interest. Glossy viewbooks and carefully orchestrated websites are one thing, but to see everyday life, as well as posts from students and alumni, really says a lot about the school.

Here is a small sampling (with links) of the Facebook pages Northwest Missouri State University has created:

Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State University Admissions

Northwest Missouri State Alumni

Northwest Bearcat Athletics

Bobby Bearcat

President Jazz (Dr. John Jasinski, University President)

Northwest Missouri State University Library

Northwest Missouri State University Student Support Services

Northwest Missouri State University Residential Life

Northwest Missouri State University Office of Student Activities

Student Activities Council

Northwest Student Senate

Northwest Missouri State University Greek Life

X-106 KZLX-FM

Additional Facebook pages that have been created by Northwest Missouri State University include those for Individual residence halls, specific sports teams, campus clubs and organizations, and the satellite campus centers.

The social media administrators also host "Feedback Fridays" on the main Northwest Missouri State University Facebook page, seeking input on what information constituents want to see included. T-shirts are the prize for solid suggestions for improvement. This is another way to not only engage the Facebook users, but to also continually improve service to the student and alumni base.

You can also follow Northwest Missouri State University on Twitter.