BUILD BETTER ADVISING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH BLOGGING

NACADA National Conference – October 5, 2010

Becca Schulze – University of Oregon Katie McFaddin – Brandeis University

Reporting back from the field…

Office of Academic Advising (OAA)

Staff 7 Advisors, 3 Administrators, 2 Graduate Teaching Fellows, 4 Support Staff, 8 Student Workers

Advisee Population Undeclared students Pre-health National Student Exchange Pre-law & Pre-MSW

Annual Visits: ≈ 12,000

Office of Academic Advising (OAA)

Fall 2009 visits (as of week 6): 2,116

Inspiration for creating the blog

“What does it mean to be disqualified?”!

“Does anyone e

ver

get reinstated

?”

“I have no idea why I haven’t been passing classes.”!

“I studied like this in high school and earned B’s.”

Inspiration for creating the blog

“What does it mean to be disqualified?”!

“I have no idea why I haven’t been passing classes.”!

“I studied like this in high school and earned B’s.”

“Does anyone e

ver

get reinstated

?” I know that asking for help and advice is not the easiest thing to do, but surfing the

internet IS! -Becca

Why we chose a BLOG

- Limited access - Can’t add pages - Can’t manipulate page templates - Not interactive - Content would be static

Website Facebook Blog

Why we chose a BLOG

- Limited access - Can’t add pages - Can’t manipulate page templates - Not interactive - Content would be static

Website Facebook Blog X

Why we chose a BLOG

- Limited access - Can’t add pages - Can’t manipulate page templates - Not interactive - Content would be static

- Existing facebook site addresses all department news & events - Designed for short posts - Posted content is not searchable

Website Facebook Blog X

Why we chose a BLOG

- Limited access - Can’t add pages - Can’t manipulate page templates - Not interactive - Content would be static

- Existing facebook site addresses all department news & events - Designed for short posts - Posted content is not searchable

Website Facebook Blog X X

Why we chose a BLOG

- Limited access - Can’t add pages - Can’t manipulate page templates - Not interactive - Content would be static

- Existing facebook site addresses all department news & events - Designed for short posts - Posted content is not searchable

- Free - Interactive - Artistic control - Content is searchable & tagable - *Some* personal blogging experience

Website Facebook Blog X X ?

Why we chose a BLOG

- Limited access - Can’t add pages - Can’t manipulate page templates - Not interactive - Content would be static

- Existing facebook site addresses all department news & events - Designed for short posts - Posted content is not searchable

- Free - Interactive - Artistic control - Content is searchable & tagable - *Some* personal blogging experience

Website Facebook Blog X X ?

www.gradefirstaid.wordpress.com

www.gradefirstaid.wordpress.com

www.gradefirstaid.wordpress.com

Phase 1

1. Be a “blog lurker”

2. Develop your brand

X

3. Plan your blog’s template

X

4. Dive in, but don’t go live

5. Solicit input

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6. Unveil and promote

Phase 2

1. Explore multimedia

2. Collaborate on content

3. Keep in fresh

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4. Pass the baton

Hello Becca,

I came across your blog on Wordpress and it seems that you really care about the students at the University. I am 26 years old and have recently been disqualified for the second time. What are my chances of being reinstated back? The advisers at the university are pretty intimidating so I thought I would ask other people first.

…I really do love school but found out late that I should have switched majors earlier.

Currently, I have a job at a Logistic company in which the President would love to promote me but without a degree he is unable to. I've been looking at options of attending another State school however, being that the disqualifications are on my records... I do not believe they would accept me. But I also do not know the chances of being accepted back into my current school. Any advice about your past experiences would be greatly appreciated . Hope to hear from you.

Thank you -Tony H.

How are you already using blogs on your campus?

How could you see blogs working for your department?