2008 Woodie Awards
MySpace, Facebook pages good for students, staff
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Perspectives
An article printed in last week's edition of The All State, titled "Departments rush online to connect with students," discussed the recent rise in the creation of departmental and organizational MySpace and Facebook pages at APSU.
These networking sites are being used so that departments and organizations can better connect with students. TAS sees many benefits behind this progressive move.
According to comScore Inc., an Internet information provider, over 18 percent of people on MySpace and 34 percent of Facebook users are 18 to 24 years old, the age of traditional students.
However, APSU has a large non-traditional student population that makes up 36 percent of the student base, as reported by APSU's enrollment numbers from 2007.
As of 2006, 56 percent of MySpace users and over 42 percent of Facebook users were 25 to 54 years old.
By utilizing networking tools like MySpace and Facebook, APSU shows that it is adapting to the demands of current and potential college students.
The sites provide students with the chance to network with other students in their major or minor. Professors could also use the site to interact more with students or to simply get the word out if class is cancelled.
While TAS commends the departments and organizations that have taken the next step toward becoming more accessible to students, there are still a few points to consider.
It is unclear as to who will be held responsible for the upkeep of Web sites. Most professors and secretaries already have much of their time devoted to other matters, and the site could be left in the hands of graduate assistants or student workers.
Some argue that these sites are being constructed so that professors can keep tabs on students outside of class.
While there is the possibility of this occurring, student information is no more vulnerable now than it was before the creation of departmental and organizational MySpace and Facebook pages.
These networking sites are being used so that departments and organizations can better connect with students. TAS sees many benefits behind this progressive move.
According to comScore Inc., an Internet information provider, over 18 percent of people on MySpace and 34 percent of Facebook users are 18 to 24 years old, the age of traditional students.
However, APSU has a large non-traditional student population that makes up 36 percent of the student base, as reported by APSU's enrollment numbers from 2007.
As of 2006, 56 percent of MySpace users and over 42 percent of Facebook users were 25 to 54 years old.
By utilizing networking tools like MySpace and Facebook, APSU shows that it is adapting to the demands of current and potential college students.
The sites provide students with the chance to network with other students in their major or minor. Professors could also use the site to interact more with students or to simply get the word out if class is cancelled.
While TAS commends the departments and organizations that have taken the next step toward becoming more accessible to students, there are still a few points to consider.
It is unclear as to who will be held responsible for the upkeep of Web sites. Most professors and secretaries already have much of their time devoted to other matters, and the site could be left in the hands of graduate assistants or student workers.
Some argue that these sites are being constructed so that professors can keep tabs on students outside of class.
While there is the possibility of this occurring, student information is no more vulnerable now than it was before the creation of departmental and organizational MySpace and Facebook pages.
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