The CAS and the Graduate Community: Building a Better Connection

1. The CAS and the Graduate Community:Building a Better Connection

2. “Improving the number of graduates communicating and engaging with the CAS should be a top priority.” Class Advisory Senate Survey Assessment Results October 14, 2009

3. How Do Graduates Communicate? There are a large number of methods available—but many of us don’t leverage them for CAS

4. How Do We Communicate? • “Push” methodology • Checkpoints • Direct email • “Dear Classmate” emails • ZoomiEnews • AOG announcements • Websites • AOG • Individual class websites • “Pull” methodology • Direct email • Responses to “dear classmate” emails • Letters to the editor (Checkpoints) • Chapter meetings • Reunions • Phone calls • Social Networking • Makes some use of technology • Largely one-way communication • Traditional • Much of it relies on face-to-face contact • Combines advantages of both

5. What Is Social Networking? • Brings people with common interests together in a secure virtual environment • Provides a way to connect and engage with classmates • Built on the principle of a two-way conversation • Gives authorized visitors the opportunity to generate opinion and add content • Enables communities and conversations to form within sites • Authorized visitors can enter areas of interest

6. Growth of Social Networking

7. Facebook • Started in 2004 as a service for Harvard students • Focuses on “traditional” social networking (communications), as opposed to entertainment • Easy-to-use interface, less advertising than many of its competitors • Members have control over who sees their content • Currently the world’s most popular social network (Nielson, March 2009) • 168% increase in relative users in 2008 • One-third of global audience is aged 35 – 49 years of age • About one-quarter is over 50 years of age • Visited by three in every 10 people online across the world • For more info: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111549768622#

8. MySpace • Originally established as an entertainment portal, rather than a pure social network • More focused on entertainment • Can encompass music and video • Decoration options allow profile pages to be highly customizable • Used more by teens and young adults • Smaller global presence than Facebook • For more info: http://personalweb.about.com/od/createanonlinediary/ss/myspacesetup.htm

9. LinkedIn • Specifically geared to business use • Allows user to set up a profile and connect with past and present colleagues • Tracks connections between user and every other member of the site (“degrees of contact” principle) • Alerts user if other people from a given company sign on so user can connect with them • Can search for topics of interest and comment on them • Users can set up and join groups (50 max) • Can send out questions and surveys to get feedback from personal contacts • Adding new members at a rate of about one member per second (Adage, March 2, 2009) • 137% relative increase in users in 2008 (Nielson, March 2009) • For more info: http://www.intuitive.com/blog/getting_started_with_linkedin.html

10. Twitter • Primarily designed as a messaging tool • Enables user to send messages to members of his/her group • Supports back-and-forth conversation • Messages limited to 140 characters • Messages (tweets) are archived in a timeline • 11% of online adults use Twitter or update their status online • Users are mobile, less tethered by technology • Reached 4 million visitors in February 2009, up more than 1,000% from a year ago (Comscore, April 2009) • For more info: http://www.slideshare.net/starpath/twitter-basics-presentation

11. Who Uses Social Networking Sites? • Each site has its own demographics Source: www.emarketer.com May 2009 Example: For classes ‘02 – ’09 who use social networking sites, 65% use Facebook, 75% use MySpace, 9% use LinkedIn, and 14% use Twitter

12. Why Do Users Join a Social Network? • Sites are used in different ways, depending on age Source: www.emarketer.com May 2009

13. Other Conclusions • Social networkers use sites in different ways, depending on their age • Motivations are similar from generation to generation • User interests depend on age group • Facebook represents the largest constituency and has broadest appeal • MySpace users more interested in humor/comedy and video games • LinkedIn users more interested in luxury activities • Twitter users more interested in pop culture Source: www.emarketer.com May 2009

14. Relevance to CAS • Dramatic increase in time spent on social network sites among all class demographics • Social networks and blogs are now the 4th most popular online activity • Time spent on these sites is growing at three times the overall internet rate, accounts for almost 10% of all internet time • Member communities are visited by 67% of the global online population • the 50+ age group accounts for a greater share of the social networking audience • Will not replace traditional push/pull methods, but it’s a great opportunity to enhance our contact with classmates Source: Nielson March 2009

15. Recommendations • Consider social networking as a means of improving information flow among classes • Collect best practices to share with CAS representatives at future meeting • Designate mentors to help other CAS representatives get sites up and running • For older classes

16. Improving Communication Effectiveness in CAS Meetings • The problem: it’s difficult to follow the proceedings if you’re not at the CAS meeting • Recommendation: broadcast CAS meetings over the internet

17. Implementation Criteria • A wireless webcam that can be moved to and from several mounting locations in the building • A unique IP address that can be accessed via any common browser • Security measures will ensure privacy • Remote pan and focus capability (from within the conference room) • The camera would be moved occasionally to break the monotony; we would not attempt to track each speaker • Microphone capability would be optional – we still need the dial in capability