Best Ways to Communicate with Students

Charles M. Scheetz

Assistant Director

Student Financial Services

Ursinus College

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Agenda

Generations overview Generation Y What do we need to communicate Past and Present Communication Methods Present and Future Communication Methods Overview of Services Website Email Facebook Twitter Review Live demo Questions

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Generations Overview

• Baby Boomers – WWII thru 1960s• Generation X – 1961 thru 1981• Generation Y – 1982 thru 1998/1999• Generation Z – 1999 thru 2009• Generation Alpha (Suggested) – 2009 thru ?

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Generation Y

• Our current student population is Generation Y– Increased technological skills

» Video games» Computers» Cell phones» Social Media networks

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What do we need to communicate?

• Any information that is important including:– Deadlines (State and Federal)– Reminders (Application Deadlines)– Links (FAFSA, State Aid, Loan Applications)– Forms (Verification Worksheets)– Hours, Location, Phone #, Email

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Past and Present Communication Methods

• Meeting with Student and Parents in office– Individualized attention

– Most parents and student prefer this method

• Letters mailed home– Can not guarantee that parent or student receives

• Telephone calls– Have to leave messages majority of the time

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Present and Future Communication Methods

• Website• Email• Facebook• Twitter

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Overview of Services

• Website – One stop shop (should have all the basic

information a student needs)

• Email– Fast and simple (when it is working…..)

• Facebook– Group/Page devoted to an office (can reach

thousands of students fast)

• Twitter– Short and to the point (limited to 140 characters)

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Website

– Use for information about all services• Information about grants, loans, scholarships• How to apply for aid• Specific deadlines• Links to scholarship searches • Forms available for download

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Email

• Personal vs. Campus-Based– Always use campus-based

» Personal – not sure if it is the student’s

» Campus based is free for all students

» Easier to track (paper trail)

• KISS – Keep it short & simple– The less a student has to read, the better

– If the email needs to explain important information, may want to request student comes into the office

– Highlight and bold important points

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Facebook

• Create a group or page– Group is connected to one person (has to have an admin)

» Admin may try to get contacted by students» Students need to “join”

– Page is connected to business (has to have an admin)» Better for schools» No admin shown (do not become a fan)» Students become a “fan”

• Page is the better practice– Can have all staff as administrators or just certain members– Can post information including:

» Reminders» Deadlines» Links» Photos

• Always be short and to the point• All updates show up on user’s “wall”

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Twitter

• Can create an account for the office– Would recommend only one admin for the account

• Update at anytime– Can create quick and simple posts

• 140 character limit– If need to include links, shorten the link

» Can use tinyurl (http://tinyurl.com/)

• Use for quick updates– KISS: Keep it short and simple

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Review

• Try out all the electronic services– Not each service is the best for every office

• Have different people update by email, Facebook and Twitter– Don’t want “to many hands in the cookie jar”

• Always be short and to the point• Easiest way to reach a majority of students

» FACEBOOK

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Live Demo of Services

• www.facebook.com• www.twitter.com• www.ursinus.edu/financialaid

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Questions and Contact Info

Charles M. Scheetz

Assistant Director of Student Financial Services

Ursinus College

601 East Main Street

Collegeville, Pa 19426

P 610.409.3600

F 610.409.3662

cscheetz@ursinus.edu