WIU Facebook Page Named Page of Month

January 22, 2009

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The upper portion of WIU's Facebook page. To see the entire page, visit facebook.com/pages/Macomb-IL/Western-Illinois-University/10274793956.
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MACOMB, IL -- Kathy Trim thinks Facebook and other online networks are invaluable tools for learning about colleges and universities. Like many parents of soon-to-be college students, Trim takes an active interest in her children's higher education pursuits. But Trim -- a mother of four, including 17-year-old Josiah, who will start college in 2010 -- has somewhat different circumstances than many parents of prospective U.S. college students. Although American citizens, she and her family live in Kobe, Japan.

"We have been living here for the past 20 years and all of our kids have mostly grown up here, with occasional periods of time in the USA," explained Trim. "I have found Facebook to be a great way of keeping in contact with my kids (ages 25, 23, 21 and 17). When my older kids were looking for colleges and thinking about their futures, we had a lot of family discussion, and I did a lot of research on colleges and universities on their behalf, much of it done via the Internet."

In her research of stateside higher-education institutions for Josiah, Trim found Western Illinois University's Facebook page -- which was named "Colleges and Universities 'Facebook Page of the Month'" for January 2009 (see www.facebook.com/
note.php?note_id=42102812364). While Trim was initially excited about the prospect of getting the inside scoop from WIU students, she noted she thought WIU's Facebook page could more helpful to prospective college students if current Western students would engage more on it.

"Information that would be helpful on any college or university Facebook page would be a lot about campus life," Trim said. "For a high school student seeking to go away from home to live in a completely new community, it's so important to hear about what the place is like -- it's so much more than just programs of study and potential majors."

Trim noted some of the things she'd like to hear about from current students on WIU's Facebook page include: What are current students enjoying about their lives at Western?; how did they make friends?; what are the residence halls like?; is the food good?; is the campus safe?; is transportation an issue?; how do they feel about their coursework?; and what mistakes should you avoid when you first arrive on campus?

While it's true that some of the information Trim is seeking can be obtained by a campus visit, for those who live overseas or great distances from a college or university, an institution's Facebook page can be a realistic option for getting more detailed information about the school.

"Although the number of fans of the WIU Facebook page continues to increase, I'd like to see more interaction among students on the page," said Teresa Koltzenburg, public information specialist and new media coordinator at WIU. "Last fall, I started a discussion thread, asking fans what they would like to see on the Facebook page, and that's how I came to learn about Kathy and the kind of information she was hoping to encounter on the page. She posted that she wants to see some more information from current WIU students."

This academic year, WIU personnel have made a concerted effort to engage and connect with individuals through social networking applications and online video. For example, the University and the College of Education and Human Services are utilizing MySpace pages (see myspace.com/westernillinoisu and myspace.com/coehs) to connect online as well. Western utilizes YouTube to post event- and news-related videos online. In addition, both the Macomb and Quad Cities WIU campuses are showcased in a video produced by YOUniversityTV (youniversitytv.com/beta/cvt_outside_link.html?collegeuuid=322). A list of the various new media and Web 2.0 applications Western is using has been compiled by the University Relations office and is available at wiu.edu/u-relations/newmedia.php.

Accolades Fine, But Interaction Better
Colleges and Universities Facebook page was created, and is managed, by Heather Mansfield. Mansfield operates DIOSA Communications (www.diosacommunications.com), a firm that "specializes in Web 2.0 marketing."

Koltzenburg noted that while it's flattering to have the page recognized by Colleges and Universities, she is hoping that more students will start sharing their WIU experiences on the page so they can help Kathy and other parents and soon-to-be college students, get more information about the value of a Western Illinois University education.

"I'd like to see more fan photos and videos, wall posts and discussion threads on the WIU Facebook page," Koltzenburg said. "There are a few here and there -- like a mother who noted she has many happy memories of Western's Mom's Weekend event. I've also found a lot of WIU pride-related Facebook groups, but it would be really exciting to see our students sharing their experiences on Western's Facebook page."

Visit WIU's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Macomb-IL/Western-Illinois-University/10274793956. Learn more about "Colleges and Universities" at www.facebook.com/pages/Colleges-and-Universities/20713783961. For more information about WIU's Facebook page, as well as other online networks WIU is engaged in, contact Koltzenburg at (309) 298-1993 or TE-Koltzenburg@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing