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About Patrice

Patrice-Anne Rutledge is a business technology author and consultant who specializes in social media, online collaboration, and presentation technologies.
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Social Networking Success Story: College Admission Professionals Network

Filed Under Social Media & Social Networking, Success Stories

When Brian Hazlett, Director of Undergraduate Recruitment at Binghamton University in New York, couldn’t find an online network of his peers, he decided to create one himself. Less than one month later, the College Admission Professionals Network is thriving.

What prompted you to create a social network for college admission professionals?

Networking in higher education is essential to college admission professionals’ development and successes. A dedicated social network offers members an interactive and dynamic online forum. Traditional list servs are static and fill your e-mail inbox. Industry conferences are only offered several times a year and require a concerted effort afterwards by individuals to stay in touch. The social network allows professionals to connect and interact daily – posing and discussing a pressing question, seeking input from a diverse group, bouncing ideas from one person to another and catching up on news and trends in one online location.

From my Binghamton University admissions office to Walla Walla, Washington, to Casablanca, Morocco, Ning was a quick and accessible online forum to interact with professionals from public and private, four-year and two-year colleges and universities.

Have you already seen benefits from this network, not even a month old?

The benefits, just like the members, are growing daily. College admissions professionals, totaling nearly 400 today, are connecting daily with new peers and reconnecting with peers they have met at conferences, previously worked with or heard mention of them. The greatest professional benefits to date include establishing a means to communicate quickly and efficiently, obtaining perspectives from around the corner, across the country and around the world, and learning through sharing insights, expertise and best practices.

What features are you planning for the future?

We’ve identified two types of features the members of the social network are seeking. One is to add more Web 2.0 features, such as a blog, RSS/news feeds and photo galleries. The other is valuable, relevant and timely content – trends, best practices, career opportunities and professional development resources.