School of Natural Resources on Facebook

Published July 2008
Story Source: Christine Tew

The Facebook, a self-described "social networking" Web site with nearly one billion members, had pretty humble beginnings as a student project at Harvard University in early 2004.

Access to the site spread from the Ivy League to other colleges and universities. Initial members created profiles listing their activities, interests and favorite movies. They could also display photos and send messages to peers.

The site gained attention at the University of Missouri during the fall of 2004, and has continued to grow in popularity. More than 37,000 MU e-mail addresses are registered on Facebook. That number includes current students and alumni, as well as faculty and staff.

The School of Natural Resources is using Facebook for more than sharing interests and favorite movies, however. Student Services Coordinator Laura Hertel created three interest groups for incoming students, current students and alumni of the School of Natural Resources.

The three groups include photos from the SNR archives and welcome messages from both Hertel and student ambassadors representing the School.

"My intention is to keep posting different pictures, and encouraging people to identify them and to invite other alums," Hertel said. "Many alumni groups use Facebook to reach their alumni, especially the most recent graduates."

School of Natural Resources Director Mark Ryan echoed Hertel's thoughts.

"It will help with recruitment of new students and retention of current students," he said. "It also creates opportunity for alums to stay in touch with each other."

After three months, the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources alumni group has 275 Facebook members and continues to grow. Representatives of the College post photos and news releases about current events on the public "wall" for that alumni group.

"Staying in touch with our current students and with our alums is vital to the School," Ryan said. "Facebook is enhancing our ability to do that."

The School of Natural Resources currently has more than 500 students and alumni with SNR majors registered on Facebook. The SNR Alumni group grew to more than 40 members within its first few weeks. The groups for current and incoming students are growing, as well.

"The MIZZOU SNR Class of 2012 is for new students to SNR," Hertel said. "We are inviting students we see during summer welcome to join so we can answer questions, post events and get them connected with the great happenings in SNR."

Hertel started looking into the primarily-student site after attending an on-campus lecture at the School of Journalism covering new ways to communicate with students, many of whom do not consistently read e-mail. The Facebook idea came quickly, she said.

"It was basically just hearing about it all of the time," Hertel said. "I think that it is a good tool."

The School of Natural Resources faculty and staff will still use e-mail to communicate with students, she said. The social groups will be for additional reminders about scholarship deadlines and events, as well as to share photos.

Hertel, with help from the SNR Student Ambassadors, will post and respond to messages on the group pages, and monitor all public discussions for inappropriate use.

School of Natural Resources on Facebook

Learn More