Suggestions/opinions wanted! UoM social media presence on AN

[ninwa]

Hi all,

I'm putting this here rather than in the UoM subforum, because this is also relevant to current students and I don't know how many of you visit the tertiary education forums.

The UoM social media department has expressed an interest in having a more active presence on AN, by responding to any concerns or enquiries about UoM from both current and future students. Given that the answers would be coming from an official UoM representative, you can be more confident in its accuracy than if it were just coming from a UoM student. (No offence intended to our UoM members )

This thread is to seek suggestions from both current and prospective students on how this might take place. The UoM Social Media Coordinator has suggested setting aside one day each week where they can be on hand to answer questions and give advice, as well as semi-regular Q&As with current students and admissions staff. However, they wanted to see what you guys would prefer and whether you have any better suggestions, since what they do will be based on what you want from them.

Once all of this is set up I will tag the UoM member profile with an "Official UoM Representative" title so you can see whether you are getting an "official" response.

Cheers!

[vox nihili]

As you already know, I definitely support this.

Three main reasons:

• It provides genuine benefits to the members of ATARNotes, who often make queries about higher level study. UoM are better equipped to answer these queries than students
• It gives ATARNotes more legitimacy. The fact that professionals are willing to post their advice here and interact with students through this forum is a great thing for ATARNotes, and a vote of confidence in what you do here
• The social media department at UniMelb are extremely professional and extremely approachable.

So definite support from me. I can hardly envisage a negative aspect to the proposal (though I'm sure somebody will have one)

[ninwa]

Ah my mistake, I must have worded it badly. This is definitely happening - I don't need to be convinced that it's a good idea! We want opinions on how it might happen - e.g. weekly Q&As, setting aside one day per week to answer questions, etc.?

edit: the UoM social media coordinator explicitly said that he wants to base his approach on what AN members want from his team.

[slothpomba]

First of all, i'd like to thank and applaud ninwa for consulting the ATARNotes community first rather than making a unilateral decision. It really does leave the sense we're still a community and that in some small way we can collectively and (somewhat) democratically decide where our community goes. Afterall, if it wasn't for the members, ATARNotes would have no revenue, no questions answered and wouldn't exist.
 
On the balance of things, i think it is a positive action. Here i agree with T-Rav.

Whilst i do support it, every coin does have a few sides and here are a few potential pitfalls which i envisage may occur:

• The sense that the UoM bureaucracy and internal machinations of the university are monitoring the forums may change peoples behaviour. People may not feel like they can say things they normally say or make the criticisms they'd usually make, in particular if these name people (lecturers, tutors, admin). I know Monash was looking at (or had) a policy where students could be disciplined for their social media action. Now that we're being watched (in a benevolent way, i'm sure), it raises a similar concern.
• The idea of ATARNotes is people power, its powered by the ordinary student of no special rank or position. It is hard to predict just how outside influences will modify this. If, for example, they answer every single question, we will be out of the job so to speak. We're here to answer questions and help, if theres nothing left to help with, why are we here? It may sound like a silly concern but i honestly think its a legitimate one.
• ATARNotes is meant to be an alternative source of help in a way, you'd get the tips and advice the administration might not necessarily offer you. I can think of many cases where you'd shadily structure your unit progression and things, things which they won't necessarily advise you on. Most UoM students are already aware of the fact they can email the university administration, go in and visit them, call, use the online help services, etc. if they need official help.
  

[ninwa]

• The sense that the UoM bureaucracy and internal machinations of the university are monitoring the forums may change peoples behaviour. People may not feel like they can say things they normally say or make the criticisms they'd usually make, in particular if these name people (lecturers, tutors, admin). I know Monash was looking at (or had) a policy where students could be disciplined for their social media action. Now that we're being watched (in a benevolent way, i'm sure), it raises a similar concern.
• The idea of ATARNotes is people power, its powered by the ordinary student of no special rank or position. It is hard to predict just how outside influences will modify this. If, for example, they answer every single question, we will be out of the job so to speak. We're here to answer questions and help, if theres nothing left to help with, why are we here? It may sound like a silly concern but i honestly think its a legitimate one.
• ATARNotes is meant to be an alternative source of help in a way, you'd get the tips and advice the administration might not necessarily offer you. I can think of many cases where you'd shadily structure your unit progression and things, things which they won't necessarily advise you on. Most UoM students are already aware of the fact they can email the university administration, go in and visit them, call, use the online help services, etc. if they need official help.
  

1. Definitely a legitimate concern. On the other hand, these forums are public anyway, and at the moment nothing is stopping university administrators from accessing and reading threads. For example, someone from UoM was recently approached about her negative review of a subject/lecturer, with the result that she took all of her reviews down. And something similar happened for Monash.

2. Also a legitimate concern and something I (and you, as uni moderator) should be keeping an eye on. I definitely do not want AN to become a ground for nothing but university propaganda (I'm using the word "propaganda" in a light-hearted way here.)

3. I hope this doesn't stop people from offering their own opinions! I also imagine the social media team has other things to do and won't have the time to be taking over every single UoM discussion. (But I will also be keeping an eye on this.)

[charmanderp]

I think a weekly Q&A would be good - you wouldn't want it to be excessive, but it allow a regular forum for anyone that does have any questions during the week. And maybe on top of that you could have 'special events' as and when they come up with specific staff members or students (e.g. someone from the admissions department or student services department or so on).

[alchemy]

Asides from what's already been said, I think the purpose and initiative in this is great to give students a much needed understanding of their future education. I mean, we have so many events and seminars at school and in the community these days (such as career expos and uni open days) that the idea of not having a uni support base on a forum seems illogical. In fact, looking back, this forum made me aware of the choices I'd have to make in VCE, and the of reality that stood before me. Before then, school was all fairies and daisies to me (yes I know...it's scary).

Completely agree with T-Rav; he's read my mind! The global problem with forums (not just AN) is that there's plenty of room for misconception (whether it be a subject review or answer to a question). Therefore, we, as students, should be able to rely on information that's provided. Affiliating with a uni is an excellent means of doing that.

[chysim]

Maybe would be best served with a dedicated "Ask UoM..." thread.

Not sure how I feel about someone of an official capacity pruning through everything I write about the university, particularly critical subject reviews. That's what the SESes are for.

[brenden]

Perhaps Nina could restrict the permissions of UoM's account to their own thread specifically (perhaps in General Uni Discussion??)
Of course, staff can view your threads anyway, but at least the UoM account would be out of people's minds.

[IndefatigableLover]

Perhaps Nina could restrict the permissions of UoM's account to their own thread specifically (perhaps in General Uni Discussion??)
Of course, staff can view your threads anyway, but at least the UoM account would be out of people's minds.

Yeah I quite like the idea of this one! If people are wary of UoM going through everything written on AN (which they could still search up regardless) then customising their profile to just view the University of Melbourne Board (or thread) could work out if they're just there 'responding to any concerns or enquiries about UoM from both current and future students.' Reminds me of when people customised their profiles if they didn't want to view the End of Year discussion boards etc.

It would definitely help with any new threads that are made in the near future on the UoM board but you'll still get people asking questions on the UoM Chat or make threads rather than post on their specific thread anyway (new users not knowing where everything is) so that's something to think about as well. Maybe UoM could make a FAQ later on if this initiative does prove to be popular (and if similar questions are posted up).

I also get the feeling that maybe (just maybe) people might start asking UoM about cut-off scores for courses (or any type of question that refers to things along those lines I guess) so that's something to think about as well.

(Sorry if none that made any sense LOL but just offering some insight I guess)

[Russ]

I don't see a reason for customising the profile. It's a public website and limiting their posting/viewing ability just doesn't make sense. Everything you can post is already perfectly readable by the staff at UoM and there are multiple instances of them commenting on things posted here. If you're worried about them reading something you say, that should speak more to the manner in which you're saying it than to the fact they can, since...well...they already can and do.

As for the manner in which they post, I like the idea of, say, a stickied thread on date X for people to post questions, which would be answered the following day by staff at work (both via PM and posting).

[ninwa]

(I should probably add that UoM is actually watching this thread and will likely take into account all of your concerns.)

[unimelb]

Hi all, Carl here from Melbourne University. I'm the Social Media Coordinator for the University, and I look after all our different social media channels. I thought I'd pop in, say hi, and address some of the suggestions and concerns so far.

First things first: we're absolutely not interested in trying to interfere with what you guys are chatting about here, positive or negative. I already check ATAR Notes, but that's more so I can see what people generally think is working and what isn't and feed that back to other parts of the uni. I'm not taking note of who says what, and I have no issue with people openly and honestly chatting about the good and bad parts of the University. We're also not wanting to come in here and spam you with ads for the University. You guys know where our website is, you'll be able to find plenty of lovely things about how great we are there if you want.

I like the idea of a stickied Ask UoM thread, because that'd keep things nice and clean and make it much easier for us to quickly see what questions people had. To start with, we're probably only going to be around once or twice a week, although depending on how many questions you guys have I can always look at making us a more regular participant.

I'm also happy to try and run semi-regular (maybe once a month) Q&As with current students, student services, etc. to answer more specific questions about things like what it's actually like studying here and various support services like finance and housing that might be useful.

Anyway, I'll be checking in over the next few days, so keep posting your thoughts, and I'll do my best to answer any specific questions you have about our involvement here.

[brenden]

There you have it, folks. Carl has your back.

but monash4lyf

[vox nihili]

but monash4lyf

Sadly, much in the same way herpes is 4lyf