3 Universities Bring Private Social Networking into Retention Efforts
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 10/31/11
Three institutions in the last month have launched a system from Copley Retention Systems intended to keep students more engaged with their learning programs. St. Thomas University in Miami, FL; Eastern New Mexico University in Portales; and Universidad InterAmericana de Puerto Rico have all implemented Copley Square, an application that uses a private social network and smart phone apps for daily engagement of students.
Copley Square encompasses a number of features, including internal Twitter-like communication and a study group manager that helps students meet up with others who share similar days and times they prefer to study and sends a reminder to each student an hour before study time begins. Students can meet in person or online via "On Demand Video MeetUp" rooms. In video meetups participants can see and hear each other and share, mark, and save documents.
Video meetups can also occur between students and tutors, counselors, instructors, or others within the campus community. The meetups can also be recorded and shared.
"Copley Retention Systems software is one of a kind, providing institutions with an invaluable, cutting edge tool capable of fully integrating the curricular and co-curricular student experience," said Isaac Carter, dean of students at St. Thomas University. The 2,600-student institution introduced the application in early October.
Eastern New Mexico U and InterAmericana both also launched the application in October. Other recent institutional customers include Delaware State University and Northeast Louisiana Technical College.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.