Beyond Email: Fostering Effective Relationships with Students via Social Media

Tony Ferrar, faculty member in Engineering, uses social media (Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Voice, and Twitter) to interact with students. When they have policy or "official" issues, they use official university email. However, for assignment clarification questions, technical questions about homework, etc they use Direct Messaging on the platform they are most comfortable with. The result: Dr. Ferrar is able to rapidly answer student questions, while maintaining a healthy work/life boundary and avoiding email pileup.

Dr. Ferrar will share his approach to these platforms that keeps private and professional lives separate.

The students are thrilled at their instructor's responsiveness and approachability. They're reaching out with more content-related questions than ever before!