Division Update: Advancement & Development
SOCIAL MEDIA the OAKS by Zawadi Nicholas, student writer
After Oakwood University’s winning of the $50,000 Tier I grant in The Home Depot Retool Your School competition in 2013, the secret was revealed: Oakwood University students are social media savvy. Of course, students could not have won the competition alone: Oakwood has a worldwide network of alumni, parents and friends. Now, Oakwood is harnessing the power of social media to connect with this network. enica King, assistant director of marketing, points to the swiftly shifting trends in the digital world. To reach and keep up with the interest of our students, Oakwood “will utilize the communication portals that they use on a daily basis. Using social media is one of the many ways it can stay up-to-date and connected with its community,” King said. Since Oakwood has officially joined social media, students now have a direct, instantaneous method of communication with the University. Students can receive important information (events, emergency notifications, scholarships, job opportunities and any other announcements from University administration) when they log in, whether from mobile devices or from computers. This will help students to become more involved and informed about what is happening on campus. Students aren’t the only ones who will receive communications from Oakwood University. Parents, prospective students and employees are among the many others that can and should connect with Oakwood University online. “We try to post information for our target audiences, which are current and prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors, to keep everyone connected,” elaborated King.
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Using social media will update parents of Oakwood students on the latest news, events, and happenings at the University. Parents also receive weekly newsletters, educational and financial information, helping them become enthusiastic supporters of, and smarter investors in, their children’s education. Oakwood’s social media outlets will announce and feature most of the on-campus events through photos posted on Flickr and Facebook. Faculty members will also be featured on these social media outlets so that friends and followers can learn more about them, their accomplishments, and their contributions to Oakwood. This is “an exciting prospect,” King said. “We have some pretty awesome staff and faculty members!” When asked if there are any plans to join other forms of social media like Pinterest, or YouTube, King responded, “Yes! Oakwood has just joined Twitter. As time progresses we plan to expand to other social media outlets, including LinkedIn and Instagram.” To follow Oakwood on Twitter, go to www.twitter. com/OakwoodU and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ OakwoodUniversity and on Flickr at www.flickr.com/ OakwoodUniversity Oakwood Magazine | Spring 2014 www.oakwood.edu
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