Leadership Exchange - Winter 2009

Build Your NASPA Network

BY KAARYN SANON

Ask any senior student affairs officer about the benefits of NASPA membership, and he or she is sure to mention

the value of the strong NASPA professional network. Now you can take advantage of networking opportunities 24

hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through the updated members-only section of the NASPA website. As

greater numbers of colleges and universities incorporate social networking tools for student recruitment and retention, student

affairs professionals should be familiar with the many ways in which this technology can be harnessed. Indeed, the platform upon

which the NASPA networking site is built was primarily developed for colleges and universities and has been rated far above

comparable products.

Members are already using this networking site to: share tips with individuals who will be attending the NASPA Annual Conference for the first time, gather information for research projects, counsel prospective graduate students, and engage in discussions with authors and other thought leaders. The networking site provides an excellent opportunity to extend the NASPA Annual Conference experience by engaging in conversations before and after the conference. We look forward to the many creative ways members will utilize this new tool, and we welcome your feedback. _LE

Join A Group

Members of the network can join or leave groups within the site and form new groups as they please. Users are added to their respective regional and knowledge groups by default, and SSAOs (senior student affairs administrators) are added to a private “SSAO-only” group. Groups can bring together individuals with shared interests and common locations, institutions, or job functions, to network and share ideas.

Get Started

• Enter the members-only section of the NASPA website.

• Update your profile. After you initially update your profile, with subsequent logins you will proceed directly to your personal home page.

• Link to the most recent blog postings, member profiles, and messages from colleagues.

• View key dates to remember, the latest NASPA headlines, and other industry news.

• Access student affairs-related videos and poll questions.

• Link to similar members you may consider adding as colleagues.

For Members Only Members can continue to access membership directory information in its traditional format. All information is intended for use within the members-only platform. Any other intended use of posted information requires the express permission of the other party per the terms of use agreed upon when establishing a profile.

Choose Your Discussion Topic

Within NASPA’s members-only site, you can offer opinions and broaden your knowledge in nine discussion areas based on NASPA’S Professional Development Matrix. Members can post comments, and a variety of discussions are likely to occur under each topic.