This document discusses the importance and benefits of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) engaging with social media. It notes that 100% of colleges studied use at least one social media platform, but only 2 HBCUs rank in the top 50 for social media use. The document urges HBCUs to open their "digital doors" wider by connecting with students, alumni, and donors across various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs. Doing so can raise awareness, connect more people, and heighten relevance for the institution. It provides examples of popular tools used in higher education and questions what may be preventing HBCUs from greater social media engagement.

1. For HBCU’s Historically Black Colleges & Universities social media Lynette Hawkins beyond marketing group, inc. www.awesomeinsight.com

3. Lifting the barriers to communication

4. Reaching the communityIntroduction…Who We are 2 Lynette Hawkins

5. The Way Students, Alumni, Faculty and Donors Communicate has Changed… More on-line More Tweets, Texts, Posts, Blogs, etc. It’s time to communicate across all mediums. 3

6. 100% of Colleges & Universities Studied Use at least one social media platform 4 May 2010-2011 Study of a sample among 4 year accredited institutions in US Center of Marketing Research of Univ. of MA Dartmouth

7. *105 HBCUs in 20 States in U.S. *HR Office of Educational Partnerships/Historically Black Colleges & Universities 5

8. 2 HBCU’s ranked in the Top 50 Social Media Colleges StudentAdvisor.com/Top 100 Social Media Colleges 2011 6

9. 7 # of HBCU’s with Up-to-Date Websites, Linked to Social Media? http://www.

10. 19 of 4 year HBCU’s offered Full Online Degrees (Bachelors or Masters level) HBCU Distance Learning 2010, Roy L. Beasley Howard University 8

11. 9 College Presidents are Early Technology Adapters… 87% use Smartphones 32% use Tablets 15% use e-Readers Digital Revolution and Higher Education Pew Internet, August, 2011

12. 50% of U.S. College Presidents Digital Revolution and Higher Education Pew Internet, August, 2011 10

13. 18% of U.S. College Presidents 11 Digital Revolution and Higher Education Pew Internet, August, 2011

14. 12 Use of Social Networks by Online Folks Pew Internet Project Survey 2008

15. Is Your College’s Digital Door Open Wide Enough? 13

16. Ponder this… 1. If students, alumni, community people are visiting community pages on Facebook but your college does not have a Facebook page, what does that say about your institution? 2. If potential students can go to websites and social media of other colleges and see dialogue about current events and curriculum but not at your college, what does that say about your institution? 3. If students and prospective students view videos, share tweets, posts and blogs but not from your college, what does that say about your institution? 14 ?

17. What’s stopping your institution from opening the digital door wider? Budget issues? Privacy concerns? Limited know-how? Little interest? 15

18. What Can Opening the Digital Door Do? Raise visibility and awareness Connect to donors, prospective students, alumni, students, faculty, post graduate employers, and the community Heighten awareness of curriculum and events Build greater relevance in academia setting Generate conversations where people are 16

19. 17 It’s about lifting the barriers to communications.

20. 18 Telling Your Story… Content in Lots of Places Social Bookmarking Facebook Pages Blog Podcasts Linkedin Facebook Vimeo Flickr #hashtags YouTube FourSquare Twitter scribd texts Wikis

21. 19 Popular tools Used by Higher Education VIDEO SHARING YouTube PHOTO SHARING Flickr PODCASTS iTunes NETWORKING SITES Facebook Linked In BLOGS Wordpress Blogs Blogger MICROBLOGS Twitter

22. 20 How Active & Effective Are You in Engaging on Facebook, Twitter &YouTube?

23. 21 Sign Up for Free e-Newsletter Get Tips on Social Networking for Collegesn Lynette Hawkins beyond marketing group, inc.e awesomeinsight.com.com (336)854-4196