Through the lens of both an academic advisor and a student, presenters of this session will share how their use of technology has enhanced communication and a sense of community among students, faculty, and staff, and also heightened the academic performance and persistence of students in an online program.

1. Creating Connections: Using Technology to Build Student Community Jill Lingard Associate Director for Online Programs UF Warrington College of Business Administration Bryan Howard CEO, Online Student Technologies, LLC 2008 UF Graduate - Online BSBA

2. Online Business Program Launched in 2002 with 14 students statewide 509 active students today 429 graduates through Summer 2009 Targets FL’s transfer students through community college partnerships Average age: 30 (range: 20-60) 90% work full-time; many are parents 85% do not live in Gainesville

3. Where are they? THE CHALLENGE: Providing academic advising and student services to students from Pensacola to Key West

4. The Solution THE ONLINE STUDENT CENTER Uses our electronic course platform to create an online advising center

6. Functions Orientation presentation Information on... Course offerings, registration, and syllabi Required textbooks Suggested degree plans and course sequencing Academic policies and degree requirements Test dates, times, locations Links to important UF sites ‘Ask an Advisor’ discussion board

7. Benefits Reaches students where they already are Streamlines communication Fosters self-sufficiency Reduces anxiety Builds community Nice side effect: frees up our main program Web site to serve more of a marketing purpose

8. How might YOU use this? Advising/training video presentations Information on majors and degree requirements ‘Ask a ____’ discussion boards Peer-to-peer discussion boards Commonly used forms (and their submission) Student organizations Meeting or event videos Room reservations

9. Building community GOSA: The Gator Online Student Association

10. Do online students interact? Academic Interaction Family Interaction Online Student Work Life Interaction Social Interaction

11. Meet Sara…

12. Distance learning emotions Apprehensive What classes should I take and when? How will I manage the course schedules? Disconnected I have to learn this all by myself? How will I get help when I need it? Overwhelmed How do I get it all done? How does anyone get it all done?

13. Student support system GOSA’s Birthday – April 29, 2007 Formed by a group of students in the Online Business Program Operated by business students, with new recruits added each year Provides a family atmosphere and takes the “distance” out of distance learning

16. Basic site structure General topics Prospective students First-semester students Textbook swap Jill’s corner Mentor program Business courses Each course has a board Study groups Breakdown by FL city or region Alumni forum Instead of homework 1337 Gators Football/basketball Politics

19. Academic integrity GOSA is committed to upholding academic integrity through posting rules and board moderation. Students police each other. Many professors visit the site to gauge student reactions to lectures, course policies, and tests.

21. Academic performance Persistence ECP3703 – Managerial Economics Pre-GOSA drop rates: 33%, 32%, 31% Post-GOSA drop rates: 18%, 17%, 20% FIN3403 – Business Finance Pre-GOSA drop rates: 50%, 32%, 33% Post-GOSA drop rates: 23%, 20%, 17%

22. We can now tell our students... “If you join GOSA and actively participate, odds are you’ll earn better grades and drop fewer courses.” (“And by the way, it’s fun too!”)

23. GOSA’s impact on student experience: from degree shopper to UF graduate

24. Student services Orientation Registration Academic advising Graduation

25. Orientation Online or on-campus (Saturdays) We plug new students into GOSA immediately! Relevant GOSA boards First Semester Students New to GOSA GOSA mentors Post (campus) orientation bonding

26. Registration Streamlined communication to students Deadlines ‘How To’ information Related details: test dates, textbooks, syllabi ‘On the ball’ students pull others with them Continuing students educate newbies

27. Academic advising ‘Rate My Schedule’ thread Peer feedback from students like them Community college graduates Working fulltime Parents Jill’s Corner For general advising questions Refer personal matters to a more appropriate venue

28. Graduation Streamlined communication to students Degree application deadlines, regalia orders, commencement ceremony details Reception for online grads Started Fall ‘07 as a direct result of GOSA feedback Chance for students, faculty, staff to meet everyone they’ve been emailing for 2+ years

29. Testing How testing works Communication of procedures Test day emergencies Ride share board Pre-exam study groups Post-exam ‘therapy’

30. Marketing & recruitment Prospective Students board Referrals to GOSA in emails, at college fairs Posters in students’ offices Word-of-mouth recruiting

31. Marketing & recruitment NOTHING markets an online degree program better than satisfied students.

32. Biggest impacts Increased academic performance and persistence More effective communication Peer-to-peer Advisor-to-student (and vice versa) Constant source of student feedback How are we doing? Where can we improve? Finding themes amid ‘the noise’ The GOSA family

33. Questions? Bryan Howard CEO, Online Student Technologies, LLC (321) 258-4335 bryan@ufonlinestudents.org Jill Lingard Associate Director for Online Programs University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business (352) 273-0165, jill.lingard@cba.ufl.edu