This is my final reflection paper for my recent internship with the Office of Online Student Engagement at the University of Arizona.

1. Table of Contents
Page 01. Final Reflection Paper
03. Collaboration Opportunities
04. Content Highlights
05. Wellness Initiatives
06. Group Insights
Heidi Hopkins
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Stacey
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2. Final Reflection
Stacey Stringfellow
Project owner
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This is my final project for SBS 393 and I look forward to your feedback!
I had three objectives for my internship: enhance my skills in social
media strategy, brand development and implementation, and online
community management. Over the past semester, I’ve been able to have
hands-on experience with all of these skills. And I feel that I’ve successfully
mastered each of these goals.
From the internship, I learned the importance of having a brand voice. As
a member of the Arizona Online Student Facebook group, I was able to post
and interact with others using my voice as a student. In my role as a group
admin, I had to take myself out of the equation and learn to respond in a
way that represented not only the group but the university. I learned how to
provide my personal opinions while remaining objective.
Another benefit was the ability to gain insight into University initiatives for
online students and present the information to the students every week. I
created a social media calendar that allowed me to keep track of upcoming
events and workshops, as well as important deadlines for students. Having
weekly 1:1 meetings with my site supervisor to go over posts was extremely
beneficial and kept our content flow running smoothly throughout the
semester.
My goal after graduation is to become an Online Community Manager, and
my internship solidified that career path for me. I developed skills and
learned things that will be sought after by future employers. The hand-on
experience I received with managing a Facebook Group for an educational
institution is unmatched, and I am grateful for the opportunity.
Stacey
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3. Reflection (continued)
One of my favorite courses that I’ve taken at UA was ESOC 300: Digital
Storytelling and Culture. This class taught me the importance of creating
narratives on online platforms to capture an audience. As such, I’ve spent a lot
of time creating graphics that were both
eye-catching and informative for our student members. I was fortunate to have
the freedom to create these images. My site supervisor trusted my vision for
what the group could be and allowed me to make decisions that would be great
for the group.
Outside of classwork, I am an avid student of social media, with Facebook
Groups leading the way. I’ve been able to implement everything that I’ve
learned as a Facebook Power Admin into the group, including the creation of
group topics, utilizing keyword alerts, updating membership questions, and
analyzing group insights.
Stacey
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4. Collaboration
Transfer Collaborative Training
In February, I was asked to participate in a Transfer Student Panel Discussion hosted by the UA
Recruitment. The panel consisted of students in various stages of their UA experience, and I was
the only one representing Arizona Online. Being able to speak to my experience as an online
student was terrific, and I feel that the information I provided helped identify strengths and
weaknesses in the recruitment process.
Arizona Online Student Advisory Board
As a member of the Arizona Online Student Advisory Board, I am able to provide insights as an
AZ Online student and feedback to leaders at the university to improve the experience of future
Arizona Online Wildcats.
Stacey
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5. Content Highlights
Online Engagement
One of the most rewarding parts of my internship has been creating eye-catching graphics for
students to present them with information about upcoming events, programs, or even
interactive activities within the group. Below are a few highlights over the past semester.
Stacey
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6. Wellness Initiatives
Aside from promoting engagement, I also created posts for students that encouraged
self-care and how to handle the stress of finals weeks. This past semester was
especially difficult for many of our online students due to COVID-19. I made an effort
to provide as much information as possible regarding campus resources and
initiatives to help our online community.
Stacey
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7. Demographics
Members by Country
Growth
January 15- April 30th
Since the start of the Spring
Semester, membership in the
University of Arizona Online Student
group has consistently grown month
over month. As of April 30, 2020, we
saw an increase in total membership
of 21.2% and 52.6% in active
members.
Insights
Engagement
Comments, Posts, and Reactions
We've seen an increase in not
only user-generated content
(UGC), but also in comments
and reactions to those posts.
The students have been able to
create a community where they
feel comfortable asking
questions to their peers, and
other students are happy to
answer and provide guidance.
While we proudly recognize
membership of 406 students, we
are also proud that our
community reflects students
from all across the globe.
Currently, our group members
represent 11 countries.
Every month I provide insights from Facebook to my site supervisor. We’ve experienced
substantial growth in membership and engagement over the past several months within
the group, thanks to initiatives like New Member Welcomes, recognizing top contributors,
and other posts that encourage interaction.
Stacey
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