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| Student Affairs speaking students' language By Andy Elder, Student Affairs Writer If you know anything about today's teens and young adults, you know that instant messaging (IM) is as commonplace as letter writing was a century ago. It is with that thought in mind that a practical solution to a pressing problem has blossomed into a Student Affairs effort to distribute information to students in a way they feel most comfortable. "All we hear about today's students is how they are so technologically savvy and spend a lot of time chatting with each other," said Linda LaSalle, a Community Health Educator with University Health Services. "We wanted to insert ourselves into that mode of communication that is so commonly used." It all started when, just a few years ago, the economy took a down turn. Career Services was organizing its Fall Career Days and some companies were hesitant to commit the resources necessary to fly representatives to University Park. What to do? If Career Services couldn't bring the companies to Penn State students, then it would connect the students to the companies. "With the economy declining, it prompted us to look for other ways to connect students with company representatives," said Chris MacGill, the Associate Director of Career Services. "We knew students were used to instant messaging." So, an idea was born. Two-hour chats were planned. During the first hour, company representatives would discuss a career-related skill such as interviewing. The second hour was open for students to query the company representative about his specific company. "It was very appealing to both students and employers," MacGill said. Career Services then realized if online chats worked for them, perhaps they would work for other Student Affairs units. Three others - University Health Services, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Student Resource Center and Counseling and Psychological Services - decided to give it a try. "The students who do participate get incredible research and resources. It helps immensely," LaSalle said. Jerad Sorber, the assistant director of the LGBTA Student Resource Center, agreed with LaSalle's assessment. "We put our heads together and decided to do this to reach some students who normally wouldn't come in to our offices. It's an example of us trying to meet students where they are already are," Sorber said. "Students who have used the chats have loved it. I think it's great. It allows us to serve and reach a segment of students, who are not out of the closet, in the privacy of their room. We can give them the help and support they need." Ben Locke, the associate director of Counseling and Psychological Services, said CAPS has tried several chats, with limited response. He said CAPS is trying to devise ways to ensure the chats reach a broader audience. "We're still experimenting. We still believe that a chat is an avenue for getting students to participate. The solution is a combination of timing and marketing. All the chats we hosted this fall were on fairly specific topics at one time and then they were done," he said. "Students live by instant messenger and chat rooms. Relationships start, transpire, and end on instant messenger or chats. We need to figure out how to take what we do and put it in that format. This does speak to the broader challenge at Penn State of avoiding overprogramming." LaSalle may have unwittingly spoken for all involved when she summed up University Health Services' commitment to moving forward with the chats. "I think everyone who has participated is committed to explore ways to make it work," she said.
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Updated December 9, 2004