1. PolyBlogs Office of Enrollment Communication & Middleware Technologies Office of Communications

2. 2 Timeline: Concept to Implementation July 2004July 2004 –discussions begin October 2004October 2004 –implementation plans; –identify of students; –compose contract/guidelines December 2004December 2004 –CMT evaluates open source blogging tools; –design created; –developed customization and communication rules – (i.e., did not offer templates to students; comments not activated; – created email alias for questions/comments)

3. 3 Timeline: Concept to Implementation January 2005January 2005 –selected three (3) student ambassadors for spring semester February 2005February 2005 –blogging begins in earnest March 2005March 2005 –added more in-depth student bios for landing page

4. 4 Timeline: Concept to Implementation April 2005April 2005 –RPI Office of Communications becomes interested; –Feature article(s) composed for publication; –Times Union – “24/7 Student” May 2005May 2005 –end first semester of blogging with bit of advice for incoming freshmen; –Indenews.com – “As junior year ends, college choices loom” June 2005June 2005 –new students for summer sessions; –Chronicle of Higher Education – “To size up colleges, students now shop online”; –Biology student blogs from South Africa; –Summer admissions ambassadors ???

5. 5 Timeline: Concept to Implementation July/August 2005July/August 2005 –summer blogging continues September 2005September 2005 –new students for fall; –Wall Street Journal – “Colleges Turn to Student Blogs” December 2005December 2005 –selected six (6) students for spring semester

6. 6 Timeline: Concept to Implementation January 2006January 2006 –most diverse group of bloggers; –process management much more consistent and efficient; –bloggers much more active March 2006March 2006 –Times Union – “The Pursuit to Recruit”

7. 7 Rewards StudentsStudents –stipend or digital camera as reimbursement; –raised profile with prospective employers/graduate schools due to public nature of blogs –student demonstrates responsibility by writing for public, revealing character and personality AdmissionsAdmissions –student-to-student interaction with online and on-campus involvement –opportunity to showcase bloggers at events CMTCMT –successful implementation of a new tool –fulfillment of group mission: to enable others

8. 8 Concerns StudentsStudents –blogging as time investment in addition to rigorous academics –remembering that the blog is very public AdmissionsAdmissions –making sure we have selected the right students CMTCMT –limitations of current blogging tool –another application to support and update –archiving blogs after blogger rollover at end of semester

9. 9 Future challenges StudentsStudents –their concerns remain –reaction of peers and other campus community members AdmissionsAdmissions –continue leveraging the service and promoting the bloggers –selecting the right students CMTCMT –migration to a new blogging tool –review comments policy; allow moderated comments –provision of templates