Eric Stoller's blog

Leslie Dare is one of my favorite student affairs techies. I remember reading Leslie’s call to action regarding the NASPA Technology Knowledge Community in 2006: “Technology in Student Affairs: Seeking Knowledge, Craving Community.” Having been present for the disbanding of the original KC, I was encouraged by Leslie’s leadership and insight into student affairs technology.

Leslie has created a poll that I think asks an important question for anyone who works in student affairs. This poll indicates to me that the relationship between technology and student affairs is complicated and emerging. Leslie and I would both love to know your answer to this question:

ACPA and NASPA are the largest higher education associations for student affairs practitioners. With a total membership of almost 20,000 student affairs professionals, these two associations play a pivotal role in the future of the profession. The topic du jour for most association members has been the conversation taking place regarding the issue of consolidation. Taking two associations and turning them into one mega-student-affairs association is no small task. According to the latest consolidation proposal, unification has been an ongoing conversation topic for the past 30 years. However, this latest attempt at creating a single association has achieved a momentum that hasn’t occurred in prior years. It would appear that we are at the cusp of the creation of a brand new organization. With a tentative consolidation vote to take place in the spring of 2011, student affairs professionals are scrambling to find out information about the future of ACPA and NASPA.

Both associations have created centralized information portals for their members:

• ACPA – ACPA and NASPA: Exploring a Common Voice
• NASPA – Consolidation Discussion

With so much information being presented on both association sites, it can be a bit overwhelming. I know that I have had a heck of a time keeping track of all of the various communication channels that have been used to disseminate information and to capture member feedback. As a friend and member of both associations, I am hesitant to critique the communication strategy of this process, but I think things need to be more streamlined. The conversation seems to be getting quite fragmented due to too many disparate channels. An upcoming webinar on consolidation (For ACPA members, Monday, December 13, 2010, 2pm–3:30pm EST, Registration is required) should hopefully clarify some of the recent proposals. I know that I will be “attending.”

Having said that, here are a few of the information pieces / feedback forums that I have found to be quite helpful as I formulate my own opinions regarding consolidation:

• Proposal for the Consolidation of ACPA and NASPA – the definitive document on what the new association might look like.
• ACPA Consolidation Frequently Asked Questions – a great read on questions that a lot of members have asked.
• Advantages and Disadvantages of ACPA/NASPA Consolidation – I’m a fan of content that lists the pros and cons. Consolidation is an extremely complex process.
• Consolidation Concerns and Rationale – I really appreciate this sentiment: “Instead of a house divided, why not move forward united?”
• NASPA Public Comment Board – You have to sift through the comments, but there are some good points that have been submitted.
• ACPA Consolidation Discussion Board on Facebook – I’m not sure if Facebook is the right place for commentary, but there are some insightful posts that caught my eye.
• ACPA/NASPA Professional Competency Areas – this is worth another read as it showcases how the future association might approach technology (thread vs. competency)

I think that consolidation will eventually happen. Both associations have served their members well and a newly formed association will continue the traditions and legacies of both organizations. I applaud all of the leaders involved in the process as most of them are employed at institutions throughout the country. Their service is inspiring as they help to transform the future of student affairs.

What do you think…is consolidation going to happen? Why? Why not?

Do you tweet? Let’s connect. Follow me on Twitter.

[Cross-posted from my Inside Higher Ed blog.]

I had an amazing time being on Seth Odell’s Higher Ed Live weekly web show. I was asked to talk about higher education and web accessibility. We just barely scratched the surface of what it means to have an accessible web. However, I think that this was a great conversation starter and I look forward to coming on the show to talk about accessibility in 2011.

The back channel conversation provided a lot of questions and insight. It was great to see so many higher education professionals engaging in a conversation on web accessibility and higher education.

Seth and I put together a terrific list of accessibility resources for folks to peruse over at his website. Like I said last night: We all go together or we don’t go at all. Accessibility is an ethical mandate. Accessibility might not be the sexy topic du jour (eg: social media), but it is necessary.

I’ll be the guest on Higher Ed Live this Sunday at 4PM PST / 7PM EST. The topic is web accessibility and higher education websites. I’m really excited to be on the show!

Ensuring our websites are usable by people of all abilities and disabilities is a legal and moral obligation many higher ed institutions have failed to live up to. Eric Stoller, an Oregon-based student affairs technology expert, national speaker, and blogger for Inside HigherEd, joins Higher Ed Live to talk about accessibility on the high ed web, including legal requirements, who’s doing it right and all the tools a school needs to get it up to speed.

I’ve been a big fan of TweetDeck for quite some time. It’s my go-to “mission control” app for Twitter. I generally have somewhere between 20 to 30 active panels of various searches, hashtags, and lists. The latest version of the TweetDeck desktop client incorporates “real-time streaming.” The nifty thing about TweetDeck is that it is available as a desktop client and as an app for iPhone, Android-based phones, and the iPad. If you want to leverage the power of Twitter as a communications and marketing platform, TweetDeck is by far the best free app for staying connected.

You may be asking yourself what banana bread has to do with social media and a 5 star hotel in Colorado. Let me give you a little bit of context:

I recently spent 5 days at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The hotel was the site of the NACAS Annual Conference. I conducted 16 separate social media consulting sessions with representatives from higher education campus auxiliary services units from the United States, Canada, and Lebanon. I also gave a keynote on how campus auxiliaries can use social media to create community and connections.

One of the main themes that emerged from the consultation sessions was how social media provides a platform for institutional units to connect with students. For example, a Facebook page can be a great place to build goodwill and engage with students in an online conversation. Here’s an example of how social media can be used to build goodwill — courtesy of the fine folks at The Broadmoor:

Before I left for Colorado, I visited and “liked” The Broadmoor’s Facebook page. During my stay at the hotel, I found myself eating an inordinate amount of banana bread. Aside from my mom’s homemade bread, this was amazingly good bread. I decided to ask, via their Facebook page, for the recipe. I had posted some of the of the photos that I took of The Broadmoor on their Facebook page and knew that they might engage with me. Within minutes of my request, I had received a Facebook message from a representative of the hotel. They were contacting the bakery chef for the recipe. A few moments later and the recipe was posted on The Broadmoor’s Facebook page as a response to my initial comment.

How amazing is that? I can’t be the only person who has so thoroughly enjoyed The Broadmoor’s banana bread. They shared the recipe with me and agreed to let me post it on my blog. The Broadmoor gained me as a lifelong fan at that moment. They used social media to connect and share. This was about building goodwill. They didn’t have to share the recipe with me. However, I hope this little social media snippet has shown you how a simple act of sharing via social media can have tremendous results!

The best banana bread you will ever eat…except for maybe my mom’s recipe

Thanks again to The Broadmoor and its amazing bakery chef!

Banana Bread Yield: 2 loaves

3 cups Flour
2 cups Sugar
3 tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Baking Powder
Dash Salt
3 each Eggs
1 cup Oil
2 cups Banana, ripened, mashed
1 cup Walnuts (optional)

In large bowl combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, soda, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the flour mixture and add, well beaten eggs, oil, nuts, and banana. Mix thoroughly and divide evenly into two greased loaf pans. Bake in a pre-heated, 350 degree oven for approximately 45 to 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

I talk about NACAS a lot. Having given invited talks at both the NACAS West and NACAS East Regional Conferences, I can say without hesitation that this is one of my favorite higher education associations.

NACAS is the “one stop connection for information, insight and opportunity for auxiliary service professionals.”

What is “College Auxiliary Services”?

Also known as “Ancillary” or “Non-Academic Campus Support Services”, these services may include any of the following…

I will be actively engaged at the upcoming NACAS Annual Conference – November 6 – 10. In addition to giving a super session talk on “Using Social Media to Create Connections,” I will also be facilitating 18 social media consultation sessions. My participation at the conference is sponsored by the fantastic folks at Sodexo Education. The consultation sessions will take place at Club Sodexo…wifi, dry erase boards, coffee, strategy and social media. It’s going to be awesome!

Feel free to follow @NACAStweets for official tweets from NACAS. The NACAS 2010 Conference hashtag is #nacas10.

On Friday I will be giving the opening keynote at the PACURH 2010 Conference in Ashland, Oregon. The conference is hosted by Southern Oregon University. If you’ve never been to Ashland, you really need to go for a visit. It’s one of my favorite places in Oregon. I’ll be talking with students about how they can utilize social media in the context of personal/professional learning and leadership.

According to the PACURH 2010 Facebook page, more than 400 students have registered for the conference.

PACURH is the Pacific Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls which is part of NACURH:

NACURH is considered to be the largest student run organization in the world. It is completely student run, in all of the national and regional positions. It brings together over 400 schools from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Qatar. NACURH promotes living on campus as an integral part of the college experience, and strives to provide resources to help member schools create the ultimate residence hall environment and experience.

Living on campus was one of my favorite collegiate experiences…so many amazing memories, lasting friendships, and meaningful learning moments.

Last month at the EDUCAUSE 2010 Annual Conference, there were LCD screens set up all over the convention center. Conference attendees were able to participate via Twitter in an epic backchannel. Hundreds of tweets were posted each day of the event. Any tweet with “#EDUCAUSE10″ would find it’s way onto the LCD screens as well as the EDUCAUSE 2010 website.

I wrote up this mini-instructional post for last year’s NACADA Annual Conference. If you need a backchannel 101, it’s a good place to start. I think my favorite backchannel experience thus far would have to be #ACPA10. If you can’t tell, I am an avid fan of Twitter. It’s my personal and professional learning network.

Do you have a memorable backchannel experience?