In March, we all faced an abrupt change to our environments. Students stopped attending class in classrooms on campus and faculty and staff starting working from home. Few of us were prepared as we entered a new realm of learning online and conducting our work solely through the use of our computers. Ten weeks later and the circumstances have not change much which means New Student Enrollment (NSE) is online, summer school is online, and faculty and staff are spending hours to plan so we can all return to campus safely in another ten weeks.
In the meantime, Student Involvement and RSOs have never stopped. We have all worked to find new and different ways to connect and conduct business. Our new normal is going to be our new normal for the coming months and maybe the whole academic year. But the goals of engaging the student body, achieving the missions of all the RSOs, and the importance of continuing to develop leaders will never stop. It just will look different and need to be done in new and creative ways.
The Class of 2024 has begun signing up for classes and starting today they will be attending NSE virtually. That means they are beginning to receive messages about how important it is to get involved and to find their communities. RSOs are vital to that involvement and connection and the virtual presence of each RSO is going to make that easier. Over the next few months, we will be recommending ways to enhance your club’s virtual presence so our new students can find and learn about the over 500 student organizations prior to arriving on campus. We want our new students to be excited about coming to campus in August and becoming Huskers.
Four things each RSO can do to boost their presence on NvolveU.
1. Make sure each of your officers has uploaded their picture on their profile. Photos make your group appear more approachable and active.
2. Make sure your social media handles are connected to your portal. If your group does not have a social media presence you might want to consider utilizing a single platform like Instagram. It is another way students can connect with your organization.
3. Set the date for your first meeting in the Fall. Make sure the EPR is approved and make the meeting public so it shows on the NvolveU Events page.
4. Create a news post advertising your first meeting. Check out how to do this by viewing the NvovleU & You: News Tool video found here: https://involved.unl.edu/rso-videos
Another way RSOs can heighten their awareness virtually is to take advantage of a new opportunity Student Involvement announced recently. Student Involvement along with Union Bank & Trust is encouraging RSOs to develop 45 second videos promoting their group. The videos selected will be utilized all summer and into the fall semester on Student Involvement social media channels and the RSOs whose videos are chosen will receive $50 in their SOFS account. For additional details on this new initiative check out the details in this newsletter!
Until we can return to in person interactions, making students aware of your organization and its mission will need to be done virtually. Student Involvement is committed to assisting each of our groups in this effort by sharing new tips each month. The suggestions are design to be cost effective and easy, but impactful. If you have any ideas on additional ways to RSOs can augment their online presence, please email us at involved@unl.edu.
More details at: https://involved.unl.edu/rso-videos