The University of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ at Lafayette has launched a student recognition program using social media to publicize students' accomplishments—such as making the dean's list, completing a study abroad program, or being awarded a scholarship.
The university will publish news stories about certified student accomplishments electronically to create an online profile for each student and will send news items about students' achievements to their hometown newspapers utilizing a service called readabout.me.
University-branded badges are posted on students' profiles to represent their specific achievements and activities. Students can accumulate unlimited numbers of badges.
Students can share their official achievement badges with friends and family through Facebook and Twitter. They also can enhance their profiles by adding other activities, achievements, work experience and affiliations that do not require university certification.
Dana Bekurs, assistant director of the Office of First-Year Experience at Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette, said the response has been positive and students are starting to enhance their profiles and collect badges.
"Readabout.me is a fantastic way for Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½ Lafayette to recognize our students for their individual and organizational accomplishments," Bekurs said. "Each badge is like a virtual trophy that students can display and share."
The badges encourage students to continue to achieve and stay active at the university, she said. The student's online profile creates a positive, professional online list of accomplishments for them to share with prospective employers.