Community College Journal - October/November 2010

AACC ONLINE

...

Linked to Healthy Discussions

M

ost people know LinkedIn as the online social network that pings their inboxes with invitations to connect with friends and former colleagues. In recent months, the site has evolved into more than a massive Rolodex of personal and business contacts.

It’s a place where professionals can share ideas, get advice from their peers on challenging subjects, and even explore potential job opportunities.

Using the network’s group feature, several community college leaders recently joined a growing conversation on AACC’s LinkedIn page about the relationship between personal services and student achievement.

Patricia Jackson, a college
communications professional,
posed this question:

“Does customer service matter when it
comes to student success?”
“This is a good question,” replied
Victor A. Sanchez, a higher education
and student financing professional
from the Los Angeles area. “I think that
perhaps too many of us look away from
good customer service delivered to
students. For many students attending college, a good or bad experience with
customer service can make a difference.”
Tammy Langan-Young, director of enrollment management at Northeast Commu-
nity College in Nebraska, said good customer service can improve student retention.

“We are developing a Strategic Enrollment Plan, where faculty are actually the focus of customer service in terms of retaining students,” said Langan-Young.

“The faculty [on] my campus are excited about learning how they can help and are
looking forward to the start of the fall semester to begin implementing some new
pilot projects. Retention, much like recruiting, is everyone’s job.”
To join the conversation or learn more about AACC’s LinkedIn Group, go to
www.linkedin.com and type in “American Association of Community Colleges.”

What They’re Saying… Follow AACC on Twitter and get the inside scoop on news as it happens—from the latest grant announcements to community colllege programs and events. Check out these recent Tweets: RT nasfaa: NASFAA Partners With National Forum to Study Campus Policies Impacting RT jamieindy: Boosting college graduation rates—focus on student achievement in NC http://bit.ly/9hdVwt #highered With its student aid process backed up, Minn. community college provides emergency loans. http://ow.ly/2Jhwo #comm_college In Calif., state budget cuts prompt waiting lists at some community colleges. http://ow.ly/2Jhyl Community colleges continue to do more with less to maximize efficiency. #comm_college #highered http://ow.ly/2JhmD White House announces participants for community college summit. http://ow.ly/2Lg Tb Any comm_college tweeps going?