readMedia isn't just a great tool for your institution, it's a
boon for your students, as well. By using the platform, you'll be
promoting their accomplishments on readabout.me and creating a positive
online presence for them, which can help them land jobs or internships.
So make sure that your students know about your use of the platform and
are on board!
Let your students know
about readabout.me!
Send an email to your student body informing them
that your institution will be using readMedia to send stories
about their accomplishments to their local newspapers and online. Here's
an email template we recommend:
Dear Students,
Wake
Forest University wants to make sure that you're recognized for your
achievements. The university has started using a platform called readabout.me
to publicize your accomplishments, like making the dean's list,
completing a study abroad program, or winning a scholarship. This
platform allows us to send news items about your achievements back to
your hometown newspapers, and also publishes them on the web.
Your
online reputation is important - 75% of employers Google an applicant's
name at some point in the hiring process. By using readabout.me, Wake
Forest will help ensure that you have a positive online profile and that
employers can easily discover your achievements.
When
Wake Forest issues news stories about your accomplishments, you'll
receive an email with a link to view your story online. You can connect
with Facebook and add your photo and share your achievement with friends
and family.
You
always have the option to "opt-out" of publicity about your success by
following the university's opt-out process. Click here to opt-out.
[Insert a link to direct students to your institution's opt-out process]
We
look forward to celebrating your achievements with your local hometown
media and online at readabout.me. Keep up the good work and be on the
lookout for emails about your accomplishments!
Strategic Tip:Send
matriculation announcements for entering freshmen each year. This
familiarizes new students with readabout.me right away and gets them
comfortable with seeing their achievements. It can strengthen their ties
with the university and inspire them to participate in more activities
and achieve more accolades so that they can have more accomplishments
listed on their profile.
Key things to know:
The information contained in hometown news stories is covered under FEPRA as "directory information", so you do not need to have students "opt-in" to allow you to write stories about their accomplishments.
Students
should have the ability to "opt-out" of releasing directory
information, and you should know who has opted out and not include those
students in your spreadsheets. Check with your registrar or student
records office to find out about your institution's opt-out process.
Key things to do: - Review
your institution's opt-out policy and process for directory
information. Do you give students the opportunity to opt-out upon
enrollment? At the start of the academic year? Make sure that your
registrar filters the opted-out students when they provide you data for
your spreadsheets.
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