A WCET Closer Conversation: How to Create a Sense of Community When There Is No Community

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Town Halls, Lunch and Learns, oh my! The ideal community is one of fluid and engaging communication between all stakeholders of the institution – students, faculty, staff, and alumni. If successful, informal networking benefits students’ current and future career choices, enhances the student experience to increase satisfaction, boosts retention and completion rates for students, and develops comradery between faculty and students to maintain an active alumni network after graduation. Networking helps faculty feel more connected to the institution, encourages them to play a larger role in the lives of the students than just classroom instruction, and can reduce adjunct turnover.

How do you create a sense of community in a fully online environment? WCET members explored this issue in a Closer Conversation, led by representatives from Granite State College.