Today, it’s the rare college or university that doesn’t have a presence on several social media sites. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have all become integral pathways of communication for institutes of higher education and their students.

The rise of social media within the last few years has completely transformed the way colleges and universities connect with applicants, current students and alumni. And a subpar profile can end the student-college relationship before the first note of the alma mater is played.

College recruiters regularly check out applicants’ Facebook pages in addition to going over the official application; in a fairly high amount of cases, this extra research provides them with information we can only assume the applicant did not intend to advertise.

Similarly, a poorly maintained profile on the university’s part can deter potential candidates who are looking for professionalism.

And social media’s role doesn’t end there. An increasingly large number of professors are using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to interact with students, initiate group discussions and disseminate information. This movement also raises questions as to how connected these parties should be- how will personal and professional lives be kept separate?

I encourage you to take a moment to learn more about the role of social media in higher education, and how it affects those involved.

A big thanks to Vera M. Reed wrote this blog in conjunction with Accredited Online College Degrees.