Measuring Academic Social Media Engagement to Connect With Honors College Students

• In Event: Poster Session 16
  In Poster Session: Research in Gifted Education and Creativity

Abstract

Honors Colleges at public universities offer unique and affordable possibilities for deepening learning in a higher institution setting, but may fail at using social media to communicate with 21st century students. Despite benefits (e.g. small classes, dorm communities, undergraduate research) honors colleges often lose membership of admitted students before graduation. This study uses principal component analysis to uncover aspects of undergraduate students (n=117) engagement with their colleges via social media and compare honors and non-honors freshman college social media engagement. Findings include two components of college social media engagement and that honors undergraduate freshman engage more with their college social media presence than non-honors undergraduate freshman. Findings provide footing for measuring engagement in public education programs via social media.

Author

• Corinne Green, Purdue University