Something to Talk About

Texting, online chats, message boards, and other interactive networks are — for better or worse — the way college students stay on top of the news and in touch with each other.

So, in an effort to connect with Holy Cross where they gather, Jacqueline Peterson, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students at Holy Cross, is heading to cyberspace.

On Feb. 4, Peterson will launch a new message board called “Talk to Me.” The discussion will be accessed through Blackboard, the College’s course management software program that also allows for electronic interaction. Her first topic: “What makes Holy Cross different among liberal arts colleges?”

Only Holy Cross students can participate. The College’s Information Technology Services and Mary Morrisard-Larkin, director of educational technology, collaborated on developing the new program.

Peterson says embracing technology in this way will not replace her “old-fashioned” face-to-face conversations. “This is meant to be another means of extending myself to students and being able to have conversations on a variety of interesting topics,” she says. “I wanted an effective way to stay connected and to keep these conversations going.”

Peterson has been either a dean or vice president in Student Affairs for about 20 years. “Over the years I’ve seen the changes in the way students communicate. ‘Open hours’ used to be popular. That still exists, of course, but this generation of students is much more comfortable and much more engaged technologically,” she says.  “Plus, with all their responsibilities, their time is very limited. I still want them to stop in, but in the event that can’t occur, this is another way that I’m accessible.”

As “Talk to Me” develops, Peterson plans to have weekly discussion topics as well as regularly scheduled live online chats. Discussion topics will range from timely campus events (such as commentary on the College’s housing process) to fun and light-hearted queries (“what color paint should be used in residence halls?”). Other administrators from Student Affairs may also participate in specific topics in the future.

Related Information:

• Student Affairs