Advanced Writing Class Reflects on Semester-Long Social Media Project

Over the spring semester, University of Findlay students in the Advanced Writing class worked with the office of Marketing and Communication to develop social media content for the alumni Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. 

Working closely with Bridget Munoz, the University’s social media coordinator, Cora, Olivia, and Ryanne were able to create 16 weeks worth of social media content. Developing this content included conducting research in the University of Findlay Shafer Library archives, connecting with current students, highlighting alumni, learning about the University’s history, and more. 

This project not only served as a creative writing opportunity but also exposed the students to non-traditional writing career paths and provided a new perspective on the usefulness of refined writing. 

To conclude the class, Cora, Olivia, and Ryanne were asked to reflect on their experiences, providing insight for students who participate in a class of this nature in the future. 

Cora Purves

  “I was incredibly grateful for the experience I’ve gained in this class. Every class we had was entertaining and valuable. I gained valuable knowledge in the world of social media marketing and communication, and I learned to create engaging social media posts on three different platforms. 

As someone who runs a social media page for an on-campus resource, I was able to take the things I learned from this class and apply them to my job. I learned what language to use on posts and what kinds of posts receive the most interaction. Although I don’t personally use social media, the knowledge and skills I’ve gained from this class are valuable because I learned how to write using a specific medium while catering to a specific audience. This is an invaluable skill in my field.

The 2006 freshman outfit was my favorite post that I curated. This post was my favorite because I was genuinely interested in the topic, and it gained a lot of interaction on social media. It was a very fun post to put together, and I think it was a very fun post for people to view. It seemed to create a lot of nostalgia in alumni viewers and some of them even reflected on what they wore their freshman year, which was my goal in creating the post.”

Olivia Hyatt

“Being able to work on the Oiler Alumni social media campaign has been an enlightening experience. As a senior English major, I was hoping to use my final semester as an opportunity to explore different career paths. Social media has been an interest to me, so I was beyond excited at the opportunity to work with Bridget. There is so much depth that goes into social media work: understanding trends (including historical, current, and future), strong communication skills, editing skills, time management, multitasking, and so much more. I learned so much from Bridget, and I can honestly say she has inspired me to explore social media work further. 

My favorite post of the semester was my Greek Life Easter Egg hunt post. I loved being able to have the opportunity to promote Greek Life, while also reaching an alumni audience. It was nice to see University of Findlay alumni get excited on Facebook when they recognized the students in the photo.”

Ryanne Thereault

“When working on the Oiler Alumni social media I learned how to create a social media post. Specifically, I learned the best way to make a message clear while keeping it short and sweet. I also learned the best way to create a post that entices people to interact with it. 

These skills will help me in future projects because I now know how to create something to catch someone’s eye. I have personally expanded my social media pages in a way to advertise my skills to future employers. This class has taught me how to professionally share my accomplishments and skills via social media. 

The post highlighting dorm room activities was my favorite because I thought it was content that people could relate to, laugh about, and look back on with nostalgia.”

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