ODU Creates YouTube Channel

– Lisa Snowdy

Old Dominion has taken the next step in educational outreach with the creation of an ODU YouTube channel. The channel hosts videos featuring various aspects of the university, including academics and faculty, campus life, distance learning and athletics. Among the current videos featured are faculty spotlights, virtual tours of forthcoming athletic facilities and even a helicopter tour of the campus.

Old Dominion is the first college or university in the state to launch an official YouTube channel, one that is recognized by the governor’s office and confirmed by Google/YouTube. ODU created the channel in partnership with the commonwealth of Virginia and in keeping with Gov. Tim Kaine’s technology initiative. YouTube is providing the channel and technical assistance free of charge, and there will be no advertising on the ODU channel.

While it’s too early to measure the educational value of being on YouTube, ODU’s ability to reach out to Internet users is an exciting prospect, according to Nancy Cooley, the university’s vice provost for distance learning, who is spearheading the development of the YouTube channel.

“This is an excellent way for prospective students and faculty to learn about our outstanding faculty and vibrant campus life. Additionally, it is an important resource for self-directed learners to access university content for lifelong learning and enjoyment,” Cooley said.

She added, “Clearly, one benefit to creating a YouTube channel is to help us stay current with the ways in which students acquire information these days. And it’s a great opportunity to showcase ODU.”

Students today are technologically savvy and have memberships in multiple social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, as well as file- and video-sharing Web sites such as YouTube. Many of them gather much of their information via these sites. Consequently, universities wishing to reach potential students via the Internet are compelled to go beyond the traditional institutional homepage or Web site.

Alice McAdory, ODU executive director of admissions, believes YouTube cannot be discounted when considering different influences on admission trends. “Absolutely, I do think YouTube has an impact on admissions,” she said. “From what I see in this office, our students are on YouTube and they know everything that’s on it.”

To visit ODU’s official YouTube channel, go to http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=odu.