Harding launches social networking program for fall 2008 class

Harding University

February 19, 2008

Harding launches social networking program for fall 2008 class

SEARCY — Create a profile. Meet classmates. Find a roommate. Discuss goals. These are just a few of the things accepted students for fall 2008 can do on a new program launched Dec. 1 by the Office of Admissions Services: www.welcometoharding.org.

Nearly 1,000 students already have been accepted for fall 2008. Three hundred of those students have logged on to welcometoharding.org and created profiles. Students from all over the globe are participating in the program, including students from places like Florida, Indiana and even Switzerland, said Glenn Dillard, assistant vice president for enrollment management.

"It's exciting to see our incoming new student class 'meeting' each other online before they actually meet in person on campus," Dillard said.

Welcometoharding.org is a UPeers program, which is designed similarly to Facebook. UPeers is a safe, secure and fun environment in which accepted students for the fall learn more about their future classmates, share interests and build relationships.

"Many are finding compatible roommates and discussing various topics of importance well in advance of the fall semester. Since UPeers is only available to incoming new Harding students, it offers the very best attributes of any social networking site," Dillard said.

Nearly 50 discussions are happening on the program every day. More than 5,000 messages have been posted since the launch. Upon acceptance, students receive e-mails from the program containing registration instructions.