NYU's digital updates

iTunes U

Although NYU's School of Medicine has already established a presence on iTunes U, the university as a whole has only recently started using the Apple service as a way to connect students, faculty, administrators and staff.

iTunes U allows members of the NYU community to access course materials as well as capture and revisit lectures and events at their convenience.

Also, because NYU may hold multiple events simultaneously, iTunes U allows members of the community to attend one event and catch up later on the other.

"We think it is an excellent way to convey and share NYU's intellectual vibrancy," NYU spokesman John Beckman said. "It's only been up a few weeks so I haven't really heard much feedback; I hope and expect it will be positive."

The public affairs office and WebComm office maintain the content on the university's section of iTunes U.

Wasserman & Skype

About two years ago, the Wasserman Center for Career Development started using Skype as a way to connect students at study abroad sites with counselors at the Wasserman Center.

"It gives the students a more real, efficient and personal connection," Wasserman Center director Paula Lee said.

Prior to using Skype, students would send e-mails to their counselors if they needed help accessing NYU CareerNet or writing resumes and cover letters.

Now students can see the person and interact over Skype.

Ever since, the reaction has been very positive from both the students and the administrators, as students are able to get the information they need and faculty can access the services available.

Homepage

NYU is actively working on re-launching the university's website later this semester.

According to Beckman, the current navigation aspect of the website is more friendly to those who know NYU than to visitors. The new site aims to be more intuitive.

It will make it easier for those unfamiliar with NYU to find and access information.

Backed by a content management system, the new format will help people who are unfamiliar with HTML to easily post contents onto the website and also keep the site fresh, according to Beckman.

The new website would better accommodate new technologies, such as YouTube EDU and iTunes U, as well as allow for easier loading of media materials.

Facebook

The university's fan page on Facebook sends users NYU and NYU-related information through the website's Live Feed options.

Users can access the latest news regarding student affairs, admissions, university events and research developments. Members can also access student and professor interviews as well as photo albums from university events.

"It really keeps me up to date on university affairs," LSP freshman Peter Wilson said. "It mainly shows the achievements of NYU faculty, but a lot of its research updates and videos are interesting."

The university's official page has more than 13,000 fans.