Giving Compass' Take:

•  Studies show that when Presidents of colleges use social media, they can connect with their students in creative and innovative ways.  Specifically, at minority-serving colleges, Presidents are able to engage in social justice issues utilizing social media platforms. 

• How can social media help other industries outside of higher education to help fight social justice causes? 

• Read about how an online university is using social media to interact with and receive feedback from students. 

Presidents of colleges that primarily serve minority students could engage with more students and "humanize" themselves if they were more actively using social media, a new study of the administrators showed. Diverse reported that the study also noted that minority-serving institution presidents can be successful in connecting with their communities through service events and social justice issues.

The report from the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) at the University of Pennsylvania says social media allows these or any college president the opportunity to be "innovative in the ways they serve, support and connect with students, alumni and their campus communities," at a time when that sort of interaction is important.

The report recommended that MSI presidents prioritize a social media presence, but "diversify" the content to offer information about student activities and achievements, university events, community service and school traditions, for example.

The American Association of Community Colleges has urged presidents of its colleges to use social media, noting that it can amplify "great stories that explain the mission", provide a forum to show they are a leader and help develop a greater sense of community at the institution.

Read the full article about using social media for social justice by James Paterson at Education Dive