'Your prof added you as a friend on Facebook'

While teaching Marketing 101 last fall, Wharton professors Keith Niedermeier and Peter Fader made a bet: They challenged each other to create Facebook profiles and see who would have more friends by the end of the semester.

But there was one rule: neither professor could make any friend requests.

These days, over a dozen Penn faculty members have created Facebook profiles for reasons as varied as seeing what students look like to getting in touch with them.

Statistically, it makes sense: The fastest growing demographic of Facebook users are those over 24 years olds, including university professors, according to the site's research.

Students benefit too, getting more intimate glimpses of their instructors.

For example, Psychology professor Sharon Thompson-Schill has six photos tagged of her skydiving, while College Dean Dennis DeTurck's Facebook wall boasts a number of birthday wishes.

Neurology professor

Geoffrey Aguirre updated his status on Tuesday, saying he "is consulting, neurologically speaking." He lists his job description as "braaaaiiinnnssss.."

Most professors-turned-Facebook users realize that students may find their participation in a once student-only network a little bit odd.

"I've heard students say it's a little creepy or stalkerish that a professor would be on Facbook, and that's not the way I want to come off," Niedermeier said.

"It's a nice way to interact with professors, . but it might be a little uncomfortable" for some students, said College sophomore Jessica Wolfe, who is Facebook friends with Thompson-Schill, her professor last spring.

To avoid that, Aguirre's policy is to not initiate friend requests.

"There's a lot of stuff people have on their Facebook pages that you wouldn't want your boss or mom to know about, and I don't want to put [students] in an uncomfortable situation," Aguirre said. "So now I don't add friends, . but if they invite me then I'll add them."

"But even if they're not friending you," Niedermeier said, "more and more professors are creating Facebook profiles and are using the network to stay in touch with alumni and current students."

DeTurck, who signed up because he was curious what all the hype was about, said, "Occasionally, if I'm trying to reach a student and for some reason his e-mail address isn't working and he isn't in class, I'll try [to contact] him through Facebook."

Since his bet to join the network, Niedermeier said Facebook is a "powerful networking tool that can be used to keep up with students who fall off the face of the earth when they graduate."

When the bet was over at the end of the semester, Niedermeier took first place with four more friends than Fader.

To date, Niedermeier has 102 Penn friends, and Fader has 78.

Comments (3)

I am a college professor and I have been invited to be "friends" with many of my students on Facebook. At first it seemed as if I was invading their space, but I was assured by them that it was a wonderful networking site. I feel fortunate to have such a good rapport with these wonderful young people that they would feel comfortable inviting me to join their list of friends on FACEBOOK. I am not here to monitor or criticize them for what they do or say. I am, however, an observer. I only seek to understand them and serve as a positive force in their lives. I will retire from the university in May and FACEBOOK is a wonderful way to keep in touch with them. These young people are the reason I have loved teaching for so many years. They are extremely important especially since they are the future leaders of our country. I honor them and I am honored by them. I teach them and I am taught by them. I will complete my book entitled "Teaching...The Love of My Life" at the end of this year. My book chronicles my entire teaching career and is a way to let more than 20,000 former students know of the impact they have had on my life and my career.

The student who keeps track with thier proffessors is aiming for one goal of reason. Keep clothes contact with your educators and learn more about who they are. As an educator and volunteer for my community, I have learned very quickly to reach-out in the most critical moments of my proffessional life and personal life to keep close communications with my work. Technology which the new way of keeping in contact with events, articles, family and friends these sites is one positive and effective way to get the word out. I also personally have a myspace blog and also have family and friends who make their appointments or community events because of this effective way of communications. We however all must still be careful and check out the person who is inviting you. Through personal experience and I am sure I am not alone, there are fraud and those individuals out there that love doing evil. It would make any difference but more safe to my opinion that actually standing out in the streets looking for a friend. We have our choices and if your not interested then please respect those who chose their friends. At least we are not facing them up front. Anyone who is being spammed or harrassed should not tolerate such abusers. I am here because I want to learn about people, far away places, families, lifestyles and what is occuring in our world. As an interpruener to social blog, there a great mass of good and formal educationa out there! It all depends on your interests. Because I love to help and read up on a variety of things, I try to at least be less intimidating by just throwing in an AD like most do. We'll it's just too much to handle. We have the option to choose the settings we want and how we want to interact. I can only speak of expereince. If we really care about people and learn to build our knowledge, I support technology, it has been the first peak ever to bring the world together. Isn't this why it was invented. I personally think for some people who have less education should try to look up the word GOOGLE. I learned to respect the world and put it to the best of my knowledge. As less fortunate that we may run into people, reporting it to the right source is also available. My daughter is on myspace is the source of her many school friends and all think she's cool. A warm personality, knowledge and I am very proud of my daughter. She has been taught how to meet and socialize, why I wish I had her remarkable character. God provides a gift in everyone, use your common sense, learn to say no kindly and be on your way. With proper research you'll will be less harmed. My managment and collaboration skills has helped me with less stress because in my proffessional work, it's time that matters. You be the judge. Cathymarie

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