The fall semester not only brings a new batch of first year students, it also holds many, many conferences that Student Affairs, Higher Ed Pros & Academics visit. On Monday’s (10/25) Campus Tech Connection (#CTCX) show, we chatted about the conferences that have just passed and others to come. We were also joined by Nathan Victoria, one of many tweet via @NASPAtweets, and who is heading to the 1st #NASPAtech Conference this week. Listen to our recent podcast & conference highlights here:

Here are some conferences happenings and highlights the show… and then some.

High 5 to the #NACDA11 #SM team & backchannel. Just bragged about you on #CTCX now @julieclarsen @BilMorrill@peacox @HowardSJ @NACADA

Jay T. Kimbrough, former Texas A&M System Chancellor

Gary and Julie chat about some of the topics that caught our eye this week.  You’ll need to fast forward to 45 seconds because of a few technical difficulties, but it’s worth it!  It’s also the 150th BreakDrink podcast! Woohoo!

Or Click Here for: Podcast

• Bursting Bubbles: Study Abroad
• Knife Wielding Chancellor
• Antioch College: They’re Back!
• The Irvine 11 & Free Speech
• Nontraditional Students the New Traditional Student?

Remember, you can nominate your favorite BreakDrink Podcast for a People’s Choice Podcast Award.  Join us next time on Thursday, October, 13.

Well that is all up to you listeners!

Nominations are currently being accepted (until September 30th) for the 7th Annual Podcast Awards. BreakDrink has experienced tremendous growth the last few months with the addition of several area specific podcasts and over 25,000 listens (that’s right 25,000).

Your support is very much appreciated, and we are glad you continue to be an active part of the BreakDrink community. If you have taken the time to download a podcast, be a part of the conversation by calling in live, tweeting, hanging out in the meebo rooms, or attending a free-online conference I would like to ask you to “pay it forward.”

As you know, our community here at BreakDrink is volunteer lead and driven and we can’t afford to pay our contributors much (or anything really) but it would be great for them to be recognized for their hard work by our loyal listeners.

Here’s the task at hand:

Why not nominate your favorite BreakDrink podcasts for the podcast awards? You can nominate once daily and there are a number of different categories. Nominate our podcasts here: http://podcastawards.com

I see a natural fit for the following noms; but feel free to nominate any you would like:

People’s Choice: Open (Student Affairs, Jamie & Ed On Duty, CUAD)
Education: (Student Affairs/Higher Ed, Jamie & Ed On Duty, CUAD)
Technology: Campus Tech Connections
Sports: Edu Sports

I would recommend some uniformity to nominations so they can count accurately and would suggest using Breakdrink followed by the specific podcast. For example: BreakDrink: Edu Sports Podcast. You could also link the specific page for that podcast as the URL (http://breakdrink.com/edu-sports-podcast/).

Additionally, there is a lot of other great content out there that you may listen to so feel free to nominate your faves all across the board.

Happy Nominating…have your friends and other listeners do it…It’s fun!

Please also share on facebook, tweet, and retweet…let’s get this done folks!

Thanks for your time and consideration!

Guest blog post by Lisa Endersby 

The very idea of what a community is and how it functions has been on my mind since accidentally on purpose engaging with the #sachat community about a year ago. I say ‘accidentally on purpose’ because I stumbled upon some #sachat conversations after signing myself up for Twitter during one my many long afternoons of under-employment (not making enough to pay bills but still in someone’s employ working toward doing something productive with my newfound free time). The new friends and opportunities that have come my way via Twitter have been inspiring.

While my experience with this new community has been decidedly positive, I have been fascinated by how a group of people, many of whom have never met or interacted outside of the Internet, can create what they deem to be a community with implicit rules and roles that govern most interactions – all 140 characters or less at a time.

The notion of virtual community formation and ongoing development is a PhD dissertation in itself (possible hint at my future goals perhaps?), but I did want to highlight some important lessons I’ve learnt during my time stumbling in (and around) my new Twitter community.

• As Nike so eloquently says, Just Do It! Get out there and say hello, ask a question or respond to an inquiry. The only way to know is to ask, and the only way to engage is to interact.
• Everyone interacts in different ways. Just because someone isn’t saying much of anything doesn’t mean they aren’t engaged with what you’re saying. As a card carrying extrovert, this means I have to learn not to rush to fill the silence – it’s often in those quieter moments that some profound insights are formed.
• The glue that keeps a community together is a mixture of passion, persistence and power. The ways we use social media to interact impact all of these.
• My best advice for engaging in online communities and beyond? Bring your whole self to Twitter, to Facebook, to work and to life. @EdCabellon once said he chooses to be authentic but not necessarily open. As David Mamet said “If you’ve got something to say, say it, and think well of yourself while you’re learning to say it better.”

I’d love to keep this conversation going! Tweet me (@lmendersby) or find me on the Google Plus. I’d love to hear from you!

For more on this topic, take a listen the Campus Tech Connection (#CTCX) podcast from August 8, 2011 to hear us chat about Student Affairs IRL vs. Virtual Communities:

Guest Blog Post by

Kelley McCarthy

Five months ago I created a project, using the social media tool, Twitter to interview 52 student affairs professionals in 52 weeks (#52in52). Little did I know how much this project would change my life forever. In less than four months, I had finished interviewing 52 amazing professionals.I continue to build stronger relationships, start new ones, and keep the conversation going.

This summer I had the opportunity to meet three of the 52 professionals I interviewed. Erin Morrell, Laura DaRos and Amber Duncan.  My life changed last night after I had dinner with Amber. I came home feeling empowered and blessed. As I reflected on the night I started to cry. The crazy idea for #52in52  (I was not even sure I could make happen) has grown into more than I ever expected it would be. I’m in the process with the help of Amma Marfo to submit proposals to NASPA-FL drive in, NASPA annual conference and the Investing in our Future Webinar Series: “Basic Level” Professional Competencies for Students interested in Student Affairs.

The Campus Tech Crew would like to give a BIG thanks to Kelley for sharing such an innovative with us. Do you have an #SAtech Project or Idea to share? The #CTCX crew would LOVE to hear from you! Campus Tech Connection (#CTCX) Podcast Contribution http://bit.ly/rcu9pw

The Campus Tech Connection (#CTCX) had a bit of a chat on this week’s show to preview the latest social network – Google Plus. To be super meta, the #CTCX crew hosted the Google+ preview show in a hang out and encouraged listeners to join in the fun.

As usual, we shared many reviews and resources, so we thought it would be best if we shared these tips and tricks in a shared Google+ Google Doc. Since we are shiny and new to the Google+-ville, we thought it would be a good idea to start a helpful list of links, blogs, and news.

Interested in hearing more about our initial Google+ thoughts? Check out the #CTCX recording here:

Campus Tech Connection July 11 Google Plus 07/11 by BreakDrink | Blog Talk Radio

Summer, summer, summer time!

For many student affairs professionals, this time of year either is filled with orientation fun, lingering projects, or, if lucky, holiday time off campus. We at BreakDrink hear that Alternative Professional Development (#altprodev) is good for your personal learning and training plan. The BreakDrink team thinks YOU deserve a Snackable break. Join us next Wednesday, June 29th between 11-1 pm CT for 2 FREE BreakDrink Snackable Sessions. All you have to do is sign up HERE!

Presentations:

In student affairs, there is a myth of the longer you work the more you get done. Or the more work you have on your to-do list, the better you are at your job. Often times these myths lead to negative attitudes, experiences, and burnout in our roles.  Using Tim Ferriss’s The Four Hour Work Week book to our work in student affairs, the session will share ideas how to distribute and share work using the 80/20 principle to help free ourselves and our student affairs work.

Presenter: Mickey Fitch

Two heads are better than one and if you had 200 or 2000 educators even better? So many of us share a common goal and that is to the student experience in whatever way we can, be that in the US, UK or anywhere. There must be hundreds of great ideas as to how we can go about that; some small and some big but all important and would be great to share. Perhaps a student affairs global wiki will help us to brainstorm and share to collaborate and build upon ideas.

Presenter: Sue Beckingham

Still on the fence about this #altprodev? Why not listen to what Jeff Jackson has to say about Alternative Professional Development on a recent #SAlive show with @EricStoller

Updated by Jeff Jackson

This is why we can’t have nice things.

Photog c/o Flickr user doug88888

We wanted to get community feedback, but since someone is stuffing the ballot box, we are taking it down. We will leave the presentations up on the main page, and if you want to share your thoughts you can leave them in the comments.

http://breakdrink.com/conference/

Here’s the late breaking news from your friendly Student Affairs news source online, BreakDrink.com. The #NASPACPA consolidation votes have been tabulated, and here are the official memos from the professional associations. Join in the commentary LIVE right now with @EricStoller and @JeffJackson as they broadcast on #SAlive  http://higheredlive.com/live/ and follow & discuss on Twitter with the hashtag #NASPACPA. Side question: Where were YOU when you heard the #NASPACPA news: http://bit.ly/NASPAPA11map

ACPA Votes Yes, NASPA Votes No from the ACPA President’s Blog

NASPA Results  Posted on Website http://naspa.org/consolidation/

Further reflection to come from the BreakDrink.com team soon. What are you thoughts on the decision? Please share.