Engaging Your Community Online: A Success Story

Viking Village, Western Washington University's social and academic network, includes a forum for civil discourse, a gallery that highlights the creative work of our community and an area where students can connect with support services on campus. Viking Village has engaged participants across departmental and college boundaries. Students have said "Viking Village is better than Facebook" and that it has "become part of the Western environment." Yet, Viking Village appears to be somewhat unique in academic institutions. Is Viking Village an anomaly, or are universities missing an opportunity to engage their communities online in new ways?