Social Media
University Channels
IMC manages and promotes the following official Pepperdine channels:
Social Media Committee
The Social Media Committee is a sub-committee of the Integrated Marketing Group that:
- Supports the University community in using social media to further the Pepperdine mission and advance its strategic plan.
- Contributes to the recommendation of social media policy and guidelines for the University.
- Contributes to research related conversation and new advances in social media tools and mediums.
- Serves as a place to share ideas for school/department specific campaigns and initiatives.
The committee, which meets monthly includes content creators from across the University including the five schools, athletics, and alumni affairs:
Alumni Affairs: Gina Lipari
Athletics: Sarah Otteman
Graziadio Business School: Samuel Mesquita
GSEP: Hailey Lown
IMC: Laura Nickerson *Committee chair
Libraries: Jeffrey Bowen
Caruso School of Law: Chelsea Audibert
School of Public Policy: Jaclyn Ramirez
Seaver College Admissions: Kelly Sullenberger
Seaver College Alumni: Molly Fitzpatrick
To learn more about the Social Media Committee, please contact the social media committee member from your area/school or committee chair Laura Nickerson.
What is the purpose of social media at Pepperdine University?
At Pepperdine University, we commit to the following five strategic goals:
- Advancing learning, knowledge, and scholarship
- Developing resources
- Building community
- Respecting diversity and promoting global understanding
- Honoring God and heritage
We believe the strategic plan of Pepperdine University, including our commitment to those five themes specifically can be strengthened through social media internally and externally through the following goals:
- Increase recruitment for Pepperdine University's undergraduate and graduate schools
- Strengthen Pepperdine University's national reputation
- Increase engagement among target audiences such as prospective students, current students, faculty/staff, parents, alumni and donors
- Establish affinity through similar qualities, ideas, or interest with target audiences
- Strengthen, promote and support fundraising efforts for Pepperdine University
Generation Z has never seen a world without a platform for their original content. As the members of this generation become the largest group of social media users, universities and colleges have a unique opportunity and responsibility to engage with them and with their other target audiences through social networking and on mobile. Relating specifically to Generation Z, research has found:
- Generation Z says that 27 percent of a brand's purpose on social media should be to provide knowledge and skill, while 26 percent of a brand's purpose should be to provide entertaining content.
- 42 percent of Z's feel that social media has a direct impact on how they feel about themselves
- Marketers have a span of 8 seconds to reach teens until they keep scrolling
How are Pepperdine University's social media accounts managed?
Main Pepperdine University accounts are managed by the University's social media manager who is a part of the Integrated Marketing Communications team. All other official Pepperdine accounts are managed and monitored by official representatives across the various schools, departments, and campus organizations. Social media representatives from the University's five schools, athletics, and alumni affairs staff participate in Pepperdine's social media committee that meets monthly.
What other target audiences can be reached and engaged via social media to accomplish Pepperdine's main goals?
In addition to prospective students and current students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents of students, and donors constitute the University's target audiences.
- There are 7.6 billion people in the world
- 53 percent of the population is classified as an internet user. This has grown 7 percent from 2017
- 42 percent of people are active social media users
- 39 percent of people are active mobile social users
- 18–29 year-olds have an 88 percent usage
- 82 percent of Facebook users have attended at least some college
- People spend an average of 35 minutes of Facebook each day
- 400 new users sign up for Facebook every minute
- 36 percent of 18–29 year-olds use Twitter
- 28 percent of Americans with a college degree use Twitter
- 74 percent of Twitter users say they use their account to get news
- 85 percent of small- and medium-sized business owners say that Twitter is crucial to customer engagement
- 72 percent of teens use Instagram
- 59 percent of 18–29 year olds use Instagram
- 71 percent of US businesses use Instagram
- 80 percent of Instagram users follow a business
- 40 million students and recent graduates are on LinkedIn
- 13 percent of users are between the ages of 15 and 34
- 41 percent of millionaires use LinkedIn
What type of content will I find on Pepperdine's social media accounts?
Content found on the Pepperdine social media accounts includes, but is not limited to, University news, community events, thoughts related to higher education, engagement opportunities, student and alumni stories, and landscape/campus shots.
General Hashtags
#Pepperdine
#PepperdineUniversity
#College
#University
#GoWaves
#PepperdineWaves
#PepperdineStory
#PepperdineTradition
#Malibu
Athletics Hashtags
#WavesUp
Seaver College Hashtags
#PepperdineBound
#SeaverCollege
Alumni Hashtags
#PeppAlum
#PepperdineAlumni
#PepperdineProud
Event Hashtags
Pepperdine New Student Orientation #PepperdineNSO
Pepperdine Commencements #PeppGrad19
How do I get my content posted on Pepperdine's accounts?
If you would like to request for your content to be posted on Pepperdine's main University accounts, please fill out this Google Form. Please be sure to be logged-in to your Pepperdine Google account before you request. You can also reach out via email with any other questions: social@pepperdine.edu.