Chat Sessions

Welcome to the Online Chat Page!

Online chat sessions allow prospective students to meet USF faculty and staff online, in an informal-- while still informational-- virtual environment. Using technology provided by www.chatuniversity.com, a typical chat session can be planned and implemented within a 3 week time frame.

Here is the link to the USF Online Chat web page:

http://www.usfca.edu/chat

What does it take to host a chat session?

1. Determine if the online chat will be in the evening or daytime. Evening chat sessions are normally on from 7-9 pm (recommended for undergraduate students); daytime chat sessions are normally from 12-2 pm (recommended for graduate or cps students).
2. Identify the specific types of prospects you'd like to invite via e-mail. You can send a text or graphic postcard. Submit an Email Campaign Request Form, which will include the email list requirements as well.
3. Determine if more than one virtual room will be needed for the chat session. The standard is to have one room. (A Web/Data Coordinator will configure the chat room to these specifications.)
   For example:
   • a welcome/reception room
   • a financial aid room
4. Identify and invite colleagues and current USF students who will help to moderate the chat session.
5. If colleagues have not participated in a chat session before, please notify Web Services to allow for a training session to be setup before the chat.
6. Contact Web Services the day before the chat to coordinate the location for chat participants to work and confirm the number of computers needed.
7. Order food and drinks (if there will be any!).
8. Click here to view instructions on how to log into the chat session as a moderator (please note, you will be prompted to use a username and password that was setup by Web Services).

For more information on hosting your own chat session, please contact Web Services.