With advancing technology becoming more important in the lives of students, several Tech officials said students should know how to use technology to their advantage, especially in the professional realm.
Rob Stewart, interim senior vice provost at Texas Tech, said new technology is a "prime avenue to interact."
Broader communication channels are a benefit to students, Stewart said.
James Baumgartner, internal vice president of the Student Government Association, said he could not imagine doing his job without the use of technology.
Without the Internet, he said, it would take longer to get his job done because it is much easier and much faster to send a bulk e-mail than make multiple phone calls. The SGA Web site also allows the organization to keep information readily available.
He said the use of technology also is a vital part of his education. Not only are class notes and lectures posted on Tech Web sites, he said, but grades are updated there as well.
Internet databases also provide abundant opportunities for networking and jobs, he said, such as the RaiderJobs Web site. Students can upload a resume to the RaiderJobs Web site and send it to multiple employers with the click of a button.
However, students must learn to balance new technology with traditional forms of communication, Baumgartner said. Many students who use communication methods such as e-mail or text messaging often form habits inappropriate in an educational or business setting.
"Lines are getting blurred," he said.
Stewart said face-to-face contact always reaps a greater benefit. It is easy for students to use Internet communication as a crutch, hindering them from excelling at face-to-face conversation. Etiquette and professionalism are key when interacting with employers.
Students also should be careful of what they post on Facebook, he said.
Jay Killough, associate director of University Career Services, said when writing to a professional, students should avoid mistakes such as using shorthand, incorrect capitalization and incorrect spelling.
Students sometimes go into "lazy mode," Killough said.
Killough stressed students should invest the appropriate time when contacting professionals by considering who they are talking to and be sure to check spelling and grammar. Also, students should be sure to include details relating to the subject matter when e-mailing professors or professionals.
Regarding Facebook, Killough said, students should use good judgement about what they post, and although some employers claim to have ethical problems with using Facebook in the hiring process, some employers still use it in the process.
Today's students are dependent on technology, Killough said, and it does have advantages.
As long as students are aware of who they are talking to and act professional, Killough said, technology can only help them.
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