If you don’t create the Facebook group or LinkedIn group, someone else will and you’ll lose admin control. If it already exists, ask the admin if he/she is willing to pass it over or allow a co-admin from the university.

From my experience much of the engagement happens outside the group, particularly in social networks outside the university. I join an alumni group on Facebook for my alma mater. I notice old friends and classmates I haven’t talked to in years. I add them as friends and message them directly. I’m thinking about my alma mater.

A low number of wall posts and discussions doesn’t mean there is nothing happening because of the group. (Admittedly, though, you can’t see that activity in the closed walls of these networks – it is anecdotal.)

Before we know it the the headhunters will be creating the Ning group for _______ University Alumni…

Very interesting to see how they get all of your web presences. Punch your email in and they’ll have it all about 1 hr later.

Definitely could be a gold mine if approached cautiously, don’t you think Andy?

I got a pitch from Rapleaf today as well, and will get around to looking at it soon (I hope), since it raises a very interesting combo (mashup?) of opportunity and risk.