‘Facebook Campus’ Launched at 30 U.S. Colleges, Including Caltech

With communication more vital than ever amid pandemic-induced social distancing measures, Facebook on Thursday launched its new Facebook Campus platform meant to help students at 30 U.S. academic institutions, including Pasadena’s Caltech, stay connected, the company announced.

Facebook Campus is a dedicated portion of the Facebook app which allows students to create special student profiles, apart from their main Facebook profiles, Facebook said in a written statement.

As many colleges, including Caltech, begin their academic years with online formats, “Facebook wanted to make it easier for students to connect and communicate with each other in a dedicated space within Facebook,” said company said in a statement.

“As students navigate this uncharted territory, Facebook hopes that this tool will offer a way for students to feel more connected with one another. Students have already been using Facebook Groups and Events within their college communities, and Facebook Campus will make it even easier for them to do so.”

Students are able to sign up for the platform immediately, and the app will open with full access on Sept. 17, according to the statement.

Features of the students-only app include a new feed allowing students to take part in groups or events related to their specific schools, a campus directory, and a “low-pressure” chat room to help students break the ice, according to Facebook.

Students need only to input their college email and graduation year to enroll, the company said. Other information, like major and hometown, are optional.

“Once a Campus profile is set up, students can discover Groups and Events unique to their school, and connect with classmates who share similar interests,” according to the Facebook statement. “When content is shared on Campus, only people within Campus will see it.”

More information about Facebook Campus is available online at about.fb.com/news/2020/09/introducing-facebook-campus.