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Actually, I know that many colleges are using instant messaging more and more, particularly for recruiting athletes. NCAA regulations limit the contact between a coach and potential student athlete, but this only limits phone calls, personal meetings and emails. Many coaches are using instant messaging as a way to get around the NCAA limitations.
I've also seen colleges where you can contact admission officers via public IM networks. Makes sense, in my opinion, since nearly every teenager I know uses instant messaging already.
As for blocking public IMs, I don't think this is very common at the collegiate level. The main concerns I've seen at schools are over P2P file sharing and fair-use of bandwidth. At the high school level, it's just the opposite; they generally frown on or try to prevent the use of instant messaging. Apparently they see it as a form of electronic "note passing."
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