Text Templates for Higher Education
Communicating effectively with students, staff, alumni and supporters is paramount in today’s higher education landscape. More and more calls are going to voicemail and emails are increasingly buried in ever-growing and clogged inboxes.
Enter text messaging.
If you’re in higher education and not yet communicating via text, you’re missing meaningful opportunities to connect.
Wondering how to better utilize text? We’ve put together some templates to get the wheels turning on how you can better communicate with SMS.
Text Message Templates for College Admissions
Keep track of applicants in the admissions process with text messages. Easily gauge where students are in their journey. You can tag applicants by their status and whether they are interviewing, started an application but have yet to complete, haven’t replied to their acceptance, or are missing information. Apply these texts today!
1
Hello Blake! This is Colgate Admissions. Your enrollment window is open and we see you haven’t enrolled yet. Please respond: 1 – Need help 2 – Enrolling soon 3 – Already enrolled 4 – Not ready to enroll 5 – Not returning to Colgate
2
Hi Tara. Congrats on your acceptance to CU! Do you need help with financial aid? Please reply “YES” or “NO” Thanks! Blake, student loan advisor
3
Toby, you qualify for a presidential scholarship – congratulations! Reply “YES” if you would like the form.
4
Jennifer, your application to CU is incomplete. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15. Will you be completing your application. Please reply “YES” or “NO”
5
Vinny – We see your application to CU is incomplete. Please respond: 1 – Interested in early decision 2 – Waiting to apply later 3 – Unsure 4 – No longer interested in CU
6
Hi Alyssa! Thank you for applying to CU. Please rate your experience with the admissions process 1 – Poor 2 – Okay 3 – Pretty good 4 – Excellent
7
Hi Adam! Just a reminder that your admissions interview with Eric is tomorrow 3/08 at 2:00 PM at 244 Campus Drive. Please reply if you won’t make it.
8
Danielle – thanks for applying to CU! We are still waiting for your high school transcripts. Please respond: 1 – Already sent 2 – Haven’t sent yet 3 – Sending this week
9
Quinn – Thanks for visiting the CU Booth today at the college fair. Did you know we are ranked #1 for campus living? How interested are you in learning more about CU? 1 – Not very 2 – Somewhat 3- Very 4 – It’s my number one choice
10
Ryan – The deadline for roommate selection ends in one week! Don’t forget to fill out your preferences. We want you to have the best match possible.
Text Message Templates for Higher Ed Fundraising
Texting for higher ed fundraising can help you to keep track of donations, collect donor information and interest, and share how their contributions are being utilized. You can tag groups of donors by those who gave, those who haven’t, or dollar amounts. Below are some samples texts to start sending for your fundraising campaigns.
1
Brittany – Thank you for your support of CU students. We thought you’d enjoy
this photo of our students studying abroad thanks to your generosity
2
Thanks to your generous support, Matt, we have raised $2M for our new dorm.
You have helped make a difference on our campus and we hope to see you on
campus soon. Dean Thomas
3
CU Giving Day is in two weeks, Sarah. Can we count on your support again?
Please reply “YES” or “NO”
4
Jake – we know you continually give to CU and appreciate your support. Can we
count on your again this year? Please reply 1- not this year unfortunately 2- still
deciding 3 – yes, of course
5
Hi Wendy! This is Lauren a current CU student. It’s our Giving Day – can we
count on your support? Please respond: 1 – no, I can’t give this time 2 – yes, of
course 3 – already gave
6
Nate – it’s time for the Bears Challenge! We are competing with our rivals the
Colts to see who can raise the most during Giving Day. As a former athlete, can
we count you in the competition?! Please respond 1 – Yes, go Bears 2- No, go
Colts win 3 – I’m undecided
7
Hi Mel! This is Phoebe from CU phone-a-thon. Thanks for your previous
support. Text 5644 to give again.
8
Hi Kip! CU is so close to making our annual fundraising goal. Have you made
your donation yet? Please reply: 1 – yes 2 – not yet but will 3 – unsure if I will
9
Tara – We are raising money for a new lab. We are running a fun campaign next
month with a chance to win prizes. As a former bio/chem student, are you
interested in participating? Please reply “YES” or “NO”
10
Congrats, Will! You win one of our prizes for bringing in 3 new donors this
quarter! Please reply with your mailing address to send the prize.
Text Message Templates for Alumni Relations
Once students leave campus, keep them interested in updates and provide them resources even after graduation. You can use tags to group alumni by reunion celebrations, activities, greek organizations, majors, or job industry. If alumni make up a good portion of your fundraising efforts, you will want to make sure you have a mix of donation requests and informative texts. Below are texts you can start using to engage with alumni today!
1
Caroline – We are having a Kappa reunion during homecoming on Friday night at 6pm. Will you be there?! Please respond “YES” or “NO” -KKG Prez Samantha
2
Frank: Can we count on you to cheer for the Cougar baseball team during our homecoming game against the Sharks? Please respond 1 – Absolutely 2 – Can’t make it this year 3 – Still deciding
3
Hi Maria! We are having an Austin alumni dinner at The Roosevelt Room on 3/25 at 6pm. Will we see you there? Please reply “YES” or “NO”
4
Max! We are having a virtual networking event for alumni in tech on 9/29. It will last an hour starting at noon ET. To RSVP please respond “YES”
5
Kimmy: Want to stay connected to marketing jobs? Join our group text to receive information on jobs in the industry posted by other alumni. Please reply “YES” to opt in!
6
Sean: We have a new job opening in finance. Are you looking for a new opportunity? Please respond 1 – Not right now 2 – Yes, please send me the details
7
Sarah: Did you see that CU was ranked in the top 50 schools by US News?! Please respond 1 – Yes, that’s awesome 2 – No, but thank you for sharing 3 – Thanks but I’m not interested in these types of messages
8
Hi Lauren! Congrats on graduating! We want to keep you updated on career tips, networking, and campus news. How excited are you for your next step? Please respond: 1 – Nervous 2 – Pretty excited by a little nervous 3 – Can’t wait to start my next journey
9
Tara – We are raising money for a new lab. We are running a fun campaign next month with a chance to win prizes. As a former bio/chem student, are you interested in participating? Please reply “YES” or “NO”
10
Stephen: As a recent grad, are you interested in a free resume review workshop? Please respond “YES” or “NO”
Text Message Templates for Returning to Campus
Communicating with current students can take many stages: welcoming students back to campus, advising current students, and/or current activities and events. Texting keeps students connected to vital information on a device they are already using multiple times throughout the day. You can segment the current students into groups whether you are an advisor, professor, or activities director. Try these back-to-campus templates to get students ready for the semester!
1
Hello Suri! This is Madison, your academic advisor from CU. Wanted to check in
since you’re a few weeks into your first year on campus. How would you say things are going for you so far? A. Killing it! B. Doing ok but it’s hard. C. Help, please!
2
Hi Brandon! This is Yan a biochem TA and I wanted to see how you are feeling about the semester so far. A. Smooth sailing B. Some bumpy waters but I can manage C. I may be sinking, help, please
3
Hi Natalie: this is Katie from CU. We are about two weeks out from the start of the fall semester. I just wanted to reach out to see how you are feeling. Please rate on a scale of 1-10 (1 – not prepared please help to 10 – I am excited to
start!).
4
Hello Tommy! This is Adam from the athletics dept. I am planning an intramural league and taking votes on which sport to pick. The choices are soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Please respond which sport you prefer. Most votes wins!
5
Hey Chase. Spring registration for classes starts soon. Do you need help deciding on courses or have any questions? Please respond “YES” or “NO”
-Gary your advisor
6
Hi Izzie! This is Danielle from CU activities. We are having a BBQ for business
students on 9/22 at 5pm. Will you be there? Please respond “YES” or “NO”
7
Savannah, as a pre-law student, I wanted to make sure you knew we were offing an LSAT practice test on 11/11 at 8 am. Are you interested? Please respond 1. I’m thinking pre-law isn’t for me 2. Not sure I’m ready yet 3. Yes, thank you!
8
Zach, due to the state-wide snow emergency, we are canceling all classes and activities today.
9
Rebecca, We are excited to see you back on campus next week! As a reminder to upperclassmen, move-in dates are 8/23-25. Do you have any questions?
Please reply “YES” or “NO”
10
Hi Matt! We are having finals week snacks in the dining hall from 6-8 pm. Will you be grabbing snacks?! Please respond: 1. Not really my thing, but thanks. 2.Yes, I can’t wait!