Walk onto any college campus, and students chatting on cellphones are almost as ubiquitous as jeans and backpacks. For the most part, college officials have grudgingly tolerated the behavior. Many don’t like it that students no longer make long-distance calls from land-line phones in dormitories, which used to generate a steady stream of revenue for colleges. And they are bothered that ringing phones and incoming text messages can distract students from class discussions. But several colleges are now finding a way to benefit from students’ obsession with mobile phones. The institutions are collaborating with start-up companies to offer students access to campus-related information on cellphones, such as a notice about a canceled class, an alert about a change of venue for football practice, or an announcement posted on Blackboard, a course-management system. (The Chronicle, subscription required)
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