After the nationwide scramble on college campuses to create systems for emergency text alerts, administrators are finding that students are slow to embrace the idea, according to the Associated Press.
Surprisingly, four in 10 students have still not signed up for the service at Virginia Tech, the article says.
Why is that?
“Campus-safety experts point to several factors to explain the lack of interest among students, including feelings of invincibility and reluctance to give out personal information.
“Others hesitate to pay the fees — generally a matter of pennies — that some cellphone providers charge to send and receive texts. Colleges generally pay $1 to $4 per enrolled student to the companies that set up the alerts.”
Notably, one administrator from Northern Illinois University told the Associated Press that he didn’t believe total saturation was necessary for the service to work, and that the message would spread just as effectively through word of mouth.
What do you think? —Hurley Goodall
Developing online and blended learning programs requires research and collaboration. Learn how top technology companies are partnering with campuses across the country to advance online learning as it becomes an increasingly important aspect of higher education.