Text messages are a common form of communication among people today. College students have practically grown up with texting. Smart universities could take advantage of this by offering premium SMS services to their students.

Examples of how colleges could use SMS include:

• Update students about on-campus activities and issues. Students don’t always read the email alerts that are sent out by the various administrations and organizations on campus. However, they do usually read their text messages.
• Allow students to get questions answered in real-time. Teachers as well as administrators could answer student questions via two-way SMS. This could even be useful in situations where students are embarrassed to talk to someone on campus, such as when they need information about the school’s mental health services.
• Get students more involved in campus life. Premium SMS services include such things as being able to vote or enter competitions by text message. Students might be more inclined to get involved in on-campus issues if they were given the option of doing so through mobile messaging.
• Allow for mobile billing. Of course, you wouldn’t charge a student’s mobile phone for large expenses like tuition but SMS billing could be used for small charges. For example, students might be able to use text messaging to pay for printing at the campus library or buying a soda at a restaurant on campus.

Sending information by SMS may reach more students. At the very least, it could allow students to choose their preferred method of communication. Texting is what college kids do today; schools that recognize that would have an advantage with their students.