SMS Text Messaging from UA

SMS text messaging is an effective channel of communication option that The University of Akron provides to incoming and current students. Text communication with students is limited primarily to critical and/or time sensitive messages in three subject areas, student safety, admissions, and student academic success. Students who have granted permission to the University may receive the following text communications:

• Safety: emergency notifications and campus closure messages via our Z-Alert emergency text-messaging service.
• Admissions: periodic reminders and updates about the admission process and application status for prospective undergraduate students, as well a channel for applicants to communicate with their Admissions Counselor.
• Student Academic Success (SAS): reminders and necessary action items for students to help ensure continued progress to degree in such areas as academics, advising, student accounts and financial aid.

Procedures for SAS messages

Students can opt-in for a variety of SAS messages here. A student should not receive more than three student academic success mass-text messages a week. Texts from UA are typically delivered in about 3 minutes. Carriers and UA are not liable for any delayed or undelivered messages.

Colleges and departments that want to text groups of students should discuss their plans with University Communications and Marketing (UCM). Software utilized by UCM is the only authorized system (outside of Admissions and Z-Alert) to text students. A centralized system makes best use of limited resources, allows for coordinating messages, as to not over message students, and to maintain compliance with applicable laws, and University procedures and standards.

Privacy

Except as otherwise required by law (e.g. whenever a valid subpoena is issued to the university), The University of Akron does not use or disclose student phone numbers or other non-directory information without consent of the individual. Learn more.

Opt-Out

Safety: Z-Alert texts are managed through a separate system. Learn more about Z-Alert.

Admissions: Please contact the Office of Admissions at 330-972-7100 or admissions@uakron.edu.

Student Academic Success: Recipients of SAS texts may use any of the following to opt-out from SAS texting:

• Reply to text message by typing the words STOP (best option)
• Contact University Communications and Marketing at ucm@uakron.edu.

The student will receive a final text message confirming they have opted-out from further student success texts from UA.

Cost

The University does not charge for the texting service; however, carrier message and data rates may apply.

Children

The University does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children/students under the age of 18 without the consent of a parent or guardian. Moreover, we require children/students under the age of 18 to opt-in to text messages only with the permission of a parent or guardian.