By Jenna McLaughlin/reporter
Many students in line at campus offices next fall won’t really be in a line at all.
Instead, they’ll be free to go about their business on campus and will receive a text message when ready to be seen.
The “Who’s Next?” text message option will be available on all campuses and will primarily be used in registrar’s and financial aid offices during peak times, such as the start of each semester.
Students signing in will provide an ID number, nine-digit mobile telephone number and mobile service provider and then indicate if they would like to receive a text message when their turn comes.
The text messages are customizable and will include the number of students ahead of the recipient and the estimated remaining waiting time.
“We’re very excited to make this feature available to students because they will have the flexibility to visit other offices on campus and conduct other activities that will help them to be successful,” said David Ximenez, associate vice chancellor of enrollment services. “This service makes the wait time more convenient and productive for students.”
The idea to text students came from employees in campus registrar’s offices wanting to make it easier to call on waiting students during peak hours, when there could be a large number of students in line. They had heard of other institutions using text messaging and proposed the idea to administration.
Blue Eon Solutions supplies the “Who’s Next?” program, of which text messaging is only one service. The texting option is available on all major service providers except T-Mobile, whose 10-digit text messaging configuration is incompatible.
Administrators are eager to implement the text message feature during the fall semester. Consuela Mitchell, NE Campus financial aid director, said the feature has already proved beneficial for office use. She expects it to be “very effective to monitor traffic more efficiently.”
Administrators encourage student feedback regarding the text message feature. If it is a success, administrators will discuss using the feature in other offices, Ximenez said.
In addition to text messaging, NE Campus provides a video monitor in the hall outside the financial aid office that shows a list of students to be seen in order by check-in times.
Information on the screen includes the student’s name, numbered place in line and sign-in time. No personal information, such as a mobile telephone number, is shown.
Ximenez is uncertain if this supplement will be implemented on other campuses.
