In a recent article on Inside Higher Ed titled “Students Feel Spammed by Overload of University Emails,” the issue of excessive communication from colleges and universities was spotlighted.
Many students report feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of emails they receive, leading to disengagement, missed opportunities, and a general sense of frustration.
The article highlights several critical points:
1. Overcommunication Erodes Engagement: Students frequently ignore emails due to their overwhelming volume or poorly targeted content.
2. Content Relevance Matters: Generic mass emails fail to capture attention. Students prefer concise, personalized messages.
3. Timing is Crucial: Sending emails at the wrong time, such as during exams or holidays, diminishes their effectiveness.
4. Multiple Platforms Compound the Problem: Students juggle information across email, learning management systems (LMS), and apps, leading to overload.
These findings shed light on an ongoing challenge: how can colleges and their academic advisors communicate essential information without contributing to students’ communication fatigue?
Unique Solutions for Academic Advisors
Academic advisors play a critical role in supporting students. To address this email overload, here are actionable strategies advisors can implement:
1. Batch and Schedule Communications
Group non-urgent updates into a weekly or biweekly blast. This reduces the frequency of messages students receive, making them more likely to engage with the content.
2. Leverage Personalization
Students are more likely to engage with messages that feel personalized. Segment your student list into categories (e.g., undecided majors, first-year students) and tailor messaging accordingly.
3. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
Every communication should provide value. Before sending an email, ask: Is this essential for the recipient? Can the information be condensed? Is the call to action clear and easy to follow? Pro Tip: Use bullet points, bolded text, and hyperlinks to make emails scannable and actionable.
4. Consider the Sender
As the article suggests, “...consider re-routing well-being messages through personal tutors, and that administrative staff should be introduced to students—virtually or in-person—to increase trust in communications.” Students are more likely to open a message from a person they know and trust. Therefore, instead of five different people sending five different messages to a student, combine them into one condensed and well-worded message to be sent by their assigned advisor, tutor, or peer mentor.”
Did you know: These advising and success coaching certificate courses include training on communication strategies, including best practices for text messaging, emailing, readability, and methods for getting higher open rates.
Conclusion
The Inside Higher Ed article serves as a call for colleges to rethink their communication strategies. Academic advisors, as frontline supporters of student success, are uniquely positioned to address this challenge. By adopting intentional, personalized, and streamlined communication practices, advisors can reduce students’ feelings of overload and ensure critical information reaches them effectively.
