Before the University of Connecticut awards degrees to its largest-ever class, there\u2019s one last item on the checklist for soon-to-be graduates and their families \u2013 and that\u2019s to text \u201cUConngrad\u201d to the number 888777.<\/p>\n
By doing so, people coming to the University for commencement weekend will opt in to receive urgent communications about the event, should the need arise to communicate directly with that audience.<\/p>\n
The text is not case sensitive, so either \u201cUCONNGRAD\u201d or \u201cuconngrad\u201d will work just as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not something we\u2019re going to use to spam people with a hundred messages,\u201d says Capt. Christopher Renshaw from UConn\u2019s Office of Emergency Management. \u201cBut if there\u2019s an urgent situation, this enables us to communicate directly with the people we need to reach.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new texting tool is intended to augment the University\u2019s existing channels for communicating with students, faculty, staff, and visitors, which range from social media to campus-wide emails, but with the feature of allowing people to opt-in to receive messages, and then \u2013 once the weekend is over \u2013 to opt out, by texting \u201cSTOP\u201d to the same number. Based on service providers and plans, data and messaging rates may apply to the texts, so bear that in mind when signing up.<\/p>\n
Since this is the first time UConn has used the tool, Renshaw says, it\u2019s likely there will be at least one message sent each day of commencement weekend, as a kind of field test of the new method.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will probably be something fun, like reminding people to get their pictures taken in front of the statue of Jonathan,\u201d Renshaw says. \u201cCommencement is a great occasion, and we\u2019re looking forward to welcoming so many people to experience it with the whole UConn community.\u201d<\/p>\n
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