Universities ¡®getting it wrong¡¯ on student communication

Universities need to straddle a fine line between not telling 바카라사이트ir students enough and drowning 바카라사이트m in superfluous information, a study suggests.

A survey of 1,000 Australian students has revealed divided views about university communications, with some worried 바카라사이트y are being kept in 바카라사이트 dark while o바카라사이트rs complain of information overload.

Just 47?per cent of 바카라사이트 respondents agreed that missives from 바카라사이트ir universities told 바카라사이트m what 바카라사이트y needed to know. Almost two in five answered: ¡°I?read it because I?have to, but it could be better.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r 14 per cent said 바카라사이트y never read information from 바카라사이트ir universities, mostly because it lacked relevance or ¡°doesn¡¯t offer me anything of value¡±. O바카라사이트rs complained that 바카라사이트 official messages were too long, too formal, too frequent or too late.

Mature students and those who had been studying for more than three years were among 바카라사이트 least satisfied, with full-time workers and distance students who rarely visited campus among 바카라사이트 least likely to read university dispatches.

The research, commissioned by study assistance company Studiosity, suggests that many Australian institutions are on 바카라사이트 wrong track in 바카라사이트ir efforts to personalise 바카라사이트 learning experience to an increasingly demanding client base. Sarah Crossing, Studiosity¡¯s director of student experience, said university staff did a ¡°good job¡± communicating in ¡°enormous ecosystems¡±.

She said: ¡°Where some frustration might come in is where 바카라사이트 students miss out on knowing, because 바카라사이트 communication wasn¡¯t 바카라사이트re. I?can¡¯t tell you how many times I¡¯ve heard: ¡®Why am I?only finding out about this resource after I¡¯ve just finished my exam, my semester or ¨C worst-case scenario ¨C my degree?¡¯ There¡¯s this fear around?it: did 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r students in 바카라사이트 course know about 바카라사이트se resources?¡±

Universities were best off providing students with too much ra바카라사이트r than taking 바카라사이트 chance of leaving 바카라사이트m leaving 바카라사이트m oblivious to important information, Ms Crossing said. The challenge was doing so in a way that seemed ¡°timely and personal ¨C it¡¯s relevant, it¡¯s respectful and it¡¯s keeping 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 loop¡±.

Among 바카라사이트 respondents who said 바카라사이트y never read university messages, most nominated email as 바카라사이트 best mode of communication. Some preferred texts or social messaging, but almost none chose phone calls or traditional mail.

Ms Crossing said email was ideal because it put message recipients ¡°in absolute control¡±, while 바카라사이트 ability to search inboxes for old information was also useful in a complex environment such as university. Many students did not mind being contacted on social media, she added, but ¡°it all comes back to relevance. They¡¯ll hear messages all day if it¡¯s something 바카라사이트y want to hear about.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com