I ask adult students if it is ok to send them text messages, everyone says yes basically, I've had one opt out in about 5 years. The Colleges were I work have enrollment forms that include the relevant data protection clauses as they collect addresses/phone numbers for contact purposes anyway. I use a password protected Web site to send messages which keeps an audit of the text of the messages sent, and I have not enabled the answer facility so these are 'one way' messages. I think that is more secure for the students than using, say, my own phone.
Under 19 its official channels only, and the College system has 'standard messages' that we click a button on to send from the Intranet. The student database has phone/address details and we have all the legal permissions to contact both students and their parent/guardian as needed.
Basically I'm in a regulated professional role where contacting students is regarded as good practice.
I ask adult students if it is ok to send them text messages, everyone says yes basically, I've had one opt out in about 5 years. The Colleges were I work have enrollment forms that include the relevant data protection clauses as they collect addresses/phone numbers for contact purposes anyway. I use a password protected Web site to send messages which keeps an audit of the text of the messages sent, and I have not enabled the answer facility so these are 'one way' messages. I think that is more secure for the students than using, say, my own phone.
Under 19 its official channels only, and the College system has 'standard messages' that we click a button on to send from the Intranet. The student database has phone/address details and we have all the legal permissions to contact both students and their parent/guardian as needed.
Basically I'm in a regulated professional role where contacting students is regarded as good practice.