USD Dean’s office unveils automated texting service

The University of South Dakota is reaching out to its students by means of a campus-wide text message service.

Go Yotes Texting is operated out of the Dean of Students office and is a voluntary service meant to inform students of events and opportunities around campus in the form of automated text updates.

Kim Grieve, dean of students, said the system will be used to send out notices of events open to all students, such as athletic events, workshops and events put on by Student Services.

“The service is a great way to conveniently reach students,” Grieve said. “Hopefully it builds a better sense of community amongst students and the university.”

Students can opt into receiving messages from Go Yotes Texting by texting GOYOTES to 69979. A confirmation message will then be sent by the system. The service can only be initiated by responding ONWARD.

Students may opt out of free, voluntary service by texting REMOVE to 69979.

Grieve said the first update was sent out Feb. 8 and she hopes as promotional items arrive, the low number of students signed up for the service will begin to increase.

Tena Haraldson, director of Communications and Media Relations at USD, said the service would not be used to send out emergency alerts.

“Our wish is not for this to become an annoyance to the students,” Haraldson said. “So the dean’s office is going to be wary of how many updates go out, as well as their subject matter.”

Grieve said around three updates will go out each week.

The idea for the updates was one Grieve carried over from her time at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio.

“When the service was implemented at Lourdes (University), administration began to see an increase in student involvement in campus activities and events,” she said. “Something that I am really hoping will happen here at USD.”

Sophomore Zach Anderson said he would not be interested in signing up for Go Yotes Texting.

“I don’t think I would ever be interested in that type of thing,” Anderson said. “I don’t really care about getting information about events.”

The service is operated by Lawrence and Schiller Advertising Agency and Online Marketing in Sioux Falls, and has been used by USD admissions to send out updates on the application process to prospective students.

While the service itself is free, Haraldson said regular texting rates on students’ phone plans may apply.

“The service is still in the experiment phase,” Haraldson said. “But, seeing as the technology has seen success in the administration department, we hope to see that kind of growth with this service as well.”

Grieve said she does not have sole control over outgoing updates, but will approve which messages go out.

“It is really important to get our students as involved in the university as possible,” she said. “These events we will be notifying students about things to help engage students and build leadership, and that’s really the goal of this service.”