Colleges and universities are large institutions. They are different from schools where there’s usually one building with limited numbers of staff, teachers, and students. Colleges and universities have spacious campuses that may cover tens of square kilometers which include different faculties and buildings. Each of these buildings has its own internal system and flow. With the existence of great numbers of workers and students, it’s difficult to maintain communication among all of these parts and among students on the campus. Any problem can happen on any part of the campus and still, it might take time to reach those whom it may concern.
Why do Colleges need to communicate better with students?
Thus, let’s think first of why Colleges need to communicate better with students. Better communication between college and students is necessary. The first reason is to help the college address the issues that may occur on its campus. Students might have issues with the system, staff, teachers, or other students. Therefore, good communication ensures that the college will know about and deal with these issues. The second reason is that good communication will ensure that the students know about the rules, regulations, and the system of the college so that they can conform and work according to them to avoid problems. Communication between college and students is also important even if students are not yet there on campus. Students need help with admissions, to know more about college, and to how to get to college. They sometimes need to know how life on the campus and within hostels looks like before they get admitted. This is all part of the process of communication between college and students.
So, how Can colleges communicate better with students?
There are a number of ways in which colleges can communicate with students. Most of those ways have become related to technology.
Website
The first and basic way of establishing communication between college and students is the college’s website. If students need to know when the admissions are open, how to apply, how life on the campus looks like, and how the system goes, the first resource they would have is the college’s website. The website should be elaborate, guiding students through the process of application. It should tell them all the details about the college’s faculties, campus, teachers, courses offered, and syllabus. Including pictures would make the website strong enough to be the first bond of communication between college and students.
App
The second way that a college can use to communicate with its students is to develop an app of its own. The app can be helpful for students to track their progress in the courses in which they are enrolled. They can also get notifications for any updates in the schedule or any meetings. Teachers can use this app to contact students, share assignments, give instructions, and quizzes. Students can also track their marks for those quizzes and assignments and see teachers’ feedback. Students can use the app to inform their departments in case of problems or having to miss classes.
Emails
Emails can also be a helpful way of communication. They can be used to confirm enrolment or to inform students about certain functions and meetings taking place in the college. Emails can be used for sending reminders to students regarding activities, functions, or even exam dates. Students who have queries that have not met an answer can send their questions via email to inquire about any matter of concern.
Social Media
A college can also maintain communication via social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram posting updates about the college. This can especially be helpful in modern times as social media has become part of everyone’s daily life. students can easily be reminded and informed about functions where they can see the date, duration, and subject. A college can also make use of YouTube to start its official channel and upload videos introducing teachers, courses, and college policy. Videos can be more engaging and explanatory than regular posts.
Clubs
Adding to all of the above ways of communication, a college can organize clubs in which students group according to their preferences. In addition to ensuring a better and healthier educational and social environment, these clubs enhance communication. Leaders of clubs and groups can work as a connection between students and college administration conveying students’ problems. In addition to that, some meetings can be organized between students at clubs and some faculty members which would enhance communication.
Conclusion:
Communication between college and students is important in order for the process of communication to flow effectively. Without communication, students won’t be able to know what’s happening around them which would affect their education and life on the campus. Lack of communication might lead to a lack of awareness about certain issues and thus to fail to solve them. There are different ways for a college to avoid all those inconveniences. A college can develop a website, create an app, use emails, depend on social media, and create clubs in order to maintain communication with its students.
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