Students, Get Ready to Be Nudged!

12/7/2016

 

Sign up starts Thursday!

Contact: Sandy Connolly, Director of Communications
Office of Higher Education
(651) 259-3902

St. Paul, MN -- It can sometimes be hard to remember everything you need to do over the summer weeks before college starts, especially if you're the first in your family to go to college. A few words of advice from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education: don't leave it to chance - sign up to be nudged!

Beginning on Thursday, December 8, high school seniors planning to start college next fall can sign up for "Summer Nudging," a program that has helped students at close to 300 schools across the state prepare for college. Students can sign up by texting COLLEGE to 651-243-9980.

Now in its fifth year, Summer Nudging sends helpful reminders and recommendations via text messages to help students stay on track for enrollment in the fall. The texts are available in both English and Spanish and are free of charge, although standard messaging rates do apply. Students must opt-in to participate and can leave the program at any time. Parents and counselors are also encouraged to sign up for Summer Nudging.

Kat Klima, the coordinator of Summer Nudging, said that over 1,800 students were reached in 2016, but she has hopes of growing that number to 5,000.

"One in five college bound students fail to enroll in the fall, oftentimes because they aren't aware of the steps they need to take or lack a support system," said Klima. "The gentle reminders sent out through the nudging program help them avoid missing deadlines and provide practical advice on things such as completing financial aid forms to preparing for college orientation."

Last year, Klima expanded by nudging program by partnering with Bemidji State University and St. Cloud State University. Once a student has committed to attending one of these schools, they can receive reminders with dates and requirements specific to their school.

For more information about Summer Nudging, contact Kat Klima at kathleen.klima@state.mn.us or by calling (651) 341-6881.