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Olney Central College’s success with Signal Vine is being highlighted on the company’s website.
OCC implemented the two-way text messaging platform last year as part of the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Title III Block Grant initiative to enhance academic advising. The Signal Vine platform enables advisors to strengthen communication and better engage with students.
Through Signal Vine, advisors can send both generalized messages to the student body and personal reminders. In addition to communicating with advisors, students can receive texts from Financial Aid and the Retention Coordinator and Recruiter. Students can also utilize the service to text follow-up questions.
“Communication is changing quickly and the staff at Olney Central College are changing with it,” said Title III Advising Specialist Ashley Bigard. “Signal Vine has produced transformational changes within Student Services at Olney Central College. With the blended text messaging approach that Signal Vine offers, staff are building stronger relationships with students. I am excited to see what results the innovative platform will bring to Illinois Eastern Community Colleges.”
Students are embracing the new platform. A survey sent through Signal Vine to assess changes in advising showed 86 percent were satisfied with the changes, including the use of text messages. Nearly three-quarters of OCC students engaged with the text advising program and advisors reported fewer missed appointments.
“Communication with students has become so easy and is a great time-saver,” said Assistant Dean for Student Services Andi Pampe. “Rather than many calls and emails over time, we can text a student and get an immediate response similar to a face-to-face conversation. It saves hours of reaching out and waiting time.”
Signal Vine is currently used at all four Illinois Eastern Community Colleges — Frontier in Fairfield, Lincoln Trail in Robinson, Olney Central in Olney and Wabash Valley in Mt. Carmel.
