Success Stories: University of Cincinnati

UC’s Goal

To break down the walls of the classroom and deliver course information to students wherever they are – including on the phones they have with them every day.

[Note: You can download the Microsoft Case Study to see how clearTXT works at UC]

The University of Cincinnati (UC) is looking to the future. Well-known for being on the cutting edge of information delivery in higher education, UC|21, a comprehensive academic plan in which technology plays a vital role on an increasingly mobile campus, is driving many exciting initiatives.

“The number one goal of the University’s strategic plan is to ‘Place Students at the Center,’” explained Dr. Michael Lieberman, Dean of Instructional and Research Computing. “The plan includes putting the priority on the students’ needs, and creating a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week learning, living and social environment. We believe that clearTXT helps us accomplish those goals.”

UC is one of Blackboard’s premier sites. Among other extended features, UC uses deltaTXT, clearTXT’s full-featured text-based program that integrates with Blackboard to extend the power of the system to provide a wide range of messaging options and functionality.  

With Success, a Demand for More

The University of Cincinnati’s successful integration of deltaTXT with Blackboard in AY 2005-06 generated more ideas for additional uses of the technology.
When UC began its relationship with clearTXT, its first priority was to connect students and instructors, wherever they were, through Blackboard. That goal was not only accomplished, it demonstrated the great potential offered by clearTXT. As a result, UC requested and received custom applications that extended the already comprehensive text messaging features of deltaTXT. These include:

  • course content delivered directly to the phones of students who have UC Mobile Bearcat Phones. Students with UC Mobile service can receive Blackboard course alerts with direct links to updated content.  Students who are not UC Mobile customers still receive notification of changes to their online classes. 
  • A mobile website that delivers UC Headline News, the UC Calendar, and other RSS feeds to members of the campus community.
  • The ability for students to access course content from the mobile web pages via a secure mobile webpage.

The Perfect Partner

UC and clearTXT share a vision for campus communications.
When looking for a mobile messaging partner, the University of Cincinnati considered other vendors, but selected clearTXT because of the two organizations’ shared vision in permission-based campus communications. “clearTXT extends the university, and its teaching and learning environment, to the mobile phone with easy-to-use, powerful, yet cost effective solutions,” says Fred Siff, UC’s Chief Information Officer. “Our partnership with clearTXT has been productive, pleasant, and allowed us to jump into this new space in real-time with competence and confidence.” 

Immediately-Realized Benefits

Today, UC students who opt-in to the messaging feature know they always have the most up-to-date information on their courses, campus alerts, school news, and campus activities. Plus, instructors who utilize the service are assured their messages are delivered immediately to subscribing students.