West Virginia’s Text Messaging Support Project, launched this month by the state’s Higher Education Policy Commission, provides a pilot group of high school seniors personalized college counseling by text message.
The initiative to increase the college-going rates of high school students was highlighted at a White House conference Thursday hosted by the President and First Lady.
Bluefield State College, Concord University, Marshall University and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College have signed on as partners.
In March, students planning to attend one of these institutions will begin receiving personalized text messages directly from that campus, and they’ll continue through the end of their freshman year.
The average college-going rate among West Virginia high school students is less than 50 percent.
Commission Chancellor Paul Hill said in a statement that the project was about developing a lasting source of counseling and support for these students, that all student messages will be answered, and that counselors will guide students through the application process, and their transition into higher education.