Administrative Rule
This rule applies only to college use of student directory information without the student’s prior, specific consent to receive text messages from Austin Community College.
Austin Community College may text a targeted group of students, in college-wide initiatives, to achieve a specific, measurable outcome. All text message initiatives, campaigns, and outbound content will be approved by the Associate Vice President or Vice President overseeing the department and authorized sender who will administer the text message(s).
Upon approval, the first text message sent to a student must inform him/her of the purpose of the texts, the frequency and duration of the texts, and instructions for leaving the text message campaign. All text messages must provide an opt-out or leave option each time a text is sent, allowing students the choice to no longer receive messages from the sender.
All use of text messaging will be consistent with other ACC policies and local, state, and federal laws – including, but not limited to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
ACC will ensure that designated vendors sending text messages to students on behalf of ACC staff or departments comply with all ACC Guidelines and Procedures for opting out or leaving texting groups and/or campaigns.
ACC staff or designated vendors shall immediately remove, from text messaging campaigns, all students who indicate they wish to leave a particular series of text messages.
Non-compliance with this administrative rule may result in disciplinary action, revocation of access, or revocation of vendor contract with the approval of the appropriate Vice President.
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