Most colleges and universities spent spring 2020 rebuilding the plane as it flew, adjusting their educational model to a world in which face-to-face classes were not possible. But it wasn't just in-person classes we lost. Many, if not all, of the in-person connections that keep students engaged with and successful in college also suffered. While much of higher education focused on the transition to remote instruction, academic professionals in areas such as tutoring, advising, and financial aid were left to figure out remote forms of student support. Meanwhile, plans and details were shifting on a daily basis, and keeping students in the loop was yet another challenge posed by the pandemic.

Now that summer has arrived, colleges and universities nationwide have turned their attention to how higher education will look in the fall…and beyond. Regardless of whether your college resumes face-to-face classes, remains fully online, adopts a hybrid model, or turns to block scheduling, you will need an effective communication plan to keep students both informed of and involved in these critical decisions. Furthermore, students' connections to both faculty and academic support staff will be more distanced than in the past, requiring strategies for engaging students with minimal, if any, personal contact. Successfully addressing both challenges will require a savvy understanding of the power of digital communication.

Read on to learn our 4 best practices for digital communication.