Communicate Guidelines

Communicate is a platform that enables you to send targeted messages and notifications through the My UND app.

Anyone who has downloaded the My UND app can receive messages.

• Communicate offers one-way communication and users cannot reply or send messages.
• Messages are targeted to current students or guests. No communications should be specific to prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, etc.
• Emergency notifications are managed through Notified and will not be placed in the app. Duplication of emergency notifications is not allowed.
• Oversight of Communicate messages is the responsibility of UND's Division of Marketing & Communications.

Request a Message or Opt-In Channel

All messages are coordinated by University IT. To request a message addition, please submit a support ticket. 

Types of Messages

Users are made aware of My UND notifications/messages with a numerical badge on their inbox icon that is visible on all screens in the app. Apple devices and some Android devices will also display a red numerical badge on the My UND app icon, indicating they should open the app to view notifications.

In-App Banners

In-app banners push users to their app inbox to read the entire message.

There are two types:

• Persona home page banners appear at the top of the current student or guest persona home screen
• Module banners appear on a specific module screen (i.e. Dining, Library)

In-App Messages

In-app messages appear in the app inbox and are best for non-urgent messages. Send these messages earlier than you would with a push notification—a few days or a week is a good baseline. Users can dismiss the banner once they’ve seen it.

Push Notifications

Push notifications notify app users on their mobile device with a preview of the message (title, short description) similar to a text message. It will drive them back to the app for the full message when clicked.

• These are the most invasive types of messages and are carefully scheduled to prevent user fatigue and app abandonment. Timely messages related to current student academic success receives priority.
• Message must include a call to action (CTA).
• All push notifications are required to include a 1080x1080 pixel image for best app user experience.
• Users who have opted out of app notifications will not receive any type of push notification. Users are prompted to allow/not-allow notifications on first load of app and can change the notification setting later in their settings.
• There are two types of push notifications:
  • General push notifications are sent to all users.
  • Persona-based push notifications are sent to specific personas (current student or guest).

Current Student Opt-In Channels

Opt-In channels allow app users to opt-in to a specific channel and receive messages that pertain to the selected topic. To opt-into channels, visit your My UND message inbox, select Opt-in Channels and subscribe to channels.

Free and Academic Calendar opt-in channels are managed by Marketing & Communications.

Free Channel

Subscribe to learn how to get free food and giveaways.

Academic Calendar Channels

Subscribe to the undergraduate or graduate academic calendar channel to receive reminders on important UND dates and deadlines.

Career Services Channel

Subscribe to receive messages from the office of Career Services.

College Channels

• Aerospace
• Arts & Sciences
• Business
• Education & Human Development
• Engineering & Mines
• Graduate School
• Law
• Medicine & Health Sciences
• Nursing & Professional Disciplines

Dining Channel

Subscribe to receive messages from UND Dining such as themed meals, where to get leftover catering meals and more.

Diversity & Inclusion Channel

Subscribe to receive messages regarding diversity and inclusion programming. 

Housing & Residence Life Channel

Subscribe to receive messages from UND Housing & Residence Life.

Study Abroad Channel

Subscribe to receive messages from the Study Abroad office.

Wellness Center Channel

Subscribe to receive messages on Wellness Center Events.

Veteran & Military Channel

Subscribe to receive messages from UND Veteran & Military Services.

Messaging Content Guidelines

All messages require a headline, body copy, tag and link/CTA. Push notifications require a graphic.

• Headlines should immediately spark the app users' interest so that they tap through to read more or complete an action. Limit to 125 characters.
• Body copy will contain most of your message. Target under 500 characters, but shorter is better.
• Tag the "indicator" of the message subject.
• Link/CTA is required in all push messages. Example: link to a page with more info, survey link ect.
• Graphics will catch attention, Follow UND brand standards. Graphics must be 1080x1080 pixels. Due to federal accessibility guidelines, use limited words and no dates, times or locations on graphics.

Phone Numbers and Emails

• Phone numbers are not click-able due to app platform restrictions. Users are not able to click on a phone number included in a message and automatically dial it.
• Emails are click-able. An email can be entered into a message and when a user clicks on the email, it will open an email to that address.

Send Frequency

All messages are sent based on a time range and have an expiration date.

Opting out of messages is a major concern. Therefore, all messages must be sent between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Weekend message requests will be reviewed and approved by the App Manager.

* An opt-in channel is expected to post content at least once every 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the entity or partner will be issued a warning. If content in the channel is not updated within the following 4 weeks, the channel will be removed. The summer semester is an exception to this rule.

How to create a good message?

Before sending a message, be sure it is actionable, concise, beneficial to the audience, timely and personable.

Actionable

Messages should include a call to action (CTA). While it can be acceptable to provide a strictly informational in-app message, a push notification should never be sent without a CTA. Push notifications are interactive and drive the user back into the app or to a web page, so they must always include something that users can immediately act upon.

Concise

Distill your message as much as possible to respect your audience's time. Messages should be informational and to the point including date, time and place.

Beneficial to the Audience

The message should be highly relatable to the audience, as if you were telling them this face-to-face.

Timely

All messages must have a set expiration date—which determines when the message will be removed from the app and be cleared from inboxes.

Personable

Mobile messages are more personal than email and should be more casual, but still professional.

 

The UND Division of Marketing & Communications reserves the right to update or make exceptions to these guidelines. All users of the Communicate platform will be updated when changes occur.