Waaaaaaay off-topic here... I asked this same question on a teachers' forum where I'm also a member but it tends to get pretty low traffic these days so whether I get a response may be a few hours or it may be a few weeks. At least XMTS has a lot of people come through in a day.

Anyway, I just had a talk with the department head here at work about student absenteeism. It's a real problem because in spite of this being a college with ADULT students, the teachers are being held responsible because the administration feels that it is the teachers' duty to run after the students (by phoning them at home when they don't come to class or reminding them to come to school because they have an exam)...

Anyway, we can't change the policy, but what I told the DH we CAN do is automate the process (hopefully). I'm thinking: student database containing all their cellphone numbers that is somehow connected with an automated program that can send SMS or e-mail (or automated voicemail) reminders out either on-demand or according to a pre-set schedule.

Here's how I would envision this would be used.

1. During final exam week, the program sends out an e-mail to all the students in a given class at 7:30a.m. reminding them that they have an exam at 9:00am that day.

2. A student consistently sleeps in and comes late to his first period classes: have a daily reminder sent to his cellphone until such time as it's no longer necessary or the semester is done (whichever comes first).

3. Sending occasional reminders to all students regarding special events, school holidays, important deadlines.

Does anyone know if such a program exists? Something that's online or web-based would be absolutely fine. It doesn't have to be free (although that's always a plus due to ever-decreasing department budgets)...

Please & thank you!