SMS offers colleges and universities a direct line of communication with students. Unlike emails, an SMS service API and other forms of digital communication are instant and highly beneficial for time-sensitive announcements like class cancellations, emergency alerts, and deadline reminders. This lowers the chances of students missing deadlines. One of the main advantages of SMS communication is that it has a high response rate. The open rate for SMS messages is higher than other forms of communication.
https://www.pearltrees.com/sinchsms/item627676803
SMS Use Cases in Education: Improving Student Engagement and Communication