This study analyzed six months of student feedback from a text messaging program serving 40 Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in the United States immediately after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March
2020. Findings suggest institutions of higher education could have communicated curricular models and campus information in a more timely, clear manner to assuage student anxiety and support student persistence and graduation. Implications for
enrollment management and financial aid practitioners are addressed.