Mainstay https://mainstay.com/ SMS chatbots that use research-backed messaging for proven results Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:29:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://mainstay.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/favicon.svg Mainstay https://mainstay.com/ 32 32 238143180 Most Student Conversations Don’t Start With Students https://mainstay.com/blog/proactive-student-engagement-conversation-model/ Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:21:26 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=11377 If most students won’t raise their hand when they encounter a barrier, how can institutions design outreach that invites them into the conversation earlier?

The post Most Student Conversations Don’t Start With Students appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 11377 Building Capacity Without Burning Out: How Two-Year Colleges Are Scaling Student Support Smarter https://mainstay.com/blog/building-capacity-without-burning-out-two-year-colleges/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:40:39 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=11369 How can two-year colleges expand student support in ways that increase impact without exhausting staff?

The post Building Capacity Without Burning Out: How Two-Year Colleges Are Scaling Student Support Smarter appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 11369 Finding the Right Moment: How UCF Reaches Students Before Problems Pile Up https://mainstay.com/blog/finding-the-right-moment/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:29:51 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=11225 What happens when a chatbot engages students about barriers early and intentionally to drive help seeking behavior?

The post Finding the Right Moment: How UCF Reaches Students Before Problems Pile Up appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 11225 New Research from Brown University on Student Engagement https://mainstay.com/blog/student-engagement-between-the-replies/ Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:24:09 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=11142 Not every student replies — but that doesn’t mean they’re not paying attention. See what new research from Brown and Brookings reveals about how students stay connected between the replies.

The post New Research from Brown University on Student Engagement appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 11142 UWF Quietly Doubled Student Response Rates with Personalized Messaging https://mainstay.com/blog/uwf-behavioral-science-personalized-messaging/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 02:27:29 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=11094 What happens when a university stops sending generic reminders—and starts speaking to each student’s specific barrier?

The post UWF Quietly Doubled Student Response Rates with Personalized Messaging appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 11094 What UMES Learned: Scaling Conversations and Cutting Barriers with AI https://mainstay.com/blog/umes-scaling-conversations-ed-advancement/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:01:56 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=11021 What happens when every student can get answers—and act—right away? UMES shows how scaling conversations with AI cut barriers, boosted capacity, and built stronger student connections.

The post What UMES Learned: Scaling Conversations and Cutting Barriers with AI appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 11021 How to Make Text-Based Nudges Work: Key Findings from New Student Success Research https://mainstay.com/blog/how-to-make-text-based-nudges-work-key-findings-from-new-student-success-research/ Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:53:53 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=10828 When do text-based nudges really work for students—and when do they fall flat? New research has the answers.

The post How to Make Text-Based Nudges Work: Key Findings from New Student Success Research appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 10828 GenAI Prompting 101: How to Design Better Conversations in Mainstay https://mainstay.com/blog/genai-prompting-101-how-to-design-better-conversations-in-mainstay/ Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:11:39 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=10792 What if your AI could hold real conversations—and turn them into insight?

The post GenAI Prompting 101: How to Design Better Conversations in Mainstay appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 10792 Why Informal Texts Work: Driving Real Education Outcomes with Conversational AI https://mainstay.com/blog/why-informal-texts-work-driving-real-education-outcomes-with-conversational-ai/ Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:47:34 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=10786 If students aren’t reading your emails, how are you helping them succeed?

The post Why Informal Texts Work: Driving Real Education Outcomes with Conversational AI appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 10786 How UCNJ Used Generative AI to Re-Engage Adult Learners at Scale https://mainstay.com/blog/how-ucnj-used-generative-ai-to-re-engage-adult-learners-at-scale/ Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:17:58 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=10753 What if a text from an AI career coach could bring stopped-out students back to school?

The post How UCNJ Used Generative AI to Re-Engage Adult Learners at Scale appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 10753 AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Crystal Ball https://mainstay.com/blog/ai-is-a-flashlight-not-a-crystal-ball/ Fri, 30 May 2025 14:30:02 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=10732 What if AI’s biggest strength isn’t answering—but illuminating?

The post AI Is a Flashlight, Not a Crystal Ball appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 10732 Why Your Future Self Feels Like a Stranger—and How to Change That https://mainstay.com/blog/why-your-future-self-feels-like-a-strangerand-how-to-change-that/ Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:18:21 +0000 https://mainstay.com/?p=10121 UCLA’s Hal Hershfield joined Mainstay partners to unpack this phenomenon and share practical, research-backed strategies for helping students build a stronger, more motivating connection with their future selves.

The post Why Your Future Self Feels Like a Stranger—and How to Change That appeared first on Mainstay.

]]> 10121