How McLennan Community College Grew Enrollment 8.7 Percent With Campus-Wide Texting

Download the Full Case Study

In 2024, McLennan Community College’s One Stop Shop texted more than 8,000 admitted students about missing documents and next steps. Twelve percent of them wrote back, each reply a chance to clear up a question before it turned into a missed deadline.

McLennan Community College (MCC), in Waco, Texas, has offered accessible, affordable education for more than 50 years and enrolls more than 8,000 students. Since adopting Mongoose in 2015, MCC has used personal, two-way texting to support enrollment and student success across campus.

Why Email Wasn’t Moving Community College Enrollment

Before Mongoose, MCC’s students often didn’t read email, which hurt recruitment, admissions, and student services, especially during the enrollment process. The college needed texting that many teams could use, that connected to its existing systems, and that was easy for both staff and students.

How MCC Put 28 Teams on One Platform

MCC adopted Mongoose with connectors to Slate, its CRM, and Colleague, its student information system, so student data flows in without manual entry. Today 28 teams use it, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Advising, Student Success, and Title IX, to reach students from application reminders through support services.

“Mongoose is an incredibly user-friendly system, which is critical for getting staff to actually use it. The integration with Slate and Colleague was straightforward, and the support we’ve received has been phenomenal. It’s become an essential tool for our enrollment and student success efforts.”

Dustie Hamilton, Director of Enrollment Systems, McLennan Community College

What Changed Across MCC

One Stop Shop Reminders: 12 Percent Reply Rate

MCC’s One Stop Shop handles admissions and enrollment services. It texts admitted students personalized reminders about missing documents and next steps, and in 2024 it reached more than 8,000 students with a 12 percent reply rate.

Web Chat Handles 80 Percent of Routine Questions

MCC’s Web Chat automates 80 percent of routine inquiries. That lightens the load on the One Stop Shop and other student service teams, so staff have more time for timely follow-ups and complex student needs. For how chat features like this differ from AI agents, see this FAQ on AI agents and chat in higher education.

Coaching That Feels Personal

MCC’s Success Coaching and First Generation Programs use emoji and pictures to check in with students, see how they’re feeling about the semester, and even verify participation in service projects.

“It’s been a fantastic tool for engagement, and has allowed us to build stronger connections with our students.”

Dustie Hamilton

8.7 Percent Enrollment Growth

MCC’s enrollment rose 8.7 percent from fall 2023 to fall 2024. The college credits several initiatives for that growth, and Mongoose played a significant role by helping students finish their enrollment steps smoothly and on time.

What Other Community Colleges Can Take From MCC

Put every student-facing team on the same platform, connect it to your CRM and SIS so nobody re-keys data, and use texts for the specific next step a student is missing. Let Web Chat take the routine questions so staff can focus on the ones that need a person. For a wider view, see what community colleges need from communication tools in 2026 and what 646,000 conversations reveal about community college student success.

Other two-year colleges have built similar models. Gwinnett Tech supports 13,000 students with Text and Web Chat and a four-person call center, and Dutchess Community College coordinated four departments on Mongoose and raised admissions texting volume 133 percent while opt-outs dropped.

Looking Ahead

With international enrollment doubling from fall 2023 to fall 2024, MCC plans to use WhatsApp to reach those students. It also wants to bring faculty onto Mongoose as a retention tool, so they can text students directly and follow up quickly.

“Mongoose is a critical part of our communication strategy. It’s flexible, easy to use, and the support we receive is top-notch. We’ve seen real results, and it’s become an essential tool for our teams across the college.”

Dustie Hamilton

Download the Full Case Study

For a two-page summary of MCC’s results to share with your enrollment and student success teams, download the McLennan Community College case study (PDF).

Want to see what campus-wide texting could do at your college? Book a demo.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can texting help community college enrollment?

Texts reach students who don’t read email and point them to the exact step they’re missing. At McLennan Community College, One Stop Shop reminders reached more than 8,000 admitted students with a 12 percent reply rate, and enrollment rose 8.7 percent from fall 2023 to fall 2024, with several initiatives contributing.

How many teams use Mongoose at McLennan?

Twenty-eight teams, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Advising, Student Success, and Title IX, use Mongoose to reach students from application through support services.

Does Mongoose connect to Slate and Colleague?

Yes. MCC connects Mongoose to Slate and Colleague, so student data flows in without manual entry. Dustie Hamilton says connecting them was straightforward.

How much of MCC’s routine student traffic does Web Chat handle?

MCC’s Web Chat automates 80 percent of routine inquiries, which gives the One Stop Shop and other teams more time for complex student needs.

Won’t texting from 28 teams overwhelm students?

MCC keeps texts personal and specific, from missing-document reminders to coaching check-ins with emoji and pictures. Its 12 percent reply rate on One Stop Shop reminders shows students engage with texts that help them take a next step.