What makes you forward an email to your circle of contacts?

More than likely, it’s a universal truth, a value you hold personally dear, information that you think may empower others, or good news you think may inspire others.

In its email communications, does your HBCU deliver on one or more of these sticking points?

Seemingly, the good news on HBCUs is tailored for forwarding to friends and family. Let’s run through the above checklist of how emails become sticky enough to forward to thousands of people around the world, and how these same primal attention grabbers are present at HBCUs.

Universal Truth – Higher education is a good thing. For Black America, it is an essential thing.

Personal Value – If you attended an HBCU, perhaps you learned a life lesson, made a lifelong friend, met your spouse, joined an organization, or experienced a situation that positively shaped you forever.

Empowering – HBCUs are leading the national discussion on medical treatment, political mobilization, economic development and social trends among Black people. If there’s something to know about a coming or present threat to Black people, you can get important details about it at an HBCU.

Good News – HBCUs still account for most of the country’s African-American college graduates. And when companies want to seek out African-American employees with skills and innovation, they still first seek them from HBCUs.

Another aspect of forwarded emails is that its takes little work on your part to send the message. Just click forward, your contact list, and send. No message creation on your part.

Does your HBCU give you regular updates that are worthy enough to forward to your friends and family?

A few institutions do this with great effect on awareness and fundraising. Spelman College is exceptional in delivering its ‘Inside Spelman‘ brand through email, RSS, YouTube, and social media. Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell personally and regularly send campus updates and institutional affirmations through his email to students, alumni, supporters and media.

Outgoing Philander Smith College and incoming Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough actively blogs on PSC events and social justice issues in Arkansas. Texas Southern’s National Alumni Association regularly sends out news and event email updates via Constant Contact.

Are you an active donor, volunteer or political advocate for your HBCU? If not, it’s probably because the school hasn’t convinced you through consistent, meaningful messaging.

And if they can’t convince you, it’s awfully hard for you to convince others – in an email forward or otherwise.