Emergency Text Messaging Available
by Paul Czarnecki
In response to continuing security concerns on college campuses across the country, UC Public Safety convened a university emergency communications committee in 2007. UCit has been an integral part of the committee’s planning process. The university views its campus public address system as the primary communications vehicle to get information to the campus community quickly in the event of a threatening situation on campus. However, other communications media, including e-mail, an emergency UC home (web) page, and text messaging, will play a role in the emergency communications strategy.
The university has conducted two campus-wide tests of its emergency communications system. These tests included sending a text message to all students who have enabled the text messaging system within Blackboard and students in residence halls with UC Mobile cell phones.
The university has expanded its emergency text messaging system to all students, faculty, and staff who wish to opt in to the system. Students can enter their cell phone numbers and cell phone carriers at any time within the student information system. Faculty and staff had the opportunity to enter this information during the annual directory update in May, but can sign up at any time at https://ucdirectory.uc.edu/updates/.
UC will only use the text messaging system in the event that Public Safety deems an imminent threat to the campus community. Further, UC will not share this information with any other outside or campus entity for other messaging or advertising purposes.
As of 30 June, nearly 5,000 students, faculty, and staff had signed up for the service. For more information, please see http://www.uc.edu/ucit/txtmessaging/home.html.
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