A new Emergency Notification System (ENS) implemented this month at Cal State Long Beach will provide an option for students, staff and faculty to receive text-messages as alert notices of emergency situations on campus.
The emergency notices will be distributed by a team of administrators, police, other faculty and staff who will meet, construct, then distribute the message.
The new system also allows CSULB to distribute voicemails to cell phones, landlines, PDAs and other text-based devices. In addition, it will send written messages to e-mail accounts and messages to TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired.
“The system is up and running, but the effectiveness of the system is based on the input we receive,” said Toni Beron, a CSULB spokeswoman.
The new system is run by Connect-ED, which sends an unlimited number of calls to students, parents, staff or any combination of these groups by using a telephone and a computer connected to the Internet, or by using just a telephone when urgent situations demand fast action, according to the Connect-ED Web site.
The Connect-ED is run by the NTI Group, Inc., which is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Blackboard. The company provides comprehensive communication services designed specifically for local, regional, state and federal governments that enable dissemination of information via voice and text devices. The company has call centers throughout the nation to provide service despite any disruptions from one of the locations.
“The next part of this whole process is to collect contact information from as many people on campus,” Beron said.
Students can update personal information by accessing MyCSULB. Under the personal information options within Student Center tab, users can click to add a number for the “Emergency Notification Text Message” option.
The website warns, however, to “please be aware that your wireless carrier may charge you for receipt of a text message if not included in your plan.”
After opting for the emergency notification text-messaging option, the system will text a message to verify that “you are now confirmed to receive alerts from us,” and will allow you to reply for “Help” or “Stop CSULB” to opt-out.
The system updates every night, which causes the confirming text to be sent the next day.
“The campus program will be used solely for emergency purposes,” said CSULB President F. King Alexander.
“It takes just a few minutes for the students to receive the message,” said Interim Chief of Police Stan Skipworth. “They happen in a very rapid order; it’s amazing how fast it goes.”
Alexander stated in campuswide e-mail sent on Feb. 15 the importance of knowing the phone number for the University Police – (562) 985-4101 – and to report any unusual, out-of-the-ordinary individuals or circumstances that may be a possible threat to campus.
“All telephones and cell phones on campus will immediately be directed to University Police whenever 9-1-1 is dialed,” wrote Alexander in the e-mail.
