De Anza develops text message emergency notification system
Anothony Salos
Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: News
The Emergency Notification System came through e-mail information and voice messages. On Oct. 13., De Anza College students experienced part of the college safety network put in place to protect them.
During the power outage, students were warned about the closures on campus. To a few, it was a great success, said Marsha Kelly, district risk manager.
The ENS is used to inform students of imminent emergencies, such as a fire, earthquake, threat of violence, chemical hazard or a school closing.
In the event of one of these emergencies the ENS will simultaneously contact every individual through all means of communication the system offers.
Roommates and colleagues who share the same number will be called once.
For busy signals, call waiting or no answer, the system will try two more times to contact individuls by phone. If the call is answered by a voice recorder, it will leave a message about the emergency.
Students do have the option to "opt out," which means that they will not be contacted in the event of an emergency. Contact information is automatically updated during every registration process.
The ENS was purchased for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District from Blackboard Connect Inc. for $74,750.
The system provides SMS text messaging and e-mail and phone notification service, controlled at an off-site location, protecting it from local emergencies.
The system was reviewed and selected by Educational Testing Services, Risk Management, and District Police committee members.
Though many vendors were reviewed, "Connect-ED was selected for its robust feature set, remote accessibility, multi-site backup and price point," said Foothill De Anza Chief of Police Ron Levine.
The system is only a part of a larger safety plan that De Anza uses. There are many facets of emergency preparedness, including the actual plan itself, training, exercises, contracts and agreements with other organizations (Red Cross, City of Cupertino, County of Santa Clara).
Students who did not receive any or part of the notifications for the power outage should update their contact information on their My Deanza student page, which can be accessed at www.deanza.edu.
During the power outage, students were warned about the closures on campus. To a few, it was a great success, said Marsha Kelly, district risk manager.
The ENS is used to inform students of imminent emergencies, such as a fire, earthquake, threat of violence, chemical hazard or a school closing.
In the event of one of these emergencies the ENS will simultaneously contact every individual through all means of communication the system offers.
Roommates and colleagues who share the same number will be called once.
For busy signals, call waiting or no answer, the system will try two more times to contact individuls by phone. If the call is answered by a voice recorder, it will leave a message about the emergency.
Students do have the option to "opt out," which means that they will not be contacted in the event of an emergency. Contact information is automatically updated during every registration process.
The ENS was purchased for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District from Blackboard Connect Inc. for $74,750.
The system provides SMS text messaging and e-mail and phone notification service, controlled at an off-site location, protecting it from local emergencies.
The system was reviewed and selected by Educational Testing Services, Risk Management, and District Police committee members.
Though many vendors were reviewed, "Connect-ED was selected for its robust feature set, remote accessibility, multi-site backup and price point," said Foothill De Anza Chief of Police Ron Levine.
The system is only a part of a larger safety plan that De Anza uses. There are many facets of emergency preparedness, including the actual plan itself, training, exercises, contracts and agreements with other organizations (Red Cross, City of Cupertino, County of Santa Clara).
Students who did not receive any or part of the notifications for the power outage should update their contact information on their My Deanza student page, which can be accessed at www.deanza.edu.
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