Emergency notification upgrade
Stephanie Takach
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
According to Ceccanecchio, the Undergraduate Student Government Association passed a unanimous resolution requiring all students to provide a phone number, e-mail address or fax number to the electronic notification system.
"One of the parameters is that it will have to be able to secure [the student's] information. There's a banking standard for secure information," Ceccanecchio said.
This system allows for more capabilities when trying to reach students, whether there is an emergency on Drexel's campus or in the city, according to Katsaounis. Drexel will be placing back-up systems in off-campus sites so that the system will be able to function if there is a power complication in the city.
"If we have a power grid failure, we can still send messages through other locations," Ceccanecchio said.
Ceccanecchio also explained that if students were to get a text message about an emergency, it would be brief.
An example of a text is, "Event at main building, remain in residence," according to Ceccanecchio.
"We're still building this. There will be scripted messages," he said. "However, there won't be any messages unless it is an emergency, because we don't want to dilute the importance of the usage."
Regarding the amount of time that it will take for a student to receive a text message after the mass text is sent depends on the system and the service provider, according to Ceccanecchio.
"We're looking at 10 minutes or less to reach 27,000 people," he said.
Ceccanecchio said he hopes the new system will be up and running in six to eight weeks.
"We're bringing in one of the biggest vendors on April 14, and then we'll work through the technical issues," he said.
The next Power of Ten component is Environmental Sustainability and will be released in The Triangle April 18.
"It is very timely and the focus will be on recycling," LaRue said.
"One of the parameters is that it will have to be able to secure [the student's] information. There's a banking standard for secure information," Ceccanecchio said.
This system allows for more capabilities when trying to reach students, whether there is an emergency on Drexel's campus or in the city, according to Katsaounis. Drexel will be placing back-up systems in off-campus sites so that the system will be able to function if there is a power complication in the city.
"If we have a power grid failure, we can still send messages through other locations," Ceccanecchio said.
Ceccanecchio also explained that if students were to get a text message about an emergency, it would be brief.
An example of a text is, "Event at main building, remain in residence," according to Ceccanecchio.
"We're still building this. There will be scripted messages," he said. "However, there won't be any messages unless it is an emergency, because we don't want to dilute the importance of the usage."
Regarding the amount of time that it will take for a student to receive a text message after the mass text is sent depends on the system and the service provider, according to Ceccanecchio.
"We're looking at 10 minutes or less to reach 27,000 people," he said.
Ceccanecchio said he hopes the new system will be up and running in six to eight weeks.
"We're bringing in one of the biggest vendors on April 14, and then we'll work through the technical issues," he said.
The next Power of Ten component is Environmental Sustainability and will be released in The Triangle April 18.
"It is very timely and the focus will be on recycling," LaRue said.
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