Spring Break
Emergency notification upgrade
Stephanie Takach
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
Drexel Public Safety, along with Student Life and Administrative Services, will implement a new text messaging-based emergency notification system in June 2008 for the communications component of the Power of Ten initiative.
Drexel currently has a notification system that was developed by IRT as a part of DrexelOne prior to the April 2007 Virginia Tech incident, but did not go live until a few weeks after the incident, according to Jim Katsaounis, executive director of communications and senior vice president for the division of Student Life and Administrative Services.
"Drexel was one of the first universities to have it up [after the shooting]," Katsaounis said.
Domenic Ceccanecchio, senior associate vice president of the Department of Public Safety, said: "Virginia Tech was the root of growth for this technology and universities improving their systems. The new notification system will replace the current system as a better tool for security measures."
According to Rita LaRue, senior associate vice president for Business Services, when the original system debuted, it was for emergencies. However, students could sign up for campus and personal announcements on DrexelOne.
The new system will also be used solely for emergencies, according to Katsaounis, and will offer solutions to a variety of communications needs.
Katsaounis said the new service can send text messages, voice messages, e-mail messages and fax messages to students, either simultaneously or independently, depending on the emergency circumstances, which will be determined by Public Safety.
One of the main problems of the current system is that students are not signing up to receive the notifications, according to LaRue.
"It's an upgrade; the current system isn't robust, students weren't opting in through this system," LaRue said.
The new system will become a part of students' verifying their address on DrexelOne, Katsaounis said, which will make it more accessible for students.
Drexel currently has a notification system that was developed by IRT as a part of DrexelOne prior to the April 2007 Virginia Tech incident, but did not go live until a few weeks after the incident, according to Jim Katsaounis, executive director of communications and senior vice president for the division of Student Life and Administrative Services.
"Drexel was one of the first universities to have it up [after the shooting]," Katsaounis said.
Domenic Ceccanecchio, senior associate vice president of the Department of Public Safety, said: "Virginia Tech was the root of growth for this technology and universities improving their systems. The new notification system will replace the current system as a better tool for security measures."
According to Rita LaRue, senior associate vice president for Business Services, when the original system debuted, it was for emergencies. However, students could sign up for campus and personal announcements on DrexelOne.
The new system will also be used solely for emergencies, according to Katsaounis, and will offer solutions to a variety of communications needs.
Katsaounis said the new service can send text messages, voice messages, e-mail messages and fax messages to students, either simultaneously or independently, depending on the emergency circumstances, which will be determined by Public Safety.
One of the main problems of the current system is that students are not signing up to receive the notifications, according to LaRue.
"It's an upgrade; the current system isn't robust, students weren't opting in through this system," LaRue said.
The new system will become a part of students' verifying their address on DrexelOne, Katsaounis said, which will make it more accessible for students.
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