CSUB Alert

As part of ongoing efforts to improve communication in case of an emergency, CSUB is implementing a university-wide emergency alert system. The initiative, known as CSUB Alert, provides university leaders with the ability to reach students, faculty and staff with time-sensitive information within minutes.

“In the wake of tragic campus shooting incidents at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University, universities are forced to prepare for emergency situations that years ago would never have been anticipated,” said CSUB President Horace Mitchell. “It is crucial that we are able to notify the campus community as quickly as possible in emergency situations to enhance safety, as well as provide direction and minimize the spread of misinformation.”

CSUB Alert consists of two mass notification systems. The first system utilizes technology to allow the university to send notifications via voice, e-mail and text messaging. Utilizing the services of Connect-Ed, a communication service company contracted with over 150 campuses nationwide, thousands of mass notification messages can be pushed out within minutes.

“For their own personal safety, we’re asking students, faculty and staff to register and update phone numbers, e-mail address and text message numbers for emergency notification,” explained Clarke Sanford, assistant vice president of information technology services. “The system is only as effective as the information provided. The more contacts we have for someone during an emergency, the more likely they will receive messages quickly.”

The second notification system, an external public address system, will allow the university to broadcast specific guidance information campus-wide in the case of an emergency. The first phase of this system will be installed during the 2008-09 school year.

University officials emphasize the systems are being employed as part of an overall university emergency response plan, and are not in response to any specific or identified threat.

“Our campus is very safe and we work to keep it that way,” said CSUB Police Chief Claudia Neal. “CSUB Alert is a system we hope to never use, but should an emergency occur we want to be ready with a swift and effective response.”

CSUB Alert will only be used for emergency communication purposes or periodic testing of the system. For additional details about CSUB Alert, log on to: www.csub.edu/csubalert.