2008 Woodie Awards
OMG!: New capabilities Enable University to Alert Students of Emergencies, Cancellations
Cristin Hubbard: Muleskinner
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News
"WHERE R U?"
Another incoming text message. Who could it be? Well, for about 3,700 students, faculty and staff, it might be the University notifying them of a school cancellation or other emergency.
Robin Krause, assistant director of Web services, is in charge of sending those messages using a service called TextCaster.
"The most widely used service of the TextCaster is the campus closings," Krause said.
However, campus closings aren't the only thing students, faculty, and staff can be alerted of. They can also receive severe weather alerts, Summit Center closings, accessibility services information and emergency alerts.
"Signing up for the system is completely free," Krause said. "You only pay your normal text messaging rate."
Krause said there are three entities on campus that control TextCaster messages. The Department of Public Safety sends out the severe weather alerts, and University Relations and Information Services are in charge of the other services.
Krause said the system at UCM has been utilized less than ten times since its establishment. This number includes all the categories of messaging available.
Krause said that before implementing TextCaster in 2007, there were many meetings and discussions about it.
"We were looking for an additional way to get in touch with students that was faster than e-mail," Krause said.
Krause said the purpose of the system is to get information to students as quickly as possible. The only disadvantage he has seen is a small delay in receiving the message.
Diana Scholz, sophomore journalism major, said she is signed up for severe weather, campus closings and emergency alerts. She said the only problem she has seen is the delay in receiving the message.
"With a 45 minute commute, if you don't get [the message] before you leave your house, you're already in the thick of things," Scholz said.
Krause said people need to take into consideration that when we have a school closing the TextCaster has 3,700 text messages going out simultaneously. He said sometimes so many messages can cause a delay in the time it takes for the message to reach its target.
Another incoming text message. Who could it be? Well, for about 3,700 students, faculty and staff, it might be the University notifying them of a school cancellation or other emergency.
Robin Krause, assistant director of Web services, is in charge of sending those messages using a service called TextCaster.
"The most widely used service of the TextCaster is the campus closings," Krause said.
However, campus closings aren't the only thing students, faculty, and staff can be alerted of. They can also receive severe weather alerts, Summit Center closings, accessibility services information and emergency alerts.
"Signing up for the system is completely free," Krause said. "You only pay your normal text messaging rate."
Krause said there are three entities on campus that control TextCaster messages. The Department of Public Safety sends out the severe weather alerts, and University Relations and Information Services are in charge of the other services.
Krause said the system at UCM has been utilized less than ten times since its establishment. This number includes all the categories of messaging available.
Krause said that before implementing TextCaster in 2007, there were many meetings and discussions about it.
"We were looking for an additional way to get in touch with students that was faster than e-mail," Krause said.
Krause said the purpose of the system is to get information to students as quickly as possible. The only disadvantage he has seen is a small delay in receiving the message.
Diana Scholz, sophomore journalism major, said she is signed up for severe weather, campus closings and emergency alerts. She said the only problem she has seen is the delay in receiving the message.
"With a 45 minute commute, if you don't get [the message] before you leave your house, you're already in the thick of things," Scholz said.
Krause said people need to take into consideration that when we have a school closing the TextCaster has 3,700 text messages going out simultaneously. He said sometimes so many messages can cause a delay in the time it takes for the message to reach its target.
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