PSU implements new emergency alert system
Students and staff can now opt in to receive emergency messages
By: Nathan Hellman
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: News
Soto said he hopes everyone opts in, but said realistically that will not happen. Like most universities where similar systems are used, he said, the number of registered students will slowly build.
The system is confidential, and all submitted information will be used solely for emergency contact, said Sharon Blanton, chief information officer for information technologies and co-chair on the task force.
In order to update information, students must visit the Help Desk or the Public Safety Office. Eventually, students will be able to update their own information, much like the personal information section on Banweb, but Newbury said it is unknown when that will happen.
To send a notification to the Portland State community, one of six group leaders would create a new message using the 3n online account. If the power is down and the Internet is unavailable, group leaders have the option of calling a message in to 3n.
The group leader would write a short message and then decide how it will be sent, either through a pager, a cell phone call or message, or e-mail. There are 32 templates for common emergencies, such as a fire or a bomb threat.
Once someone receives the message, they are required to confirm its arrival before accessing it. For example, if a text message is sent to a student's cell phone, he or she must follow the phone prompt to confirm it was received.
After the task force examined dozens of options, Blanton said, they decided 3n was the best choice because of its ease of use, text-to-speech conversion capability and the number of networks the system has across the nation.
For more information about PSU Alert, visit www.pdx.edu/psualert.
The system is confidential, and all submitted information will be used solely for emergency contact, said Sharon Blanton, chief information officer for information technologies and co-chair on the task force.
In order to update information, students must visit the Help Desk or the Public Safety Office. Eventually, students will be able to update their own information, much like the personal information section on Banweb, but Newbury said it is unknown when that will happen.
To send a notification to the Portland State community, one of six group leaders would create a new message using the 3n online account. If the power is down and the Internet is unavailable, group leaders have the option of calling a message in to 3n.
The group leader would write a short message and then decide how it will be sent, either through a pager, a cell phone call or message, or e-mail. There are 32 templates for common emergencies, such as a fire or a bomb threat.
Once someone receives the message, they are required to confirm its arrival before accessing it. For example, if a text message is sent to a student's cell phone, he or she must follow the phone prompt to confirm it was received.
After the task force examined dozens of options, Blanton said, they decided 3n was the best choice because of its ease of use, text-to-speech conversion capability and the number of networks the system has across the nation.
For more information about PSU Alert, visit www.pdx.edu/psualert.
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