Last week approximately 3,500 calls were placed simultaneously to all registered cell phones of students, faculty and staff as part of the implementation of the Connect-ED system.
In the coming weeks, it will again be tested simultaneously with text messages, phone calls and e-mails.
The Connect-ED service enables the University to send personalized voice messages to up to six phone numbers and can also send text messages to cell phones and e-mail addresses. The system will be used to contact students, faculty and staff in the event of campus emergencies.
“Our crisis management team was considering some type of notification system prior to the Virginia Tech incident,” said Pelazza. “However, that tragedy highlighted the need to re-examine our practices and have something in place.”
With the Connect-ED system in place, many students feel more safe on campus.
“It’s comforting to know that we have this kind of security system in use at Fairfield,” said Jeremy Shea ’10.
Connect-ED was chosen through a deliberate and competitive process among several of the leading providers of this type of technology. The University is in the process of making the system operable for students, faculty and staff for the coming academic year.
“Several vendors were considered, however, Connect-ED seemed to be the best choice,” said Pelazza. “The system will only be used during emergency situations.”
Fairfield acquired the Connect-ED service from the NTI Group, Inc. The cost of the service could not be disclosed, according to Director of Public Safety Todd Pelazza.
Individuals will be asked to check and update their cell phone numbers and other information in the coming weeks through an online process currently in development.
Mark Reed, vice president of administrative services and student affairs at Fairfield University, stressed that the new system does not replace other forms of communication now in place for emergency situations, but rather is an additional tool.
Reed said in a press release that Fairfield University security measures are continually evaluated and updated and therefore the following updates have been made.
1. All RAs will be equipped with portable radios.
2. A Web site with a direct emergency link will give the campus community information on where to go in an emergency.
3. An Incident Management Team, in addition to the present Crisis Management Team, will be added, which will act as the first assessor of a crisis, and has been approved for priority service from Nextel.
4. An Operation Center for emergencies has been added to the Department of Public Safety.
5. Seven emergency red phones with direct links to the Department of Public Safety will be installed in the Bannow Science Center.
6. An emergency preparedness brochure will be hand delivered by Public Safety officers to students in their residences.
A video of what to expect in case of an emergency has been posted online and is available for students to watch.
In their ongoing partnership, Fairfield University officials and executive level officials from the Town of Fairfield and Fire Departments met earlier this year for a simulation meeting.
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