Text-message system provides vital information
<p><span>No one wants to think about an emergency happening at their school. </span></p><separator></separator><p><span>But, if an emergency does occur at Arizona State University, students, faculty and staff who subscribe to the university’s emergency text-message alert system can find out about the incident. </span></p><separator></separator><p><span>“The safety and security of students, faculty and staff is the highest priority at ASU,” says Paul Ward, vice president for university administration and general counsel, and ASU’s chief emergency policy executive. “We’re working to sign up more people in the ASU community to the emergency text-message alert system so they can receive valuable information during an emergency.” </span></p><separator></separator><p><span>Text messages that are sent in case of an emergency spell out specific safety information or instructions. Having this information enables individuals to take appropriate action if needed.</span></p><separator></separator><p><span>The </span>ASU Alert: Emergency Text Service <span>system is an opt-in service that is used only in the case of a major emergency on one of ASU’s campuses or in the immediate vicinity. To sign up for the emergency text message alert system, go to <a href="http://www.asu.edu/go/alert_text">www.asu.edu/alert</a>. An ASURITE ID and password is needed to sign up.</span></p><separator></separator><p><span>ASU recently joined forces with e2Campus, the provider of ASU’s emergency text-messaging alert service that is utilized by other schools across the nation. Text message charges may apply depending on individual cell phone plans. </span></p><separator></separator><p><span>Depending on the nature of the emergency, text messaging may be utilized in conjunction with other communication tools, such as ASU Police crime alerts, media alerts, ASU and myASU Web pages, campus televisions, reverse 911 calls, in-person contact and ASU’s emergency information hotline. </span></p><separator></separator><p><span>ASU students, faculty and staff who signed up with the previous text-message alert system that was introduced last year have been automatically transferred to e2Campus so they will receive a text in case of an emergency. </span><span>For a comprehensive look at ASU’s emergency plans, go to the university’s Web site at <a href="http://www.asu.edu/emergency">www.asu.edu/emergency</a>. </span><span> </span><span> </span> </p>