Emergency CommunicationsHow does the emergency communication notification service work at Savannah Technical College?
It combines the power of the Internet with the pervasiveness of the telephone to give users an affordable and easy-to-use tool to reach out to their communities. Users record a voice message in their own voice using just a telephone or type a message to be sent to text receiving devices. In all, the multi-modal service  helps the college reach out to students and staff via:
  • Voice messages to home phones, work phones, cell phones, and even emails
  • Text messages to cell phones, PDAs and other text-based devices
  • Written messages to e-mail accounts
  • Messages to TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired

What is multi-modal communication? Are text messages alone sufficient?

With this service, the college can reach their community members in their own voice (at landlines, cell phones, and via e-mail) and via text messages (at cell phones, PDAs/other text-receiving devices, e-mail accounts, and TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired).
 
During a time-sensitive situation, multi-modal communication is critical as it is a more comprehensive way to reach people in the environment they may be in at the moment an issue arises. Communication is sent simultaneously to all available contact points for each person.
 
Relying on any single way to reach constituents (whether it is through just voice calls or just SMS) introduces a single point of failure. Additionally, text messages to cell phones, while a great back-up communication medium, is not stable enough to rely upon solely for time-sensitive communication. Cellular carriers did not design SMS (Short Messaging Service) as a reliable medium for transmitting high volume, time-sensitive communication within geo-centric communities (such as a college campus). As with any communication vehicle, it is important to combine voice, text-messaging, and e-mail to better ensure that you can reach your community in as many ways possible.
 

How does it get access to student and staff contact information?

The proprietary vendor we purchased the system from uses an online process to securely import Savannah Technical College's existing data into that our in a secure and reliable manner. We maintains all data and have full ownership over that data. Blackboard Connect also provides a system that allows schools to schedule secured automatic updates as frequently as they like, and/or they can add, remove, and delete individual contacts at their convenience.
 
You are encouraged to ensure that their contact information is up-to-date so that we can contact you should an emergency occur .
 
Is your information shared with anyone?
No. Neither Savannah Technical College nor the vendor sells, leases, shares, or rent personally identifiable information (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of the vendor or their service providers.
   

How has this system been used?

The system has been used to communicate vital information when a critical situation has taken place. It is also used to issue alerts to campus members as outlined in the Clery Act. Additionally, some campuses use the service for more routine communication, including communicating during the admissions process and to alert students to important financial aid and/or payment deadlines.
 

What if an emergency occurs and the school can't access the Internet to send a message?

Each user is given a personal, wallet-sized Emergency Messaging card. In case of an evacuation or power loss, school administrators can use the information on this card to send a time-sensitive notification to all their contacts or to a pre-determined emergency response team using just a telephone.
 

How many calls have been sent through this service?

The company, Blackboard Connect Inc. (formerly The NTI Group, Inc.), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), is currently sending 20-25 million time-sensitive calls per month solely on behalf of  public schools, colleges, universities and govenrmental agencies.
  
The first client sent its first K-12 communication in early 2001 under the PACE brand. Since then, Blackboard Connect has delivered hundreds of millions of messages on behalf of schools and public officials.

   

How many campuses are using the service?

More than150 campuses are using the service service to send messages to 1 million students and staff. Campuses currently using it include Savannah State, Armstrong, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Princeton, Tulane, University of Notre Dame, Caltech, Williams College, University of Iowa, University of Hawaii, University of Oklahoma, Baylor University, and Wesleyan.
 

How can it reach thousands in minutes?

The college creates an emergency message through the notification system. The vendor maintains access to tens of thousands of phone lines originating from multiple locations throughout the United States to ensure that its clients' communications are delivered quickly and efficiently. Moreover, the vendor employs sophisticated call throttling logic to identify the proper schematics needed to deliver calls based upon whatever congestion the local telecommunications providers are experiencing at the moment calls are being attempted. This is a crucial point of differentiation versus both auto-dialers and other ASP/Software as a Service competitor who lack experience delivering time-based mass notifications.
 

How much does it cost?

The service is based on a flat per-student rate that varies slightly from campus to campus depending upon the planned use (e.g., emergency only versus comprehensive).
 

Does it require any additional equipment?

No. The only thing needed is an Internet connection, a browser that meets or exceeds Internet Explorer 5.5 or Netscape 7.0, and a telephone. Schools don't have to buy or maintain any special equipment, have special phone lines installed, or install any software applications or plug-ins.
 
 Frequently Asked Questions about SMS/Text Messaging

OPT OUT PROCESS - because of the importance of emergency communications, everyone will be automatically set to receive SMS/Text Messaging

 

Question:   How do I opt-out?

 Answer:  You may opt-out at any time by texting “STOP [ Account Code] " or “QUIT [ Account Code] " to 23177.
 

Question:  What if I opted-out but later decide I would like to opt-in again?

Answer:  You may request to begin receiving text messages by texting “SUBSCRIBE [ Account Code] " to 23177.
 

Question:  If I change mobile phone providers but keep the same number, do I need  to opt-in again?

Answer:  No. Once your phone number has been entered, it stays registered within the system.

 

Question:  What if my information is not registered with the school, but I want to receive alerts anyway? Can I text 23177 to “SUBSCRIBE [Account Code]” and still receive messages?
Answer: No, you will not receive messages. If you are not part of the school’s contact database, and you try to subscribe, you will receive the message: You have not followed the Opt-In/Out process correctly. More info text HELP or go to www.blackboardconnect.com/sms