 Recent campus tragedies such as the shootings at Virginia Tech and the University of Northern Illinois serve as a grim reminder of the importance of having a campus-wide plan to alert students, staff and faculty during emergencies. In order to be effective, today’s plans must incorporate the latest communication tools, and have a sound sense of where those on the leading edge of technology adoption (usually students) are turning for information.
Because text messaging has become a popular mode of communication among the student-aged population, the University of Minnesota has initiated a program called TXT-U designed to reach students in the event of emergency. Students aren’t the only target for this new program, though it is believed that students comprise the more than 16,000 people who have signed up for “TXT-U” since it was rolled out earlier this year. Those signed up for “TXT-U” will receive a text message alerting them to the danger and instructing them what to do and where to go to stay safe.
While officials at the University of Minnesota have the technology piece of “TXT-U” figured out, the policy side is proving more challenging. There is concern that “TXT-U” not be overused and eventually ignored, much the way e-mail has evolved. Accordingly, officials are drafting policy that dictates that “TXT-U” only be used in situations in which safety is deemed to be at risk. Currently the University of Minnesota Police Department is authorized to use “TXT-U” on a moment’s notice, in the event of a gas leak, bomb threat, or shooting, for example. Situations less life threatening, but where safety may be compromised, are reviewed by the University’s “Officer of the Day” who determines whether “TXT-U” should be deployed.
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