The University of Louisiana at 麻豆传媒app deployed its emergency response system for the first time today and administrators are pleased with the outcome.
The First Call system was activated following the armed robbery of a bank near campus.
鈥 We needed to alert the campus community about a possible threat as a result of this armed robbery,鈥 said UL 麻豆传媒app Police Chief Ray Lucas. 鈥淲e wanted to ensure the safety of all students, faculty and staff on campus.鈥
Alerts were sent out via text messaging along with two phone calls to all campus lines and all cell phones registered with First Call. An initial message was sent to phones following the incident and a second message was distributed after the suspect had been arrested.
An alert message was also recorded on the campus hotline and the university鈥檚 homepage changed to a text-only site that replaced the usual homepage.
鈥 The alerts were successful,鈥 said Lucas. 鈥淭he system performed as it was designed to perform.鈥
Students who have not signed up for First Call are encouraged to do so free of charge. Each student has the opportunity to provide additional email addresses and phone numbers. For instance, a student may choose to include their parents鈥 home phone number as an additional contact number.
UL 麻豆传媒app students and employees can register their contact information online at .
鈥 We鈥檝e put this system in place to notify the campus community in times of emergency and we are pleased it worked so well today,鈥漵aid UL 麻豆传媒app President Dr. E. Joseph Savoie. 鈥淭he safety of our students, faculty and staff remains a top priority for this university.鈥
The First Call service is part of an initiative by the Louisiana Board of Regents and supported by the University of Louisiana System.