FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 04/22/2008

Greenville College to Use New “GC ALERT” Wireless Emergency Notification System

GREENVILLE, ILL. – *ding* Welcome to Greenville College, in case of an emergency please pick up your cell phone and check your text messages- This is the message members of the Greenville College community could be hearing soon. Starting this semester students, faculty and, staff will have the opportunity to register for the new Greenville College Emergency Notification System (GC ALERT).

This system is designed to use cell phone text messages to alert the campus of any emergency situations that directly affect the campus community, including tornadoes, earthquakes, power outages, extreme weather, hostile intruder and other unforeseen circumstances. These text messages will be treated by all major mobile carriers as Tier 1 priority. Tier 1 priority ensures the delivery of messages during times of high network traffic.

There is no software or hardware to maintain because the messages will be in a true SMS (short message system) format. The system implemented will also have the ability to notify the entire campus or a selected group. There is no advertising involved with this system and those who register will not have to fear dozens of unwanted messages.
In a perfect situation everyone would register their cell phone but as Dean of Students Norm Hall states, “This is not perfect.” To help maximize the number of people participating there will be multiple ways to register. The first will be a section in the mandatory “Intent to Return” survey conducted by student development. There will also be a link on Panthernet in which students, faculty and staff will be able to sign-up or opt out of the service, as well as to provide additional numbers to be contacted.

The GC ALERT system is another step in the ongoing process of updating and modernizing Greenville College campus security. This has been a priority of Hall who was instrumental in bringing in Tom Kearns, the new director of campus safety and security. After a lengthy search Kearns, a former chief of police and youth pastor, was hired this past summer.

In a community of 7000 and with a student body of 1600, most would not expect security to be as important here as at larger universities. Nevertheless Greenville College is committed to providing the highest level of safety for the students, faculty and staff.

Greenville College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with 1600 traditional undergraduate, graduate and adult degree completion students.  Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis.

CONTACT
Robyn Florian
Director of College Relations and Marketing
(618) 664-6504
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it