2008 Woodie Awards
Disaster text message system up
Jeffrey Mosher
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Following the requests of the college campuses around the district, a new text message alert system was implemented on Oct. 4 in hopes of improving the circulation of information to the student and faculty body directly following an emergency.
The alert system allows text messages to be sent to all registered students, in which a brief description of a specified emergency on the campus is underway.
"The intention is to provide a quick means of communication to students and staff in the case of an emergency on campus," said Eric Raznick, director of ITS (Information Technology Services) at the district office.
The person in charge of writing this program was Sheela Mamillapalli, ITS programmer analyst at the district office.
"I set up a link where the students could access the online sign up using Websmart," said Mamillapalli.
By simply logging onto your Websmart account, students can access the registration process, which is quick and painless. There is an icon of a phone, which reads Emergency Text Message Contact Information.
It then asks for the student or staff member to provide his/her cell phone number and provider.
"It also allows the student to select which college campus they are interested in because many students attend multiple campuses within the district," said Raznick. "It then sends you a confirmation text message when you have completed the registration."
As of Oct. 18, there were 594 students within the San Mateo Community College District that have successfully signed up for the new Text Message Alert System using Websmart. This figure is comprised of 118 Cañada students, 216 Skyline students, and 260 students at CSM.
"I think it sounds like a really good system that could definitely be helpful for a lot of people," said Jayson Farias, CSM student.
Following the Virginia Tech campus shooting, this issue was directed into the spotlight.
"It really put it in front of all of our minds," said Raznick.
These kinds of incidences do occur, and the necessary precautions need to be taken.
"Many colleges and universities have done something similar," said Raznick.
San Mateo County also has its own Community Alert System. If an individual signs up for an SMC Alert account, in the case of an emergency, a message will be sent out to the cell phone or mobile device that has been registered.
When the registration process for the Spring 2008 semester begins, all students will be subject to the Text Message Alert System sign up on Websmart.
"We as a district need to provide a safe environment for the students," said Raznick.
The alert system allows text messages to be sent to all registered students, in which a brief description of a specified emergency on the campus is underway.
"The intention is to provide a quick means of communication to students and staff in the case of an emergency on campus," said Eric Raznick, director of ITS (Information Technology Services) at the district office.
The person in charge of writing this program was Sheela Mamillapalli, ITS programmer analyst at the district office.
"I set up a link where the students could access the online sign up using Websmart," said Mamillapalli.
By simply logging onto your Websmart account, students can access the registration process, which is quick and painless. There is an icon of a phone, which reads Emergency Text Message Contact Information.
It then asks for the student or staff member to provide his/her cell phone number and provider.
"It also allows the student to select which college campus they are interested in because many students attend multiple campuses within the district," said Raznick. "It then sends you a confirmation text message when you have completed the registration."
As of Oct. 18, there were 594 students within the San Mateo Community College District that have successfully signed up for the new Text Message Alert System using Websmart. This figure is comprised of 118 Cañada students, 216 Skyline students, and 260 students at CSM.
"I think it sounds like a really good system that could definitely be helpful for a lot of people," said Jayson Farias, CSM student.
Following the Virginia Tech campus shooting, this issue was directed into the spotlight.
"It really put it in front of all of our minds," said Raznick.
These kinds of incidences do occur, and the necessary precautions need to be taken.
"Many colleges and universities have done something similar," said Raznick.
San Mateo County also has its own Community Alert System. If an individual signs up for an SMC Alert account, in the case of an emergency, a message will be sent out to the cell phone or mobile device that has been registered.
When the registration process for the Spring 2008 semester begins, all students will be subject to the Text Message Alert System sign up on Websmart.
"We as a district need to provide a safe environment for the students," said Raznick.
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