LSC-O Adopts Mass Communication Service to Enhance Emergency Preparedness
LSC-O Plans to Test System on Wednesday
Lamar State College-Orange announced today that it has selected the fast multi-modal communication service Connect-ED from Blackboard Connect Inc., formerly The NTI Group, Inc., to deliver time-sensitive notifications to students and staff. LSC-O is implementing the service to provide campus leaders and security professionals the ability to immediately reach all faculty, staff and students with information and updates during unforeseen events or emergencies through phone calls, e-mails and text messages.
LSC-O will be conducting a test of the system on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. All current employees and students with information in the college’s database will be contacted by the system. Please acknowledge that this is only a test; do not take action upon receiving the emergency announcement.
The Connect-ED service enables campus leaders to schedule, send and track personalized voice messages to up to six phone numbers per person, and immediately sends messages via different modes of communication, including landlines, cell phones, e-mail accounts, PDAs, TTY/TDD receiving devices, and other text-based devices.
Users may record a voice message via telephone to send a message in the voice of a credible spokesperson or type a message to be read by an automated, human sounding voice and the Connect-ED service sends the message to each of the recipients' contact points within minutes.
Dr. Michael Shahan, president of LSC-O, stated, “The ability to instantly notify all campus constituents is crucial in emergency situations, such as severe weather conditions, campus attacks or institution closures.”
The Connect-ED platform utilizes a mass notification process that gives users an affordable and easy-to-use tool to reach out to their communities. In addition to faculty and staff, it is essential for students to enter all of their contact information into the LSC-O System.
“The more means we have to contact individuals, the better our odds are of spreading timely information and, more importantly, keeping everyone safe,” added Dr. Shahan.
All contact information included in the Connect-ED service will only be used for campus emergency notifications and will not be made available to any other service.
About Blackboard Connect Inc.
Blackboard Connect Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) that provides comprehensive communication systems designed specifically for local, regional, state, and Federal government entities that enable rapid dissemination of critical information via voice and text devices. For more information on Blackboard Connect and Connect-ED, visit https://www.blackboardconnect.com/.
About Lamar State College-Orange
Founded in 1969, Lamar State College-Orange has been providing quality educational opportunities for more than 39 years. As a two-year college, LSC-O offers educational opportunities to all citizens through an open-door policy that admits all students who can benefit from post-secondary education. LSC-O provides academic transfer, associate degree programs and technical certificates to prepare students for senior colleges and universities, as well as continuing education opportunities for future career advancement. For more information on LSC-O, visit http://www.lsco.edu/.
