In a crisis situation, timely communication of the existence of a threat is vital. WSU’s ShockerAlert System is a network of various emergency communication assets which can be activated within minutes. They include:
- Email and text blasts. ShockerAlert will send emergency notification to individual faculty, staff and students though mass e-mail and cell phone text messaging. E-mail blasts are automatically sent to all wichita.edu accounts. To receive ShockerAlerts via cell phone, university community members must elect to opt-in. See www.wichita.edu/alert in order to complete the steps necessary to receive emergency notification by text message.
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Wireless Emergency Mass Notification System. The WSU Wireless Emergency Mass Notification System is a network of scrolling message
boards that are strategically located in campus classrooms, department offices, and
in many building lobbies. The
message boards normally perform as digital clocks. When emergency notification is
activated, however, these digital displays immediately transition into message boards
and provide a scrolling emergency text message. - Web alerts. In the event of an emergency, the WSU Web site (www.wichita.edu) will disseminate time-stamped news updates and contact information about the crisis. The myWSU site, which is a portal for students and staff, also has emergency notification features.
- Campus Information Channel. WSU’s campuses feature strategically-placed video monitors that normally display information about upcoming events. If a ShockerAlert is issued, emergency information will be displayed on these monitors.
- Facebook. ShockerAlerts will be carried on facebook.com/shockeralert. Any Facebook user who friends this page will receive ShockerAlert messages on their Facebook wall.
In addition to ShockerAlert, KMUW, the WSU’s public radio station, subscribes to the federal Emergency Alert System and is capable of broadcasting an emergency alert notification as initiated by its network.