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It is an emergency messaging system that can send Safety Alerts to phones, e-mail addresses, text/SMS and TTY/TDD devices. Desktop notifications are also being rolled out across campus. The Safety Alert System will be used only for emergency communication purposes and never for routine communications.
Connect-ED is a service that Cal Poly Pomona has contracted to support the university’s Safety Alert System. The Connect-ED service is provided by the company Blackboard Connect. This system sends the mass alert messages to your phones, emails and text devices.
In fall 2012, the campus began to roll out the Alertus Desktop notification system, which sends full-screen safety messages to campus-owned computers equipped with Alertus software.
Installation of the Alertus system is a work in progress, so not everyone using a campus computer in classrooms, computer labs and faculty/staff offices will see the full-screen alert. If you are using a campus computer and do not receive an Alertus message during the test, visit the Cal Poly Pomona Help Desk’s Alertus page and follow the simple diagnostic instructions.
The Safety Alert System uses contact information from BroncoDirect. Updates can be made by visiting BroncoDirect.
In previous Safety Alert tests, we found that cell phone text messages have been reaching participants most quickly. In a campus emergency, we need to reach you as soon as possible. By calling your cell phone or sending a text message, we can send you emergency information whether you are at home or on campus.
While all faculty, staff and students are automatically enrolled to receive emergency messages, you need to log into BroncoDirect to confirm your data. Please provide all of your contact information, including a cell phone, so the university will have multiple ways of reaching you in the event of an emergency. Safety Alerts will only be used for emergency communication purposes and never for routine communications.
Just log into BroncoDirect and update your personal information. The university will refresh contact information for the Safety Alert System regularly.
Messages from the Safety Alert System will have the ID 23177 or 63079 on text messages, (866) 869-7659 on phone messages and Cal Poly Pomona Safety Alert at safetyalert@csupomona.edu on e-mail messages. The campus community is encouraged to add these contacts into their cell phones under Cal Poly Pomona Safety Alert.
The university must test the Safety Alert System to ensure it is functioning as well as to familiarize the campus community with this important emergency communication vehicle. It will only be done three times a year, once during the fall, winter and spring quarters.
Alertus Desktop notification software is being installed on all campus computers. During a safety alert test – or in the event of a real emergency – a safety message will be sent to all campus-owned computers. A pilot study demonstrated that Alertus messages can arrive on computers faster than messages to campus phones or email. This is another tool to help ensure that you are aware of what is happening in case of an emergency.
All campus-owned computers in classrooms, computer labs and faculty/staff offices will eventually have the Alertus system. As of November 2012, installation of the software is well underway, but about half of campus computers do not yet have it.
Visit the Alertus help page to see if you have the software. If you determine that your university-owned computer does not have Alertus software, contact the Help Desk via a link on the page.
To remove the alert, click on the “acknowledge” button on the screen.
Installation on personal computers will begin once all university-owned computers receive the software, which is a work in progress. Alerts will only appear if the computer is on the campus network and in an active state.
The university conducts tests of the Safety Alert System once each fall, winter and spring. All contact information is culled from BroncoDirect. Log into BroncoDirect and make sure you include all your contact information in the fields provided. If you want to receive text messages, make sure your cell phone number is in the field "cellular" or "mobile." If the correct information was already in BroncoDirect, but you did not receive a test message, please call the Help Desk at (909) 869-6776 so we can resolve the issue.
First, please log into BroncoDirect and check the data under "Phone Numbers." Make sure your cell phone is under the Phone Type called “Cellular.” Even if you have your cell phone entered under another phone type, the Connect-ED system will not know that number can accept text/SMS messages. If you do not have a number listed for “Cellular,” then add a phone number, choose the phone type “Cellular” in the drop down menu, and then type in your cell phone number. Make sure you save your data after inputting each number. When you first input a cellular number into the database, you may receive a confirmation text message from SMS@ntigroup.com. For assistance with BroncoDirect, call the Help Desk at (909) 869-6776.
Just log into BroncoDirect and update your personal data. The university will refresh contact information for the Safety Alert System regularly. BroncoDirect can be used for employees at the university, Foundation, ASI and credit union.
Foundation employees can now update their information through BroncoDirect. Log into BroncoDirect and make sure you include all your contact information in the fields provided.
ASI employees can update their information with BroncoDirect. Log into BroncoDirect and make sure you include all your contact information in the fields provided.
Every faculty, staff and student can list phone numbers in the following fields: a main phone, a cell phone, home phone, business phone and TDD/TTY device. A main number is required, and can be any primary phone such as for your home or mobile. Providing your cell phone is recommended so you can receive safety alerts through a text message and a voice message.
There is no cost to receive Cal Poly Pomona Safety Alert messages. The only cost is the amount your cell phone company may charge you to receive a text message. Please keep in mind Cal Poly Pomona will only use the Safety Alert System for emergency communication purposes, and never for routine communications or announcements.
Providing your cell phone number is not mandatory. However, Safety Alert messages will generally be urgent and time sensitive. Providing us more options to reach you, such as calling your cell phone or sending a text message, increases our ability to communicate important information in the event of an emergency.
No one. The cell phone number you provide in BroncoDirect will remain confidential and will NOT be released to anyone else.
You must update your contact information by going to BroncoDirect. The university will refresh contact information for the Safety Alert System regularly.
Alert messages will also be sent to other phone numbers and e-mail addresses you have listed in BroncoDirect. In addition, emergency information will continue to be posted on the Cal Poly Pomona website and Emergency Hotline (866-869-POLY).
No. Connect-ED is required to activate the SMS system with a simple confirmation message BEFORE anyone receives a message.
Some mobile phone service providers will confirm that you want to receive text messages from the Cal Poly Pomona Safety Alert System the first time you receive a Safety Alert message. Follow the text message instructions, and then the Safety Alert text message will be delivered.
You can opt-out of receiving cell and text messages by eliminating that number in BroncoDirect. However, we strongly advise against that. It is important that we have every option available to reach you in time of a crisis. You cannot opt-out of a primary phone number or your e-mail.
Yes – Just follow the instructions when you receive your text message. However, we strongly advise against that. It is important that we have every option available to reach you in time of a crisis.
Just log back into BroncoDirect and update your contact information. If you opted out through text messaging 23177, simply text “SUBSCRIBE CPP” to 23177 to initiate the opt-in process.
It is university policy that we have a current main phone number for every faculty, staff and student. E-mail is the official communication vehicle for the university.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact us by e-mailing safetyalert@csupomona.edu or calling the Help Desk at (909) 869-6776.
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2008 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
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