Spring Break
New text alert system set to debut
Last week's delayed message attributed to old system
Julie Stagis
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: News
Delays in the text message alert sent after an alleged armed robbery last Tuesday caused concern among students, but university officials say the new, more reliable system is not yet in place.
A contract with Rave, the company whose system was tested Sept. 23, has been signed and the system should be effective soon. The alert sent out last Tuesday was sent through an old version of Reverse 911, according to UConn Chief Information Officer Michael Kerntke.
"We felt it was necessary to send the message, so the old service was all we had," said UConn spokeswoman Karen Grava.
"We knew it was slow. We hope to replace Reverse 911 within two weeks," Kerntke said.
The new company was chosen after the Sept. 23 test. After the test, 97 percent of students who provided feedback on the UConn alert Web site said they received the text within 15 minutes of when it was sent out.
"We were very happy with the Rave system test, so that's why we went ahead and purchased it," Kerntke said.
Although the university did not ask for feedback on last week's alert, they have received comments that it wasn't as effective as the Rave test, according to Grava.
Some students received the text message soon after it was sent out, but many received it long after - if at all. And some got it multiple times.
"I got it three times - at 4:20 a.m., 8:05 a.m. and 8:40 a.m.," said Rob Wojciechowski, a 5th-semester psychology major.
In addition to the text message alert, a warning banner was placed at the top of UConn web sites and an e-mail was sent out explaining the situation.
Students appreciate the many methods of dissemination for the alert.
"My roommate got the e-mail and told us, and then we both got the text about 10 minutes after [she got the e-mail]," said Kristi Webster, a 5th-semester exercise science major.
Webster and her suitemate, Brianna Flynn, said they like the idea of the text message alert because students can receive them wherever they are, even if they are unable to check their e-mail.
"I was at the turf field and I had to park in D-Lot. I had practice the next morning and all of my field hockey equipment was in my car," Flynn, a 5th-semester physiology and neurobiology major, said. "I knew not to go to my car because I got the text. I was alone, too, so I really appreciated it."
"We have multiple systems in place to make sure a problem with one doesn't constitute a complete failure," Kerntke said.
A contract with Rave, the company whose system was tested Sept. 23, has been signed and the system should be effective soon. The alert sent out last Tuesday was sent through an old version of Reverse 911, according to UConn Chief Information Officer Michael Kerntke.
"We felt it was necessary to send the message, so the old service was all we had," said UConn spokeswoman Karen Grava.
"We knew it was slow. We hope to replace Reverse 911 within two weeks," Kerntke said.
The new company was chosen after the Sept. 23 test. After the test, 97 percent of students who provided feedback on the UConn alert Web site said they received the text within 15 minutes of when it was sent out.
"We were very happy with the Rave system test, so that's why we went ahead and purchased it," Kerntke said.
Although the university did not ask for feedback on last week's alert, they have received comments that it wasn't as effective as the Rave test, according to Grava.
Some students received the text message soon after it was sent out, but many received it long after - if at all. And some got it multiple times.
"I got it three times - at 4:20 a.m., 8:05 a.m. and 8:40 a.m.," said Rob Wojciechowski, a 5th-semester psychology major.
In addition to the text message alert, a warning banner was placed at the top of UConn web sites and an e-mail was sent out explaining the situation.
Students appreciate the many methods of dissemination for the alert.
"My roommate got the e-mail and told us, and then we both got the text about 10 minutes after [she got the e-mail]," said Kristi Webster, a 5th-semester exercise science major.
Webster and her suitemate, Brianna Flynn, said they like the idea of the text message alert because students can receive them wherever they are, even if they are unable to check their e-mail.
"I was at the turf field and I had to park in D-Lot. I had practice the next morning and all of my field hockey equipment was in my car," Flynn, a 5th-semester physiology and neurobiology major, said. "I knew not to go to my car because I got the text. I was alone, too, so I really appreciated it."
"We have multiple systems in place to make sure a problem with one doesn't constitute a complete failure," Kerntke said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Carl Winslow
posted 10/29/08 @ 11:37 AM EST
Is it just me...or is this whole text alert thing a complete waste of time. If Uconn is like a town or city....i have never heard of any other town or city sending texts to their citizens when a crime happens. (Continued…)
Post a Comment