USC Aiken Improves Campus Safety and Emergency Notification System
September 6, 2007
USC Aiken recently made improvements to their emergency action plan and notification system to increase campus safety, including the implementation of text messaging for emergency notification to faculty, staff, and students.
“Since the tragedy at Virginia Tech earlier in the year, USCA, like most universities, has been taking an in-depth look at our campus emergency procedures,” said Dr. Tom Hallman, chancellor. “We are making improvements and upgrades to our existing plan in order to increase everyone’s safety.”
Recent improvements to the campus’ emergency action plan include:
- Implementation of text message notification of emergencies
- The University Police office was relocated next to the campus’ residential complexes, Pacer Downs and Pacer Commons, to be more centrally-located for protection of the campus, especially the University’s growing residential population.
According to Tony Ateca, assistant chancellor for facilities management, “Almost 25% of USCA students reside on-campus, therefore, reaching our commuting students is a major concern. In the event of an emergency in which we did not want students to come to campus, text messaging is our most effective method of reaching the most people.”
Earlier this week, students, faculty, and staff were notified of the text messaging plan and given the option to register their cellular phone. “Participation is voluntary, but is very strongly encouraged,” said Ateca.
Plans are in place for the 2007-2008 academic year to:
- Implement a new emergency alert network, which will include three antennas bearing 1600-watt, omni-directional speakers for external voice notification of campus-wide emergencies
- Set-up Command and Control Centers for communications and emergency dispatching in six locations across campus
- Emergency call stations, which connect directly to University Police to report an emergency or request assistance will be added to the A & D parking lots (14 call stations are already located across campus)
- Add additional surveillance cameras across campus (31 surveillance cameras are currently in place – plans are in place to add 11 more)
- Implement public announcement radios at the workstations of all Building Emergency Coordinators (faculty and staff identified in each building who are trained in evacuation, first-aid, and other emergency procedures)
- Conduct campus-wide training and response drills to assure emergency readiness.
For more information about USC Aiken’s emergency action plan, please contact Tony Ateca, assistant chancellor for facilities management, at 803.641.3254 or tonya@usca.edu.
