In an ongoing effort to provide the most secure academic environment
possible, administrators at the University of Missouri-Rolla will implement a
mass notification system (MNS) to help ensure the safety of the UMR campus. The
MNS, which is scheduled to go live on Nov. 30, will deliver information and
instructions in the event of an emergency to all UMR students, faculty and
staff.

The MNS system will give authorized administrators the ability to send
pre-recorded voice or text messages to everyone on campus via landline
telephones, cell phones, email and text messaging. UMR joins the other campuses
in the University of Missouri System in implementing this emergency alert
program.

“This is a system that we hope we never have to use, but in the
post-Virginia Tech era, having an effective system of mass emergency
communications in place is vital to maintaining a safe university campus,"
said UMR Chancellor John F. Carney III. “Although we feel our current security
efforts have been exemplary, this emergency alert system will only increase our
already strong campus security plan."

All UMR students and personnel are automatically included in the MNS
database; however, everyone is encouraged to make sure that university email
addresses and personal cell phone numbers are accurate and up-to-date.
Step-by-step instructions on how to update personal information are on the UMR
IT department’s webpage, it.mst.edu.

The order in which individuals will be contacted will be phone (landline or
cell phone), text message and email and recipients will have the ability to
confirm receipt of any notification they receive. Text message alerts will
incur wireless providers’ regular text messaging charges, so anyone wishing not
to be contacted via text message has the option to not provide this
information.

“We’ve been working hard to make sure that this system will be effective and
reach the highest number of individuals on campus," said Karl Lutzen, UMR’s
IT systems security analyst. “My sentiments echo those of Chancellor Carney –
this will be an important addition to our continual efforts to ensure campus
safety."

For more information on updating contact information, call the UMR IT
helpdesk at 573-341-HELP (4357) or the UMR registrar’s office.