Historic GW University Rolling Out Security Messaging System

George Washington University is deploying GW Alert, a system based on ActiveAccess from BIA Information Network, a private label campus security application installed on student, staff and faculty computers to alert students to campus safety events.

Should a crisis occur, campus police can use GW Alert to place text messages that crawl across the bottom of the screens of campus PCs to inform users about the emergency situation, as well as graphical messages that can provide detailed instructions and web links for help.

Besides emergency messages, GW Alert can display daily temperature and weather information and provide access to the GW New Center, the GW RSS News Feed, and campus phone numbers and safety resources.

The small, downloadable app automatically connects to the Internet to get its information, which typically consumes less bandwidth than a single Web page. When not use, GW Alert is simply minimized as a toolbar icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

Read More:

About the Author

David Kopf is a freelance technology writer and marketing consultant, and can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • open laptop in a college classroom with holographic AI icons like a brain and data charts rising from the screen

    4 Ways Universities Are Using Google AI Tools for Learning and Administration

    In a recent blog post, Google shared an array of education customer stories, showcasing ways institutions are using AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM to transform both learning and administrative tasks.

  • illustration of a human head with a glowing neural network in the brain, connected to tech icons on a cool blue-gray background

    Meta Launches Stand-Alone AI App

    Meta Platforms has introduced a stand-alone artificial intelligence app built on its proprietary Llama 4 model, intensifying the competitive race in generative AI alongside OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI.

  • three main icons—a cloud, a user profile, and a padlock—connected by circuit lines on a blue abstract background

    Report: Identity Has Become a Critical Security Perimeter for Cloud Services

    A new threat landscape report points to new cloud vulnerabilities. According to the 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report from Fortinet, while misconfigured cloud storage buckets were once a prime vector for cybersecurity exploits, other cloud missteps are gaining focus.

  • Stylized illustration showing cybersecurity elements like shields, padlocks, and secure cloud icons on a neutral, minimalist digital background

    Microsoft Announces Security Advancements

    Microsoft has announced major security advancements across its product portfolio and practices. The work is part of its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a multiyear cybersecurity transformation the company calls the largest engineering project in company history.