Hollins U Chooses Omnilert for Emergency Notification Ahead of VA Deadline

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 12/02/08

Hollins University, among other higher ed institutions in Virginia, has implemented Omnilert's e2Campus emergency notification system (ENS) just ahead of a state-mandated deadline requiring them at every public institution of higher education by Jan. 1. Hollins itself isn't a public campus, but wished to implement an ENS before the end of the year, the school said in a company statement.

"We conducted a thorough analysis of emergency notification providers and chose e2Campus because they are the most reliable," said Carol Reed, CIO at Hollins. "Our main focus is to ensure our students are notified immediately of an emergency on campus. We have performed numerous onsite tests of e2Campus, which have all been extremely successful."

"We're now looking into expanding e2Campus' reach by adding Alertus beacons around campus to notify people not already plugged into the cell phone alerts," she added.

The law requires that institutions implement a "comprehensive, prompt, and reliable first warning notification and emergency broadcast system for their students, faculty, and staff, both on and off campus. Such system shall be activated in the case of an emergency and may rely on Web site announcements; e-mail notices; phone, cellular phone, and text messages; alert lines; public address systems; and other means of communication." In addition, schools must designate and train individuals authorized to activate the warning system.

Other Virginia schools that have implemented an e2Campus emergency notification system since the bill's passage include Bridgewater College, Christendom College, Eastern Mennonite University, Randolph-Macon College, and Virginia Intermont College.