News

Caribbean Schools Face Hurricane Season with Notifications in Place

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 09/01/09

Inter-American University in Puerto Rico and the American University of Antigua--both in the Caribbean--have signed onto Blackboard Connect for text, voice, and e-mail notification services. Both schools are users of the Blackboard Learn course management system.

"It is a tremendous relief to have the Blackboard Connect service in place for the start of our new school year, which coincides with hurricane season in Puerto Rico," said Manuel Fernos, president of the 44,000-student Inter-American U. "We are now able to notify students and staff instantly about urgent news such as campus closures. In addition, we can promote new class openings, campus activities, and registration deadlines to help ensure our students' academic success."

AUA will also integrate the Blackboard Connect service as part of its campus-wide communication plan to reach students and the community with notices and instruction surrounding hurricane and tropical storm warnings, as well as volcanoes and earthquakes, which aren't uncommon in the area.

The service provides geo-targeting technology so that notifications can be sent to special groups to quickly address a specific need.