U Pittsburgh Turns to Verizon Business for Automated Notification Services

The University of Pittsburgh has signed on for Verizon Notification Services to communicate to the campus community. Using the services, the university can deliver customized, time-sensitive communications through a variety of means--including wireline and wireless phones, faxes, text messaging, and e-mail--to its 31,000 students and 12,000 faculty and staff across five campuses.

"The University of Pittsburgh began exploring options for text-messaging services beginning in October 2006, but the tragic events at Virginia Tech in April 2007 provided the catalyst that really kicked our deployment plans into high gear," said Jinx Walton, director of computing services and systems development. "When we assessed our options, it was clear that Verizon Business had a solid track record of success. When you really look at it, delivering messages is Verizon's core business, and we've made the right decision implementing this platform across the university."

The alert notification platform, which integrates with the school's central directory, received a tryout before testing was completed when the university received a bomb threat in October 2007. The school used the notification platform to send about 6,000 voice, e-mail, and text messages, reaching 99.8 percent of intended recipients. Three subsequent uses of the alert notification system delivered similar results.

The Pennsylvania school evaluated several other alert-notification services from different providers, including a text-only platform, before selecting the Verizon offering.

Features of the notification platform include conference bridging, near real-time performance monitoring, priority delivery, and message-receipt tracking, as well as built-in redundancy. It's capable of sending alerts to users in 125 countries in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • glowing digital brain above a chessboard with data charts and flowcharts

    Why AI Strategy Matters (and Why Not Having One Is Risky)

    If your institution hasn't started developing an AI strategy, you are likely putting yourself and your stakeholders at risk, particularly when it comes to ethical use, responsible pedagogical and data practices, and innovative exploration.

  • laptop screen with a video play icon, surrounded by parts of notebooks, pens, and a water bottle on a student desk

    New AI Tool Generates Video Explanations Based on Course Materials

    AI-powered studying and learning platform Studyfetch has launched Imagine Explainers, a new video creator that utilizes artificial intelligence to generate 10- to 60-minute explainer videos for any topic.

  • cloud and circuit patterns with AI stamp

    Cloud Management Startup Launches Infrastructure Intelligence Tool

    A new AI-powered infrastructure intelligence tool from cloud management startup env0 aims to turn the fog of sprawling, enterprise-scale deployments into crisp, queryable insight, minus the spreadsheets, scripts, and late-night Slack threads.

  • 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.