Local

UNCC to unveil new crisis communication system

By Liz Foster
By Liz Foster

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The University of North Carolina-Charlotte is about to unveil a new system that will more quickly alert students and staff about emergencies.

Channel 9 learned that the system was in the works before recent rapes reported on campus. While addressing those rapes in February, the university’s chancellor told students and parents that staff was making changes to the emergency alert system.

After input from thousands of people, UNCC is ready to roll out Rave, its new crisis communication system.

“It’s good that they are doing that to get the word out faster to people, so they have a better chance of being notified,” freshman Jared Wright said.

Getting emergency alerts out faster was one issue that students said needed to be addressed.

“It is very important,” sophomore Angela Ariola said.

The new plan also includes expanding Wi-Fi coverage on campus and sending alerts on multiple platforms like email and text simultaneously, rather than just email.

“I’m on my phone all the time and I’m texting all the time, so being able to receive it as a text would be a lot more beneficial, easier and accommodating,” freshman Jaida Sloan said

The system will be fully tested Wednesday morning, only weeks after violent crimes against students, including sexual assaults and armed robberies, were reported on or near campus.

Sloan, who lives on campus, said she feels safe, but she values the improvements coming to keep students safe during a crisis.

“If I’m in my room or in a building, or out and about, I can quickly know that’s going on and get in a building or get somewhere safe so that I’m not in potential danger,” Sloan said.

The university’s current alert system is able to send texts, but only to students and staff who have registered their cellphone numbers.

University leaders are urging everyone to register their numbers to take advantage of enhanced text alerts under the new system.

Family members of UNCC students can register their email addresses to get emergency alerts at the same time, but the university said as of now, family members cannot get text alerts, because adding that many more phone numbers could slow text alerts being delivered.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

Cox Media Group

Most Read