In an effort to improve campus security, Missouri S&T administrators have implemented a mass notification system to reach all students, faculty and staff in the event of an emergency.

The system allows authorized administrators to send pre-recorded voice or text messages to everyone on campus via landline telephones, cell phones, email and text messaging. All four University of Missouri campuses have adopted the system.

“This is a system that we hope we never have to use, but in the post-Virginia Tech era, having an effective system of mass emergency communications in place is vital to maintaining a safe university campus,” says Chancellor John F. Carney III. “Although we feel our current security efforts have been exemplary, this emergency alert system will only increase our already strong campus security plan.”

The campus held a full-scale test of the alert system on Jan. 30 and plans to conduct a similar test in the fall. The campus will continue to test the system during the early weeks of every semester.

The system will be used only for high-level emergencies, such as a natural disaster; a power outage or when lives are in danger. The campus offers the service free of charge, although cell carriers may charge for text messages.