University of Indianapolis

Overview

After facing a bomb threat in 2016, the University of Indianapolis (UIndy) recognized the need to reach everyone on campus more effectively in case of an emergency.

Challenge

UIndy initially relied on personal notification, such as text messages and email, for mass communication but found that areas on campus weren’t receiving the alerts due to a lack of cellular reception.

They also recognized the risk of students or visitors needing access to cell phones. UIndy wanted to reach these areas and people by adding additional alerting methods while still keeping their current system, Watchdog Alerts (utilizing Rave Mobile Safety for text, email, and auto-dialing).

Solution

David Shelby, UIndy Director and Chief of Police, chose Alertus to complete their comprehensive mass notification goals for many reasons. “We used a mass communication system that allowed us to utilize text, email, voice, and social media. Unfortunately, we had areas on campus that were not receiving any messages,” said Shelby. “Alertus Desktop™ Notification and the Alert Beacon® resolved the issues. We now feel comfortable that we are getting messages out to the faculty, staff, students, and visitors.”

When UIndy decided to add another layer of protection to their existing system to help reach areas without cellular coverage, Shelby immediately looked to Alertus. “I have known about Alertus for a long time,” said Shelby. “I chose to bring in the technology for a couple of reasons—I really don’t like to entirely rely on cell phone companies for issuing messages, and Alertus allowed us to utilize our IT systems. It also allows us to hardwire our Alert Beacons [not to have to depend on cellular service or Internet connection].”

By adding Alert Beacons, a unique, wall-mounted audible/ visual alerting device, UIndy could provide coverage to previously hard-to-reach areas, such as basements. Shelby was able to continue leveraging their existing solutions by integrating Rave/Watchdog with Alertus, enabling his department to activate alerts from a single platform.

Alertus and Rave are well-established interoperability partners and enjoy seamless two-way integration, allowing organizations that may have started with text and email to scale their mass notification strategy without giving up their existing provider. UIndy put the new multi-layered system to the test during a recent statewide tornado drill, where they activated their entire system. They found that the Alertus solutions performed as needed and could activate faster than endpoints that relied on cellular or internet service. UIndy plans to expand its system by adding additional Alert Beacons and outdoor speakers across campus.

Conclusion

We want to go ahead and continue to build relationships with private companies to increase our coverage area. We also want to make sure that our neighbors get involved. I know that after we got the Alertus System, one of our neighboring cities, Pasadena, has now installed 100 Alert Beacons, and another neighbor, Deer Park, is also looking at getting the Alertus System. I think that other people are taking notice because we’re moving forward with Alertus here and others get a chance to see what Alertus can do.

Ultimately, we’d like to see others adopting Alertus on a large scale so that the Alertus System becomes recognizable, something that everyone knows about. Whether someone walks into a school building here, a neighboring city hall, or a fire station in another county, they’ll see that Alert Beacon and feel protected.