MSU begins automatic registration of phone numbers in the campus alarm system

The Michigan State University Department of Public Safety and Police announced via email to the entire campus on Monday that the department will automatically add telephone numbers for students and staff to the MSU alarm system.

The move will be completed by July 18 and will provide students and faculty with an additional level of preparation and security in the event of an emergency. on the campus.

“This process began in April 2023 when MSU Police and Public Safety submitted a formal request to implement this change,” said Dana Whyte, spokesperson for MSU DPPS. “Numerous campus stakeholders provided input before moving forward. This process included the creation of new policies, processing data, etc.”

This move came just weeks after an armed robbery outside Snyder Hall on May 30. Those whose contact information was linked to an MSU email address and phone number received a series of notifications. the evening.

Whyte said this recent improvement to the alert system is not related to any specific crime that occurred on campus, but rather a “collaborative approach to further improve the MSU alert system on Campus.”

“This update expands the capabilities of our mass notification alert system by allowing students and staff to automatically receive notifications through additional modalities, such as their phones,” Said Whyte.

Students and staff are asked to enter or update their contact information via the Student Information System. From there, students can telephone numbers.

The phone number entered in the “Mobile number” field will receive SMS/text messages and the phone number selected as “Preferred” will Answer calls.

By incorporating this into its emergency alert system, the department is further enhancing the system to ensure that the campus is informed and alerted of a potential emergency or hazard on campus or in the surrounding area. Vicinity.

Former students and staff will be removed from the MSU Alert System on July 31 and will be notified prior to their removal. Along with family and community members, they can continue to receive notifications by downloading the SafeMSU app or sending MSUALERT to: 888777.

The email also states that it is possible for people with a registered phone number to receive both a call and an SMS notification. in case of emergency.

In addition to this upgrade, the MSU DPPS will conduct a full test of campus alarm notification, including the latest alarm upgrades, on Wednesday, July 31 at 10:15 a.m. More information will be available closer to the date.