Spring Break
A&M enacts plans for emergencies
Officials create notification system that uses cell phones, texts
By: Rick Rojas
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News
Texas A&M administrators are launching a new emergency notification system, CODE MAROON, which is designed to communicate with students in a more efficient method to inform the campus community in the event of a dire situation.
CODE MAROON will notify students through cell phones with text messages and through e-mail, said Rodney McClendon, chief of staff for interim University President Eddie J. Davis.
"It will send out an instantaneous message," McClendon said. "We're not only relaying on NEO, which could take three to four hours."
McClendon said CODE MAROON is a voluntary program in which students, faculty and other members of the campus community can submit their cell phone numbers online to receive notification.
The success of CODE MAROON depends on the involvement of the campus constituency because the program is voluntary, he said.
"When fully operational, this program will enable University representatives to use multiple means to quickly communicate with you in case of an emergency - via e-mail and a text message on your cell phone," Davis said in an e-mail that will be sent campus-wide on Thursday.
The system is designed so that A&M students and employees would be warned immediately of any impending danger, said Charley Clark, associate vice president for risk, compliance and advisory services for the University.
"(An alert will be sent) anytime there's an emergency," Clark said. "It could be an active shooter, it could be weather, it could be a number of possible situations."
While registration for the service begins immediately, Clark said the program cannot be implemented until a vendor for the service is picked.
McClendon said officials are requesting those interested to begin registering immediately, because the service would promptly begin once the vendor is selected.
He said registrants' information would be held in a secure location until the vendor is found, and once the service is initiated, it would be used only for emergency notification.
CODE MAROON is a product of the task force Davis created after the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in April. McClendon, chairman of the task force, said the concept took approximately a week to devise.
"That is the goal - for all students, faculty, staff and others on campus to feel safe and secure in Aggieland," Davis said. "It's essential for you to take the first step: enroll in CODE MAROON and help us be in the best position to be proactive in notifying you if an emergency should arise."
CODE MAROON will notify students through cell phones with text messages and through e-mail, said Rodney McClendon, chief of staff for interim University President Eddie J. Davis.
"It will send out an instantaneous message," McClendon said. "We're not only relaying on NEO, which could take three to four hours."
McClendon said CODE MAROON is a voluntary program in which students, faculty and other members of the campus community can submit their cell phone numbers online to receive notification.
The success of CODE MAROON depends on the involvement of the campus constituency because the program is voluntary, he said.
"When fully operational, this program will enable University representatives to use multiple means to quickly communicate with you in case of an emergency - via e-mail and a text message on your cell phone," Davis said in an e-mail that will be sent campus-wide on Thursday.
The system is designed so that A&M students and employees would be warned immediately of any impending danger, said Charley Clark, associate vice president for risk, compliance and advisory services for the University.
"(An alert will be sent) anytime there's an emergency," Clark said. "It could be an active shooter, it could be weather, it could be a number of possible situations."
While registration for the service begins immediately, Clark said the program cannot be implemented until a vendor for the service is picked.
McClendon said officials are requesting those interested to begin registering immediately, because the service would promptly begin once the vendor is selected.
He said registrants' information would be held in a secure location until the vendor is found, and once the service is initiated, it would be used only for emergency notification.
CODE MAROON is a product of the task force Davis created after the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in April. McClendon, chairman of the task force, said the concept took approximately a week to devise.
"That is the goal - for all students, faculty, staff and others on campus to feel safe and secure in Aggieland," Davis said. "It's essential for you to take the first step: enroll in CODE MAROON and help us be in the best position to be proactive in notifying you if an emergency should arise."
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