Spring Break
Code Maroon to change systems
By: Rebecca Skelton
Issue date: 4/14/09 Section: News
Code Maroon, Texas A&M's emergency notification system, will be changing software programs from E2Campus to AtHoc ISW Alerts beginning Sept. 1.
E2Campus allows text messages, e-mails and notification through KAMU-FM radio, but has to use two interfaces to get the alerts out. AtHoc uses a single integrated system to notify students via campus computers, radio broadcasting, cable TV, e-mails and SMS text messages. The system also offers the ability to send pop-up alerts to desktop computers.
"The goal is to have additional means to get to campus," said Vice President and Associate Provost for Information Technology Pierce Cantrell. "The more ways we have to get the message out, the better the chance to get in contact with people."
Computing and Information Services, along with the Code Maroon committee, can trigger alerts from any Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.
Alerts that are sent to personal devices such as cell phones and computers are tracked in real time, which means there is an operational deadline between event and response.
By unifying the different forms of sending alerts and making them part of an integrated system, AtHoc will make it possible for A&M to reach a higher percentage of students campus-wide.
The decision to transfer to AtHoc was based in part on feedback from students, faculty and staff, and from emergency personnel who reviewed the E2Campus software.
Last year, A&M conducted a review of available product offerings to find out which would work best for the University and compared it to how much it would cost to write its own. Company officials said AtHoc will be cost efficient by using the communications infrastructure at A&M.
"The initial cost of the AtHoc system was approximately $200,000 with approximately $100,000 from student Computer Access Fee (CAF) funds and $100,000 from University funds," Cantrell said. "The annual recurring charges, funds for equipment refresh, and reserves are approximately $383,000 per year with $310,000 per year coming from student CAF funds."
To integrate disparate communications channels, AtHoc created AtHoc IP Integration Module based on the OASIS Cap 1.1 industry standard.
AtHoc is the pioneer and leader in mass notification systems and is based in San Mateo, Calif. The company has worked with corporations such as NASA, Baghdad International Airport, and military and government organizations.
A "limited" test of AtHoc's capabilities is scheduled to take place Thursday.
E2Campus allows text messages, e-mails and notification through KAMU-FM radio, but has to use two interfaces to get the alerts out. AtHoc uses a single integrated system to notify students via campus computers, radio broadcasting, cable TV, e-mails and SMS text messages. The system also offers the ability to send pop-up alerts to desktop computers.
"The goal is to have additional means to get to campus," said Vice President and Associate Provost for Information Technology Pierce Cantrell. "The more ways we have to get the message out, the better the chance to get in contact with people."
Computing and Information Services, along with the Code Maroon committee, can trigger alerts from any Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.
Alerts that are sent to personal devices such as cell phones and computers are tracked in real time, which means there is an operational deadline between event and response.
By unifying the different forms of sending alerts and making them part of an integrated system, AtHoc will make it possible for A&M to reach a higher percentage of students campus-wide.
The decision to transfer to AtHoc was based in part on feedback from students, faculty and staff, and from emergency personnel who reviewed the E2Campus software.
Last year, A&M conducted a review of available product offerings to find out which would work best for the University and compared it to how much it would cost to write its own. Company officials said AtHoc will be cost efficient by using the communications infrastructure at A&M.
"The initial cost of the AtHoc system was approximately $200,000 with approximately $100,000 from student Computer Access Fee (CAF) funds and $100,000 from University funds," Cantrell said. "The annual recurring charges, funds for equipment refresh, and reserves are approximately $383,000 per year with $310,000 per year coming from student CAF funds."
To integrate disparate communications channels, AtHoc created AtHoc IP Integration Module based on the OASIS Cap 1.1 industry standard.
AtHoc is the pioneer and leader in mass notification systems and is based in San Mateo, Calif. The company has worked with corporations such as NASA, Baghdad International Airport, and military and government organizations.
A "limited" test of AtHoc's capabilities is scheduled to take place Thursday.
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