Springfield Technical Community College - Alert
Emergency Notification System
In case of emergency, Springfield Technical Community College sends emergency alerts to anyone with a College-provided e-mail account. In addition, STCC has a system (STCC-Alert Emergency Notification System) to rapidly communicate with students, faculty, and staff by sending a voice message and/or instant text message to home and cell telephones. While the system is active and ready for use, it is only as good as the contact information it contains. This is where we need your help!
In order to send you emergency text messages and voice mail alerts, you must provide cell phone information. Please login to the WebAdvisor and update your contact information. The information you supply is confidential and will not be shared. We will contact you through the system in the event of an emergency. You will be notified of delays and/or non-emergencies only if you elect to be notified.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is Springfield Technical Community College’s campus-wide emergency notification system, STCC-Alert?
- How does the STCC-Alert system work?
- What kind of alerts will be sent?
- Who will get notified with STCC-Alert?
- What information do you need from me?
- Do you need my cell phone number?
- What if I don’t own a cell phone?
- How do I submit my phone information for STCC-Alert?
- Who is authorized to send messages out using STCC-Alert?
- Will I receive information other than emergency alerts from STCC-Alert?
- What if I don’t want to receive text messages from STCC-Alert?
- What if I do not know my PIN to login to WebAdvisor to update my contact information?
- How do I change my contact information in STCC-Alert?
- What steps are taken to ensure the information I submit is secure?
- Will my contact information be sold to telemarketers?
- What number will be reflected on my caller ID when an alert is issued?
- What e-mail address will be reflected when an alert is issued?
- How will I know the phone message is from STCC-Alert?
- How will I know the text message is from STCC-Alert?
- Will I be charged for a text message from STCC-Alert?
- What should I do if I receive an emergency call or e-mail from STCC-Alert?
- What other emergency notification systems are used at Springfield Technical Community College?
- What else should I know about emergency preparedness?
What is Springfield Technical Community College’s campus-wide emergency notification system, STCC-Alert?
The College uses Dialogic Communications Corporation’s (DCC) tool, Communicator! NXT Emergency Mass Notification System. Named STCC-Alert for our College, this system improves the College’s ability to effectively communicate with the campus using land-line phones, cell phones, voice-mail, e-mail, and text messages. STCC-Alert delivers an accurate and consistent message to all and can push out thousands of alert messages within minutes to help ensure the safety of everyone at Springfield Technical Community College.
How does the STCC-Alert system work?
The STCC-Alert system is a hosted and managed service, so you will not need any special hardware or software to receive messages. It is a multi-modal service that can disseminate emergency messages through:
- E-mail: An alert message will be sent to your official campus e-mail address.
- Web: During an emergency, details and updated information will be provided on the College home page at www.stcc.edu
- Voice Messages, SMS Text Messages: Faculty, staff, and students who choose to register their phone numbers through their WebAdvisor ID will receive voice and/or SMS text messages.
- Other systems: Other campus systems may be involved in broadcasting emergency information.
What kind of alerts will be sent?
This system will be used to distribute information regarding emergencies that dictate immediate action. An emergency is a situation which poses an immediate risk to the health and safety of the campus community or significantly disrupts its programs and activities. Examples of alerts include a fire or a chemical leak requiring the evacuation of a building, or an ongoing criminal incident that requires members of the campus community to take action to ensure their safety. The message will direct you where to go for further information or what action to take. Less urgent messages will be sent using the campus e-mail system. Following a warning, the alert system will be used to provide additional messages or an “all clear” announcement. Test alerts will be sent on a routine basis – the exact frequency of which has not yet been defined. You will receive other messages, but only if you select to be notified about delays or cancellations, and/or other non-emergencies.
Who will get notified with STCC-Alert?
All students, faculty, and staff of the College will receive emergency notification in some way. Messages may be sent using text messages, voice messages, and/or email. However only those who have provided the STCC-Alert system with updated cell phone and carrier information (through their WebAdvisor ID) can be contacted via text messages.
What information do you need from me?
We need your cell phone number and mobile carrier (if you elect to be notified by text message). You can also include other phone numbers (home, work) as contact information. Email information for you is already on file.
Do you need my cell phone number?
Because students, faculty and staff are constantly on the move, this new system provides the flexibility for you to receive emergency messages on multiple devices including text messages to your cell phone. The system will be used along with other tools including e-mail, the College Web site, campus media and other methods. We need your cell phone number only if you elect to be contacted via cell phone and/or text message.
What if I don’t own a cell phone?
The College will still send you messages about campus emergencies through other channels. For example, voice messages can be sent to your home phone.
How do I submit my cell phone information for STCC-Alert?
To update your contact information, follow these simple steps:
- From the College’s web site, www.stcc.edu, click on the WebAdvisor link.
- Login to WebAdvisor with your User ID and PIN, as you do to register for courses or check grades.
- From the WebAdvisor main menu, click Student, Faculty, or Employees.
- From the User Account Menu choose STCC-Alert Emergency Notification System.
Who is authorized to send messages out using STCC-Alert?
Messages will be distributed only by trained College staff form the offices that typically deal directly with campus emergencies and only following approval from executive management.
Will I receive information other than emergency alerts from STCC-Alert?
Springfield Technical Community College intends to use STCC-Alert for emergency situations that threaten the safety of the College community or significantly disrupts programs and activities. If you elect to be notified about delays/cancellations and/or non-emergencies, you will receive those alerts when they are sent out.
What if I don’t want to receive text messages from STCC-Alert?
We don’t recommend that approach. However, if you decide to leave the cell phone carrier blank on the STCC-Alert screen, then you will not receive any text messages.
What if I do not know my PIN to login to WebAdvisor to update my contact information?
Your PIN can be changed. It must be 6-9 in length and contain letters (all lowercase) and numbers. If you misplace your PIN, click on RESET MY PASSWORD on the WebAdvisor page.
How do I change my contact information in STCC-Alert?
Follow the same instructions above used for submitting contact information.
What steps are taken to ensure the information I submit is secure?
The contact information submitted for use with STCC-Alert is stored locally at Springfield Technical Community College and is protected by multiple layers of physical and technological security. Access to that data is limited to authorized College staff. Your contact information is then transmitted via secure locket layer (SSL) technology to the host site. The physical location of the data also has multiple layers of security to protect the data once it is in the host site’s system.
Will my contact information be sold to telemarketers?
No. Neither Springfield Technical Community College nor DCC (nor its affiliates) will sell, lease, or share, personally identifiable information (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of Springfield Technical Community College!
What number will be reflected on my caller ID when an alert is issued?
When an alert is issued via STCC-Alert, caller ID will show that you are receiving a call from the 615 or 480 area code.
What e-mail address will be reflected when an alert is issued?
The “from” address of an emergency e-mail message sent from Springfield Technical Community College via STCC-Alert will appear as: STCCAlert@dccusa.com or MassHigherEd@dccusa.com .
How will I know the phone message is from STCC-Alert?
At the beginning of the phone call, the voice will state that this is a message from the Springfield Technical Community College Alert system. It will then provide you with information and/or instructions to follow.
How will I know the text message is from STCC-Alert?
The beginning of the text message will state that this is a message from the STCC-Alert system. It will then provide you with information and/or instructions to follow.
Will I be charged for a text message from STCC-Alert?
Most cell phone carriers treat text messages the same. If you are currently charged for each text message, there will be a charge for a text message from STCC-Alert. If you have a text message plan, this text message will be treated as any other text message.
What should I do if I receive an emergency call or e-mail from STCC-Alert?
If you receive an emergency message via STCC-Alert, do the following:
- Listen to or read the ENTIRE message.
- Take the message seriously.
- Follow any instructions given in the message.
What other emergency notification systems are used at Springfield Technical Community College?
Currently, Springfield Technical Community College makes use of any or all of the following systems depending on the specific emergency:
- Phone calls & voicemail
- E-mail & LISTSERV lists
- Fire alarm systems
- Outdoor sirens
What else should I know about emergency preparedness?
As always, we strive to keep Springfield Technical Community College a safe place; however emergencies and disasters can always occur. Every individual should be prepared both at Springfield Technical Community College and at home. Visit www.ready.gov for information on individual emergency preparedness.