In case of an emergency, Westfield State College has an Emergency Notification System to rapidly communicate with students, faculty, and staff by sending a voice message to all on-campus phones, an e-mail to all Westfield State College e-mail addresses, and a text/voice message to cell phones. 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/voice message alerts, you must provide your cell phone information. The information you supply is confidential and will not be shared. We will only contact you through this system in the event of an emergency.
UPDATE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System?
The College uses Dialogic Communications Corporation's (DCC) tool, Communicator! NXT Emergency Mass Notification System. This system improves the College?s ability to effectively communicate with the campus using land-line phones, cell phones, voicemail, e-mail, and text messages. Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System 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 Westfield State College.
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How does Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System work?
Westfield State College's Emergency Notification 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 Westfield State College e-mail address.
- Web: During an emergency, details and updated information will be provided on the college home page at www.wsc.ma.edu.
- Voice Messages, SMS Text Messages: Faculty, staff, and students who choose to register their cell phone numbers will receive voice and/or SMS text messages.
- Other systems: Other campus systems may be involved in broadcasting emergency information.
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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.
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Who will get notified with Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System?
All students, faculty, and staff will receive emergency notifications. Messages may be sent using text messages, voice messages, and e-mail. However only those who have provided their cell phone information can be contacted via text messages.
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What information do you need from me?
We need your cell phone information (if you elect to be notified by text message). E-mail information for you is already on file.
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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.
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What if I don't own a cell phone?
Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System will still send you messages about campus emergencies through other channels, i.e. your Westfield State College e-mail address.
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How do I submit my cell phone information for Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System?
- From the main college web site, click 'Emergency Notification System'.
- Click 'UPDATE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION'.
- Login using your CWID and PIN. DAY students and faculty can obtain CWID and PIN by calling (413)572-5218, option 4. DGCE students and faculty can obtain their CWID and PIN by calling (413)572-8020. Staff can obtain their CWID and PIN by calling (413)572-5637.
- Click 'Personal Information'.
- Click 'Update Addresses and Phones'.
- Under the 'Phones' column, click on the word 'Primary'.
- Under 'Phone Type' select 'Cell Phone' from the drop down menu.
- Enter your 'Area Code' and 'Phone Number' is the spaces provided.
- Select your 'Mobile Carrier' from the drop down menu.
- Click 'Submit'.
- Verify the info you entered is correct.
- Click 'Exit' near the upper right corner to log out of the Web for Students, Faculty, and Staff system.
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Who is authorized to send messages using Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System?
Messages will be distributed only by trained college staff from the offices that typically deal directly with campus emergencies and only following approval from executive management.
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Will I receive information other than emergency alerts from Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System?
No.
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What if I don't want to receive text messages from Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System?
We don't recommend that approach. However, if you decide not to update your cell phone information in Banner, then you will not receive any text messages.
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What steps are taken to ensure the information I submit is secure?
The contact information submitted for use with Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System is stored locally 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.
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Will my contact information be sold to telemarketers?
No. Neither Westfield State College nor DCC (nor its affiliates) will sell, lease, or share, personally identifiable information (names, cell phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of Westfield State College.
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What number will be reflected on my caller ID when an alert is issued?
When an alert is issued, your caller ID will show that you are receiving a call from the '615' area code.
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What e-mail address will be reflected when an alert is issued?
The 'from' address of an emergency e-mail message will appear as: MassHigherED@dccnotify.com
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Will I be charged for a text message from Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System?
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 the Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System. If you have a text message plan, this text message will be treated as any other text message.
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What should I do if I receive an emergency call or e-mail from Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System?
If you receive an emergency message from the Westfield State College's Emergency Notification System , do the following:
- Listen to or read the ENTIRE message.
- Take the message seriously.
- Follow any instructions given in the message.
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What other emergency notification systems are used at Westfield State College?
Currently, Westfield State 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
- College web site
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