Text alert messaging system to be tested Tuesday, Oct. 6

Oakland University officials would like to remind the campus community that the test of the text alert messaging system for the fall 2009 semester will take place at about 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

This system is used to quickly provide emergency information to the cell phones and e-mail accounts of registered users. Outside of a system test once each semester, alerts are broadcast only when it is determined there is an imminent threat to the health, safety or welfare of people on campus.

Registering prior to Tuesday’s test will allow users not only to learn more about the service, but to see firsthand how valuable a communications tool it is. Students, faculty and staff can complete a quick and easy registration process online. Anyone with an OU e-mail address and Grizzly ID can do so at oakland.edu/ready.

Oakland students who have registered for the service in the past, but who have not had an active oakland.edu e-mail account for a period of more than 12 months, must re-register to renew their subscription. Also, any member of the campus community who has obtained a new cell phone number since they registered for the service must update their subscription information online.

Complete information on OU’s emergency preparedness plans – which cover university closings, tornado warnings, psychological emergencies, lock downs, evacuations, bomb threats, hazardous material incidents and more – are available online at the Emergency Preparedness Web site at oakland.edu/prepared.