2008 Woodie Awards
New text messaging alert system
OC has a variety of options to communicate with students
Kathy Bray
Issue date:
5/7/08
Section:
News
By Kathy Bray
Staff Writer
Amidst the many safety tools created by the Olympic College Emergency Preparedness Task Force, it has recently acquired a communication service called e2Campus, which will inform the campus community in the event of an emergency.
The new system can be utilized in many situations ranging from school closures due to snow, earthquake and chemical spills, to the more pressing emergencies affecting campuses since the Virginia Tech University and University of Washington shootings that have occurred within the last two years.
A new Senate bill was recently passed to enhance campus safety and security. According to SB 6328, an institution of higher education must implement a campus safety plan, develop institutional and local jurisdiction responsibilities during campus emergencies, along with an evaluation of the institution's ability to provide mental health services and unmet safety needs of each campus.
The college must submit updates to their safety plans biennially.
Dr. Richard MacLennan, OC vice president of Student Services said EPTF is working to meet this legislation by updating their existing emergency plans and procedures. EPTF is co-chaired by Maclennan and Dr. Barbara Martin, OC vice president of Administration.
MacLennan explained that a three-page agenda was developed by EPTF to address all of the safety concerns surrounding all three OC campuses.
"We brainstormed all of the things that we need to look at and communications was a very heavy component in every aspect of it," said Martin.
Martin said some of the communication tools EPTF came up with included the updated panic buttons on the Poulsbo and Shelton campuses that, depending on the type of emergency, will give administration the option to contact either the local security department or the local law enforcement through the OC alarm company.
She said the EPTF is working on a pilot surveillance camera for the parking lots on the Shelton Campus. Martin said if it works well, the cameras would be installed at the other campuses as well. Martin said that they have upgraded their radio systems used by security and maintenance to what is now called radio over IP system.
Staff Writer
Amidst the many safety tools created by the Olympic College Emergency Preparedness Task Force, it has recently acquired a communication service called e2Campus, which will inform the campus community in the event of an emergency.
The new system can be utilized in many situations ranging from school closures due to snow, earthquake and chemical spills, to the more pressing emergencies affecting campuses since the Virginia Tech University and University of Washington shootings that have occurred within the last two years.
A new Senate bill was recently passed to enhance campus safety and security. According to SB 6328, an institution of higher education must implement a campus safety plan, develop institutional and local jurisdiction responsibilities during campus emergencies, along with an evaluation of the institution's ability to provide mental health services and unmet safety needs of each campus.
The college must submit updates to their safety plans biennially.
Dr. Richard MacLennan, OC vice president of Student Services said EPTF is working to meet this legislation by updating their existing emergency plans and procedures. EPTF is co-chaired by Maclennan and Dr. Barbara Martin, OC vice president of Administration.
MacLennan explained that a three-page agenda was developed by EPTF to address all of the safety concerns surrounding all three OC campuses.
"We brainstormed all of the things that we need to look at and communications was a very heavy component in every aspect of it," said Martin.
Martin said some of the communication tools EPTF came up with included the updated panic buttons on the Poulsbo and Shelton campuses that, depending on the type of emergency, will give administration the option to contact either the local security department or the local law enforcement through the OC alarm company.
She said the EPTF is working on a pilot surveillance camera for the parking lots on the Shelton Campus. Martin said if it works well, the cameras would be installed at the other campuses as well. Martin said that they have upgraded their radio systems used by security and maintenance to what is now called radio over IP system.
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