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View our CougarAlert FAQ or the CougarAlert Information Brochure online!
The College of Charleston has an agreement with the NTI Group to use its Connect-ED communication software to provide an emergency notification system that is capable of reaching students, faculty, staff and parents within minutes of a campus crisis. This system is called CougarAlert.
Information for Students
The CougarAlert emergency notification system allows students to select multiple notification phone numbers for themselves and their family members.
If students do not indicate an emergency notification preference, for protection and security the system will default to the contact numbers that are currently listed in their online CougarTrail account.
To avoid issues related to timely communication of emergency messages to the proper places, every student must update his or her contact information in CougarTrail with current accurate information.
Information for Faculty and Staff
Employees of the College currently may enter three phone numbers (in addition to their personal emergency contact person’s number) into CougarTrail. Employees will be contacted by the Connect-ED system at all three phone numbers entered into CougarTrail, as well as their College e-mail address, an additional e-mail address if one is entered, and a text message to cell phone numbers that are acknowledged during the testing phase of the system.
CougarAlert Display Information
When you receive an emergency message from the College of Charleston’s CougarAlert System, the return e-mail address will be displayed as cougaralert@cofc.edu, and Caller ID will be displayed as 843.725.7246 (this is the College’s Emergency Information Hotline).
Testing and Implementation
Testing will be conducted each semester to verify all systems are operating properly. The campus community will be notified via e-mail and web page postings when testing of the system will be conducted.
The Connect-Ed Software
Connect-ED is an emergency communication software that sends notification before, during and after an emergency. With this new system, the College will be able to communicate in many modes, including voice messages to home, work and cell phones; text messages to cell phones, PDAs and other devices; written messages to e-mail accounts; and messages to teletypewriters and telecommunication devices (TTY/TDD) for the hearing impaired. In combination with our existing communications methods and emergency response plans, this new notification system will significantly enhance the College of Charleston’s ability to maintain a learning environment in which students are safe, secure and comfortable.
In an emergency, communications to the campus will be issued in the following priority order:
- Message to the Connect-Ed Emergency Notification System (phone and e-mail).
- Recorded message to the College’s Emergency Information Hotline, 843.725.7246.
- Update to the Website.
- Printed update sheets to be distributed and posted on campus (if necessary).
The CougarAlert system will only be used to notify you in the event of a campus crisis or emergency.