Ryan ChartrandCal Poly will implement a mass notification system for emergencies by the end of the fall quarter, officials said Wednesday morning in an open forum discussing campus safety.
The system, known as e2Campus, allows schools to send important campus information and alerts via text messaging or e-mail.
“After Virginia Tech, Cal Poly is moving rapidly toward a system to alert the community of an emergency,” said Cindy Campbell, associate director for the University Police Department (UPD). “It is going to be jointly managed by UPD and Campus Emergency Management.”
The e2Campus system was one of a few topics discussed Wednesday, as only 16 faculty and staff members attended the first town hall meeting on campus safety. The meeting was hosted by UPD for all faculty and staff to discuss and consider campus safety and community issues.
The meeting, held in the University Union, featured discussions on racial profiling, safety in the campus parking structure, and vehicle and pedestrian safety.
“We can’t anticipate all of the needs of the community, or guess what concerns there are,” UPD Detective John Edds said.
“It’s something new. Fundamentally, our law enforcement agency needs to maintain credibility in the community, and gain the trust of the community. Without these things, we’re powerless.”
Although the turnout was low, UPD is hoping more people will join the forum in early November, when it will be open to all students on campus.
The date for the student safety forum is still tentative as UPD is waiting on approval for their preferred room, but Sgt. Larry Pointing said they would like to gauge how many students plan on attending. After they have that number, they will decide whether to book a bigger room, he said.
The e2Campus system will be available for all students, staff, faculty and employees to access the system through the MyCalPoly portal.
“We hope to have people signing up to the system by the end of this quarter,” Campbell said.