Following the lead of many other universities around the country, NIU has implemented a text-message alert system to notify registered users in times of emergency. Those who wish to receive emergency text messages through NIU Alert must sign up on the NIU Web site.

“It’s been implemented purely as a disaster alert system,” said Walter Czerniak, associate vice president of Information Technology Services, stressing that the system will be used only in dire situations.

It will be used if “it’s something that can help save lives,” Czerniak said.

As of now, it will not be used to notify of school cancellations, unless there is an imminent emergency at hand, or unfounded threats, such as writing on a bathroom wall, Czerniak said.

Anyone can sign up for NIU Alert, giving family and friends of students and staff the opportunity to receive the messages.

On the NIU Web site, those who wish to register will be asked for their first and last names, cell phone numbers and carriers and e-mail addresses. A “test” message will be sent to their cell phones with the names of their individual carriers. Once they receive those messages, users must verify their carriers on the Web site. Users will be asked to create passwords for future log-ins, and can edit their information or unsubscribe at any time.

Standard text messaging rates apply for NIU Alert text messages. NIU Police control when and what messages are sent to users, Czerniak said.

A 30 percent sign-up rate has been the average at other schools with similar systems, Czerniak said, and he expects that number to be the same at NIU. A high sign-up rate may cause slower delivery of messages, he added.

There were many requests for a text-message alert system to be implemented at NIU, Czerniak said. And, so far, student reaction to NIU Alert has been mostly positive.

“I think it’s a great way to reach the students in the event of a disaster,” said senior communications major LaToya Sams. “That’s the most efficient way. Nowadays, everybody is texting.”

Senior, sociology major, Julian Jackson said he thinks text messaging is the best way to contact students because they are constantly checking their messages.

“Kids text all the time. Especially college students,” he said. “It’s the best way to communicate.”
Still, Czerniak stressed multiple alert systems are needed to notify the greatest number of people as possible of emergencies.

“We’re looking to improve the paging system, sirens, alarms, bells,” he said.

A better public address system and the use of campus televisions are also being looked at as emergency alert methods, he added.

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