Ithaca College

Dear Campus Community:

As part of Ithaca College’s ongoing efforts to improve emergency preparedness and response, the college is partnering with a new provider for distributing critical messages through the Emergency Notification System. Rave Guardian, an industry leader in the field, will offer new personal safety features for members of the campus community. The full suite of safety tools will be rolled out over the next few months.

A regular campus-wide test of the Emergency Notification System (ENS) using Rave will take place at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Also tested will be the Outdoor Warning System (OWS). There is no need to take any action in response to the tests.

The ENS uses voice, e-mail, and IC Alert text messaging to provide information and instructions in the event of a campus emergency. The Outdoor Warning System uses a siren tone and outdoor loudspeaker message to supplement the message for those on campus.

The IC Alert text messages should show on your mobile device as coming from one of the following five numbers: 67283, 78015, 77295, 81437, or 226787. If the message you receive appears to be coming from an individual by name, please contact the IT Service Desk at (607) 274-1000 or servicedesk@ithaca.edu for assistance in fixing the issue.

In addition to the voice, e-mail and text alerts, once fully deployed, Rave Guardian will also allow students, faculty and staff to download a free mobile app to their smartphone. Features of the app will include:

• A “panic button” giving you a direct connection to 911 or the Office of Public Safety.
• A safety timer through which you can invite friends and family to serve as a virtual escort while you walk on or off campus, ensuring that you reach your destination safely.
• The ability to submit tips–including photos–via text to Public Safety if you see something suspicious.
• An option to build a unique personal profile that provides Public Safety dispatchers with critical information in the event of a personal emergency, such your address or a medical condition, if you call from your registered phone number.
• Direct links to information from important campus resources, such as the Emergency Response Plan, Health Center, CAPS, Title IX Office, LGBTQ Center, Religious and Spiritual Life, and Facilities.

It will not be necessary to download the Guardian app in order to continue receiving Emergency Notification System messages from the college. As a reminder, the app is currently being designed and is not yet available to be downloaded.

Visitors to the Ithaca College campus will also be able to easily sign up to receive IC Alert text messages through Rave. With this feature, someone who is not otherwise affiliated with the college—attending a concert, theatre, or athletic event; participating in a summer program; or taking an admissions tour, for example—can opt-in to be notified in the event of an emergency.

Emergency Notification System
At this time, by default, ENS messages go to all active Ithaca College email accounts and to faculty and staff office telephones that are listed in the campus directory.

It is important to have multiple ways to receive alerts in order to ensure access to essential notices. Because of system capacities, not everyone will receive an alert message by each method at exactly the same time.

To receive alerts using all three methods, members of the campus community need to enter their contact information by going to the Emergency Notification System website at https://www.ithaca.edu/emergencynotification and logging in using their Netpass. It takes one full day for additions/revisions to contact information to take effect.

The ENS/OWS will be used when it is imperative for the college to contact students, faculty, and staff as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. This can include, but is not limited to, cancellation of classes due to severe weather conditions, a fire or a chemical leak requiring the evacuation of a building or closing of a portion of the campus, or an ongoing criminal incident that requires members of the campus community to take action to ensure their safety.

In addition to the ENS/OWS, the college uses other methods to distribute critical information to the campus community.

Public Safety Alerts: In the event of certain crimes that pose a serious or continuing threat to the health or safety of the campus community, whether on or immediately adjacent to the campus, a Public Safety Alert (PSA) will be issued. In addition to a direct email to all students, staff, and faculty, the PSA is posted on the Public Safety website. Public Safety coordinates with the Office of Residential Life to post paper copies of the PSA in each residence hall and at the main entry doors of campus buildings.

Intercom Alerts: When the college wants to make the campus community aware of incidents, activities, or events that do not require an immediate response or action, Intercom Alerts can be issued via email and posted on the Intercom website.

Social Media: Official Ithaca College social media platforms may publish information, or amplify and update messages initially distributed through other college channels. Rumors and misinformation can often be spread via social media, so it is important to rely on the primary IC social media account for correct information and instructions.

In certain situations, the college may also post emergency information on the home page of the Ithaca College website, digital display boards located throughout the campus, and the Emergency Hotline (607-274-1495).

Emergency Preparedness and Response
Ithaca College is committed to supporting the safety and welfare of its students, faculty, staff and visitors, and the implementation of Rave Guardian is part of a comprehensive update of the college’s Emergency Response Plan by the Core Emergency Response Team (CERT).

The CERT is composed of all of the vice presidents as well as representation from the Offices of the President, Public Safety and Emergency Management, College Communications, Information Technology, Facilities, Residential Life, Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Auxiliary Services.

Over the past year, and with ongoing effort, the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management has been working with offices and operations across campus to develop building-specific Emergency Action Plans and hold shelter-in-place drills. The Office of Facilities is also in the process of installing locks on the doors of classrooms and meeting spaces so they can be secured from the inside.

Members of the campus community are encouraged to download and familiarize themselves with the Emergency Readiness and Response Guide (PDF), which contains information and instructions on how best to deal with circumstances including:

• Active shooter situations
• Hostage situations
• Bomb threats
• Severe weather conditions
• Fire or hazardous materials
• Suspicious letters and packages

The guide also includes definitions of such terms as “shelter in place,” and what you can expect from police and what they will expect from you when they respond to an emergency situation.

The Office of Public Safety sponsors a variety of programs and presentations throughout the year to inform students and employees about emergency management, fire safety, and campus security programs, procedures, and practices. Information and resources for the campus community can be found on the Public Safety website.

We hope that you will find this information helpful in understanding how Ithaca College prepares for and responds to emergency situations, and the role you can play in helping to ensure your personal safety.

Sincerely,

La Jerne Terry Cornish, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, CERT Chair
Rosanna Ferro, Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life
Bill Kerry, Director and Chief of the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management