EKU Emergency Text Messaging System

Dear University Community:

As a means of enhancing Eastern Kentucky University’s emergency communications operation, I am pleased to announce the launching of the Emergency Text Messaging System.

This service is provided to support EKU’s Campus Emergency Response Plan and is offered to members of the University Community on a purely voluntary basis. You may opt-in or out at any time.

In order to receive these notifications, you must have a mobile device that can receive text messages and a service plan with your provider that enables you to receive such messages. Any costs associated with receiving text messages from your provider will be your responsibility. It is recommended that your cell phone be configured to alert you to incoming text messages either by tone or vibration.

This service will only be used by the University’s Administration to send text messages to cell phones when an emergency situation has been determined to present a safety or security threat to students or employees on our campuses.

If you decide to opt-in, there is no guarantee of delivery, since the demands on local cell towers are outside the University’s control. In the event of an actual emergency, thousands of text messages will be sent. Congestion at your service provider may delay or prevent the delivery of these messages.

Campus-wide testing of this system will be performed each term. During these tests, you will be asked to return to the Opt-In page of EKUDirect to report whether you received the text message, and how timely it was received.

Text messages will be sent from the email address eku.etms@eku.edu. This is not an actual email address that is monitored. You cannot send messages to this address. If you need to report an emergency situation, please contact 911 or EKU Police.

The Emergency Text Messaging System will be tested for the first time at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8. During this test, a message will be sent to the cell phones that have been entered into the Emergency Text Messaging System. Please return to the Opt-in page of EKUDirect within 24 hours after the test to report your experiences. You will be asked to indicate if you received the test text message and the time when the message was received on your phone. Responses will be analyzed for timeliness and effectiveness of the system. As noted above, additional campus-wide testing of this system will be performed each term.

Eastern Kentucky University continues to strive to provide our students, faculty and staff with a positive academic environment where the freedom of living and learning can occur on a daily basis. This new Emergency Text Messaging system is being implemented to enhance our already numerous campus safety measures.