Text-messaging and other channels would be used; see below to sign up

Teachers College Columbia is launching a new communication system that will enable students, faculty, and staff to quickly receive news and instructions during crisis situations.  The TCAlert Emergency Notification System is provided by MIR3, Incorporated. 

The system, which complements existing emergency communications tools, allows the College to send simultaneous alerts in minutes through text messaging, voicemail and email to numerous devices, such as cell phones and landline phones. 

“After the Virginia Tech tragedy and other incidents on campuses across the country we began working to implement a system that would allow for the timely dissemination of information to the College community,” says Jim Mitchell, Assistant Vice President for Campus and Auxiliary Services. Together with Maureen Coughlin, Director of Classroom Technology and Ena Haines, Director of Computer Information Systems, Mitchell has headed a team to implement the new system. 

Human decision-making will remain central to how communications are deployed in a crisis situation. 

“While communicating quickly is important it is also important to ensure that the communication is helpful and accurate,” Mitchell says. “Therefore, we will need to make judgments in each situation as to whether the system should be utilized and if so when.”

Because maintaining current contact information will be critical to the effectiveness of the system, students, faculty and staff are urged to update their contact information on a regular basis. All information is secure and will remain private. 

To sign up for TCAlert please follow these steps:

1.        Click on the TCAlert sign up link -- https://info.tc.columbia.edu -- which will take you to the Teachers College Online Information System. 

2.        Log in to the system using your TC ID # and PIN.  Students who do not have their TC ID # or PIN may contact the Office of the Registrar at 212-678-4050.

3.        Select the "Personal Information" link

4.        Select the "TC Alert" Signup link.

5.        Enter a phone number to receive TEXT messages OR a phone number to receive a VOICE message.

6.         Press SUBMIT  

Within 48 hours of signing up for the system you will receive a TEST message confirming that you have registered to receive messages.  If you do not receive confirmation within 48 hours please contact the Office of Telecommunications at 212-678-3456.

Published Thursday, Mar. 20, 2008