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Home / Public Safety / Emergency Management / Alerting Systems

Alertus Recipient App

The GSW Office of Public Safety utilizes the Alertus Recipient mobile phone app to enhance campus safety through real-time interactive features that create a virtual safety network of friends, family and the Office of Public Safety. See the Alertus App Information Sheet for the download information.

Features in the mobile app include:

  • Geo-tagged Incident Reporting: Report incidents with your current location so emergency personnel know exactly where to go.
  • Push Notifications: Never be out of reach of emergency notifications, receive alerts on the go to your Android or iOS tablets and smartphones.
  • Public Safety Number: Get one-tap access to authorities in an emergency. Access GSW Public Safety’s phone number from the Alertus Recipient App home screen.

Once students, faculty, or staff download the Alertus Recipient App to their smartphone and connect with the Office of Public Safety using that smartphone, the app delivers a complete caller profile that the user enters information in. Such information includes current location, medical conditions, addresses, photo(s), and other critical data. Again, the user must enter all of the information into their profile for the Office of Public Safety to see it.

Benefits:

  • Seamlessly fits into the always-on, mobile lifestyle of today's faculty, staff, and students.
  • Free to ALL students, faculty, and staff.
  • Improves sense of security by providing immediate connection to trusted resources.
  • Gives parents a tangible indicator of the university's commitment to their student's safety.

Faculty, staff, and students can download the Alertus Recipient mobile phone app for either iPhone or Android phones by selecting the Alertus Recipient App in the appropriate app store.

More in-depth information about Alertus can be found here.

Contact

Office of Public Safety

Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith Memorial Building

229-931-2245 phone
229-931-2711 fax
public.safety@gsw.edu

Sunday - Saturday: 24/7

Staff


Be in the Know

Blackboard Connect is a campus wide emergency alert system that automatically sends text messages, emails and voice alerts to the GSW community. 


Register Now

Outdoor Siren

The outdoor siren system is designed to alert the campus to an imminent threat of weather, environmental hazards outdoors, or an active emergency. Sirens are located at the rear of the Marshall Student Center and near the CASA (Former President’s Home) building. The system is designed to provide audible alerts while outdoors, but they can also be heard inside of all the buildings on campus as well. This system will be tested on the first Wednesday of each month. **Should threatening weather be near the campus at that time, campus safety officials may choose to cancel the test to avoid any possible confusion regarding weather conditions.

FAQ

When will the sirens be sounded?

Sirens will be sounded when there is an imminent threat to the campus. This may include:

  • A "severe weather" situation (such as a tornado on a direct path towards the campus).
  • An "environmental hazard outdoors" situation (such as a chemical spill).
  • An "active emergency" situation (defined as an imminent threat other than weather, such as an active shooter on campus).

What do I do when the sirens are sounded for a weather alert?

If you hear a weather alert:

  • Immediately seek shelter inside the nearest building.
  • Move to the interior of the building on the lowest floor away from exterior windows and doors.
  • Remain there until you receive an All-Clear communication from campus officials.
  • Updates will be posted on the GSW website as soon as possible.

What do I do when the sirens are sounded for an active danger?

If you hear an active danger alert:

Situations of this type are unique and develop quickly. It is impossible to prescribe a course of action appropriate for every potential incident.

  • Immediately heighten your awareness of your surroundings and use common sense.
  • If it is obvious that the situation is occurring outdoors, immediately seek shelter inside the nearest building.
  • If the location of the developing situation is obviously indoors and you can leave campus without endangering yourself, do so immediately and then notify your supervisor.
  • When indoors, secure yourself behind a locked door, if possible, in the interior of the building away from exterior windows and doors.
  • Remain there until you receive an All-Clear communication from campus officials.
  • Updates will be posted on the GSW website as soon as possible.

FAQ

What devices can I register?

You may register:

  • cell phones to receive text messages and voice calls
  • home or office phones to receive voice calls, and
  • email addresses other than your GSW account.

You can register up to five devices or addresses in each category. This will allow you to add parents, guardians and/or spouses if you want them to receive alerts also. Students must register each semester to receive emergency messages from GSW.

Will the outdoor siren system be changed?

The outdoor siren system does not change in any way, and will continue to be tested monthly. Blackboard Connect only compliments the outdoor siren/speaker system.

What if I need help registering for Blackboard Connect?

If you need assistance, contact the GSW Department of Information & Instructional Technology at techsupp@gsw.edu or the Department of University Relations at univrel@gsw.edu

Blackboard Connect

The Department of University Relations is the primary issuer of campus alerts. This campus notification system is in compliance with the Clery Act requirement for timely notifications to provide students, faculty and staff with timely notification of crimes that represent a serious or continuing threat to the campus community and heighten awareness.