MTSU plans Feb. 24 test for campus safety alert system via emails, texts, calls

A group of MTSU students celebrates a snow-day break from classes Feb. 18 with an impromptu sledding party behind Greek Row on Rutherford Boulevard. Students, faculty and staff learned about the university's weather-related closures Feb. 15-19 via MTSU's Critical Notification System, which will be tested with brief email, phone and text alerts to all 25,300-plus registered users Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 1:15 p.m. during the spring 2021 test of the system, operated by Rave Mobile Safety. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)

MTSU will briefly test its campus emergency alert system Wednesday, Feb. 24, with a short message for the university’s 25,300-plus registered users via email, text and automated phone calls.

The test of MTSU’s Critical Notification System, conducted each semester by the University Police Department, is set for 1:15 p.m. Central Wednesday.

The university’s website, www.mtsu.edu, its MTSUNews.com official news site, and all digital signage around the Murfreesboro campus will display the test message as they would during a real emergency.

MTSU’s primary social media channels, including its Twitter accounts, @MTSUNews and @MTSU, and Facebook page, also will share the test alert.

MTSU most recently used its Critical Notification System, provided by Rave Mobile Safety’s “Rave Alert,” Feb. 15-19 to update students, faculty and staff on the university’s weather-related closings.

All current MTSU students, faculty and staff can verify and update their Rave notification preferences by logging in with their usernames and passwords at www.getrave.com/login/mtsu.

Details on MTSU’s Critical Notification System and emergency preparedness plan can be found at www.mtsu.edu/alert4u. Information about “Rave Alert” and links also are available anytime on the university’s weather information page, http://mtsunews.com/weather.

MTSU tests and evaluates its Critical Notification System once each semester to pinpoint potential problems. Previous tests continue to show a near-100 percent message success rate, and digital signage in campus buildings displayed the test alerts within 30 seconds of transmission.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)

A group of MTSU students celebrates a snow-day break from classes Feb. 18 with an impromptu sledding party behind Greek Row on Rutherford Boulevard. Students, faculty and staff learned about the university’s weather-related closures Feb. 15-19 via MTSU’s Critical Notification System, which will be tested with brief email, phone and text alerts to all 25,300-plus registered users Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 1:15 p.m. during the spring 2021 test of the system, operated by Rave Mobile Safety. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)