The Surry Community College emergency communication plan is called SCC Alert.
SCC Alert uses the following methods to contacts students, faculty, and staff regarding emergency situations affecting the campus:
- Public Address System on campus
- SCC Web site www.surry.edu
- Connect-ED notification service
Surry Community College has contracted with Blackboard Connect to use their Connect-ED emergency mass notification system. The Connect-ED product allows Surry Community College the ability to communicate with the campus community using land-line phones, cellular phones, voicemail, e-mail, and text messaging. The Connect-ED system sends out emergency messages within minutes to help ensure the safety of everyone at Surry Community College during an emergency.
1. What is an emergency?
An emergency is a situation which poses an immediate risk to the health and safety of the campus community or significantly disrupts its programs and activities.
2. How do I submit my contact information for the emergency notification system?
Faculty and Staff:
Faculty and staff information is collected and entered into our database and into the Connect-ED system as new employees are hired. Contact information should be updated in Human Resources.
Students:
Student information is collected during the admissions process and can be updated during registration. Throughout the semester students may contact the Admissions Office in Student Development to update their contact information.
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3. Who will get notified with the emergency notification system?
Implementation is being done in phases during 2008, but by the end of fall semester 2008, we hope that all students and employees at Surry Community College will get messages.
4. Another member of my household is also associated with Surry Community College, but we only received one phone call to our home. Why?
The system recognizes repeated phone numbers and ensures that it calls each unique phone number only once.
5. The phone directory lists a common phone number for multiple people in our office. Will we receive multiple phone calls at that number?
No. The system recognizes repeated phone numbers and ensures that it calls each unique phone number only once.
6. I did not receive a phone call, email or text message, even though others did, and I submitted my information. What should I do?
- Students
Please verify that the Admissions Office has your most up-to-date contact information, including your cell phone number.
- Faculty / Staff:
Please verify that the Human Resources Office has your most up-to-date contact information, including your cell phone number.
7. How do I change my contact information in the emergency notification system?
- Students
At the beginning of each semester, you have the opportunity to update your contact information during registration. In addition, throughout the semester you may contact the Admissions Office in Student Development to provide updates.
- Faculty / Staff:
Updates to contact information need to be made in the Human Resources Office.
8. Who is authorized to send messages using the campus-wide emergency notification system?
Messages will be distributed by trained users, following approval from authorized campus leaders.
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9. If I change my mind and don't want to receive emergency alerts, can I cancel?
Due to the nature of emergency alerts, the college will use information in our system to keep students and employees safe. Students and employees may opt-out of receiving emergency text messages by following the opt-out procedures.
10. How often will I receive alerts?
Currently, the college tests the public address system monthly and plans to conduct tests of the mass notification system once each semester. However, the college reserves the right to conduct additional testing if necessary.
11. Will I receive information other than emergency alerts from the campus-wide emergency notification system?
The Connect-ED service may be used for a variety of needs, including, but not limited to, reminding students about deadlines and fees and relating important information to faculty/staff. Our initial application for Connect-ED, however, will be only for emergency notifications. Later we plan to phase in informational messages, which will be labeled “SCC Information” and only be sent to a primary contact number and/or email addresses (not all points of contact as would be done with an emergency message.) Emergency notifications will be labeled “SCC Alert”; informational messages will be labeled “SCC Information”.
12. Will my contact information be shared with outside entities?
No. Blackboard Connect does not sell, lease, share, rent, or barter personally identifiable information (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of Blackboard Connect or Blackboard Connect service providers. For more information, see The Blackboard Connect Group Privacy Policy.
13. What number will be reflected on my caller ID when an alert is issued?
When an SCC Alert is issued via the Connect-Ed emergency notification system, caller ID will show that you are receiving a call from 336-386-3535.
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14. What e-mail address will be reflected when an alert is issued?
The “from” address of an emergency e-mail message sent from Surry Community College via the emergency notification system will appear as SCC Alert@surry.edu.
15. What should I do if I receive an emergency call or e-mail from SCC Alert?
If you receive an emergency message:
- Listen to or read the ENTIRE message.
- Take the message seriously.
- Follow any instructions given in the message.
16. What methods are used at Surry Community College to notify the campus community about emergency situations?
Currently, Surry Community College makes use of any or all of the following systems depending on the specific emergency:
- Internal Public Address System on campus
- SCC Web site www.surry.edu
- Connect-ED mass notification service
- Fire alarm systems
17. What else should I know about emergency preparedness?
We try to keep Surry Community College a safe place; however emergencies and disasters can occur. Every individual should be prepared both at SCC and at home. Visit www.ready.gov for information on individual emergency preparedness.
18. What contact data should I provide to Surry Community College?
The Connect-ED service allows storing of up to six phone numbers, two email addresses and mobile phone number representing your text messaging device. The best emergency contact number is probably your mobile phone.
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19. I heard that my classmate received a voice message from Surry Community College but I did not. Why?
It is possible that we do not have your contact information loaded in the Connect-ED service, or it may be inaccurate. Please contact the Admissions Office in Student Development to verify your information.
20. I heard that my classmate received a SMS (text) message on his cell phone from Surry Community College but I did not. Why?
To receive text messages, you will need to provide the college with your mobile phone number.
21. I received the message in my email inbox, but when I clicked the link to play the message nothing happened. Why?
You may not have a default media player like Windows Media Player or Quicktime installed. Download these players from www.microsoft.com or www.apple.com and install on your computer to listen to messages.
22. I received the message but I missed the information. What should I do?
While on the call, you can replay the message by pressing the star key (*) at the end of the message. You may also check your email to locate the link for that message.
23. I received the message but it kept looping/repeating. Why?
The system does its best to detect whether it has reached a live person or an answering machine. Sometimes loud ambient noises may cause the system to loop. If this happens, use the mute feature on your phone or move to a quieter location to prevent the message from looping or repeating.
24. I see a caller ID display of 336-386-3535. Who is this?
When Surry Community College sends out a call using the Connect-ED service, it will always display Caller ID information. Please save this number on your cell phone as a contact (eg. "SCC Alert") to represent that Surry Community College is calling you.
