Memorandum

To:         All Students, Faculty , Staff  and Monastic Community

From:   Donald W. Davidson, Director of Safety and Security

Date:    April 8, 2008

I am pleased to announce that Saint Anselm College is about to enhance its emergency notification system with two new features-  text messaging and an outdoor siren.

The text messaging system will relay emergency notifications through cell phone, wireless PDA, smart phone, land line or e-mail. With this system, Safety & Security will be able to notify the campus community in a redundant manner that an emergency is occurring, provide instructions on how to proceed and announce when an emergency has ended.

Participation in this system is voluntary, although we encourage all faculty, staff and students to take part. You will soon receive an e-mail or memo with an Internet address where you can log into the system and create your own password-protected account. You will be able to enter up to two phone numbers and e-mail addresses through which you would want to receive emergency notifications. This contact information could be for your cell phone, Blackberry or whatever wireless communications device you carry. You will maintain your own account and change your contact information as needed.

Please keep in mind that this notification system is in addition to the broadcast voicemail messages and college e-mails that already are part of our emergency communication plan.

 For those who are not near a computer or cell phone when a crisis occurs, we are also installing a siren and public address system. This outdoor system will be capable of alerting people on the quad, athletic fields, the NHIOP and anywhere else on campus that an emergency is occurring. Through the public address system, college officials can announce instructions on how to respond and let the campus know when all is clear. This system will be in place by Fall 2008.

 These measures are part of an ongoing commitment to enhance campus safety and security. In February, a team of consultants conducted a campus threat, vulnerability and risk assessment. Generally speaking, the consultants found that the College does an excellent job of ensuring the safety of those who live, work and visit the campus as well as protecting its physical plant.  Their report is currently under review by the administration.

 You will hear from us again as we prepare to implement the new emergency notification systems. In the meantime, there are many reasons to take comfort in the safety of our campus and our readiness to handle crisis. Saint Anselm already has a sound Emergency Response Plan. This Plan is currently being reviewed and updated with current best practices in mind.