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Frequently Asked Questions - Columbus State University

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CougarAlert

Frequently Asked Questions

CougarAlert is an emergency alert system that can send alert messages via cell phone, text message and e-mail in the event of a campus emergency. The following list should answer most questions about the system, powered by Rave Alert System. If you have additional questions not addressed below, please contact Public Relations department at 706-507-8720, or ur@columbusstate.edu.

This system will only be used to communicate in a time of true emergency. It is difficult to predict exactly what those might be, but some examples are situations in which the safety of our campus community is at risk, such as a fire, a tornado or an intruder.

The university will try to provide a source for additional information when it is available. For example, you may be directed to CSU's Web site, or to check your e-mail for follow-up information. Please remember that during an emergency, the safety of our campus community members will be our primary concern, and any use of CougarAlert will initially address that need.

The university believes it serves all of the campus community best by facilitating our communications capabilities during times of emergency. Therefore we highly encourage participation in the CougarAlert emergency response program. If you wish to opt out of receiving emergency communications, you may do so on the emergency contact form.

The university has worked to build technology redundancies into the system on its end and Rave Alert System has a number of remote locations with redundant technology on its end. The best way to ensure you receive an emergency notification is to provide as many different types of contact information as you can, including home phone and cell phone numbers.

While the university may test the system from time to time, at this time, the university has determined that CougarAlert emergency messages will only be sent during times of emergency, when campus safety is at risk or perhaps when campus is closing.

The university has taken a multi-layered approach to emergency communications to ensure its best efforts can be achieved in warning and informing people during an emergency. Utilizing both internal university communication systems (office phones, the CSU home page and e-mail) and external communication systems, (cell phone calls and local media notifications). The use of these multiple communication systems greatly increases the speed of receiving emergency communication notifications.

The university's privacy policies protect all student, staff and faculty's private information. In addition, our contract for the use of Rave Alert System prohibits that company from sharing any of your private information.

According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the university must receive contact information directly from students.

You will need to speak directly with your student to verify that he or she has filled out the online form and to learn exactly what information your student has provided to the university. Students may update their emergency contact information at any time in MyCSU.

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