Virginia Tech will have text messaging for emergencies

Virginia Tech students will have the option of receiving text message alerts from the university during the next academic year. Students are expected to be able to register for the service by new student orientation in late June
Click here to read The Roanoke Times article.

RELATED: The University of Maryland, College Park and Towson University are launching separate systems this week to quickly alert students of campus emergencies via text message. Both universities took swift action in the wake of last month's deadly shooting rampage at Virginia Tech. Click here to read The Baltimore Sun article.

ALSO: The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., will test a proposed campuswide siren system next week in response to the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech. Click here to read The Richomnd Times-Dispatch article.

EARLIER: If Tacoma (Wash.) Community College has an incident on campus anything like Virginia Tech’s recent shootings, students could know there’s a problem almost instantly. At least, the students who sign up for a new text-messaging program at the college would know. They’re not the only school in the area that’s noticed that the best way to get in touch with students might be with text messages. The University of Washington Tacoma also will have a text-messaging emergency alert program in place by the fall. The University of Puget Sound will do the same.
Click here to read The Tacoma News-Tribune article.