WASHINGTON – As part of Howard University’s efforts to improve its emergency preparedness and response capabilities, the campus has transitioned to a new alert system called Bison Safe, which is designed to enhance the University’s ability to communicate with the community in the event of an emergency. Students, faculty and staff can immediately download and use the new Bison Safe app, a customized personal security app intended for mobile users. The system is provided by AppArmor, a state-of-the-art emergency notification system, and will replace the current system, Rave.
“With the Howard Forward strategic mission at the forefront, the University is committed to the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and visitors,” said Chief of Police Marcus Lyles, head of the Department of Public Safety. “After a year of extensive research to identify and test the latest technology innovations to improve our crime prevention strategies and enhance emergency communications efforts, we decided to adopt the AppArmor notification system and mobile app.”
The new AppArmor system embraces contemporary communications modes in a technology platform that delivers alerts through any number of methods in real-time, including text message, email, desktop, website, RSS and social media. The AppArmor system is used by a robust group of educational institutions and state and local emergency response networks across the country.
“The combination of the new alert system with the safety app is an enhancement that offers advanced tools to reliably prepare and inform the campus community in the event of a crucial situation. AppArmor technology is a critical resource that will help further the sense of community security and preparedness as we continue our ongoing work to strengthen campus safety,” said Lyles.
All students, faculty and staff will be automatically enrolled in the new system. While the system will draw upon existing available data, to ensure that contact information is as up-to-date as possible, the University encourages everyone to check and update their mobile numbers on file in BisonWeb (students) and PeopleSoft (employees) to receive text alerts. Notifications will also be sent directly to all Howard-issued email accounts.
Furthering our efforts in keeping our campus community safe and informed during an emergency or a crisis, the University has added to the system an additional level of communication and security through the Bison Safe mobile app. Please download the free security tool today to receive emergency push alerts on your mobile device.
The app’s user-friendly interface allows users to easily connect with friends and family to share their location in real-time as they walk. It allows direct and easy contact with dispatchers and first responders in case of emergencies and provides access to easy reporting forms, a Howard-specific news feed, and a comprehensive list of emergency resources.
A campus-wide emergency alert system test will follow on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020 in conjunction with the launch of the new safety and security tools. A test email alert will be forwarded to students’ and employees’ Howard email addresses, a text message will be sent to mobile phone numbers on file with the University, and a push notification will be provided through the mobile app. Please prioritize verifying or updating your mobile number in BisonWeb and PeopleSoft, respectively, before January 16.
For more information about the new emergency alert system or personal security app, or to inquire about the upcoming emergency alert system test, please contact DPS at 202-806-1100.
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About Howard University
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 70 Fulbright Scholars. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu
Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, Imani.popejohns@howard.edu
