Kennesaw State University Parent Guide
Strategic Security and Safety
Security and Safety at Kennesaw State University has always been a high profile subject and one that affects each and every person on campus. In recent years, security and safety has taken a more proactive approach with providing not only quick response and resolution, but in alerting through early warning and notification systems for every student, faculty, staff and visitor that resides, works or frequents the campus, during the day, night and weekends
KSU employs Mass Notification messaging services, as well as Siren, Desktop Pop-up alerts and a host of other systems to provide a layered capability of reaching as many people as possible in the shortest time. This, coupled with our 200+ Crisis Coordinators, who are the University’s immediate responders in every building throughout campus, provides a comprehensive and systematic system in support of prevention, mitigation, response and recovery to any incident.
KSU’s Mass Notification System
KSU ALERT is the official Kennesaw State University emergency mass notification system which is used to notify faculty, staff, and students of critical information and situations affecting the KSU campus through the use of text messages, voice messages to their primary phone numbers, email, and more.
Kennesaw State University encourages all students, faculty and staff to update their emergency contact number(s) in Owl Expree so that the KSU ALERTs are sent to their primary phone number in the event of an emergency. Although college campuses are usually safe places, emergencies and disasters do occur. KSU is committed to keeping the campus community as safe as possible through effective communication prior to, during and following emergencies.
In order to update information for KSU Alert contacts students should:
- Login to Owl Express.
- Click ‘Personal Information’
- Then Click ‘Update Contact Information’
- Then Click on the ‘Primary’ link next to you phone number
- Either use the down menu to add a cell phone number in order to receive text messages, or change you PRIMARY number to the number you wish to receive the voice messages.
- Click ‘Save’
KSU’s Early Notification System (Sirens)
Kennesaw State University currently has 4 outdoor sirens which serve as an integral part of the University’s Early Warning System which allow KSU administration to alert the entire Campus, dormitories and surrounding community of emergency situations. Sirens are activated only during “Sheltering-In” situations such as Tornado Warnings, Active Shooter and Hazardous Material spills on and/or adjacent to the campus, and unlike the Cobb County siren system, the KSU sirens not only broadcast a tone alert, but also broadcast both pre-recorded and live PA voice messages as well.
KSU’s Emergency Pop-up Alert System
KSU’s Department of Strategic Security & Safety in partnership with the Department of Information Technology Services has developed a Pop-Up Alert system that has greatly expanded the effectiveness of KSU’s efforts to reach students during emergency situations. When an emergency occurs that requires a campus-wide notification, KSU will activate the Emergency Pop-up Alert System, which when activated will deploy a pop-up message to all computers connected to the KSU network.
The pop-up message will contain information pertinent to the situation and cannot be closed until the situation has been resolved. This allows for students and faculty to be notified of emergency situation where cell phone reception is blocked such as inside a large building, or where cell phone use is prohibited such as during class.
Websites and Social Networking
The newest additions to the KSU notification methods include the use of the Social Networking sites Twitter and Facebook. Campus-wide emergency notifications will be posted on both sites as well as the University’s Campus Advisory Page.
