A test of the HSC Alert system is set for Oct. 15. Now is the time to enroll in order to receive text and e-mail messages in case of a campus emergency or closure. If you have already enrolled, please verify that the phone numbers and e-mail addresses you designated are still correct.
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The University of Texas at Austin is being commended for its handling of a campus emergency on Tuesday, Sept. 28, resulting from a student gunman.

The UT Health Science Center San Antonio uses many of the same methods to communicate emergency messages or campus closures to the Health Science Center community, including HSC Alert, a text-message and e-mail alert system.

HSC Alert test set for Oct. 15
A test of the HSC Alert system will be conducted on Friday, Oct. 15.

“HSC Alert is a great way to communicate, but it does require that people sign up and keep their contact information current,” said Mary DeLay, chief of staff and communications in the Office of the President. “We also recommend that you check your registration to make sure that it has not expired,” DeLay said.

To be included in the Oct. 15 test, and to receive text and e-mail messages during a campus emergency or campus closure, please sign in on the portal, http://inside.uthscsa.edu, and follow the instructions.

CARE website provides more training and resources
The Health Science Center’s Behavior Intervention Team, a cross-campus group that advises the Office of the President on campus safety concerns, has instituted the Campus Awareness Requires Everyone (CARE) website, http://care.uthscsa.edu. The CARE website provides training and resources to empower faculty, staff, residents and students to help prevent campus emergencies and react appropriately should one occur.

“Violence often results from common, everyday stresses, such as failing grades and problem marriages. The key is that we all share a responsibility for helping to keep our campus safe,” said Kozue Shibazaki, Ph.D., chair of the Behavior Intervention Team and interim director of the Student Counseling Service.

“The CARE website has information on how to get counseling, as well as important phone numbers, warning signs, tips on how to react to a violent situation and an excellent training video that could save your life,” she continued.

Important phone numbers
“Everyone should be ready to call 911 from their desk phones or 210-567-8911 from their cell phone if they notice something suspicious or when there is a campus emergency,” said Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Michael Parks.

Another phone number to keep handy is 210-567-CARE (2273), to confidentially discuss or share a concern about someone who may need help, when it is not an emergency. The phone number is another initiative of the Behavior Intervention Team.

More resources
Now is also a good time to:

• Review the Emergency Preparedness Guide,
  
• Watch the realistic video, “Shots Fired on Campus” (portal log-in required), and
  
• Read the emergency information found in the UT Police Department’s new 2010 Annual Security Report.

“By working together, we can all help achieve a safer campus,” DeLay said.