Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Maroon Alert emergency communication system in place for about six months at Mississippi State now will operate with a new text-messaging provider.
After reviewing services provided by several companies, the university is finalizing a contract with MIR3, a leader in emergency notification solutions, said Mike Rackley, head of Information Technology Services.
"Text messaging is one component of a comprehensive communication effort deployed during campus emergencies," said President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong. "It is important for us to have a reliable, effective text messaging component to our Maroon Alert system."
Mississippi State currently has 14,400 students, faculty, and staff participating in the text-messaging option.
Rackley said the previous provider did not have the capacity MSU needed. As a result, the university last fall issued a request for proposals to replace the existing service. MIR3's technology was used on an interim basis during the search for a permanent solution, he added.
MIR3 was successfully employed during two campus weather emergencies, Rackley said.
Following the request for proposals "we received a total of nine responses, which were evaluated, scored and ranked," he explained. "MIR3 was ultimately selected as the best."
The San Diego, Calif.-based company provides emergency notification systems for more than 100 colleges and universities, as well as numerous local, state and federal agencies. The system will be funded by a slight increase in rates for campus telephone lines.
"Campus phone bills will go up approximately 50 cents per phone," Rackley said. "We believe that's a reasonable rate to ensure rapid communication during emergency situations when information can help save lives."
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.