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Text Message Alerts from TCNJ
TCNJ has implemented a text- and voice-messaging emergency-alert system that will be used as one means of providing emergency alerts, timely warnings, and informing the College community of major campus shutdowns, such as weather-related closings. This system will not be used for general announcements, only issues presenting an ongoing threat to community safety and developments that significantly impact our campus and require time-sensitive distribution of information.
We will also continue to distribute information through additional channels, such as mass e-mail, TCNJ voicemail, our parents listserv, and TCNJ Web pages.
How to Subscribe
For TCNJ Students
To enroll in TCNJ’s Emergency Alert System
Enter your text-messaging device number in TESS using phone type “Text Alert.” Regular text messaging rates apply.
Step 1: Navigate to TESS and select “Student Records, Bill, and Personal Information Access” link in the center of the page (with the yellow key).” Step 2. Login using your TCNJ ID # and your PIN #.
Step 3. Under the “Personal Info” heading, click on the “Personal Phone Numbers” link. Step 4. Enter your cellular telephone number (including area code) in the first available slot and select the Type as “Text Alert” Step 5. Click “Submit.” [OPTIONAL] To receive additional voice-message alerts
You may designate two additional telephone numbers to receive voice-message alerts by using phone types “Voice Alert 1” and “Voice Alert 2”. Phone types listed as “Voice Alert” may not receive all emergency-alert communications. No voice messages will be sent if a “Text Alert” number is not entered.Step 6. Enter your cellular telephone number (including area code) in the first available slot and select the Type as Voice Alert 1,” or “Voice Alert 2” Step 7. Click “Submit.”
For TCNJ Faculty and Staff
To enroll in TCNJ’s Emergency Alert System
Enter your text-messaging device number in YESS using phone type “Text Alert.” Regular text-messaging rates apply.
Step 1: Login to YESS and select "Self Service."
Step 2. Select "Phone Numbers” Step 3. Select "Add a Phone Number" button.
Step 4. Select "Text Alert" from the drop-down box and enter your phone numberr in the "Telephone" box. The Phone Number field is formatted so you can enter only the numbers and it will format the field for you. Step 5. Select the "Save" button. [OPTIONAL] To receive additional voice-message alerts
You may designate two additional telephone numbers to receive voice-message alerts by using phone types “Voice Alert 1” and “Voice Alert 2”. Phone types listed as “Voice Alert” may not receive all emergency-alert communications. No voice messages will be sent if a “Text Alert” number is not entered.Step 6. Select "Add a Phone Number" button. Step 7. Select "Voice Alert 1 or Voice Alert 2" from the drop-down box and enter your phone numberr in the "Telephone" box. The Phone Number field is formatted so you can enter only the numbers and it will format the field for you. Step 8. Select the "Save" button.
You can subscribe to TCNJ's emergency-alert system by logging into the systems above and entering up to three cellular telephone numbers in the "Text Alert," " Voice Alert 1," and "Voice Alert 2" fields. Students/faculty/staff must enter their cellular number in the "Text Alert" field, because numbers entered in this field will receive text-message alerts whenever the system is activated. The "Voice Alert" fields will provide voicemail messages, not text messages, and will not be used in all situations. These fields can be filled with additional student/faculty/staff cellular numbers or those of parents or spouses whom you wish to receive TCNJ's emergency alerts. These fields will not be enrolled if the “Text Alert” field is not filled.
TCNJ is providing this service at no cost to students, faculty, and staff members. Cellular service providers may charge a fee for messages received, if you are not enrolled in a text-messaging plan, but TCNJ will use this system as judiciously as possible.
Confidentiality Policy
Cellular telephone numbers provided to The College of New Jersey for the purpose of receiving text-message emergency alerts will not be used for any other purpose by the vendor supplying this service. The vendor has also agreed to keep this information confidential.
When You Receive a Message from TCNJ
When you receive a message from TCNJ, your caller ID for voice messages will display 609-771-1855. Text messages will be sent from SMS@ntigroup.com.
Potential Text Messages
Below are several sample messages that could be distributed under appropriate circumstances. The actual message sent in a given situation may vary. Due to the character limitations associated with text-messaging (approximately 160 characters per message), TCNJ alerts will frequently direct recipients to another communication channel (TCNJ home page or e-mail) for more complete information. These sources may not be updated as rapidly as the text message is delivered, but information will be posted or sent as quickly as possible.
Sample Messages:
- TCNJ weather closing. All classes canceled and offices closed today. Visit www.tcnj.edu for details soon.
- Inclement weather has caused a delayed opening today at TCNJ. Visit www.tcnj.edu for details soon.
- TCNJ facility closure - (insert facility name here). TCNJ e-mail will provide details soon.
- TCNJ timely warning of criminal activity. TCNJ e-mail will provide details soon.
- TCNJ Emergency Alert – Stay away from (insert location here). Visit www.tcnj.edu for details soon.
- TCNJ Emergency – Potentially dangerous situation on campus. Remain in or proceed to secure location until further notice.
- TCNJ Emergency Alert – Potential danger has subsided. Visit www.tcnj.edu or check TCNJ e-mail for more details soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this service just for cellular telephones?
TCNJ can send messages to any device that can receive text message (SMS) through cellular service, including many cellular telephones, some text pagers, BlackBerrys, and some wireless PDAs.
When will I get a message?
Messages will only be sent under the following circumstances:
- when a situation presents an ongoing threat to community safety
- when there are major facility or campus closures
- when system tests need to be performed
- for timely warning of criminal activity
How quickly will I receive messages?
The rate at which messages are received depends upon your cellular phone provider's capabilities. This could be instantaneous or could take an extended period of time. TCNJ and its text-alert system have no control over the speed with which your cellular provider delivers messages.
How can I get more information once I receive a text message?
Due to the limitations of text messaging, messages will be very brief and contain vital and immediate information. More information will be made available through other communication channels, such as TCNJ e-mail, TCNJ Web pages, and TCNJ voicemail.
Can my parents or spouse receive TCNJ emergency alerts on their cellular tellephones?
You can enroll up to three cellular numbers in TCNJ's emergency-alerts system by entering them in the "Text Alert," " Voice Alert 1," and "Voice Alert 2 " fields in the TESS or YESS systems. Students/faculty/staff must enter their cellular numbers in the "Text Alert" field, because numbers entered in this field will receive text-message alerts whenever the system is activated. The "Voice Alert" fields will provide voicemail messages, not text messages, and will not be used in all situations. These fields can be filled with additional student/faculty/staff cellular numbers or those of parents or spouses whom you wish to receive TCNJ's emergency alerts.
Does signing up for TCNJ's text-alert system cost me anything?
There is no cost to sign up. The only charges you incur would be the normal fees charged by your mobile service provider for receiving text messages.
What if I don’t have a cellular telephone or mine doesn’t have text messaging?
Text alerts are just one of the communication channels used by TCNJ in the event of an emergency. The emergency-alert system is not replacing TCNJ's other methods of communication; it is simply enhancing the College's options for distributing information rapidly.
Campus Alert Policy
When faced with a critical incident, the Office of Public Affairs will distribute pertinent information via any or all of the following:
- Text-message
- Mass e-mail
- Voicemail
- An alert on the College's Web site (www.tcnj.edu)
- Campus voicemail
- TCNJ's Hotline (609.637.6000)
- Updates to the Critical Incident Web page (www.tcnj.edu/~ccr/critical/)
- Parents listserv
- Faculty listserv
- Other available communication channels
Please refer to the College Web site (www.tcnj.edu), TCNJ e-mail, and the text-message system as your first sources of information. They can be updated more rapidly than the other lines of communication. The College will, however, use whatever communication methods it deems appropriate upon assessment of all available information and risks in specific situations.
