Greenfield Community College

Emergency alert system

Greenfield Community College has contracted with "Send Word Now" to send emergency phone, email and text messages to students and employees.  Alerts will be sent as follows:

• At least once a school year to test the system.
• During emergency drills.
• During actual emergencies such as, but not limited to, dangerous weather approaching, bomb threats and suspicious packages, incidents that threaten the safety of the community.
• If the college has already opened for the day, and a decision is then made to close early and/or cancel the remaining classes for the day due to inclement weather.  Note:  This system will NOT be used if the college decides at 6:00am to cancel classes or to delay opening.  Continue to call 413-775-1010 (GCC weather hotline), or check with designated TV and radio station, after 6:00am in these instances.
• If there is an unexpected need to close the college due to a utility failure or similar situation.  In these rare instances, these alerts will generally be sent between 6:00am and 9:00pm.

College phones (offices, classrooms, hallways, etc.), and all GCC student/employee email accounts, will be part of the Send Word Now system.  Student and employee personal phones and emails will only be a part of the alert system if individuals opt in by completing the Registration Form and submitting it to Public Safety.  Please note that, if one opts into receiving text messages, those individuals will be responsible for any charges from their service provider.

How to opt in to Send Word Now

Paper form:

• Print out the form, fill it out and sign it, and then bring/send it to Public Safety.
• Complete the paper form

Electronic form:

• Complete the form in MS Word and then email it to Alerts@gcc.mass.edu as an attachment from your GCC email account.  Sending it from a college email account takes the place of an individual’s signature.  We cannot accept forms sent as attachments from non-GCC email accounts.
• Complete the electronic form

By providing this information, the student/employee understands that they will receive messages as explained above.  Note: If you opt to receive text messages, you will be responsible for any charges from your service provider.

Information provided for the Send Word Now system will not be used for any other purpose.  GCC and Send Word Now will not share your information with anyone who is not directly involved with this alert system.

Information provided by students/employees will be kept in the system for 2008/2009 school year.  Those wishing to remove their information from the system before the end of the school year can do so by contacting Public Safety.

Please contact Public Safety (775-1212) if you have any questions.