The University recently selected a company that will provide communications software necessary to implement recent communications initiatives, including the text alert system and notifications on LCD screens.
Visix, Inc. will aim to provide emergency alerts and relevant news updates to the University community, according to Visix President Sean Matthews.
The University "chose Visix because it is flexible but not overly complex," said William L. Ashby, Newcomb Hall director and associate dean of students. "Information can be communicated to students, faculty and staff through flat-screens located in various buildings around campus, cell-phone alerts and pop-up messages on desktops. We're using a variety of ways to get information out to as many people as possible."
Although interest in instant communication on college campuses emerged nation-wide in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, Ashby said the University actually began researching technology offered by Visix in the fall of 2006 based on a Student Council proposal.
"About a year ago, the Student Council came forward with the idea of electronic flyers," Ashby said, "So we started looking around for software companies in the fall of 2006. It has really been a year-long process of searching for something that would fit our needs."
According to Ashby, Student Council originally wanted to create a more efficient way to advertise clubs and communicate with students without littering the campus with paper flyers. Thus, they thought of implementing LCD screens, called AxisTV, which would be set up in various buildings around Grounds and display information normally shown on flyers.
"The cost of this technology was $101,000, and the funding came [from] four basic contributors," Ashby said, "The Alumni Association, Parents Committee, Student Council [and] ITC services all contributed thousands of dollars, and Newcomb Hall itself is paying for any infrastructure costs."
Since the April shootings, the priority of pursuing this technology changed, Ashby said. The goal of campus-wide communication focused more on alerting students of potentially dangerous situations instead of addressing ways to more efficiently advertise university clubs and organizations.
While emergency alerts are certainly an important aspect of this new technology, Matthews said the new means of communication serves more than just this one purpose.
"Clearly emergency communication is a hot-button issue for parents, but that is only one element of what this technology offers," he said. "Usually in daily life, things are constantly changing, and through Visix people can instantly communicate new information."
The University is not the only college that has pursued such technology.
"Our technology has really been growing in leaps and bounds over the last five years; in fact [Visix technology is] currently on 700 college campuses across the nation." Matthews said, adding that many Fortune 500 companies are also clients. "Particularly in higher education, people are very receptive to electronic mediums because a university is constantly trying to communicate with a number of different audiences"
Read More
Winsome Earle-Sears talks higher education in first U.Va. event of the campaign
By Ford McCracken | 15 hours agoA Jamaican immigrant and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Earle-Sears is the first female lieutenant governor of Virginia,
U.Va.'s Earth Day Eco-Fair 2025 spotlights sustainability advocacy
By Leigh Bailey | 15 hours agoStudents from Contracted Independent Organizations and University Office of Sustainability leadership programs each shared their unique perspectives about sustainability advocacy on Grounds.
Student Council votes to relocate Hereford orchard and basketball hoop
By Lauren Seeliger | YesterdayStudent Council passed a resolution Tuesday to relocate the orchard and basketball hoop of Hereford Residential College due to construction in the surrounding area.
