To expedite notification of students, faculty and staff in event of a campus-wide emergency or other important matters, Wayne State University has launched a broadcast messaging service that enables cell phone users who are registered for the service to receive text messages. Students, faculty and staff also can choose to receive university messages by WSU e-mail or instant message.

Wayne State does not charge a fee to register a mobile phone number or to send text messages through its Broadcast Messaging Service. However, per-message fees from cellular service providers may apply. As an added convenience, cell phone registrants can pause delivery of non-emergency WSU text messages to their cell phones during a specific time of day. Non-emergency messages are not sent to students and faculty during class hours.

Planned upgrades to Wayne State's new broadcast messaging service over the next year will add different types of messages, such as course announcements, WSU news, notices to faculty and staff by building, or promotional offerings. As each message type is added, students, faculty and staff will be able to choose whether to receive them and how (by cell phone, IM or e-mail).

The emergency messaging capability will be tested Aug. 24 during a simulated gunman-in-a-building exercise planned by the WSU Public Safety Department. An emergency text message will be sent to a prearranged sampling of individuals who have signed up for the service.