PLEASE READ: TEXT MESSAGING

From: James McShane, Associate Vice President for Public Safety

SUBJECT: PLEASE READ: TEXT MESSAGING

Dear Students:

At Columbia, the safety of our students is our highest priority. Knowing that you depend on accurate information that is delivered quickly, I am pleased to announce that text messaging will now be used by the University as one of the communication channels for sending important messages.

Text messaging is useful because of the portability and ubiquity of cell phones, and it will complement the use of email, web postings, phone calls and in-person communication for delivering important information. And, by adding text messaging, we further ensure redundancy across our communications channels. Some likely instances for sending text messages include weather emergencies, major transit interruptions and campus closures.

In order to receive text messages, Columbia students must register their mobile numbers, which can be done securely and confidentially in Student Services Online (SSOL). Please register now by clicking here: https://ssol.columbia.edu/?tran[1]_tran_name=seni

or by logging in to your SSOL account and clicking on "Text Message Enrollment." These numbers will not be used for any purpose other than important communications.

I encourage all Columbia students to register your mobile number today.

Sincerely yours,
James McShane, Associate Vice President for Public Safety