ATC

Emergency Notification and Timely Warnings (Star Alert / Alertus) - Annual Campus Security Report

MNAnnual Security ReportStar Alert / Alertushigh confidence

Anoka Technical College documents Star Alert Blackboard Connect opt-out mass notification and Alertus active messaging with VP Academics and Student Affairs EN activation authority and Star Alert/Alertus timely warnings.

Read the official policy

Institution

Anoka Technical College

Community College · MN

~2,000 studentsStar Alert / Alertus

In the policy’s own words

What the policy says

Star Alert opt-out auto-enrollmentverbatim

This is an opt out system and students are automatically enrolled.

Star Alert opt-out with automatic student enrollment.

ATC 2025 ASR - Star Alert individual messaging

Timely Warnings via Star Alert and Alertusverbatim

Timely Warnings will be issued through Star Alert, Alertus, AlertAware, blackboard and communication mediums associated with the Emergency Notification System (ENS).

Multi-platform TW including Star Alert and Alertus.

ATC 2025 ASR - Timely Warnings

Star Alert and Alertus synonymous ENverbatim

Star Alert and Alertus notifications are synonymous for Emergency Notifications on campus, this means students and employees will receive messaging that is identical regardless of how they receive it.

Identical EN content across Star Alert and Alertus.

ATC 2025 ASR - Star Alert and Alertus synonymy

At a glance

How this policy works

When it activates: Emergency notification: confirmed significant emergency, dangerous situation, or crime posing immediate and/or continuing threat to health or safety on campus. Timely warning: crimes representing a threat to students and employees as determined through the President's office.
Who decides: EN activation: President or designee (normally VP Academics and Student Affairs for ATC), CIO/Marketing, in coordination with Public Safety. TW determination through President's office (normally VP Academics and Student Affairs for ATC).
Timeliness standard: EN without delay when real threat criteria met. Annual emergency response and evacuation testing minimum.
Emergency notification vs. timely warning: ASR Protocols for Emergency Notification and Timely Warnings with named Star Alert / Blackboard Connect and Alertus / AlertAware systems.
Testing cadence: Emergency response and evacuation procedures tested at minimum annually.
Scope & limits: Students auto-enrolled in Star Alert (opt-out). Star Alert and Alertus deliver identical EN content. Pre-activation checklist includes 911, danger, active threat, and LE impedance.

ChannelsSmsEmailPhone CallPa SystemDigital SignageWebsiteFacebookTwitter X

Analysis

Reading the policy

Anoka Technical College (Anoka, MN; Minnesota State, shared public safety with Anoka-Ramsey) publishes Emergency Notification Systems and Timely Warnings in its 2025 Annual Campus Security Report. Emergency notifications fire upon confirmation of a significant emergency, dangerous situation, or crime posing immediate and/or continuing threat. The President or designee (for ATC, normally the Vice President of Academics and Student Affairs), Chief Information Officer/Marketing, and Public Safety may activate ENS without delay when professional opinion holds a real threat exists. ENS channels include Alertus (speakers, marquees, beacons, AlertAware), Star Alert (Blackboard Connect SMS/phone/email; opt-out with automatic student enrollment), outdoor/interior loudspeakers, campus email, and social media. Star Alert and Alertus notifications are synonymous for campus EN so students and employees receive identical messaging. Timely Warnings issue through Star Alert, Alertus, AlertAware, Blackboard, and ENS communication mediums; determined through the President's office (normally VP Academics and Student Affairs for ATC). Annual emergency response and evacuation testing minimum. Complements ARCC and NHCC Minnesota State Star Alert coverage.

Takeaways

Key findings

Star Alert / Blackboard Connect opt-out with automatic student enrollment.

Alertus active messaging synonymous with Star Alert for identical EN content.

VP Academics and Student Affairs is normal ATC EN/TW presidential designee.

Provenance

Sources

Official
Anoka Technical College 2025 Annual Campus Security Report PDF
arccpublicsafety.com
archived copy