Gaston

Timely Warning, Emergency Notification, and GC Alert System - Annual Security Report

NCAnnual Security ReportGC Alerthigh confidence

Gaston College publishes Timely Warning and Emergency Notification procedures under the GC Alert brand in its October 1, 2025 ASR, with Campus Police primary for confirmation and content and multi-channel dissemination including segmented campus notifications.

Read the official policy

Institution

Gaston College

Community College · NC

~5,500 studentsGC Alert

In the policy’s own words

What the policy says

Confirmed emergency triggers TW and/or ENverbatim

In the event of a confirmed significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees, a timely warning and/or emergency notification will be given to the College Community.

Combined TW/EN trigger on confirmed immediate threat.

Gaston College 2025 ASR - Timely Warning and Emergency Notification

Multi-channel GC Alert methodsverbatim

Emergency Notification and timely warnings may be issued using a variety of methods including GC Alert (text), webpage, telephone, PA announcement (audible alert), recorded switchboard message, voice mail, social media, radio announcement, College email, TV-cable screen, news release, direct mail, and/or group meetings.

Extensive channel list including GC Alert SMS brand.

Gaston College 2025 ASR - Emergency Notifications channels

GC Alert brand definitionverbatim

GC Alert is the brand name of the College's emergency mass notification system and uses email and SMS text messaging to warn people of the risk of danger.

Named brand for email and SMS mass notification.

Gaston College 2025 ASR - GC Alert definition

At a glance

How this policy works

When it activates: Confirmed significant emergency or dangerous situation involving immediate threat to health or safety of students or employees; also Clery-driven timely warnings for serious or ongoing threats as framed in the ASR timely-warning section.
Who decides: Campus Police and Security Department (Chief or designee) primarily evaluate, draft, and issue. President, Cabinet, and Executive Director of Marketing and Communications may issue or assist. Marketing Executive Director is designated external media spokesperson in collaboration with President and Campus Police.
Timeliness standard: Notification upon confirmation of immediate threat; follow-up while threat continues. No fixed minutes standard stated.
Emergency notification vs. timely warning: ASR sections on Timely Warning, Emergency Determination/Response/Notification, Emergency Notifications, and Emergency Notification System Testing with GC Alert brand.
Testing cadence: GC Alert and emergency PA systems tested regularly; documentation maintained by Campus Police and Security. Other systems tested as deemed appropriate.
Scope & limits: Segmented notifications allowed (campus/building/classroom). Victim name not to be unintentionally disclosed; avoid compromising victim assistance or emergency response. External public notified when deemed necessary.

ChannelsSmsEmailPhone CallPa SystemWebsiteFacebook

Analysis

Reading the policy

Gaston College (Dallas/Lincolnton, NC) documents Clery timely-warning and emergency-notification policy in its 2025 Annual Security Report. Upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving immediate threat to health or safety, a timely warning and/or emergency notification is issued to the College Community. Campus Police and Security typically confirm the event and are primarily responsible for evaluating the situation, determining content, and issuing to the appropriate segment(s); notifications may target specific campuses, buildings, and classrooms rather than the full community. Follow-up continues while the threat remains. Additional authorized roles include the President, President's Cabinet members, and the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications. GC Alert is the brand name of the emergency mass notification system using email and SMS text; other methods include webpage, telephone, PA, switchboard message, voicemail, social media, radio, TV-cable screen, news release, direct mail, and group meetings. Internal and external constituent lists are explicit (trustees, foundation board, early college partners, district schools, NCCCS office, media). GC Alert and emergency PA systems are tested regularly with documentation held by Campus Police. Complements archive cases for remote learning and delayed starts during icy conditions.

Takeaways

Key findings

GC Alert brand for email/SMS; segmented campus/building/classroom notifications allowed.

Campus Police primary with President/Cabinet/Marketing secondary authority.

Regular GC Alert and PA testing with Campus Police documentation.

Policy, meet practice

When this system actually fired

6 documented times Gaston’s alert system was used, from the case archive.

Provenance

Sources

Official
Gaston College Annual Security Report October 1 2025 PDF
gaston.edu
archived copy
Official Policy
Gaston College Annual Security Report landing page
gaston.edu
archived copy