NHCC
Emergency Response and Timely Warning (Star Alert / Blackboard Connect) - Annual Security Report
North Hennepin Community College documents Star Alert Blackboard Connect emergency notifications and Clery timely warnings with auto Star ID registration, PA/VOIP active messaging, and annual drill testing.
Read the official policyInstitution
North Hennepin Community College
Community College · MN
~6,000 studentsStar Alert
In the policy’s own words
What the policy says
Star Alert Blackboard Connect systemverbatim
North Hennepin Community College utilizes an emergency notification system branded Star Alert, provided by Blackboard Connect, which disseminates emergency notification through SMS text, direct phone calls, and email, at the selection of the recipient.
- Named Star Alert / Blackboard Connect with recipient channel selection.
Timely warning Clery crime standardverbatim
Timely Warning: North Hennepin Community College will issue a timely warning for all Clery Act crimes reported to Campus Security Authorities or local police agencies and considered by North Hennepin Community College officials to represent a serious or continuing threat to students, faculty, and staff.
- Clery crime TW for serious/continuing threats to students/faculty/staff.
Star Alert TW disseminationverbatim
warnings will be disseminated via Star Alert text and email, the campus email system, and other notification methods to ensure that students, faculty, and staff are promptly informed.
- Star Alert plus campus email for TW distribution.
At a glance
How this policy works
- When it activates
- Emergency notification: confirmed significant emergency or dangerous situation posing immediate threat to health and safety of students, faculty, or staff. Timely warning: Clery Act crimes reported to CSAs or local police representing serious or continuing threat.
- Who decides
- NHCC officials verify emergency and determine segments, coordinating with local first responders. Named persons/organizations responsible for EN dissemination; Public Safety notifies community. TW need/content: NHCC officials case-by-case, consulting local LE when determining need and content.
- Timeliness standard
- EN without delay taking community safety into account, unless professional judgment holds notification would compromise victim assistance or mitigation. Immediate Star Alert after first responders alerted. Annual emergency response/evacuation tests.
- Emergency notification vs. timely warning
- ASR Emergency Response and Timely Warning section with named Star Alert / Blackboard Connect system and active/passive/individual messaging tiers.
- Testing cadence
- Annual tests of emergency response and evacuation procedures (announced or unannounced); procedures communicated in conjunction with at least one test each calendar year.
- Scope & limits
- Star Alert is opt-out; permanent opt-out available. TW not limited to violent crimes. Segmented EN allowed. Records retained seven years.
ChannelsSmsEmailPhone CallPa SystemWebsiteDigital Signage
Analysis
Reading the policy
NHCC (Brooklyn Park, MN; Minnesota State system) publishes Emergency Response and Timely Warning procedures in its Annual Security Report. Upon confirming a significant emergency or dangerous situation posing immediate threat to health and safety of students, faculty, or staff, NHCC uses active messaging (PA via VOIP phones covering classrooms, public spaces, interior offices), passive messaging (main web page, campus-wide mass email, signs, closed-circuit TVs), and individual messaging via Star Alert (Blackboard Connect) SMS, phone, and email as selected by the recipient (opt-out system).
Upon enrollment or hiring, students/faculty/staff are auto-registered using Star ID and receive activation email to add contacts and preferences. After first responders are alerted, an immediate Star Alert issues with essential details; additional messaging follows. Named officials are responsible for EN dissemination; Public Safety swiftly notifies upon confirmation. Timely warnings issue for Clery Act crimes reported to CSAs or local police that officials consider a serious or continuing threat (not limited to violent person-crimes). Case-by-case factors: nature, continuing danger, law-enforcement compromise; local LE may be consulted. TW disseminated via Star Alert text/email, campus email, and other methods. Annual announced or unannounced emergency response/evacuation tests with procedures publicized at least once per calendar year. Complements Minnesota community-college coverage.
Takeaways
Key findings
Star Alert / Blackboard Connect for SMS, phone, and email (opt-out).
Three-tier messaging: active PA/VOIP, passive web/email/TV, individual Star Alert.
Annual announced or unannounced emergency response and evacuation tests.
Policy, meet practice
When this system actually fired
3 documented times NHCC’s alert system was used, from the case archive.
Provenance
Sources
- Official
- Official Policy
Tags
minnesotacommunity-collegeclery-asrstar-alertblackboard-connectwider-reach
Added 2026-07-27Updated 2026-07-27Via ingestion