PTC

Timely Warning and Emergency Notification (Blackboard Connect) - Annual Security Report

SCAnnual Security ReportBlackboard Connecthigh confidence

Piedmont Technical College documents Blackboard Connect text alerts plus email and early-warning siren channels for Clery timely warnings and emergency notifications, with Director of Campus Police and Security as primary TW decision-maker.

Read the official policy

Institution

Piedmont Technical College

Community College · SC

~5,000 studentsBlackboard Connect

In the policy’s own words

What the policy says

Blackboard Connect text systemverbatim

PTC utilizes a text message alert system called Blackboard Connect. This messaging system sends alert via text messages to all parties which have not voluntarily opted-out of the system.

Named Blackboard Connect with opt-out model.

PTC ASR - Alerting the College Community

Timely warning Clery geography standardverbatim

PTC will issue a "Timely Warning" to notify the campus community of any Clery crimes that occurred or are occurring anywhere on PTC's Clery geography that are considered to be, in the judgement of the Director of Campus Police and Security or their designee, a serious or continued threat to students and employees.

Director of Campus Police owns TW judgment for Clery geography crimes.

PTC ASR - Timely Warning

Emergency notification immediate threat standardverbatim

PTC will issue an "Emergency Notification" that will immediately notify the campus community upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health, safety and/or security of students and employees on campus.

Immediate EN on confirmed on-campus immediate threat.

PTC ASR - Emergency Notification

At a glance

How this policy works

When it activates: Timely warning: Clery crimes on PTC Clery geography representing serious or continued threat in judgment of Director of Campus Police and Security or designee. Emergency notification: confirmed significant emergency or dangerous situation involving immediate threat to health, safety, and/or security of students and employees on campus.
Who decides: Timely warning judgment: Director of Campus Police and Security or designee. Significant/dangerous situations: Campus Police contact President; may confer with local first responders to confirm before EN activation.
Timeliness standard: Emergency Notification immediately upon confirmation. Timely Warning when Director judges serious or continued threat. Annual drills/exercises.
Emergency notification vs. timely warning: ASR Alerting the College Community, Timely Warning, and Emergency Notification sections with named Blackboard Connect platform.
Testing cadence: Drills and exercises each year to assess and evaluate emergency plans and capabilities with on- and off-campus departments.
Scope & limits: Blackboard Connect sends to parties who have not voluntarily opted out. Outdoor sirens available only in certain areas. EN confirmation may involve local law enforcement coordination.

ChannelsSmsEmailSirenWebsiteFacebook

Analysis

Reading the policy

Piedmont Technical College (Greenwood, SC multi-campus) publishes Alerting the College Community, Timely Warning, and Emergency Notification procedures in its Annual Security Report. PTC uses Blackboard Connect for text messages to parties who have not opted out, plus broadcast email to college accounts, outdoor early-warning sirens in certain areas, website banners, social media, and other means depending on the incident. Timely Warnings notify the community of Clery crimes on PTC Clery geography that the Director of Campus Police and Security or designee judges a serious or continued threat (examples: sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault), typically via broadcast email and/or text. Emergency Notifications immediately notify upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving immediate threat to health, safety, and/or security on campus (examples: active shooter, tornado warnings), typically through a combination of messaging systems. Campus Police contact the President for significant situations and may confer with local law enforcement/first responders before activating EN. Annual drills and exercises assess emergency plans; Campus Police maintain a Comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan. Complements SC technical-college cluster with York Tech, FDTC, Spartanburg, and HGTC.

Takeaways

Key findings

Blackboard Connect opt-out text system plus email and outdoor early-warning sirens.

Director of Campus Police and Security decides timely warnings for Clery geography crimes.

President contacted for significant situations; annual multi-department drills.

Provenance

Sources

Official
Piedmont Technical College Annual Security Report PDF
ptc.edu
archived copy
Official Policy
PTC Emergency Notification System FAQs
ptc.edu
archived copy