Alert Beacon—UMass Boston enhances emergency alerts

It is difficult work for all involved, but the only way to be prepared for a potential emergency is to ensure that systems are in place to handle any dangerous situation promptly and appropriately. At UMass Boston, that has meant prioritizing public safety protocols and purchasing the best technology possible. It has also meant anticipating potential threats we would all rather not imagine, such as a shooter on campus. Those in charge of public safety at UMass Boston run regular simulations that mimic an active threat on campus, and the latest one conducted in summer 2024 threw an additional tool into the mix: the Alert Beacon, from Alertus Technologies.  

The first two Alert Beacons were installed in the campus’s Residence Hall East in 2024, with future plans to expand this technology across campus. In contrast to the outdoor HPSA speaker system, the Beacon is an indoor technology that sits on the wall and can offer an additional mode of communication in the case of an emergency. It is especially useful in high-density areas with many guests, as guests are external to the campus’ database and therefore would not receive security alerts through many of the other modalities UMass Boston uses, such as voice calls, e-mail or text. In a situation requiring people on campus to have immediate information, the goal is to use as many methods as possible to ensure the safety of our community. In anticipation of threats that need instantaneous notification, there are pre-scripted messages ready for immediate release to the Beacons, as well as other campus technology like televisions, desktop computers, and the speaker system.  

“This is just further enhancing our ability to get an emergency alert out to our community in a timely manner. The more modalities we have to push an alert out, the more likely that people are going to see it and act,” says Director of Emergency Management Justin Comeau. “Adding Alert Beacons to our campus enhances our ability to issue timely emergency alerts to the campus community. This is just one of the many methods we use to ensure comprehensive communication during emergencies.” Comeau’s office had already identified other areas where the Beacon technology would be useful, such as the Clark Athletic Center, where family and friends might visit to watch a sporting event or attend a Welcome Day.  

The IT Department was actively involved in bringing the Alert Beacon to campus, working closely with Comeau’s office to ensure it was up and running quickly. Tasks included pulling the necessary cabling through walls, connecting the technology to the campus network, ensuring cybersecurity was in place to avoid any outside interference, and then integrating it into the university’s overall notification system. The IT Department is also responsible for confirming the alert system is running smoothly. Campus safety systems are monitored on a daily basis to make sure they are always operational.  

While these additions to the notification system could be useful in a situation such as weather closures, they are especially important when it comes to potential threats that require people to immediately evacuate, shelter in place, or take other action. The threat of a violent event on campus is one the university takes very seriously in today’s climate, where school shootings are by no means a rarity. “The campus is trying to harden our notification systems. Universities are soft targets and we need the ability to communicate with our students, staff, and faculty when something like that happens,” says Jamie Soule, Director of Network Services. “When you’re talking about an active shooter, you need all your ducks lined up. It’s just enhancing emergency notification to our campus.”