INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 20, 2007 -- Ivy Tech Community College-Central Indiana has introduced a new electronic alert system to instantly notify students and staff in the Indianapolis metro area of emergencies, weather alerts, closings, and even class-related information.

Effective immediately, students and staff of the Central Indiana region can optionally subscribe to Ivy Tech Alert, an instant text-messaging service which will automatically ring all subscriber cell phones and broadcast an emergency text message or other important information.

While the college does not charge students and staff for the service, which transmits text messages via cellular service providers, some carriers may charge a per-message fee, usually a few cents.

Ivy Tech Alert will be provided by DeftMobile, a mobile solutions firm based in downtown Indianapolis, which designed the service to meet Ivy Tech's growing demands for real-time updates and information.

The new communications platform allows students to opt-in for alerts and messages by texting "IVY" to a short code, or by visiting a page on the Ivy Tech Web site. Students can log into the notification system to view past alerts, update their preferences, or change their mobile phone number.

"Ivy Tech Alert will be tightly controlled by the College's security personnel and administrators, limiting messages to emergencies or important announcements on topics which students have authorized during their opt-in, sign-up process. Students may opt-out at any time," said Jason Carroll, Director of Security for the Central Indiana region.

"We're among the first colleges in Indiana to introduce mobile texting for emergency alerts and to communicate with our Indianapolis metro-area students," said Dr. Hank Dunn, chancellor of the Central Indiana region. "We pride ourselves on meeting students' needs and in being innovative enough to pay attention to how young people communicate."

The new Ivy Tech Alert system will supplement the college's existing, on-location and e-mail emergency notification procedures and may be offered statewide after completion of the trial test at the Central Indiana campuses. The Central Indiana region is the largest of Ivy Tech's 14 regions throughout the state with a combined enrollment of more than 15,000 students.

Ivy Tech Community College is the nation's largest statewide community college system with a single accreditation and the state's second largest public post-secondary institution with over 110,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has 23 campuses and nearly 100 learning centers located throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering degrees and certificates that lead to good paying jobs and credits that transfer to other Indiana colleges and universities, allowing students to pursue bachelors' degrees. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

For more information, contact:
    Kelly Lucas
    (317) 917-5732
    klucas@ivytech.edu