Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver, British Columbia
EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY OF ART + DESIGN SWITCHED TO REGROUP MASS NOTIFICATION FOR BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE.
When a particularly dangerous and icy snowstorm approached in February 2019, the university was able to quickly close the campus before daybreak — in time to keep faculty, staff and students off the roads and safe at home.
Vancouver is a city resilient to winter weather and accustomed to rain and occasional wet snow. It’s not unusual for the first blossoms of spring to be spotted as early as February. But February 2019 shaped up to be an extraordinary month, with records showing it was one of the snowiest months in the city’s recorded history.
WHEN A DANGEROUS SNOWSTORM BORE DOWN ON THE CITY, SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER AUTHORITIES NEEDED A WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN A VERY TIME-SENSITIVE MANNER.
The Switch to Regroup
Regroup customer Emily Carr University had been using a competitor’s mass notification platform.
“WE HAVE BEEN REGROUP CUSTOMERS SINCE 2017. WE SWITCHED FROM MIR3 (AN ONSOLVE PRODUCT). [THE REASON WAS] POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.”
In addition to using Regroup to close campus during a weather emergency, the school participated in a successful drill to test an early warning system for earthquakes.
ADRIAN LIM IS THE MANAGER OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS FOR EMILY CARR, AND SAYS THE REGROUP SYSTEM WAS EASY TO USE FOR A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CAMPUS CLOSURE.
“Our safety officer and our facilities director monitor the weather,” Lim says. “The Vancouver area had already had a few snowy days preceding the February shutdown. But when it became clear that commuters and people on icy, snowy streets would be in danger, the school took action.”
“Once it was confirmed the weather would not get better — and would be a hazard to travel through — the safety officer who is trained to send Regroup alerts logged on at home at 4 a.m., and sent the closure notification to all students, faculty and staff.”
The feature Lim says is notable, in addition to superior customer service: “We appreciate the ability to send out an alert very quickly, to distinct groups.”
DURING THE STORM, EMILY CARR WAS ONE OF SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS AND AREAS TO CLOSE — INCLUDING ALL THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE FAMED STANLEY PARK SEAWALL, WITH FEARS THAT ICE WOULD BREAK OFF THE ROCK FACE AND ENDANGER PEOPLE ON THE PATH BELOW.
“Regroup’s customer support is amazing, they have helped so much and are continuing to help.”
Adrian Lim
Manager of Institutional Research and Applications for Emily Carr University
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