University looks to expand text alert program

The University of Minnesota wants to expand a program that sends an emergency notification text alert to students' cell phones.

The university's Department of Public Safety will require students to update emergency contact information with a cell phone number.

Terry Cook is director of the Department of Emergency Management, which oversees the program. Cook says changing the registration process will hopefully double the number of students participating in the TXT-U program. The alerts are sent only for emergency situations and campus closings.

The Minnesota Daily says recent violent crime on campus might have caused the university to speed up the registration change.

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Information from: The Minnesota Daily

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