Frequenty Asked Questions (FAQs)

Subscriber Questions (students, faculty, staff, etc.)

Q: What is PSCAlert?
A: PSCAlert is the Polk State College emergency notification system. This system will be used to supplement the College’s Emergency Preparedness Plan. In an emergency event, PSCAlert may be utilized to communicate urgent information to all students, faculty, and staff.  

Q: How do I sign up for PSCAlert alerts?
A: As an employee or registered student, you are already signed up to receive emergency alerts through the contact information you have provided to the College. To update your contact information, please log in to PASSPORT, PSC’s online portal.

Q: Can I change my contact preferences?
A: Yes. You can change your account settings to add different email addresses or phone numbers. Just log in to PASSPORT to update your contact information.

Q: How do I opt out (remove myself) from receiving PSCAlert alerts?
A: You may opt out of SMS alerts only. You will be provided an Opt Out option with the text message sent by PSCAlert.

Q: Will I receive unsolicited messages ("SPAM") on my mobile phone or email account?
A: NO. PSCAlert enforces a ZERO SPAM policy which clearly prohibits unsolicited messages, and PSCAlert does not sell the contact information of our subscribers to third party marketers.

Q: Does your service work on multiple cell phone networks?
A: Yes. PSCAlert is a cross-carrier service that supports a wide range of carriers.

Q: Do I need to install software on my phone?
A: NO. PSCAlert uses the industry standard SMS text messaging protocol to send messages to your phone. Your mobile phone plan will need to accept text messages to work properly.

Q: Will this cost me anything?
A: Maybe. Depending on your wireless carrier provider and the plan you have, you may be charged a nominal fee (such as ten cents per message) to receive SMS text messages. Many students have unlimited text messaging plans, so there would be no additional charge.

Q: What exactly is PSCAlert?
A: PSCAlert is a multimodal mass notification system delivered by Blackboard Connect that allows designated school administrators to send time-sensitive messages to the mobile phones, home phones, office phones, email, and/or pagers of their subscribers (students, faculty, staff, etc.), plus a growing list of third-party devices such as digital signage, PA systems, loudspeakers, desktop alerts, and more. Think of it as a new way to communicate to students and others -- instantly, wherever they are geographically located.

Q: What is a multimodal mass notification system?
A: A multimodal mass notification system is defined as a platform to deliver a notification to an entire audience by all means necessary, therefore creating comprehensive coverage to increase the odds that a particular subscriber received the notification in a timely manner. Subscribers can be notified immediately of news and events on the device by which they select to be notified.

Q: What is a notification?
A: A notification is defined as a form of communication that delivers descriptive information about news or an event, unlike a bell or siren that communicates little information.

Still have questions? Contact us or call 863-297-1010.