When will this system be used?
The purpose of this supplementary system is to enhance the College's ability to provide timely notification to as many campus community members as possible during an emergency situation and will be used when there is an imminent and on-going threat to the safety of the campus community at large.  Note: Parent contacts will only be included in notifications at the discretion of the Emergency Management Team.

How does TCAS work?
Once a designated College official initiates an emergency broadcast, TCAS begins notifying recipients based on the contact information available.  The system will try each contact path (i.e. cell phone, text message, e-mail) until you confirm receipt by one of the following (or the broadcast expires past the time set by the message sender):

• Following a voice message, you "press 1 to confirm" as prompted
• You click the confirmation link included in an e-mail message
• You reply to the text message as directed

It is important to always confirm receipt of a message so that College officials can monitor the message delivery status in real-time.  On occassion, you may be asked to provide more information (e.g. "press 1 if you are on-campus and safe, press 2 if you are off-campus...").

Why should I register to be part of TCAS?
This is one of the ways Trinity officials will contact students, faculty, and staff with critical communications during an emergency.  Because TCAS uses a variety of contact methods, there is a greater likelihood that you will receive messages as soon as possible.

Will my contact information be kept private?
Yes.  The "urgent voice," "urgent text," and "urgent e-mail" contacts that you provide will only be used for emergency purposes.  This contact information will not be sold or distributed.

What if I do not have a cell phone?
If you do not have a personal cell phone, TCAS can still call your Trinity phone extension (dorm room or personal office) and send an e-mail to your Trinity account and another, but you must enter these during registration as your "Urgent Phone" and "Urgent E-mail" contacts.

What if my cell phone does not accept text messages?
TCAS will still call your cell phone with a voice message.  Check with your cell phone provider for options to add text messaging services.  During most recent large-scale emergencies across the nation, text messages were most often delivered successfully even though cell phone networks became overloaded for voice calls.

What if I do not want to participate?  What if I change my mind?
Students that do not wish to participate in the system or wish to un-register will need to discuss this decision with the Dean of Students Office and complete an acknowledgement form.

What if my cell phone number changes?
Simply follow the above instructions to log-in to your account any time and update your information.  Changes become active when the database is refreshed nightly.

What phone number will show up on my phone's caller ID?
Phone calls from TCAS will follow the standard Trinity prefix format: 860-297-####.  The system will be tested at the start of each semester and you will receive the phone number at that time.

What if I miss the call?
In most cases, TCAS will recognize your voicemail and attempt to leave a message.  As stated above, TCAS will keep trying to reach you until you confirm receipt of the message or the broadcast expires.

How much will this cost me?
There is no charge to subscribe to the TCAS network.  Your cellular service provider's standard voice and text messaging charges will apply as determined by your individual service plan.

Still have more questions?
Contact David Andres in the Dean of Students Office.