The UCCS Department of Public Safety has announced that the new panic button system is now available on multiple devices campuswide, including mobile devices, desktops and laptops.
Desktops and Laptops
The panic button is located in two locations on laptops and desktop computers – as a desktop icon and in your desktop tray:
The panic button software, represented by a green icon on your desktop, acts as a direct line of communication in an emergency. Designed to be user-friendly and efficient, this new system aims to provide a quicker response to emergencies.
The panic button becomes active upon triple-clicking the green icon on your desktop. This action gives you a new window on your screen, allowing you to provide additional information about the situation, such as the nature of the incident, location, or any other relevant details that could help our response team. If the alert was generated in error or the situation has been resolved, the same window offers the option to cancel the alert.
One important thing to note for the panic buttons is the name of the computer it is on. The naming convention used for computers at UCCS helps Public Safety swiftly identify the source of an alert. Typically, computer names reflect the building name and room number.
However, if you have changed your physical location (e.g., using a laptop in a different room than what your computer’s name suggests), it’s critical that you specify your current location in the alert information chat for our team to respond swiftly and accurately.
If you have moved offices permanently and need to update your computer’s naming convention to reflect this, please contact the OIT Service Desk. If the green panic button icon isn’t visible on your desktop, contact the OIT Service Desk.
The panic button will not be immediately available on Mac computers, but will work on all others.
Mobile Devices
On mobile devices, you can speak directly with Public Safety via the UCCS Safe app. Simply open the app and click on UCCS Police, and then on the second page select Chat with UCCS Police option:
Download the app on Google Play or in the App Store.
“This was a major project involving partnership across the Department of Public Safety, including UCCS Police, UCCS Dispatch, the Division of Emergency & Safety Services: Office of Emergency Management, and the Office of the Fire Marshal, as well as and other stakeholders from UCCS who provided feedback and supported the development,” said Arthur J. Simental, Director of Emergency Management. “We’d like to extend a big thanks to UCCS OIT for all of their instrumental help, support and partnership to integrate the new panic button system.”
Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.