Arizona State University selected Blackboard Inc. for messaging capabilities. Blackboard Connect offers a solution to support outreach initiatives and ensure students, faculty and staff are informed about important events that could impact their education.

The new system, which began operations on Jan. 1, will send both urgent notifications and important campus updates to students, faculty and staff through email, texts, RSS, Facebook and Twitter. Starting last December recipients will have the ability to manage their message settings, including the campus location they wish to receive text messages from and including additional subscribers.

ASU students, faculty and staff will be automatically enrolled in the system, but will be prompted to update, customize or opt-out of the system using MyASU, a secure university Web portal.

In 2011, ASU adopted Blackboard Student Services to provide support for students, faculty and staff in all areas of campus life, from financial aid and human resources to academic technology and IT. In addition, the university has used Blackboard Learn.