LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - In order to help with a quick response to campus emergencies at Lock Haven University, a new “711” number has been established that goes directly to university law enforcement and public safety representatives when a campus phone is used.

“It is up and running now,” confirmed Paul J. Altieri, director of Public Safety at LHU. “The 711 number is a shortcut to Public Safety, and it will also get the extension from where the number is called and display the name associated with the phone that was dialed.”

The number only works on campus phones – not cellular phones – and is only to be dialed in the event of an emergency, Altieri said, noting that regular law enforcement and public safety business calls still need to go through the Public Safety number, (570) 484-2278.

“711 is for a true emergency on campus,” Altieri said. “It is not for use when you get a parking ticket and want to call and talk about it, and it is not for when you leave your keys home and need an officer to let you in to your office. Use the regular number, 2278, for those things.”

Emergency situations can range, Altieri said, from medical emergencies to criminal activity. If students, faculty or staff see or smell smoke in a building or spot an actual fire, 711 is the number to use. It also is appropriate to dial when reporting someone who has fainted or who has a medical emergency, or to report suspicious activity, such as an armed individual on campus, in the event that should ever occur.

Altieri said dialing the 711 number puts the caller immediately in touch with a campus representative who can communicate with appropriate outside agencies and generate the appropriate emergency response of campus personnel. The alternative of dialing “9” for an outside line, and the dialing “911” will still patch the caller through to Clinton County Communications, he noted.

The 711 number was established cooperatively between LHU Public Safety and the university’s telecommunications technicians.

Boise P. Miller, telecommunications manager for LHU, said the establishment of 711 was easy due to the university maintaining its own phones over an internal data network, an initiative completed last fall that is estimated at saving the university $1.2 million over the next five years.

“It was pretty simple,” Miller said. “We just established another dedicated number to go to law enforcement. We were able to put an identifier on the call, and when it rings, it goes right into the emergency line. It only took about 45 minutes for us to set up.”

Earlier this academic year, a text messaging system, called e2Campus, was established for students, faculty and staff to sign up to receive emergency notifications. Miller said the university is constantly examining public safety measures and technology and will continue to implement improvements.