Case Study: Boston University achieves real-time, campus-wide emergency alerts in under 30 seconds with OnSolve

Critical Communications System Brings Streamlined Security to the Boston University Community

Boston University, a 134-acre research campus with 33,000 students and a total community of about 46,000, needed a modern critical communications system to replace an outdated telephone-tree approach and integrate with existing infrastructure. After evaluating vendors, the university selected OnSolve’s cloud‑based, multi‑modal alerting and collaboration system to provide real‑time voice, text, email and app messaging across its three campuses.

OnSolve implemented a scalable, intuitive platform with audience visibility and two‑way alerting that lets administrators send targeted or campus‑wide messages and receive status updates from responders. The result: operators can reach 46,000 people in under 30 seconds, improve transparency about responder availability, streamline opt‑in contact management, and support both emergency (e.g., Boston Marathon bombing response) and routine notifications—with dedicated 24/7 support from OnSolve.

Boston University

Stephen Morash

Director of Emergency Management